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Outdoor
Research
Rocky Mountain High Gaiters™
, Packcloth
Field Report by Rick Allnutt
PERSONAL BIOGRAPHICAL
INFORMATION
Rick Allnutt
50 Year old male
6' 0'' (183 cm) in height
198 lb (90 kg) in weight
Shoe Size: 11 US
Email address: ra1 (at) imrisk (dot) com
I live in Dayton, Ohio
BACKPACKING BACKGROUND
Over the last 18 months, I have gone from being a heavyweight (2 Duluth Pack)
canoe camper to a three-season base pack weight of about 9 lb (4 kg) and skin
out weight of 20 lb (9 kg). I have completed 5 ultralight section hikes on the
Appalachian Trail with a total mileage of over 200 miles (322 km). I am an
ultralight hiker, a gearhead, a hammock camper, and make much of my own
equipment.
PRODUCT INFORMATION
Manufacturer: Outdoor Research
Year Manufactured:2003
Manufacturer's Link:
www.orgear.com
MSRP: $30
Size: XL
Color: Black
Listed Weight: 7 oz (199 gm) for pair
Measured Weight: 7.34 oz (208 gm)
Review Date: 9 March 2004
FIELD CONDITIONS
The gaiters have been used for hiking in field conditions from -10 F (-23 C) to
65 F (18 C). They have been used in snow that covered the top of a trail
running shoe, in dry and wet piles of leaves, on sandy paths, and on limestone
rock. I have used them in light rain, dry conditions, and in blowing snow. I
have hiked trails in Ohio and Germany with these gaiters during the field
testing period.
REVIEW
A detailed description of the measurements, cloth type, and construction can be
found in my
initial review.
My initial impression of the construction of the gaiter has been confirmed by
the last couple months of testing. The gaiter is very sturdy. Seams are
impeccably finished and they have not suffered any apparent wear. No threads
have broken. The Velcro continues to work as designed. The snaps are secure
and work well. The metal front hook has not been bent or damaged. The strings
across the bottom of my shoe soles have not suffered damage in the period.
I have used the gaiter exclusively with a pair of GOR-TEX® lined trail runners.
Once adjusted, there has been no need to change the setting of the string under
the sole of the shoe. The string is not very exposed to abrasion on my shoe and
has not suffered any abnormal wear. I tied the cord doubled under the shoe, by
tying a hitch on the inside grommet and then tying a square knot inside the
grommet on the outside grommet.
I find the gaiters keep my feet toasty warm in very cold conditions. They keep
leaves, sticks, sand, and snow from getting in the top of my low topped trail
running shoes. I find that the inside surface of the lower (waterproof) gaiter
section usually gets wet with condensation after an hour of wearing, regardless
of the outside temperature. I believe this is because the air escaping from the
shoe on each step is warm and moist. It condenses on the first cold surface,
which in this case is the gaiter.
Because of the condensation, I have begun stopping every hour or so of walking
and releasing the lower portion of the gaiter. I unhook the gaiter from my shoe
string, unsnap the front snap, and peel the first handbreadth's measure of the
gaiter open. Then I snap the gaiter above my ankle so the lower portion of the
gaiter is inside out. I use a pocket towel to dry the condensed water and then
remove my shoes to let the sock dry. This rest stop usually takes about 5
minutes. Doing so has reduced the number of hot spots on my feet to almost
nil. Because the gaiter is only partially removed, it takes less than a minute
to put the shoes back on and reattach the lower portion of the gaiter.
Bottom of gaiters rolled up and snapped, allowing socks to dry during a rest
break
One of the conditions in which the gaiters
have been very valuable is on the muddy trails of spring thaw. The gaiters
effectively keep splashes from entering the top of my shoes. I avoid stepping
in more than an inch of water whenever possible, but keeping socks dry while
walking in this much water is certainly possible.
The elastic at the bottom hem of the gaiter stays tight enough against my shoe
that it keeps snow from getting in the top of my shoe as well. This makes it
possible to walk in much deeper snow than I would otherwise attempt with low cut
trail shoes.
The material is stout enough to resist puncture by brambles when walking off
trail. I often have been bothered by various thorn bearing vines and plants
when gathering firewood or going to and returning from a stealth campsite.
These gaiters make it easier to walk off trail without ripping my skin or rain
pants on the brambles.
Though it has been too cold to have much chance to walk any extended distance in
the rain with the gaiters, the short distances I have used them were a
pleasure. My feet were dry, and the gaiters not only protected me from rain
dripping down my legs, but also from splashes on the path. I considered whether
it would be better to have the pants leg of my rain pants outside the gaiter, or
inside. I wanted the pant leg outside so the rain would not run down the pant
leg into the gaiter. I wanted it inside so the pant leg stayed clean while I
walked the muddy path, and was not exposed to damage from bramble. My solution
was to tuck the end of the rain pant leg in the top of the gaiter, letting the
material of the rain pant create a drip line outside the gaiter. This approach
will be tested in more severe conditions during the long term testing phase.
TEST PLAN
In long term testing, I will do more
work in rainy conditions. I intend to do some comparison of the utility of the
gaiter, by wearing one gaiter and noting the difference between my two feet. I
will continue to work with the water repellent properties of the top of the
gaiter, determining how well water is handled by the coating.
Overall, I like this gaiter. It is lightweight, well constructed, and works for
all the purposes I have tried it thus far. I look forward to long distance
hiking in the long term testing period with this gaiter.
Read more reviews of Outdoor Research gear
Read more gear reviews by Rick Allnutt
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