|
The Integral Design eVENT Shorty Gaiters are lightweight, low (below the
calf) gaiters designed to keep snow and stones out of boots and trail
runners and keep socks and boot tops dry when hiking in rain or through wet
grass. The gaiters are made from eVENT fabric which is designed to provide
good breathability. During the course of this test period, the gaiters
were worn with trail running shoes (my footwear of choice for hiking) both
on and off trail, over terrain that tended to be rocky. The gaiters were
worn to keep debris (mainly rocks and sand) out of my shoes and to protect
my socks from collecting aggressive seeds and burrs which many desert
grasses and plants possess.
Description of Product Performance:
As mentioned in my
Field Report the Shorty Gaiters are quite comfortable and that once they
are on, I tend to forget that they are there. During the course of this test
period, the gaiters were worn on several hikes where daytime temperatures
exceeded 100 F degrees (38 C). Even on these warm days, I did not notice
excessive moisture build up beneath the gaiters, confirming that the eVENT
fabric breathes very well. The gaiters are easy to use, and other than a
second or two spent loosening or tightening the upper shock cord once or
twice during the course of the hike, I found that I did not have to fiddle
or adjust them. With the shock cord in place and the hook secured to a
shoelace, the gaiters provided a snug fit around my ankle and shoe
and did not allow any unwanted detritus into my shoe.
 Durability:
The trail running shoes that I wear do not have much of a heel. Because of
this, when I wear gaiters with these shoes, I am walking on the shock cord
with each step. As a result the shock cord on both gaiters broke within
minutes of each other after just a few hikes. To be honest, this was not
unexpected given the rocky terrain that makes up much of the Sonoran Desert
where the tests were conducted. The manufacturer recommends flipping the
shock cord behind the heel when walking on rocks to avoid premature wear and
tear. Given that almost all my hikes are in rocky areas, I didn't find this
to be a reasonable solution, so just left them in place.
Without the shock cords, the gaiters did not perform quite as well as with
them. The gaiters tended to ride up, exposing the tops of my shoes allowing
rocks to enter. I plan to either replace the shock cords with more durable,
non-elastic parachute cord or with other shock cord that I already own. The
shock cord on the gaiters is less than 1 foot (30.5 cm) in length each. I
have found shock cord to cost between $0.15 - $0.20 per foot, so a small
investment in cord will enable me to replace them on a regular basis as they
wear out.
I have also found a small tear in the protective nylon that covers the
instep of the gaiter. The tear does not extend to the eVENT layer, so the
performance of the gaiter is not affected in any way.
|
