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REI Desert Gaiters
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The low-cut REI Desert gaiters ensure protection from debris while you hike, trek or run in the heat of summer.
- Designed to fit trail-running shoes, light hiking boots and outdoor cross-training shoes
- Lightweight, breathable nylon fabric has a soft, supple hand
- Fabric provides UPF 30 sun protection, shielding skin from harmful ultraviolet rays
- Overlapping rip-and-stick front closures allow quick, easy adjustments
- Elastic at top and bottom openings provides a comfortable, flexible fit
- REI Desert gaiters have lace hooks and instep cords to secure the gaiters in place
Imported.
Item 803452
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REI Desert Gaiters Customer Reviews
REVIEW SNAPSHOT®
by PowerReviewsPros
- Lightweight (11)
- Breathable (9)
- Good size/fit (5)
- Durable (4)
- Versatile (3)
Cons
- Poor fit (7)
Best Uses
- Sizing:
Feels too small
73%
(8 reviews)
Feels true to size
Feels too large
- Reviewer Profile:
- Avid adventurer (9)
- Was this a gift?:
- No (12)
Reviewed by 14 customers
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Displaying reviews 1-10
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Pros
- Breathable
- Durable
- Good Fit
- Lightweight
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about REI Desert Gaiters:
I've been using these gaiters for desert hiking for two years now. They are light weight and breathable. They always--always--keep the desert scree out of my boots. The keep out the thorns, the dust, the thorns, the rocks, the thorns, the sand, etc. I even used these for a creek hike in Aravaipa canyon and I was the only one who didn't have to stop every few miles to remove silt and gravel from my boots. These gaiters are the envy of my hiking club. I only wish they made these in a knee-length height for bushwacking.
- Sizing:
- Feels true to size
Pros
- Lightweight
- Well made
Cons
- Poor Fit
Best Uses
- Casual Wear
- Travel
Comments about REI Desert Gaiters:
I have been wearing a pair of OR "Low Gaiters" for several years and love them. They are a little too warm for some hikes so I thought I'd try these dessert gaiters after reading the good reviews on them. Boy, was I disappointed!
I wear a size 13 so ordered the XL size. They were WAY too small; I couldn't come even remotely close to being able to get them on! My legs are "normal" sized for a guy and I couldn't even close the top snap of the gaiter, much less the velcro. I double-checked the package and label to make sure I hadn't been sent the wrong size, but the label said XL.
I was about to send them back for a refund but first asked my wife if she wanted to try them. She wears a woman's size 8 and the gaiters barely fit her. She liked them and wore them on a recent 4-day backpack trip with no problems so I decided to go ahead and keep them. But I won't be buying another pair.
On the positive side, the gaiters appear to be well made and should last for quite awhile. Too bad the sizing is so far off. I guess that's the risk one takes with buying things like this online: You can't try them on before you buy.
- Sizing:
- Feels too small
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about REI Desert Gaiters:
I was very disapointed in them. even the XL size doesnt even come close to going around my calves, and its not like I'm a weight lifter, just an ex mountain climber.
- Sizing:
- Feels too small
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Breathable
- Durable
- Good Fit
- Lightweight
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
- Day-Hikes
- Long-Distance Hiking
- Multi-Day Backpacking
Comments about REI Desert Gaiters:
I was initially put off by these gaiters because of the way they look-- honestly, they look quite dorky. I bought them anyway, and proceeded to do a thru-hike of the Pacific Crest Trail in them. One pair lasted the WHOLE WAY (not so with the five pairs of trail-runners I went through). At the end of the trail they had one small hole each (right down by the grommets where the stirrup attaches). Otherwise they were in great shape!
They keep everything out-- thorns, dirt, scree (I've always been picky about having foreign objects inside my shoes-- without gaiters I have to dump my shoes multiple times even on short day-hikes). These gaiters keep it all out, they're lightweight and breathable (nice for the blistering heat of southern Cali).
I wear a size 10.5 women's and used size Large gaiters-- didn't have any issues with the size (I do not wear hiking boots though-- only trail runners).
- Sizing:
- Feels true to size
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Breathable
- Lightweight
Cons
- Poor Fit
Best Uses
- Hiking
- Trail Running
Comments about REI Desert Gaiters:
Even after having read the previous reviews, I thought I would be ok by sizing up to the L/XL. I was wrong. I could possibly wear these with no pants on, but they would not fit around pants even wearing low cut hikers/trail running shoes.
I'm disappointed because the lightweight/breathable material looks like exactly what I wanted.
I'm a women's size 10/men's 8.5 and have an average size ankle/lower calf.
- Sizing:
- Feels too small
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Lightweight
Cons
- Poor Fit
Best Uses
Comments about REI Desert Gaiters:
I bought these gaiters to keep scree and foxtails out of my boots/socks when going off trail. They work well for that but they could be better.
I like how easy they are to put on and take off because I don't like wearing them all the time. Although they supposed to be breathable they still seem to heat up my feet.
I like the field-replaceable stirrup cords instead of the sewn straps/buckles that other gaiters have.
The top elastic is very tight. I got the L/XL size and they barely fit around my ankles (size 12 boot). I wish they would have provided a bit more fabric at top and some more adjustment.
These gaiters are definitely designed for low-cut boots and trail runners. Mid-high boots are pushing it as the gaiters then need to be secured around the lower calves, and they can be too tight.
- Sizing:
- Feels too small
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Breathable
- Durable
- Good Fit
- Lightweight
- Versatile
Cons
Best Uses
Comments about REI Desert Gaiters:
Some of the local trails get very dusty by mid-summer and the desert gators are great for keeping the dust and debris out of my shoes. I've had this pair for about four years and they're still in great shape. I've only replaced the ties once. Great produce....I keep waiting for them to wear out so I can buy a new pair!
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
Cons
- Poor Fit
Best Uses
Comments about REI Desert Gaiters:
Picked these up for my Philmont adventure. Immediately realized they are waay too small. I am average guy, size 11 shoes, not a large ankle/calf. They were so small that I could barely get the velcro to connect. Not sure what REi is think here. perhaps these should be children's sizes :) Returned to store for refund and another brand.
- Sizing:
- Feels too small
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Pros
- Breathable
- Lightweight
- Simple
Cons
- Lace grommet location
- LXL too small
- Needs snaps at both ends
- Poor Fit
Best Uses
Comments about REI Desert Gaiters:
I bought these to replace an order model where the REI label became gummy, and I made a mess of trying to remove the remainder. My older ones fit fine, but these would barely fit over the tops of my Keen Targhee II boots. I had to keep the gaiter less than an inch from the top and they frequently popped over even with the lacing under the boot. The lacing grommets are too close to the front, The hook will keep the front down, the back is where they tend to ride up.
I did like the front velcro as opposed a back entry, it's simpler when you aren't looking for the weather protection back entry offers. Even the top of the gaiter would barely go over my ankle with pants underneath. A snap up top would have helped take the stress off the velcro. The lace hook is opposite of every other pair of gaiters I have had in the past, not a major issue, and the under lace method is undoubtedly more secure (had I been able to get the hook down far enough)
I bought these mainly to keep debris out of my boots on steep slopes, and for protection from evil ticks.
With more reasonable sizing, moving the grommets back, and possibly a snap at the top these would be fantastic.
For the record my ankle circumference is 10" (bare nekkid) and the top of my boot is 15" while it would require about 18" to be at a usual gaiter placement.
- Sizing:
- Feels too small
- Was this a gift?:
- No
Bottom Line No, I would not recommend this to a friend
Images shared by toddfedak
REI desert gaiter L/XL on Keen Targhee II size 12
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Pros
- Breathable
- Lightweight
- Protects Bootlaces
Cons
- Design Flaws
- Wears Out Quickly
Best Uses
Comments about REI Desert Gaiters:
BACKSTORY: I am a field biologist working in chaparral/coastal sage scrub/deserts of southern California. Daily I spend several hours at work hiking, usually off trail, usually strenuous bushwacking.
I went into my local REI store this weekend looking for a solution to what has recently become the bane of my existence everyday at work, constantly having my shoelaces untied. While these absolutely did the trick and my laces were still tied at the end of the day with significantly less debris (not free, but pretty good) in my boots I found them performing less than awesome in other areas.
Within the first hour of day one with these, the REI logos completely came off of both gaiters in the pair, which is not something I am at all concerned with, but an anecdote to their construction and something that the marketers at corporate might care about. By the end of day 1, I had a few small holes in the gaitors where seed pods had pierced the fabric, a thread seam coming undone on the sides, and the "shoelaces" adhering them to the bottom of the boot had long come undone. Nooooooo!
its now day 3 and I have lost/misplaced both of those laces, but this hasn't been a problem for me yet in terms of having the gaitors "ride up" as the elastic along the bottom seems to be pretty tight and theres a hook to your bootlaces near your toes. I say good riddance to those laces, as they seem like they would've worn out and snapped pretty fast anyway on the bottom of my boots from grinding away at gravel, stone, and brush.
Another design flaw I see with these gaitors is the velcro closure system in the front. for me the material bunches up in the front (probably due to poor sizing/fit -too tight on my calves, see other commenters reviews-) causing the velcro strips to spread apart and open. I see problems happening with zippers too, so maybe a snap button system in addition to velcro would be better? REI design team, Don't forget to also work on replacing those laces with something more durable.
I think these would be fine for casual desert hikers, and that's probably who they were intended for, but definitely didn't work for me, so i will be taking them back this week.
- Sizing:
- Feels too small
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