Gaiters

[ollster]

ollister I dont want to belive you but do (pics please)

Okey dokey... sorry about the focus, but you get the idea.

[Ent]

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[ILUVSWTAS]

Yeh I saw this first hand! They lasted under one hour! Sadly I will not be purchasing any macpac gaiters

[blacksheep]

Firstly, I am very surprised and disappointed to hear this. While the collar is a surprising point to fail, it still should have enough seam allowance to prevent it tearing out. I'm not sure how this area is loaded, but will change construction on the basis of this photograph. Will review the current stock on hand to see if this is isolated or whether we need to to take action on current SOH.

Ollster- as I said in a PM, I want to hear all commments you have (one of these is now obvious) as I'll incoroprate them into the products immediately. In the interim see Phil at Hobart and he'll sort you out for this pair- replace/repair/refund etc,.

I lead with my chin because I do have faith in how we do things. I just wasn't expecting to get hit like that. No ducking and weaving from me , just disappointment...

[ollster]

Ollster- as I said in a PM, I want to hear all commments you have (one of these is now obvious) as I'll incoroprate them into the products immediately. In the interim see Phil at Hobart and he'll sort you out for this pair- replace/repair/refund etc,.

Hi Blacksheep, thanks for the comments. My thoughts on this gaiter design...

-The gaiter isn't tall enough, needs another 3-5cms so that it comes up closer to my knee (the S2S is an example of "about right")
-I think the compression strap could be replaced by a elastic draw cord that exits via the rear of the gaiter.
-The gaiter could be a bit stiffer (stiffer material), and ideally a palstic plate could be stitched into the fron flap for extra stiffness and protection. I think Ive seen some that have this, but can't recall the make/model.
-I do like the position of the laces hook, they should always where they are as on this design.
-Stitching down the front of the gaiter was already starting to show wear. Needs double/triple stitching, although I'm not sure if even that would help. Is there a way of manufacturing so that the stitching is not external? I know it probably adds to the cost, but it's usually the first point of failure for me.
-I think the underfoot strap mounting point material may be a little lightweight and will wear through. I'm not sure how to deal with this, but could they be mounted inside the gaiter?

That's all I can think of right now, it's too early for me to function...

[blacksheep]

I will get a revised pair over to Tassie for you to destroy in the next few weeks.

[ILUVSWTAS]

Haha Taken like a true professional Blacksheep! well done again on your service!!

Is there still no gaiter out there suitable for off track walking??

Has anyone used the OP ones??

[geoskid]

Firstly, I am very surprised and disappointed to hear this.
I lead with my chin because I do have faith in how we do things. I just wasn't expecting to get hit like that. No ducking and weaving from me , just disappointment...

Yeah, good attitude - Hang in there Cam.

[north-north-west]

A pair of denim jeans ...!

Yes. Perfect clothing for bushwalking.

[Ent]

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[Penguin]

Took the old MacPac Classics down to the Mount Anne Circuit over the last few days. A bit of clumsy rock hopping put a tiny 3mm rip on the medial aspect of the ankle, easily solved with a few stitches and some Aqua Seal.

Still happiest with these. I am not sure the newer Cascade are the same quality, but happy to be convinced.

I'm with Brett, Ollster and Corvus. Somewhere out there there must be a gaiter that can take a bit on punishment?

The grapevine tells we S2S is making a "Tassie" gaiter. Spin or reality?

P

[dee_legg]

The grapevine tells we S2S is making a "Tassie" gaiter. Spin or reality?

That's the word on the street. But I don't think anyone knows how far off the elusive Tassie gaiter is... probably a while from experience.

[ollster]

The grapevine tells we S2S is making a "Tassie" gaiter. Spin or reality?

That's what I've heard too... a source on the inside of one of the local Hbt shops said that S2S is indeed working on a Tassie gaiter, as apparently 80% of their gaiter returns are from Tas.

As an aside, I've got a new pair of the Macpac gaiters (thanks Cam and Phil). Macpac are also selling wire undershoe loops on split rings, which I've grabbed a pair of. I'll do my best to destroy them in due course, but I haven't got any scrub bashes planned soon.

I'd also like to correct something I said about them being too short, aparently there are standard and long versions. I had the standard ones, and now I've now got the long ones to match my freakishly long shins.

[geoskid]

The grapevine tells we S2S is making a "Tassie" gaiter. Spin or reality?

P

I reckon if anyone knows Brett would - "What do you know Brett?" I think I may have seen a test pair having a few K's put on them near Lake Antimony recently. The only thing better than hearing a good rumour is starting one!

[Ent]

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[blacksheep]

Hi Geoskid

It would have to be a very brave manufacturer extremely serious to improving their products to give this harden critic anything to test and they would have to have the ability to speed read any test reports I for one could see a certain marketer going grey and getting stomach ulcers reading the reports before succumbing to a stress induced heart attack because they became so indignant reading the report that they forgot to breath

wow, you must think that person places significant value on your opinion? " "

[nakedape]

A pair of denim jeans ...!

Yes. Perfect clothing for bushwalking.

The point is that a relativey strong material, such as denim, is enough (in most circumstances) to defelect a snake bite - it was not to recomend jeans for walking. PLease don't quote me out of context

[Ent]

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[Tassiemarty]

Hi Geoskid

It would have to be a very brave manufacturer extremely serious to improving their products to give this harden critic anything to test and they would have to have the ability to speed read any test reports I for one could see a certain marketer going grey and getting stomach ulcers reading the reports before succumbing to a stress induced heart attack because they became so indignant reading the report that they forgot to breath

wow, you must think that person places significant value on your opinion? " "

Um? Thinking of the song by Carly Simon actually

long time reader, virgin poster.

@ Brett: read you're posts, you're reminding me of a Carly simons song too...'The Bedroom Tapes' track 3.

@ Black sheep: don't worry about this one, keep up the good gear

[rucksack]

I am still in the process of wearing out a couple of pairs of NZ-made Macpac canvas gaiters from 2001 or 2002, (I forget which year now, but obviously before they went off-shore with their manufacturing). One pair is their then bushwalking gaiters with velcro & 3 press studs down the back and the other their then xc-skiing gaiters with the velcro and spress studs down the front. I do mostly off-track walking of the longer variety (around 12 to 16 days at a time in Tasmania, but also in NSW & Victoria too, as I live in Shanghai, so it's a bit of a trek to come down). I also walk in Jiangsu and Zhejiang provinces 'next door' to Shanghai. Both pairs of gaiters - but particularly the bushwalking ones, have had a very hard life, but both are still in very good shape. I have just sent the bushwalking ones down to Remote in Melbourne to get some scuff pads sewn on to the insides (which is the only worn area) and the stitching checked around the bottom, but this is the first repair they have ever needed. The bushwalking ones have a single-ended draw cord at the top and the XC-ski ones have tape and a plastic locking clip, similar to the photo at the top of this thread. Neither pair of gaiters have ever been a problem; not the stitching, not anything. Before the Macpacs, I had a pair of Berghaus canvas gaiters which had a zip up the back. They were great too, but the zip did occasionally got a little clogged with mud & assorted debris when I was wading through interesting undergrowth. I eventually wore them out after many years of off-track walking. I thought that I got my money's worth from them. Ditto for my current NZ-made Macpac canvas gaiters. No complaints. I just tie a new cord underneath before each walk and away I go. Afterwards, I just scrub them under a hose, discard what remains of the bottom cord and dry them off. That's it. I haven't really looked at the more recent Macpac gaiters (or any gaiters really), as mine are fine. I thought I should say all of this partly by way of acknowledging Bruce McIntyre and the fabulous stuff he made, but also to say that if you are having trouble with your gaiters, why don't you get some 'reinforcing' done where you think they are deficient and then try them out. If that works, send them back to the manufacturer with the suggestion that a bit of extra attention might be the 'go'. Can't hurt. Andrew King's post on the rucksack thread on 17 February shows that you have nothing to lose and possibly a better gaiter to gain. Give it a try. Think about what the 'improvements' should be and press on (yes, the pun is intended).

rucksack

[Dazza45]

I have seen mention of both WE and S2S during the discussion about Gaiters. Are ther the same company? I have a WE pack that I bought a long time ago when (I think) they were made in Fremantle and although they are still available I was told that it is now S2S.

[johnw]

I have seen mention of both WE and S2S during the discussion about Gaiters. Are ther the same company? I have a WE pack that I bought a long time ago when (I think) they were made in Fremantle and although they are still available I was told that it is now S2S.

Yes as I understand it WE is owned by S2S. They keep the brands separate and I think the WE designer may be still involved to some extent (there is a separate WE web site at least). I have the S2S Quagmire canvas gaiters and my son has WE gaiters. They are both distributed by S2S. Unlike many others my gaiters have yet to fail but I don't use gaiters a lot, which may be part of the reason. I personally think that the WE ones may be a slightly better design but that's just my subjective opinion, not based on any sort of test. And people have complained about those as well.

[Robbo]

Is there still no gaiter out there suitable for off track walking??

Has anyone used the OP ones??

FYI
I have just been to an Outdoor Education Conference in Victoria where Andrew from OP had some gear on display. In my conversations with him he mentioned that they have begun making gaiters again - after a long hiatus due to an inability to match the off-shore manufacturing prices. While they are normally only available for OP corporate purchasers, if some of you guys from this forum pm him he may be able to supply them to you. He had a pair on display and while they may look 'old fashioned', they are made to the rigorous standards of other OP gear - hidden stitching and the like. They are the same design as OP used to make in the 90's...

It would be interesting to see how they stand up to Tassie conditions.

May be of interest to some...

TR

[nickL]

got the outdoor research gaiters (crocodiles i think) last year from a local adelaide retailer

havent had them long but bought on the recommendation of friends who have had them for a few years (they still look new which is always a good sign)

http://www.outdoorresearch.com/site/m_s_crocodiles.html

took them on a very rough rocky 7 day'er and they did great

nick

[ILUVSWTAS]

A regular in our group had a pair of those, they seemed ok. but failed in the same places as the STS ones do.

I just got a pair repaired by a sailor mate of mine at a very very cheap price!! If there is anyone locval who wants some Canvas gear repaired let me know.

[Ent]

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[ollster]

Back on this subject... my Macpacs (which for the record were a replacement, as noted above) have done better this time, and I dare say the front stitching lasted a few more days walking than the 3x S2S ones I've had over the last 1.5 years have.

However, now after (thinks... looks through photos...) 8 walks/13 days walking (8 days of which were off track), they're in dire need of a restitch and are going to go under the sailmakers needle. I haven't used them on a couple of walks recently, but they were of the non-gaiter variety anyway.

On closer inspection they are missing stitching in some weird spots, like near the laces hook, under the front of the gaiter, in addition to the normal stitching loss on the front (if that makes sense).

Think I'm going to have to approach NASA for some tips... actually maybe not.

Oh yeah, one more thing... the f***ing wire/split ring "solution" for the under foot strap being sold by Macpac is infuriating me as the wire keeps working it's way out of the split ring. This happens 2,3 sometimes 5 times a walk. Oh and the wire frays, and when you try to put the *&%$#! back through the split ring it goes through your skin and makes you swear lots. Go to a replaceable strap like S2S or something.

[Macca81]

i think, i should try and brush up on my sewing skills and see if i can knock myself up a pair... and see how that goes

[blacksheep]

Back on this subject... my Macpacs (which for the record were a replacement, as noted above) have done better this time, and I dare say the front stitching lasted a few more days walking than the 3x S2S ones I've had over the last 1.5 years have.

However, now after (thinks... looks through photos...) 8 walks/13 days walking (8 days of which were off track), they're in dire need of a restitch and are going to go under the sailmakers needle. I haven't used them on a couple of walks recently, but they were of the non-gaiter variety anyway.

On closer inspection they are missing stitching in some weird spots, like near the laces hook, under the front of the gaiter, in addition to the normal stitching loss on the front (if that makes sense).

Think I'm going to have to approach NASA for some tips... actually maybe not.

Oh yeah, one more thing... the f***ing wire/split ring "solution" for the under foot strap being sold by Macpac is infuriating me as the wire keeps working it's way out of the split ring. This happens 2,3 sometimes 5 times a walk. Oh and the wire frays, and when you try to put the *&%$#! back through the split ring it goes through your skin and makes you swear lots. Go to a replaceable strap like S2S or something.

Ollster- the stitching on the Cascade models that is exposed is mostly top stitching- there is hidden stithing beneath that gives the construction integrity. Do you mean some top stitching has caught/ but cut, or more than that?

re: the split rind we stock we buy from Aspiring Enterprises here in ChCh- we stock it (as do most NZ stores) as this is one of the most popular "off the shelf" gaiter ties- it stands up to morrain etc, and is used by many here... the less elegent solution many here also use is a simple piece of electrical wire, doubled and tied off. Cheap and durable.

[nickL]

someone really needs to email a link of this forum to the marketing guy at S2S - the company i work for (not in the outdoors industry though) and many others i am sure do listen to their customers - we should see if S2S listen

also anyone got a pattern for making them - this would be a good MYOG project and someone could start a cottage industry in their area for oz - if no pattern then someone should ask for all ideas and then put them together into one design and caboom.......they turn into a millionaire.....well maybe not but they will be respected here and on forums all over the land

nick