At the top, they normally have an elastic rubber band that will stop the gaiter from sliding down. Great waterproof gaiters can serve all sorts of outdoor adventures. In rugged ice climbing conditions you might want our top pick, the Black Diamond GTX Frontpoint, or for something to simply keep the rocks out of your shoes while going for a run, a lightweight option like the Kahtoola Instagaiters are probably better.
Hopefully, our guide to the best waterproof hiking gaiters has helped you narrow down your options and settle on the perfect choice for your next big trek or ice climbing endeavor. We work hard to put out the best backpacker resources on the web, for free! For the sake of transparency , some of the links in our content are affiliate links.
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Notify me of followup comments via e-mail. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. More information. Overall Best Waterproof Gaiters for Hiking. Best Budget Waterproof Gaiters ankle length. Best Budget Waterproof Gaiters knee length.
Best Waterproof Gaiters for Ice Climbing. Best Waterproof Running Gaiters. Best Gaiters for Hunting. Best Use: Hiking, ice climbing, snow sports Weight: 8. Pull cord on top can snag Some buckle rust after 1 snow season. Best Use: Hiking, skiing Weight: 4. Reasonable price Lightweight. Not as durable Sizing runs small. Reasonably priced Breathable Easy to take on and off. Check on REI. Best Use: Mountaineering, winter hiking, skiing Weight: Durable Gore-Tex material Replaceable instep strap Sturdy, snug fit.
Material: The materials of your gaiters affect the overall weight, as well as the amount of insulation, breathability and waterproofing they provide. Thickness and weight can vary drastically. Typically, the top portion of mountaineering-style high gaiters is a waterproof or water resistant material.
The bottom is tougher - designed to shield more frequent ice, rock, and brush abrasion. Spandex is super stretchy and flexible Not going to provide a lot of protection, but enough to keep out trail debris. A thru-hiking favorite and, despite the name, Dirty Girl Gaiters are not just for women.
One thing that sets Dirty Girl apart from other ultralight and running brands is their array of colorful and often flamboyant designs. Zebra print, neon camo, and tie-dye printed gaiters - you name it.
These are best for keeping out sand, dirt, rocks and other debris during fair weather hikes and runs—but not rain or cold.
The stretchy fabric slips over your feet and secures to your shoelace with a hook. One of the best things is that there is not a traditional under-the-heel strap. Instead, Dirty Girls secure to the back of your shoe heels with a self-adhesive velcro patch.
This alternative securing method can kind of stink considering the velcro is permanent. All Dirty Girl models are low gaiters, reaching up to about mid-ankle. The rip and stick entry means that you can put them on without taking off your shoes - a uniquely awesome feature for low gaiters. Ahhh, yes… easy on and off! That speed and ease is super useful on the trail. The upper part is a comfortable, breathable nylon and the lower strap is a well-gripped rubber.
The fabric is also more water-resistant than other competitors and keeps very cool. Another unique feature to note about the Salomon Trail Running gaiters: the full strap-and-wrap design provides a bit of support and can almost act like an ankle brace on its own.
For this level of support, I love how light and easy these are. Related: See the Salomon High Trail for a slightly higher-rising model. Scree noun ; an accumulation of loose stones or rocky debris lying on a slope or at the base of a hill or cliff. Hence the name, that is exactly what these gaiters are made for - trudging over rocky mountains.
The Rab Scree gaiters are a low-rise model for fast and light backpacking. The top is secured with an elastic ankle cuff, and the instep strap is a thin and adjustable bungee cord. These are slip on gaiters, with a shoe lace hook in the front. It is better for tough terrain rather than tough weather though.
The instep straps are made by BioThane — a well-known manufacturer of durable sport accessories. The straps are coated with a protective film and therefore provide superb durability. In addition to the instep straps they have lace hooks which ensure that they stay firmly on your boots.
The top closures use cam buckles and therefore allow you to quickly adjust the right fit. The Outdoor Research Crocodile might not be the lightest product, but because they provide great durability and functionality, they rank first in this selection.
Note: Women's version might slightly differ from the men's version. REI Outdoor Research. Because they are very light, they are perfect for ice climbing and other demanding activities on snow-covered slopes.
They are made of a breathable and waterproof 3-layer Gore-Tex fabric. In the lower part they have an abrasion guard which is made of a welded denier double layer fabric. This sturdy fabric efficiently protects them against abrasion and tears. The Black Diamond Apex GTX are also equipped with side-release top closures which can be easily used, no matter the conditions.
Next to the buckles there are even reflective panels which help you find them in low visibility conditions. The hook and loop front entries allow you to put them on without a hassle. Sizing: S fits shoe size Be aware of sizing, though. Black Diamond Apex Gaiters. Backcountry Black Diamond. The Pertex Shield fabric is super light, waterproof and breathable. However, it does not provide as good breathability as Gore-Tex because it uses a polyurethane coating instead of a membrane.
Due to the Pertex Shield fabric, these gaiters are the lightest product listed here — they weigh merely 7 ounces. The Outdoor Research Verglas otherwise have quite similar features as the Outdoor Research Crocodile; they have Cordura reinforced ankles, cam buckle top closures, Velcro front entries and metal boot lace hooks.
However, some materials used on the Verglas gaiters are less durable than those of the Crocodile. For example, the foot panel is made of denier fabric on the Crocodile, while it is made of denier fabric on the Verglas. The Outdoor Research Verglas are best for those who want extremely light product for different activities in snowy conditions. Outdoor Research Mens' Verglas Gaiters.
The Rab Latok Alpine gaiters provide great functionality. He has guided trips along the most rugged portions of the Appalachian Trail, including the Mile Wilderness, and bagged countless peaks in New Hampshire's White Mountains in all seasons. His adventures have equipped him to appreciate the value of warm, dry feet and to know the ins and outs of gaiters that claim to offer that protection.
For this review, we tested the best pairs on the market selected by our experienced team of hikers, runners, and mountaineers.
We put each pair through its paces. In addition to water and dirt immersion tests, we rely heavily on foot-on testing. Taking them on trip after trip, run after run, it becomes much easier to determine which models are up to the task and which ones fall short.
We perform leg-by-leg comparisons, wearing a different but comparable model on each leg simultaneously, allowing for us to control for environmental conditions. The strategy here was to rack up the miles and let them tease out the differences between models. Related: How We Tested Gaiters. Because there are so few moving parts, the differences between similar models are even more slight than with, say, the footwear they are covering.
Different models are designed for various conditions and hiking styles, but the elegant simplicity of this piece of equipment is largely the same across the board. After aggressive field testing, aside from seeing which ones survived with the least damage, we were able to see which ones performed the best in a variety of conditions.
When done right, they protect the wearer from debris, moisture, snow, and ice. They keep our feet drier, warmer, and as a result, healthier than they would be in boots alone. We rate each pair on six metrics: comfort and breathability, debris protection, durability, ease of attachment, water resistance, and weight. Related: Buying Advice for Gaiters. Though not part of a product's overall numerical score, we recognize that value is an important component of most any purchasing decision.
In an effort to quantify the old maxim price is what you pay, value is what you get , we find it worthwhile to compare the overall score of each product relative to its price.
Models that score highly and are priced reasonably offer great value, but it is also possible that less expensive products still score highly enough to have good value as well. These products are meant to keep junk and gunk out, but that doesn't mean they need to trap the sweat in. Ideally, you don't even know a pair is there until you realize you haven't had to stop to dump out sand or pine needles from your shoes all day. Comfort is how a pair feels on your body and fits over footwear and clothing.
Breathability is an important complement to comfort because sweaty feet can also be a source of discomfort, as is the chaffing that comes along from rough or tight material rubbing against bare skin.
In assessing this metric, we consider the little things — how long it takes us to notice that we had equipment wrapped around our legs or, more likely, how long it takes us to forget ; how cinch cords rub against the skin; or whether or not the buckle, snaps, hooks and elastic pulls were in the right place, or cutting off our circulation.
When it comes to breathability, we are impressed with the lightweight Dirty Girl. This trail running model is made with super-stretchy nylon that allows ankles to air out well. Another top performer is the Altra Trail , which is even thinner and highly breathable. With either of these pairs, it is easy to forget that you are wearing them. We are also impressed with the performance of the Rab Muztag.
It's a totally different style, but it is rare to find a full-length model that still has some flexibility. The lightweight fabric on this pair is supple yet kept us warm in the snow without making us sweaty. We were also pleasantly surprised by the top cinch strap and buckle. Oftentimes on high leg models, this feature can feel restrictive, but we found that in the Muztag it is much more tolerable.
This is the essence of what this piece of equipment exists to do — to keep debris out of your shoes and boots, protect your feet, protect clothing from snags, tears, and abrasions.
Most manufacturers have this concept pretty dialed, but there are some differences in fabrics and closure styles to look out for. When it comes to alpine and expedition models, debris mostly means snow and ice. Having a snug fit and secure attachment both on the boots and your legs is what will result in a dry interior. The Rab Muztag does this very well, with a glove-like fit around single-layer winter boots.
The upper closure is a cinch cord that is easy to tug closed, even with gloves and it stays securely fastened. On the light, ankle-height side of the spectrum, the Dirty Girl offers solid protection against sand, dirt, and dust on trail runs. The ankle opening starts relatively narrow and can stretch to accommodate larger legs as well. The Kahtoola Instagaiters Low also performs well here. When it comes to traditional hiking models , both the REI Backpacker Low and the Black Diamond Talus impress us with their debris protection though the former is a little beefier.
The components these models share are a secure fit around the bottom of your footwear and a tight seal around the ankle. Watching a new piece of gear fall to pieces like a poorly knit sweater is a real bummer. Durability refers to a model's ability to stand up to repeated use and abuse. The tradeoff for durability is typically weight, and in our pursuit of lighter gear that empowers us to move faster, we sacrifice a little durability.
However, some models offer a balance between the two. When checking out any new pair that you plan to buy, the instep strap should be the main area that you look at to assess a model's durability.
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