Do you wear gaiters every hike?

[cherish]

Hi everyone.

First time hiker as an adult and looking to do it with my 10yo daughter. Been reading the posts here and looking to do either an overnighter at Brisbane Ranges or The Farmyard at Cathedral Ranges. My question is does everyone wear gaiters every hike or is it mainly in summer when the snakes are out? For those that have been to Brisbane ranges and/or Cathedral Ranges, are there snakes to make me very concern?

Checking Paddy Pallin tomorrow for Osprey Ace48 for my daughter. Seems to be the best option I have found so far to get her started.

Cheers
Eric

[ULWalkingPhil]

No, only wear them if I'm going off track, which is not very often.

I keep an eye out for snakes particularly if it's cool on the tracks, they like to lay in the sun on the trails, particularly if the vegetation is thick, often the only sunlight reaching the ground is on the trails, I see a lot of snakes laying in the sun on the trails, my guess is there after the warmth.

Last edited by ULWalkingPhil on Thu 19 Dec, 2013 3:47 pm, edited 1 time in total.

[GPSGuided]

For me, depends on the terrain and growth. On well cleared tracks, I don't bother.

[Moondog55]

I do when not wearing my high boots, but it's mainly to keep the grass seeds out of my socks. There are a few snakes about in the Brisbane Ranges tho they seem to move out of the way fairly quickly and I have only seen 3 in the last few weeks, more here in town I think, more rubbish and food scraps so more rats for them to feed on

[wayno]

depends, on muddy or dusty tracks or off track or in rain, yes,, ankle length, unless in snow more than ankle deep or scrub then knee length....

[photohiker]

Just about.

But only the lightweight kind, like the Integral designs Event Shorties. Keeps the stones out of my shoes and the grass seeds out of my socks.

[phsculpture]

Also just about. I wear mine on anything other than fire trails. I'll be getting some for my 8yo daughter as well, if and when she's up for some off-track sidelines.

[Strider]

Pretty much. Unless its a day walk on good track.

[cherish]

I will be getting my daughter a pair to be safe. Also just ordered the sawyer squeeze hoping to try it out on the hike.

[perfectlydark]

never worn them and dont really have any need. just keep my eyes peeled for snakes

[Strider]

just keep my eyes peeled for snakes

Doesn't everyone? :S

[north-north-west]

I don't hike. I bushwalk.

[Snowzone]

I wear gaiters most of the time, not only because of snakes but also to keep the grass seeds out. There is a lot of long grass in Vic currently. The Brisbane Ranges is fairly open walking on tracks, you may see the odd snake in the gorges. The Cathedral has a lot of scratchy plants along with a bit of rock scrambling so gaiters are a definate there to protect the legs. Had a lovely copperhead come through the Farmyard while I was camped there a couple of years ago.
Come to think of it, I've probably had more close calls at standing on snakes around camp when my gaiters are laying on the ground than what I've had whilst walking.

[MartyGwynne]

I usually wear them all the time unless it is a very open clear track (which I sort of avoid).
If you can get your daughter to wear long baggy legged pants then she would most likely be fine as it will also keep off the biting insects too.
Enjoy your walk, (I won't enjoy being stuck at work).

[Overlandman]

Yes I wear Gaiters, I am Allergic to Jack Jumpers, so they help to keep them away from my lower half. Also great for keeping grass seeds and snakes at bay.

[pastuseby]

Yes nearly always. Leaches and ticks and you never know when you will have to detour due to a fallen tree. As stated a break in the canopy means sunshine and basking snakes. My advice is to take it easy with the daughter at first, you don't want to put her off for life. e.g. my wife and her childhood

[cherish]

Thank you everyone for your feedback.

[puredingo]

I don't wear them I wear long pants with zip off legs. Everything in my pack MUST have more than one use or it's put on the reserves bench.

[Allchin09]

I wear a short, lightweight pair similar to the below photo every walk. They serve well as a simple way to keep things out of my shoes.

[MickyB]

If I am going off track I will always wear them - mainly for protection against snakes ( I have only ever seen 2 live snakes in the wild. A white lipped in Tassie which I have seen bigger worms and what I believe was a tiger snake in the Otways which I almost stood on in May this year)

If I am on formed tracks I generally don't bother wearing them.

[headwerkn]

Always. I wear them woodcutting and fly fishing too.

Protection from snakes. Protection from sharp plants holeing your pants (or legs) and wearing out your boots. Spray with repellant and they help to keep the leeches at bay too.

Gaiters are multipurpose too. Mine (S2S Feathertops) velcro together to make a decent little mat for sitting on or changing shoes/socks.

Cheers, Ben.

[Hallu]

I'm not even sure gaiters are efficient for snake bites. Apparently ample clothing works just as well, making the snake believe your leg is fatter than it really is, and making him bite the fabric instead of your flesh. If he did go for your flesh, many snakes can bite through shoes (such as the taipan). I saw a documentary on a snake research expert in Australia, he just wore ample light hiking pants, that's it. Looking everywhere you step on is probably the best course of action. Gaiters are only good for wet climate : mud, leeches, insects, tall grass. When worn on very hot days in open country they usually make my ankles swell from the heat and it's very uncomfortable.

[Macca81]

Almost always. Never for snakes though, I genuinely do not feel that the risk of snake bite is high enough to take any precautions other than keeping an eye out is required. I wear gaiters for protecting my legs from cuts and scratches, and keeping the mud out of the inside of my shoes.

Sent from my HTC One XL using Tapatalk

[neilmny]

In the warmer months from around October (owing to some close encounters) even on tracks, because you never know when you will want to go off track.
It's easier to put them on than to have to stuff around when the need arises and around your shins is better than one more thing carried on your back.
Besides they keep other undesirable stuff and critters out of your socks and from up your daks.

A recent close encounter with a brown snake served to reinforce my choice.
I had carefully wandered, keeping and eye out, looking all over, to a clear spot on a hill top, put my pack down and about 1 minute later walked back a bit (only a few metres) to enjoy the view.
I heard a sound at my feet and there it was, about 4 foot long, scared the crap out of me and it seemed to feel the same as it moved faster to cover
than I realised a snake could move. There was no sign of a snake when I walked up, certainly not in the local 10 or so metre radius anyway.

Needless to say my snake radar was on high alert for the next while.

[Walking_addict]

Now mostly wear shorties (canvas ones from Aussie Disposals about $15 from memory) to keep dirt, small stones, prickles, and the odd water splashes out of the socks / boots.
Doing the AAWT and similar walks in Tassie, I wore canvas gaiters that covered up over the calfs, mostly for protection from low scrub, but also in the early days for the fear of snakes (as long as you're not # 3 in line, you're ok !! ).

Like headwerkin I also wear them when doing any sort of yard work, chainsaw work, etc, they just keep your socks / shoes so much cleaner and free of debris.

[cherish]

Only planning to do marked tracks for now. I think I will get a pair for my daughter and hold off for myself.

[neilmny]

Only planning to do marked tracks for now. I think I will get a pair for my daughter and hold off for myself.

Cherish, I think if your think your daughter needs them then so do you. Just because some obviously knowledgable in the way of the snake folk don't see the need
doesn't mean that one who wears gaiters is a lesser being. You won't be much use to your daughter out there if you get bitten.

[sim1oz]

I do tend to wear gaiters every walk, but it depends on the walking conditions and time of year as to what type. In cooler but dry weather walking on good tracks, I tend to wear some tiny lightweight spandex gaiters (http://www.dirtygirlgaiters.com/) to keep stuff out of my shoes. When it's raining and very muddy or there's snow I wear my full-length event or goretex gaiters. If we are bushbashing in spring/summer 'snake season', then I would wear my full-length gaiters for peace of mind. Round the Prom last week, I wore long board shorts and my long gaiters and it worked fine. I didn't get too hot and they stopped my legs getting scratched up. None of the snakes we saw got close enough for the gaiters to make a difference anyway.

[north-north-west]

I don't wear them I wear long pants with zip off legs. Everything in my pack MUST have more than one use or it's put on the reserves bench.

Really? Just what else do you do with your food?

[perfectlydark]

Frozen meat can double as an icepack?