Black Diamond Running

Types of gaiters

• Hiking: lightweight, breathable; offer basic protection against rocks, grit and light rain or snow
• Mountaineering: heavy-duty protection, added insulation for harsher conditions, often waterproof/breathable
• Trail running: lightweight and compact to keep out debris, not usually waterproof

Gaiter height

• Over-ankle: best for dry conditions, trail-running, summer hiking
• Mid-calf: 8–12 inches tall, often water resistant but best for dry or moderately wet conditions

• Knee: 15–18 inches tall, best for deep snow, wet brush, harsh or rugged conditions

What size gaiter to buy? (U.S. sizes)

• Small: women's 6.5–8.5, men's 5–7
• Medium: women's 7.5–10.5, men's 6–9
• Large: women's 9.5–10.5, men's 8–11
• Extra large: men's 10–13

Brightness  

Typically, the higher the number of lumens, the brighter the light.   

• A headlamp with a high lumens count will consume energy at a higher rate than one with a lower lumens number. 
• Most headlamps offer several brightness levels like low, mid and high (max). Others may offer an emergency strobe or red-light mode for nighttime vision. 

Consider the power source 

• Lithium battery–powered headlamps are a good choice for cold-weather use, since lithium batteries outperform alkaline batteries in cold conditions.
• Rechargeable batteries can be used repeatedly but tend to lose power when sitting idle.  

Understand headlamp beam type and distance 

• Flood (or wide): This spreads the beam wider and is for general, close tasks like cooking dinner or reading. 
• Spot (or focused or narrow). A tight beam for longer-distance viewing, such as navigating a trail at night. 
• Flood and spot: Adjustable headlamps are the most versatile.