Personal Information

• Name : Graham Blamey
• Age : 60
  
• Height : 1.82 m (6' 0")
  
• Weight : 75 kg (165 lb)
• Email : gg@higray.fsnet.co.uk
• County : Essex
• Country : UK
• Date : 20 July 2004
  

Additional product related information

• Boot/shoe size : UK 10, US 10.5, EU 44
• Inside leg measurement : 84 cm (33")
  

Backpacking background

I first went camping at about age five and have been camping, on and off, ever since.  I started serious walking about 21 years ago and backpacking a few years later.  I backpack, with my wife Ginny, in Europe for three weeks every year, take a number of three- to four-day backpacking trips throughout the year and take part in several night and weekend orienteering events.  Our style is getting increasingly lighter as we explore the possibilities brought about by new materials and designs.

Product  Information

• Manufacturer : Outdoor Research
• Manufacturer's website : www.orgear.com
• Sizes : S / M / L / XL
• Manufacturer's weight : 199 g (7 oz) per pair (not stated what size)
• Material : 400 denier Nylon Packcloth
  
• Colours : Black, Black / Purple, Blue / Black
• MSRP : $ 35.00 US
  

• Product as received
  
• Size : Large
• Weight : 190 g (6.7 oz)
• Height : (Measured vertically along rear of gaiter) 46.5 cm (18.25")
• Circumference : (Measured around top of gaiter) 44 cm (17.3")
• Colour : Black

The following is taken from the manufacturer's website:

• Strap and buckle top closure
• 50 mm (1") wide Velcro front closure
• Packcloth leg section
• Grommeted instep lace anchor
• Hook and snap
• Elastic bottom edge
• Nylon instep lace
• Coated packcloth foot section

There are a couple of illustrations of the gaiter and quite a lot of additional information on the manufacturer's website.

For a more detailed description, see my: INITIAL REPORT and FIELD REPORT

Further Testing

I have used the Outdoor Research Rocky Mountain Packcloth gaiters on all my walks until May of this year, when the weather in the UK dramatically turned dry and tracks and paths that had been quagmires, rapidly turned rock hard.  In one area where I walk regularly there was a corner that had been a small pond and this was transformed into a 'cracked-earth' bowl.  This change in the weather (although welcome), effectively made the gaiters redundant but due to their low weight, I was happy to carry them in my pack 'just in case'.  On one occasion they were useful when, wearing shorts, I had to wade through a tangle of stinging nettles (Urtica dioica) on an overgrown path (photo right).  The gaiters were perfect for this and saved me from getting badly stung.  Had they not been so light and easy and quick to put on and take off, I might not have bothered.

On all the occasions that I've worn them, I've found them to be probably the most comfortable gaiters I've used in a long time and this report confirms all that I found and noted in my Field report.  They remain comfortable and I've found that I hardly notice the top fastening strap once I've adjusted it, although it is a bit long and flaps about a bit (photo left).  I find this system infinitely preferable to a cord or narrow elastic, with a cord-lock to adjust it.  I find the latter system cuts into my leg if it's too tight but slips if it isn't.  The Velcro fastening down the front has always held and not come unfastened at any time and makes the gaiters so quick to put on and take off.  I've not re-tied the instep lace at all since my initial tying but as I only wear the gaiters with two types of footwear (Karrimor boots and Merrell trail shoes) no additional adjustment has been necessary.  I'm happy to report that, so far, the lace has not shown any signs of wear (contrary to my prediction in my Initial Report),  but if it does wear through, I shall replace it as I find most gaiters feel more secure with the instep lace in place.  The lace hook at the front has stayed hooked in place and the elastic around the bottom edge has been sufficient to prevent mud, snow or dirt from sneaking up inside all but the lower edge of the gaiters.  There are no obvious signs of wear anywhere, especially around the boot/gaiter contact areas, nor are there any 'pulls' or 'snags' to the material where I've pushed through brambles and undergrowth.  The amount of boot protected by the gaiters is shown in the photo above.  As can be seen, I still have to clean my boots after a walk in muddy conditions but the gaiters protect most of the top of the boots and all of my trousers below the knee and are easy to wash in cold water and show no sign of the fibres getting clogged or stained with mud or soil.  In all the conditions I've used them, I can honestly say that I did not feel that heavier gaiters would have afforded me better protection.

In my Initial Report I posed several questions that I would be addressing in my testing of the gaiters.  So, how have they fared?

• Can they deal with the regular exposure to wet and mud that is usual for UK winter walking?  They certainly come through this with flying colours.  After six months of use, they look almost as good as new.
• Do they fit well?  Again, top marks.  They are quite close fitting and I don't think I could wear too many trouser layers under them but for my usual one pair of stretch trousers they're fine.
• Are they the right length for me?  Spot on!  I've always found most gaiters to be a little too short and constrictive but these, being a little longer than average are just right.
• Are they comfortable and can I wear them all day?  Yes definitely.  I have done on numerous occasions during the test period and I hardly notice I'm wearing them.  After a day's wear I've not noticed any condensation or dampness on the inside of the gaiters or my trousers.
  
• How well have they stood up to the stresses and strains of regular use?  Very well. There are no signs of wear or abrasion anywhere.  All the stitching is intact and all of the fittings are intact and functioning.
• How easy are they to put on and take off?  Apart from the top strap, which can be a bit fiddly as I've mentioned, probably the easiest I've used.
• How water repellent are they?  Perfectly adequate for most of my needs.  I've never had any water through the material or the Velcro closure at the front.
  

So, to sum up.  The Outdoor Research Rocky Mountain Packcloth gaiters are lightweight, slim-fitting and slightly longer than usual.  The packcloth material is abrasion resistant.  The treated foot section is sufficiently water repellent to allow for splashing through water and wading through moderate snow.  Due to their light weight and good fit they are comfortable to wear for long periods at a time.

I am grateful  to BackpackGearTest.org and Outdoor Research for the opportunity to test this product.