Telemark Talk / Telemark Tips Forum

Hi I am looking for advice to track down a pair of good highly breathable ski gaiters. I have been using Begrhaus Yeti over-boot gaiters for years, but I think they are over-kill for the new boots I ordered- Lundhags Guide- because the Guide has a rubber bottom anyway, so a regular gaiter will do nicely. I don't like Black Diamond Gaiters- too tight for skiing (they make 'em that way so you don't spear them with a crampon point when climbing).

I looked at the Fjallraven Singhi but not sure I want a cotton blend down there even if it is waxed. Anyone used these?

What about the OR gaiters?

Others?

I have the OR insect shield gaiters. They're made for keeping ticks out in summer. Uncoated nylon, pretty breathable. I don't think I even added any DWR. Have stayed dry, even on spring days with low cut boots.

Maxwellian wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 27, 2024 12:06 am

I have the OR insect shield gaiters. They're made for keeping ticks out in summer. Uncoated nylon, pretty breathable. I don't think I even added any DWR. Have stayed dry, even on spring days with low cut boots.

Do they have good space in the calf? I dislike tight gaiters.

i've been recycling my plastic groecery bags as gaters, like a homeless bum... save the planet

I've got a pair of Norrøna trousers with a clip at the bottom to latch on to the laces and tight velcro pulls, and if I'm just bombing around in the vicinity they're adequate, they work very nicely to keep snow out the top of my Guides. Otherwise we have a bunch of assorted cheap old Bergans, Stormberg and Norrøna gaiters from the '90s, really simple ones.

I'd be inclined to just get any old cheap second-hand ones.

Musk Ox wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 27, 2024 11:43 am

I've got a pair of Norrøna trousers with a clip at the bottom to latch on to the laces and tight velcro pulls, and if I'm just bombing around in the vicinity they're adequate, they work very nicely to keep snow out the top of my Guides. Otherwise we have a bunch of assorted cheap old Bergans, Stormberg and Norrøna gaiters from the '90s, really simple ones.

I'd be inclined to just get any old cheap second-hand ones.

I have a really old pair of gaiters made by a company that no longer exists, I think they are from 1999 or 2000, from Savage Gear, they are great, I keep on repairing and modifying them, but those are for hiking and a while back- climbing.

The problem with gaiters today are the calf diameters, probably due to hedge funds who buy all these companies then look to cut material off however they can to squeeze more dimes out the victim company. I also don't like gaiters that don't breath really well.

I have interior gaiters in both my 14 year-old ArcTerryx pants and my more recent Simond pants from Decathlon (best bargain anywhere for technical alpinsme pants, 70 EUR normal price! https://www.decathlon.it/p/pantaloni-al ... R-p-133045 ) but I find they are not enough as I am often in deep snow and rarely see other skiers or tracks (except in Sweden). On a two-week tour I like to stay dry.

In the end maybe I will glue the Yeti's on them.

I used to wear a pair of treated cotton high cut Berghaus gaiters, which fit well, but the material had a tendency to freeze up and become almost rigid in some snow conditions. Maybe a nylon version would've beem better in that regard.
For the last several years I've been using a home-modified Black Diamond tube-style alpine boot gaiters for teleboots and leather boots like the Alicos. By adding a grommet on either side of the tube at one end, it fits on the boots nicely.
This is the type of alpine boot gaiter that is basically a fabric tube that opens along one side with velcro, and has elastic at each end o' the tube, pretty basic.

The OR Crocodiles are pretty much the gold standard for gaiters. Tough without being overly heavy.

Some non-waterproof ones would be nice for breathability. I wonder if they would get wet wading through dry powder.

randoskier wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 27, 2024 5:17 am

Do they have good space in the calf? I dislike tight gaiters.

I have the medium size, they’re fitted but not tight on my 16”/41cm calves. A little over an inch of extra material worn over a soft shell trousers and a base layer.

Maxwellian wrote: ↑

Fri Nov 29, 2024 2:03 am

randoskier wrote: ↑

Wed Nov 27, 2024 5:17 am

Do they have good space in the calf? I dislike tight gaiters.

I have the medium size, they’re fitted but not tight on my 16”/41cm calves. A little over an inch of extra material worn over a soft shell trousers and a base layer.

I wonder if the Large would be alright with my 18" calves and size 45 foot. I also wear a base layer sand softshell pants.