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REI Desert Gaiters

REI Desert Gaiters

Item # 697872
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These lightweight, low-cut gaiters ensure protection from debris while you hike and trek in the heat of summer.

  • Designed to fit both trail runners and outdoor cross-training shoes
  • Made of Solarweave® fabric--incredibly comfortable and cool while retaining softness and flexibility
  • Overlapping hook and loop front closures allow quick, easy adjustments
  • Elastic top and bottom bands offer a flexible seal
  • Lace hooks and inseam cords secure them in place

Imported.

Item 697872

REI Desert Gaiters Specs

Specification

Description

Sock height8 inches

REI Desert Gaiters Customer Reviews

REVIEW SNAPSHOT®

by PowerReviews
REI Desert Gaiters
 
4.3

(based on 11 reviews)

91%

of respondents would recommend this to a friend.

Pros

  • Lightweight (10)
  • Durable (8)
  • Breathable (6)

Cons

    Best Uses

    • Hiking and camping (8)
    • Reviewer Profile:
    • Avid adventurer (9)

    Reviewed by 11 customers

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    Jun

    3

    2008

    (12 of 12 customers found this review helpful)

     
    5.0

    Nice'uns!

    By TBott (AT

    from InDaBoonies, WV

    About Me Avid Adventurer

    Pros

    • Breathable
    • Durable
    • Lightweight

    Cons

    • Reversed lace hooks

    Best Uses

    • Hiking and Camping

    Comments about REI Desert Gaiters:

    I wore a set of these on my AT Thru Hike, and they did a great job of keeping trail duff and debris out of my boots (and mid-heights). Surprisingly, the lightweight material is very durable... the gaiters lasted the entire 2174 miles... I did have to patch a couple of rub-through holes with duct tape, though. They breathe extremely well, which is a real plus on hot, muggy days... no sweating as with those made of overly heavy packcloth (with/without waterproofing)! They do NOT fend off water when wading through "Appalachian Creek" and "Appalachian Swamp", but they do well if you run really, really fast through puddles. :)

    I, too, had significant "issues" with the lace hooks... they are REVERSED and point outward when attached to the laces. Can you say "face plant"? I experienced MANY tripping episodes, when the lace hooks snagged in vines and roots, which is not fun when you're loaded down with a back pack!

    I STRONGLY RECOMMEND that you take some pliers, spread the hooks a bit (they're "open" inside the attachment loop), remove them from the loop, turn them over so that the hook faces DOWN, reinsert into the loop, and squeeze them back together. Voila... no more snagging! I only wish I'd thought of doing this DURING my Thru-Hike!

    These gaiters are sized more for shoes than for low boots/mid-heights... you might want to go up one size group if you plan to use them with boots.

    As for the inseam cords... they DO wear out. What do you expect from small cords that are in constant contact with abrasive surfaces? I extended the life of mine by threading them through some tough nylon sheath material, but not by much. Carry spares (or bounce box 'em). You MIGHT do well with some of the superlight tiedown cords that contain Spectra or Kevlar fibers. Once you've "set" the length of the cords and tied them securely in place, you'll never have to untie/retie them.

    BTW - these gaiters are IDEAL for the Pacific Crest Trail... especially in the volcanic sections where the trail is superfine dust. They do a passable job when traversing snow fields, especially since you (hopefully) shouldn't be postholing very much. Great for the high temperature/low humidity/limited rainfall sections (i.e., California!).

    • Fit:
    • Feels true to size

    Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

    (12 of 12 customers found this review helpful)

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    Oct

    25

    2007

    (8 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

     
    2.0

    Decent Performer But Needs Work

    By Slackline Joe

    from Lafayette, CO

    About Me Avid Adventurer, Professional Guide

    Site Member

    Pros

    • Breathable
    • Lightweight

    Cons

    • Hard to install just righ
    • Wears Out Quickly

    Best Uses

    • Backpacking
    • Dry Hiking

    Comments about REI Desert Gaiters:

    I've used these gaiters during the summer on several Colorado trails including two 13ers. I am a lightweight backpacker/hiker so I use them in conjunction with lightweight trail runners. They see a lot of use and my mileage is perhaps bordering on abuse for lightweight gear with 25 miles a day.

    Once adjusted just right, these do a good job of staying in place. They block sand and debries out very well. They are fairly breathable and they are very light.

    By design these aren't gaiters you wear for protecting your ankles, for water resistance or keeping snow out of your shoes. They do not serve well for these uses so please select accordingly.

    They are designed as a dry weather gaiter for light weight use. They aren't meant to have water proofing as that would make them less breathable and increase foot sweating. Given that in mind, if you do get them wet they dry fast and they perform well in hot dry weather.

    My largest complaint with these gaiters is the keeper strap that goes under the shoe. Even with a gaiter channel on the shoe the material is simply not durable enough. On my first trail day with them I walked through the cords not just once but twice on both.

    I tied the frayed spot back together and it wore through yet again in another spot. On my replacement pair I had the exact same issue. I'm glad REI stands behind their product return wise, but this product just needs better designed. If they could replace the keeper strap with a spectra cord or other more abrasion resistant cord it should not add any appreciable weight but should increase the durability significantly.

    The rest of the gaiter is better than average. The connectors are fairly straight forward and fit is consistent. If however you are using a bulky boot you will need to size up or perhaps choose a different gaiter.

    Overall if REI would fix the keeper cord this would be a winner but without being fixed I simply cannot recommend it.

    Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend

    (8 of 8 customers found this review helpful)

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    Aug

    25

    2008

    (7 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

     
    4.0

    How to make these perfect

    By mark b

    from Carlsbad, CA

    About Me Avid Adventurer

    Site Member

    Pros

    • Breathable
    • Durable
    • Lightweight
    • Snug ankle

    Cons

    • One color

    Best Uses

    • Hiking and Camping

    Comments about REI Desert Gaiters:

    When I first start out on a trail, my buddies might roll their eyes at my desert gaiters. But after a couple hours, when they are emptying their boots of rock and debris, they begin to reconsider buying light weight gaiters for themselves. These gaiters off the shelf are missing a quick, easy lacing system. I bought cord locks and extra boot laces to replace the original laces. Now I just wrap the gaiter cloth around the back of my boot, close the front of the gaiter and cinch the new lace using the cord lock. Any extra lacing gets tucked away under my gaiter. The cord lock goes on the outside to avoid kicking it on the inside of my boot. This adjustment makes these very easy to use.

    • Fit:
    • Feels true to size

    Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

    (7 of 7 customers found this review helpful)

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    Nov

    25

    2008

    (6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

     
    4.0

    Replace strings with bungi cords

    By Gary in Austin

    from Texas

    Pros

      Cons

        Best Uses

          Comments about REI Desert Gaiters:

          I bought these for the Austin Hike & Bike Trail around Town Lake, where I racewalk every other day and used to frequently get painful bits of gravel in my shoes. They work great -- so well that I bought a second pair just to stash away for the future. But they do need one improvement.

          The shoelace-type cords that come with them are hard to work with and wear through quickly. I replaced them with small, short elastic bungi cords that come with a hook on each end. The ones I had were a little too long, which I solved by tying a knot a little ways from one end of each cord. They work so well, I wonder why the gaiters weren't produced with bungi cords in the first place.

          • Gift:
          • No

          Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

          (6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

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          May

          2

          2008

          (6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

           
          5.0

          After 4 hard years, I am buying 2nd pair

          By 2cool

          from Laurel, MD

          About Me Avid Adventurer

          Site Member

          Pros

          • Breathable
          • Durable
          • Lightweight

          Cons

          • cords wear out first

          Best Uses

          • Hiking and Camping

          Comments about REI Desert Gaiters:

          I frequently travel off trail and these have served well. They held up through hundreds of briar patches, hundreds of bug repellent sprayings, dozens of washes and piles of dirt. Through it all, I had to replace the cords, occassionally and got a little water in the boot, and only one small tick when I didn't spray my boot before I put it the gaiters on. The only complaint is that the hook occassionally grabs a vine when I am walking in deep brush.
          They are completely worn out, but long after I expected to replace them. I am buying my second pair now for the next 4 years. I'll even keep the old pair around for spares.

          • Fit:
          • Feels true to size

          Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

          (6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

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          Mar

          31

          2008

          (6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

           
          5.0

          Gaiters- not just in the swamp!

          By treywest

          from Atlanta, GA

          About Me Avid Adventurer

          Site Member

          Pros

          • Durable
          • Lightweight
          • Water Resistant

          Cons

          • Weak keeper cord

          Best Uses

          • Hiking and Camping
          • Trail running

          Comments about REI Desert Gaiters:

          I have owned these gaiters for six years and they have served me well. While some of the other reviewers seem to be looking for a more thoroughly waterproof gaiter, these were not marketed as such and have proven to be water resistant and quick drying as advertised.

          While on long hot days they can become a bit stuffy, they can be easily removed during quick breaks to allow the ankles to breathe.

          As another reviewer noted, I also have a stride which causes trail debris to be flipped into the opposing shoe upon pushing off of the ball of my foot.

          Gone are the days of stopping to clear debris from the foot bed of my shoe- with these gaiters over running shoes (Asics for me) or hiking boots (Sundowners in my case), the fit and ride of these gaiters is exactly what I was looking for.

          While some complain of the color, I have found the tan to be very effective in sighting climbing ticks, ants, and various other insects I would rather avoid becoming host to.

          While the tan soils rather easily, a quick wash with my running gear in the machine always returns them to their original color, save the slight tint of Georgia clay (which adds a nice broken in look in my humble opinion).

          I can't count the number of times I've been stopped by other hikers to ask what in the world these are- evidently they carry a romantic link to spats for some. I am primarily a function over form type of guy, but who says you can't look good while you're burning off the cheesecake you had for breakfast?

          All in all, for the price these can't be beat during the hot, dusty summers of Atlanta.

          • Fit:
          • Feels true to size

          Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

          (6 of 6 customers found this review helpful)

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          Oct

          28

          2008

          (3 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

           
          5.0

          great w/ modifications

          By catch and release

          from on top of the Volcano

          About Me Avid Adventurer

          Site Member

          Pros

          • Breathable
          • Lightweight

          Cons

            Best Uses

            • Hiking and Camping

            Comments about REI Desert Gaiters:

            took advice and flipped lace hook. bought kevlar lace kit(use 1, backup 1) and cut one lace in half, took one and looped and tied each end for three seperately tied on strands under each boot- gave second lace(backup) to wife for hers. just step in and snap/seal. tossed original laces.

            • Gift:
            • No
            • Fit:
            • Feels true to size

            Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

            (3 of 4 customers found this review helpful)

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            Sep

            12

            2007

            (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

             
            4.0

            Great lightweight gaiters!

            By SRowan

            from Bend, Oregon

            About Me Avid Adventurer

            Site Member

            Pros

            • Durable
            • Lightweight

            Cons

            • Doesn't Breathe
            • Fits Small
            • No Color Choice

            Best Uses

            • Backpacking
            • Hiking and Camping
            • Trail running
            • Wet Weather

            Comments about REI Desert Gaiters:

            These are nice lightweight gaitors.. A little more breathability would be nice, like maybe some vents maybe. And a color other then tan would be nice, even though the tan color is a functional color...So more color options. The L/XL size barely even fits confortably around my leg at the top(and my legs are not huge)..I think there should be some more extended sizes for people with bigger legs. These are great for 3 season hiking, backpacking, and trail running.

            • Fit:
            • Feels too small

            Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

            (3 of 3 customers found this review helpful)

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            Oct

            23

            2007

            (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

             
            5.0

            Exactly what I was looking for.

            By Heartland Wanderer

            from Oklahoma City, OK

            About Me Avid Adventurer, Boy Scout Leader

            Site Member

            Pros

            • Durable
            • Easy onoff
            • Lightweight

            Cons

              Best Uses

              • Hiking and Camping
              • Yard work

              Comments about REI Desert Gaiters:

              Something about my gait always flipped small rocks, etc., into my boots. I have used them on numerous backpacking and hiking trips and doing yard work, without a problem. I put cord locks on the cords for easy adjustment.

              • Fit:
              • Feels true to size

              Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

              (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

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              Sep

              12

              2007

              (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

               
              4.0

              Comfy and effective!

              By the Boy Scout Unicorn

              from DC

              About Me Avid Adventurer, Boy scout

              Site Member

              Pros

              • Durable
              • Lightweight
              • Water-resistant

              Cons

                Best Uses

                • Hiking and Camping

                Comments about REI Desert Gaiters:

                the cord that attaches the gaiters gets lost easily, but just replace it with your own. wear over hiking boots to keep out debris. not waterproof.

                • Fit:
                • Feels true to size

                Bottom Line Yes, I would recommend this to a friend

                (1 of 1 customers found this review helpful)

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