REI – Desert Gaiters

Personal Information:

Name: Matthew J. Gilbert
Age: 24
Gender: Male
Height: 5’ 10” (1.78 m)
Weight: 150lbs (68 kg)
Email address: mttgilbert@yahoo.com
City, State, Country: Tempe, Arizona, USA

Date: 11/22/04

Backpacking Background:

 I have been backpacking since I was 17. I spend most of my time in the Superstition Mountains, on and off trail. Primarily I hike and backpack in the desert, but I have just begun canyoneering as well. I would say I generally backpack with a fairly light backpack but I wouldn’t call myself ultra light; my pack weighs about 30-35 pounds (13-16 kg) for a four-day trip including food and water. My typical daypack (including food and water) weighs about 20 pounds (9 kg).

Product Information:

Product: Recreational Equipment Incorporated Desert Gaiters

Manufacturer: Recreational Equipment Incorporated (REI)

Year of Manufacture: 2001

URL: http://www.rei.com/

Size: S/M

Sizes Available: S/M and L/XL

Weight: 3 oz (85 g)

MSRP: $24 US

Features (As listed by the manufacturer):

• Designed to fit both trail runners and outdoor cross-training shoes
• Made of Solarweave® fabric--incredibly comfortable and cool while retaining softness and flexibility
• Overlapping hook and loop front closures allow quick, easy adjustments
• Elastic top and bottom bands offer a flexible seal
• Lace hooks and inseam cords secure them in place

Product Description:

REIs Desert Gaiters are a shorter version of a traditional gaiter. They are 8 inches (20 cm) tall. They close at the front with a hook and loop closure and a snap at the bottom. There is a hook to attach the gaiter to the shoe at the laces and a cord that runs from either side of the gaiter under the heel of a shoe. The cord is attached to the gaiter via two metal grommets. There are elastic straps running across the top and the bottom of the gaiter to provide a tight fit against the shin and the shoe.

While gaiters can be worn for a variety of reasons, these gaiters are designed to keep sand, pebbles, and other desert debris out of the shoe. They are made of a water-resistant nylon.

Field Information:

I have used these gaiters in a variety of situations and environments including desert, forest, and canyon travel. I have used them primarily with a trail-runner style shoe but I have used them several times with a heavier boot. The difference in shoes didn’t seem to affect the utility of the gaiter.

Desert:

Location: Superstition/Mazatzal Wilderness areas

Temperature: 60° F to 110° F (15.6° C to 43.3° C)

Elevation: 2,400 ft (732 m)

My primary concern with these gaiters was with how well they were going to breathe. Since it’s so hot on the ground (up to 10° F (5.5° C) hotter than at head-height) I was concerned that my feet would turn into small saunas. While the gaiters did increase the temperature of my feet, it was not significant. Since I wear well-ventilated shoes (mesh panel uppers) the heat increase was tolerable. On the trail the gaiters do a great deal to keep sticks, thorns, pebbles and sand from getting inside my shoes. This, in turn, keeps my socks cleaner and allows me to use them longer. In camp, and during times of inactivity, the heat trapping function works to my benefit, keeping my feet warmer than they would have otherwise been. The gaiters also served to keep the bugs and other critters (scorpions, spiders, etc.) from crawling up my pant-legs.

Forest:  

Location: Mogollon Rim Area

Temperature: 45° F to 85° F (7.2° C to 29.5° C)

Elevation: 7,500 ft (2286 m)

While using these gaiters in the mountains I had the opportunity to use them in the snow. They did keep the snow out of my shoes, however after several hours they got soaking wet and were cold and clammy.

Canyon:

Location: Hellsgate Wilderness; Tonto Canyon

Temperature: 50° F to 85° F (10° C to 29.5° C)

Elevation: 4000 ft (1219 m)

I never used to take the gaiters with me on canyon trips. However, on my last trip I brought them along on a whim. They turned out to be extremely useful in negotiating the canyons. A very large amount of time in the canyon was spent wading through water; sometimes it was through gravel, sometimes through sand and once in a while through fine, silty muck. Without the gaiters I had to stop almost every mile (1.6 km) and empty out my shoes of rocks, mud and debris. With the gaiters on I only had to empty my shoes about every 4 miles (6.5 km). The only problem was, after the trip the hook and loop closure on the front was completely worn out. Fortunately, being an REI product, all I had to do was exchange them for a new pair. REI has a lifetime satisfaction guarantee that the product will live up to your expectations. Returning the gaiters was as easy as walking into the store. I told the clerk what happened and he told me to go pick up another pair. They don’t even need a receipt if you are a member.

Summary:

Overall, I was very pleased with the performance of REI’s Desert Gaiters. They kept brush and debris out of my shoes and kept my socks cleaner so I could go further without having to change them. The only thing I would change about them is the quality of the hook and loop closure on the front. The quality of the hook and loop fasteners has proven to be insufficient for the harsh environment I have subjected the gaiters to.