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Reviews > Footwear > Accessories > Gaiters > REI Desert Gaiters > Owner Review by Bob Dorenfeld
REI Desert Gaiter
TESTER INFORMATION
I'm an active hiker, snowshoer, skier, backpacker, amateur geographer and naturalist. Home base is the Southern Colorado Rockies, where I usually journey from 7000 ft (2100 m) to above treeline, with an occasional desert trip to lower altitudes. Six to 12 miles (10 to 20 km) hiking in a day is my norm, including elevation change of as much as 4000 ft (1200 m) in a day. Most of my backpack trips are two or three nights, sometimes longer. Often I hike off-trail on challenging talus, snowfields, or willow brakes, with occasional bouldering. Product Information
Manufacturer: Recreational Equipment, Inc. (REI) Product Description
REI Desert Gaiters are light-duty low-rise gaiters for men or women. "Over-the-ankle" means that they rise about 4 in (10 cm) above the top of a mid-height backpacking boot. They are mainly intended to keep pebbles, grass, stickers, and other debris out of boots and off of socks (at least the part covered by the gaiter). Despite the name, they can be used in any environment, but with some limitations, since they are made of non-waterproof nylon. The hook-and-loop down the front facilitates attaching and removing them over shoes or boots, a snap at the bottom of the hook-and-loop keeps it from separating, and a loop at the bottom of the gaiter hooks onto shoelaces. An instep cord wraps around the boot's bottom to hold the gaiter in place, and the length of the cord is adjusted by retying the knot holding the cord in its grommet at the bottom of the gaiter. Elastic around the top and bottom of each gaiter holds it tight around both ankle and boot. These gaiters come in two sizes: "small/medium" and "large/X large", which REI matches to a range of shoe sizes for both men and women. I'm reviewing the small/medium size, to match my men's size 42 (9) boots. There is a small fabric loop at the top of each gaiter, presumably for pulling them up while on the boots, or for storage by tying them together or attaching to a pack or clothing. Field Use
I've been using my pair of REI Desert Gaiters for almost ten years - they are now part of my standard day pack and backpack gear. I'm glad to see that REI still has them available in their store at this writing. Although I don't wear them frequently, I've found that they come in handy on average for 2-3 hikes each year, for a total of about 20 miles (32 km) per year. I've worn them in all seasons, from hot summers to cold winters, as well as in a variety of terrains including desert, grasslands, rocky slopes, and in snow and rain. Summary
The REI Desert Gaiter has been a standard part of my hiking gear for many years, and I highly recommend them as a simple and lightweight, but useful, gaiter in all kinds of terrain and weather. Although they won't keep out snow as well as a gaiter made for that purpose, they have worked great for me when I needed some unexpected protection from rain and snow and when I didn't wish to carry my larger, heavier snow gaiters. Their tan color is neutral and unobtrusive, and I've found them easy to put on and take off. They roll up into a small bundle and I can stash them in any pack or clothes pocket. Reviewed By
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