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I have about 10 pairs of gaiters and none of them work on my new boots. I just can't bring myself to pay retail for yet another pair of gaiters and don't have time to order anything online as I'm leaving in a few days. I know there's been a ton of snow up there lately. I'm not climbing until July though. I have built in gaiters in my goretex bibs so if its really bad I can wear those. Think I can get away with not bringing them? I guess I could just bring one of the too big pairs and some duct tape... We'll be doing mostly rock and ice routes with hopefully minimal glacier slogging.

What about getting a pair of shorty gators (cheap) and wearing them under your soft shell pants...I haven't worn full gators in at least two years...The merits in my mind are more comfortable and more breathability (get softshell or nilon) meaning less foot sweat. The con is you can shred your expensive pants if you're not careful. Have yet to have a problem with snow getting in my boots. Uses have included alpine climbing, glacier slogs and skiing in everything from bullet ice to 2' pow.

I personally don't like snow or rocks or mud in my boots so I like gaiters. I prefer the Outdoor Research Crockadiles - I think that's what they're called. $50 or $60 I think but they'll last a long time. http://www.rei.com/product/725915 They do come in sizes - run out and get some.

Good luck. Have fun.

Hi J!

MEC in your end of the world, has short gaiters for about $15, they fit all boots and will do the job.

Cool... thx! I actually went to MEC yesterday and tried the softshell short gaiters. I wouldn't mind buying those cuz i don't already have them so if you think that'll do the trick, I'll grab 'em.

I´ve got an inner sleeve on my alpine trousers, works quite well. I haven´t worn gaiters for years--- they´re just so, so , UNCOOL!

If you need to traverse glaciers for your rock and ice climbs you should buy a pair of gaiters. You'll need them if descending from late morning to night.

Charles do you wear high or plastic boots in the Alps' 4000ers

Diego Sahagún wrote:If you need to traverse glaciers for your rock and ice climbs you should buy a pair of gaiters. You'll need them if descending from late morning to night.

Charles do you wear high or plastic boots in the Alps' 4000ers

No, I now wear leather boots. But even after long glacier slogs my feet have remained relatively dry---except for sweating. I can see the point of gaiters if one is moving through bog land, that´s for sure. Interesting though, one see few people in the Europea Alps wearing the things, or am I wrong?

Dunno. I neither like to wear gaiters if the snow isn't deep but sometimes they are so useful. Other times they are too warm. If the snow reaches my plastic boot upper part I prefer to put them on

from now to July, much snow will probably melt !

but it may be useful to have gaiters to go across the afternoon slush ...

the cheapest gaiters is to put the shoes in plastic bags and some strap around the ankles

of course this is far from gore-tex and life-time is less than a day ...

I guess some time this is just enough !

I forgot to rack gaiters for a five-week trip to the MB Massif around the same time of year and never needed them.

Did you attempt any 4000er with glaciers