Gaiters or Overpants
Original post
What do most of you trampers out there use?
Do you bother with overpants (or waterproof pants),
or just don the shorts all weather and use a pair of gaiters
I haven't done enough long wet hikes to get a good picture of whats best.
I can't see myself being bothered with pants,
but my logic makes me want to wear them otherwise my legs get wet ha ha
Cheers,
Trussell
28 comments
Gaiters are a non esential peice of gear but if you are getting serious about tramping or doing alot of bush bashing they are a worth while invesment. I have a pair of breathable gaiters and they are great for all the bush bashing i do. I do not take overpants because i never use them and they weigh alot. I find that i can never bring myself to put them on because that would mean stoping for a long time and taking my boots off so i can put them on. The only time i have taken and worn my overpants was on Ruapehu when it snowed one day. So i dont belive they are necessary below the snow line.
I always wear short canvas puttees(gaiters)with wire underties.Wire lasts in scree/rock etc where cord would cut out in a day.I believe the long puttees may be too hot sometimes;I`ve stuck with the short ones.I wouldn`t be without them.
Well, it depends on your personal preference and places you go. Personally I never go any were without my gaiters. I really enjoy them, because they keep my legs protected from scratches, mud, hook weed, and bruises. I do a lot of off track navigation thus run into a lot of supple jack, and thick bush and terrain. They also help keep my boots drier.
Over-trousers are good if you own a good pair, my brother owns a pair of gore-tex ones, and they really keep your legs dry in wet windy weather, however some people don't mind wet legs.
Gaitors are also useful when doing things like digging trenches, and removing rose bushes.
Never worn gaiters and doubt I ever will. I can see some point for all the shorts brigade as otherwise their legs must suffer something awful. Nothing worse than looking at someone with blue legs when the cold wind gets up. The sights tend to make me feel 2-3 degrees colder. Spent years in Aussie and found a good reason for wearing trousers being the snakes. Wont stop a big snake but otherwise tends to throw off their aim. Strikes at the trousers , not the leg. I never got out of the habit.
If I have to walk through long grass or weedy scrubs I normally wear gators. They mainly help to keep my socks free of the thousands of seeds and little twigs which get caught in them. They also handy when pushing through black berry vines.
When I am walking on a good track or in the alpine I generally do not wear them.
I also mainly wear shorts or light pants. When it gets cold I normally wear thermals or similar clothing beneath them. It is light and quick drying.
I always use gaiters and shorts, if the weather is cold, polyprop leggings go underneath, the wife reckons I won't make the catwalk in Paris, Milan or New York looking like I do but for some strange reason not too worried about that.
I always wear gaiters and shorts for tramping in the bush and on the tops in reasonable weather.A good pair of overtrousers are invaluable if travelling on the open tops in winter or in strong cold wind
I try to avoid both, but usually bring along a lightweight pair of overtrousers, paclite ones and don't weigh much.
It depends on the conditions whether I bother with gaiters, summer certainly not.
I always wear gaiters,generally over polypro
or light polyester pants,hate shorts with a passion!I carry goretex over trousers which are vital in snow/slush but more importantly they cut the wind chill factor out of the safety equation,I have used cheap($7)warehouse overpants on a bush tramp and found them great for sitting down around the fire,gathering wood etc they only lasted one trip.
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| Forum | Gear talk |
|---|---|
| Started by | Trussell_LLoyd |
| On | 25 January 2007 |
| Replies | 27 |
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