Initial Report:
Integral Designs eVENT Shortie Gaiters

Date: May 20, 2005

Product Information
Product Tested: Integral Designs eVENT Shortie Gaiters
Manufacturer Website: http://www.integraldesigns.com
Year of Manufacture: 2005
Fabric Description: eVENT Storm 3 layer waterproof breathable fabric at 3.1 oz/yd² (105 g/m²) is an ePTFE membrane sandwiched between a triple grid ripstop face fabric and tricot lining, 100% nylon
Color: Dark green
Sizes Available: Small (US 4-10), large (US 10-12)
Size Tested: Large
Weight Listed: 2.5 oz (70 g)
Weight as Delivered: 2.4 oz (68 g), silnylon stuff sack .3 oz (8.5 g)
MSRP: $25 US

Product Description
According to the Integral Designs website, the eVENT Shortie Gaiters are “ultra lightweight simple 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. Made from highly breathable trilaminate eVENT fabric, they are comfortable to wear all day long without excessive condensation buildup. Insteps are reinforced with black supplex nylon. The eVENT gaiters have no zippers or velcro and are designed to be put on before putting on footwear. The replaceable shock cord snugs under the instep (flip to back of footwear when hiking over sharp rocks). The top shock cord and toggle adjust for a comfortable and snug fit around the ankles”.

eVENT Fabric Technology
Basically BHA Technologies has developed a “better Gore-Tex”, which is branded as e-VENT. Both Gore-Tex  and e-VENT are an expanded PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene, a.k.a. Teflon) membrane laminated to a nylon fabric. The difference is that the Gore-Tex PTFE membrane is coated with a thin layer of polyurethane (PU) on the inside that is hydrophilic (water absorbent) to make it permeable to water. The PU layer is necessary to protect the PTFE membrane from fouling by body oils, but the downside is that it greatly restricts the breathability of the fabric. BHA Technologies found a way to make the PTFE membrane oleophobic (oil resistant), so it does not need the breathability-inhibiting PU coating to protect it from contaminants. The result is a waterproof-breathable fabric that will move moisture 30%-200% (depending on humidity level) faster than Gore-Tex XCR.

Initial Report
Initial Impressions—At this point I like the zipperless/no Velcro design. It saves weight and makes the gaiters fit better. Presumably, the e-VENT fabric will be breathable enough so I can leave them on all day. I may change my mind on this if I have to put them on/take them off frequently in the field. The lace hook on the front is very sturdy. I like the reinforcement with supplex nylon on the heavy wear area inside of each gaiter. I also like the elastic cord and cordlock adjustment at the tops of the gaiters. One nitpick: I don’t like the large white product label on the outside of each gaiter, and plan to take them off. The other labels look good.

Quality ,Construction, and Fit—The construction and workmanship are excellent. Seams are double stitched and the high abrasion inside ankle area is reinforced with durable fabric.  The gaiters (size large) are big enough to cover the tops of my boots (size 11.5 EEEE/Euro 45). The opening is large enough to slide on over my low cut trail running boots, but is not big enough to slide over my mid-height or full-height boots. The seams are not taped on the inside like they are on the Integral Designs e-VENT Rain Jacket.

Measurements—Size large is 10 in (25 cm) high, 9 in (23 cm) wide at the bottom, and 7.5 in (19 cm) wide at the top.

Washing Instructions—“Hand wash with mild soap. Drip dry. Do not dry clean or bleach.”

Test Plan
Test Locations And Conditions—Through May I will be day hiking at lower elevations in canyon country, hiking at mid elevations in the mountains where there will still be lots of snow drifts to post hole through, and snowshoeing in the high mountains. In early summer I will do numerous day trips and backpacks in the forested zone of the Colorado Mountains and in the canyonlands country of Utah, Arizona, and New Mexico. In summer I will be backpacking in the high alpine zone of the Colorado Mountains. The testing environments will consist of: badlands desert, canyon country, forests, and high elevation alpine country. Elevations will range from 5,000 to over 14,000 feet (1524 to 4267 m). Expected extreme conditions include: snow storms, strong winds, dust/rain storms, heavy rain, intense sun, low temperatures, and high elevations with strong UV and intense thunderstorms.

How the Shortie Gaiters Will Be Used— I typically wear lightweight low cut boots, but a frequent problem is snow and debris getting into my boots. The Integral Designs eVENT Shortie Gaiters will be tested as rainwear as well as for keeping snow/dirt/mud/water out of my boots. They will be worn on-trail and off-trail for this purpose. On late spring hikes the gaiters will be worn to keep snow out of my boots while post holing through snow drifts. For stream crossings, I will use them to reduce the amount of water entering through the tops of my boots. On cold/wet/windy excursions into the alpine country on foot or snowshoes, the Integral Designs eVENT Shortie Gaiters will stay on for the entire trip; in warmer weather they will be worn when needed for rain protection and for walking through wet vegetation.

Measurements And Observations—On each trip I will take a thermometer with me to measure the comfort range of the ID eVENT Shortie Gaiters, i.e., the temperatures where the gaiters feel either too hot or too cold. In my notes for each trip, I will record the following data in relation to my comfort level wearing the Integral Designs eVENT Shortie Gaiters: 1) temperatures, 2) estimated wind speed, 3) estimated humidity, 4) altitude, 5) precipitation (including what form), 6) how the Integral Designs eVENT Shortie Gaiters were worn (with pants or shorts), 7) my exertion level, 8) my comfort level, 9) how much I perspired while wearing the Integral Designs eVENT Shortie Gaiters at different activity levels, 10) how chilled I feel when I stop in cold weather because of condensation in the gaiters, and 11) how chilled I feel from wind.

To make this test even more scientific, I will measure the actual temperature inside the Integral Designs eVENT Shortie Gaiters on several occasions using a compact indoor/outdoor thermometer with remote sensor that I have. So in warm or cold weather, when I feel either quite warm or quite cold wearing the gaiters, I can measure and report the actual temperature outside and inside the gaiters.

My Expectations for The Integral Designs Event Shortie Gaiters
In my six month evaluation of the Integral Designs I will determine if the following expectations are met or not.

1. The gaiters will be breathable enough so they will be comfortable to wear hiking all day, without taking them off. This includes hiking uphill carrying a pack in warm weather.
   

2. I will find the Shortie Gaiters to be an extremely useful piece of gear, and will want to take them with me, and wear them, on backpacking trips.
   

3. The gaiters will be convenient to use, i.e., I can put them on and leave them on all day. The elastic drawcord and cordlock will hold them in place so they don’t slide down.
   

4. The gaiters will wick away moisture and feel dry inside, even under high exertion levels.
   

5. The gaiters will keep dust/dirt/mud/snow/water out my boots.
   

6. The gaiters will be tall enough to keep my hiking pants and boots dry when walking through wet vegetation.
   

7. The Shortie Gaiters will be really durable and will easily handle bushwhacking and scrambling without serious abrasions, punctures, or seams coming apart. They will retain their waterproofness even when they are abraded on the outside.
   

8. For lightweight backpacking, the gaiters’ utility will justify their 2.4 oz (68 g) weight.

Reviewer Information
Name: Will Rietveld
Age: 62
Gender: Male
Height: 6 ft (183 cm)
Weight: 170 lb (77 kg)
Foot Size: 11.5 EEEE (US)
Email:  willi_wabbit@bresnan.net
City & State: Durango CO 81301
Location for Testing: Southwestern US (Colorado, Utah, Arizona, New Mexico).

Backpacking Background
I have been an avid backpacker for 47 years. Backpacking is my passion. I am retired and in excellent physical condition. In the fall, winter, and spring I backpack in UT, AZ, and NM. In the summer I backpack in several wilderness areas in southern Colorado and occasionally in other western states.

Backpacking Style—I have been a lightweight backpacker for 30 years and an ultralight backpacker for 6 years. My current challenge is super ultralight backpacking--getting my base pack weight below five pounds (2.3 kg). My wife and I give presentations on ultralight backpacking in the local area, and have developed a website called Southwest Ultralight Backpacking to share information.

Acknowledgements
I would like to thank Integral Designs and the BackpackGearTest Group for selecting me to participate in this test.

Will Rietveld