Bushwalk Australia

I know gaitors have been done to death but the more I read the more confused I get. It seems the only consensus is that there are no gaitors for the Tassie bush. And they are all over priced (for what you get). I was still hoping to find something that would be ok for <$50 (yes, I will get them OS).

These will be my first gaitors as I have never really seen the need (mainly hiked in summer without too much scramblin, scrub or mud). Lately, I've come to realise what the fuss is about and I have also stepped on enough snakes to push my luck. I will use them on fullgrain Scarpa boots, mainly on-track and I'm usually very careful with my gear so they probably don't have to be bomb proof (even if that was possible). But I certainly don't want them to fall apart after a few walks!

I've had my eyes on Outdoor Research Verglas but can't find much feedback on them from reliable sources (like here). They use Ventia, a proprietary waterproof/breathable barrier rather than goretex but I've never heard of it before and I'm a bit suspicious. Now, e-OMC have a sale on and the OR Crocs are now <$50 so I'm contemplating if I should go for these instead or save some $ and get the now really cheap Verglas (USD35 )

http://www.e-omc.com/catalog/compare.php?skus%5B%5D=3773&skus%5B%5D=3764
http://www.outdoorresearch.com/site/compare.html?x=66&y=12&items=w_s_crocodiles&items=w_s_verglas_gaiters

I've been told in one Hobart shop that the cheap bungy cord gives a much better seal than more heavy duty strap (he was referring to StS). Is that true?

Are the OR and StS sizes similar? I was hoping to get the correct size by trying on StS as that seems to be the only thing around here.

Anyone got any experience with Verglas or Ventia?

Advice/suggestions welcome

As for sizing I can't help you.

The guys who have trouble with gaitors and the ones who walk off track a lot in tassie, most mainlainders, even if they walk off track a fair bit don't have the same trouble.

So for your usage, these should be fine.

I think Goretex etc is a waste of money for gaitors. It makes them hotter if its dry and gaitors have a great big hole in the top and the bottom for the water to get in, making the waterproof ness fairly useless. Unless you are a mountaineer, Canvas is much better value for money.

We tend to kill Gaiters here in Tassie (narrow tracks ??) I dont think $50.00 will buy you long lasting ones and agree GTX are not required ,I would look at OP or WE Canvass and I think they will set you back over $65.00 .
I believe no two Gaiter Manufacturers are the same size wise and would always take my boots with me me to try them on for a good fit, jmho
cotvus

Maelgwn wrote:The guys who have trouble with gaitors and the ones who walk off track a lot in tassie, most mainlainders, even if they walk off track a fair bit don't have the same trouble.

So for your usage, these should be fine.

Thanks, thats what I thought/hoped

Maelgwn wrote:I think Goretex etc is a waste of money for gaitors. It makes them hotter if its dry and gaitors have a great big hole in the top and the bottom for the water to get in, making the waterproof ness fairly useless. Unless you are a mountaineer, Canvas is much better value for money.

Fair call. Not specifically looking for waterproof it's just that these seemed to be relatively good value and happened to have it.

corvus wrote: I dont think $50.00 will buy you long lasting ones and agree GTX are not required ,I would look at OP or WE Canvass and I think they will set you back over $65.00 .

The OR are ~$20 down now so normally be roughly the same as OP/StS WE. Considering the prices are generally so much lower in the US I find it hard to believe OP/StS are better VFM but would be happy to be proven wrong. are you saying that the OP/StS WE are so much better? And do I really need the best for what I want to do? I know it might seem cheap but there's two of us who will need to be out fitted/upgraded almost completely so we really need to keep the money tight.

I get the GTX thing but not sure if it will hurt too much either. Not for me at least but maybe my husband. Hm, I might have to find something else (canvas) for him

Appreciate the input, keep it coming

Stibb wrote:
I've been told in one Hobart shop that the cheap bungy cord gives a much better seal than more heavy duty strap (he was referring to StS). Is that true?

Regarding this point, it is possibly true. The STS strap is pretty stiff. Saying that, I expect most people just wear through the strap and don't see the point replacing it with something expensive, so they just use whatever cheap cord they have and replace it regularly.

The two key differences I see between the OR and the STS is the STS is canvas vs Ripstop something in the OR and the STS may be triple stiched vs double stitched for the OR.

I'm still waiting for the bungy on my WE canvas gaiters to go,12 years now; when I bought them I slipped a short length of stiffened 3/4inch tubular nylon webbing over the bungy and retied it, when it finally dies I'll use a short loop of Stainless Steel wire in it's place. I also painted the seams and inside ankle part with silicon diluted with turps, this is a reliable water proofing on the outside of the Cordura, I believe in buying good gear and modifying it to suit the use I give it, That said I haven't used them in Tassie yet

Ok, so if I want good quality canvas without any waterproof membrane for <$50 I'm out of luck? I can't seem to find anything that looks promising. Even in the US. I'll have a look in the local shops over the weekend, maybe I'll have to go for the StS anyway then.

Not hard to make; just fiddly and time consuming, $50- buys a lot of material, gaiters do not have to have zips.

If your looking for canvas and nothing too flash then these are $25. I'm not certain of their quality but they're cheap enough

http://www.wellingtonsurplus.com.au/sho ... s+-+Black+

*sigh* I've been pulling my hair trying to decide what to do. Go with the el cheapo for $25 or something that might last. Usually, better to get the best and save you from future headaches. We made a compromise; I'll get a pair now and my hubby will wait

corvus wrote:I would look at OP or WE Canvass

Thanks. I'm now pretty much set on OP RFG (if I can find them in Hobart to try 'em) or StS Quagmire (which are everywhere) or WE Canvas (I assume these are everywhere to). They might be a bit overkill but then I will not have to worry about gaiters for a while. We'll see. I might change my mind again a few time before tomorrow.

+1 for WE canvass

corvus wrote:.... would always take my boots with me me to try them on for a good fit, jmho
cotvus

That was one piece of very good advice. Thanks. Didn't really believe you first

I ended up with StS quagmires (canvas). OP RFG were nowhere to be found (Passion8 will get them back in the next few weeks) and are $100 The WE canvas bush didn't fit at all although one salesman (not at passion8) tried to convince me of the opposite. Leg was really good but the foot was way to large and floppy (in XS). Nice looking thing otherwise. Might get them for my hubby later. Quagmire fits great but could be a couple of centimeters shorter. Hopefully it wont become a problem (I doubt it) and in worst case I'll have to chase down this DR Marine guy to shorten them. Can't wait to try them out.

Must say the service at Passion8 was great!!! Great advice and gave me a discount without asking

Thanks for your input