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Outdoor Research
Rocky Mountain High Gaiters™ ,
Packcloth
Initial
Report by Rick Allnutt
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: 21 January 2004
REVIEW
The gaiters came one inside the other with a hang tag describing
construction details, features and benefits, and a diagram of the
construction of the gaiter. They were exactly what I expected
after reading the Outdoor Research (OR) website. According to the
hang tag, this gaiter is for those who "prefer full protection," i.e. a
high gaiter. It is "ideal for those who mostly enjoy dry-weather
outings, whether hot or really cold." I learned from the tag that
the top section of the gaiter was made of uncoated packcloth with a
Teflon HT Durable Water Resistant treatment. The bottom section
is made of coated, waterproof packcloth.
Construction of the gaiter appears to be robust. Seams were
impeccably finished. Appearance of the product is quite
professional.
The following technical description
is
easier to follow with a diagram of the construction of the gaiter, laid
out flat, with the
elastic bottom edge stretched out:
The top portion of
the gaiter, from A to B is the uncoated section of the
gaiter. From B to C, in cyan blue, is the coated portion of
the gaiter. The coated portion of cloth is
shiny from the treatment on the inside surface. The outside of the two
cloth
types are indistinguishable. "OR" is the location of the embroidered
logo, useful
when I need to put one of the mirror image gaiters on the correct
foot.
In this XL sized gaiter, which fits my size 11 trail running shoes
perfectly, the measurements of the cloth are listed below. Each
section of the cloth seems to have straight sides. I could detect
no catenary cutting patterns in the construction.
The length of the top hem, A, is 19.5 in
(50 cm). Inside this hem, there is a 3/4 in (1.9 cm) webbing,
attached and sewn to a cam locking device at F. The free end of
the webbing exits the right side of the hem 2 in (5 cm) from the far
right side of the gaiter on the outer surface. There are 3 in
(7.6 cm) of webbing outside the exit slit when pulled taut. The
webbing ends in a 45 degree cut-off, to assist threading of the webbing
in the cam device.
The length of the double sewn seam B is 17.25 in (44 cm). From A
to B, the distance is 12.25 in (31 cm).
The length of the bottom hem, C, is 24 in (61 cm). To the inside
surface of this seam, a piece of 1 in (2.5 cm) elastic, 16 in (41 cm)
long, has been stretched and sewn to the full length of C. There
are two grommets (red
dots in the diagram) attached through the bottom hem. Their
inside hole measurement is 5/16 in (0.8 cm). The left grommet is
5.25 in (13 cm) from E. The right grommet is 6 in (15 cm) from
D. At E, there is a metal hook, intended to
attach to the front lace of the shoe, stretching the elastic in the hem
and creating a tight fit between the gaiter and the shoe. In
addition, there
is a durable metal snap to connect D to E.
On the left and right sides of the gaiter, a 1 in (2.5 cm) strip
of hook
and loop fastener is attached. When worn, this strip is in the
front of
the gaiter.
I tried the gaiters on and wore them for an evening with my trail
runners. They seem comfortable. I had no condensation
inside the gaiter during a relaxing evening around the
house. My sock did seem a little moist when I took the gaiters
off before bed.
TEST PLAN
During winter months, I will use the gaiter with
Gortex Nike Air trail
shoes to determine how well the gaiter protects the shoe. I will hike
on snowy paths at several different temperatures, on muddy paths, and
on
paths choked with weeds and leaves. Later, I may use the gaiter with NB
806s.
For a portion of the testing, I will wear a gaiter on one foot and not
on the other. I will compare the amount of material that ends up in the
gaitered shoe vs. the ungaitered shoe. I will also take infra-red
temperature measures of the ankle temperatures with and without the
gaiters. This will be done to determine if the gaiter keeps the foot
warm in the cold temperatures and also to determine how much heat build
up there is in warm weather. The literature on the product says
that the
gaiters are comfortable with bare legs. I will include this in the warm
weather
testing.
I will consider treating the gaiter with spray-on 3M Scotch Guard to
improve the water shedding ability of the
gaiter if the DWR coating of the cloth stops performing well. However,
this will
only be done following the Field Report. I will compare the
gaiters so treated to previous testing
before the spray treatment for use in rainy weather.
I will be completing many day hikes before the field testing period is
complete. I plan a number of AT section hikes before the end of June,
including the 200 miles from Springer to the Smokies.
PERSONAL BIOGRAPHICAL INFORMATION
Rick Allnutt
50 Year old male
6' 0'' (183 cm) in height
198 lbs (90 kg) in weight
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
ultralite section hikes on the AT with a total mileage of over 200
miles (322 km). I am an ultralite hiker, a gearhead, a hammock camper,
and make much of my own equipment.
Read more reviews of Outdoor Research gear
Read more gear reviews by Rick Allnutt
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