Outdoor Research Helium Gaiters - Men's
This product is not available. Good news: we have a newer version.
Essential items for fast hikers and ounce-counting backpackers, the men's waterproof Outdoor Research Helium gaiters help keep out pesky rocks, dirt, rain, snow and other trail debris you kick up.
Shop newer version- Made from durable, ultralightweight Helium fabric, these gaiters deliver low-profile convenience and waterproof protection
- Pertex® Diamond Fuse technology resists abrasion without adding unnecessary weight
- Construction is light, small and crushable, making gaiters easy to stuff into a small pocket when not in use
- Replaceable Hypalon® instep straps secure the bottom of the gaiters down around your shoes—and make in-field repairs easier in the event of a gear failure
- Hook-and-loop front closures, elastic across the back heels and reinforced boot lace hooks secure your fit
- Drawcord cinch at top hem
Imported.
View the Outdoor Research Helium Product LineView all Outdoor Research Leg Gaiters| Best Use | Hiking |
|---|---|
| Waterproof | Yes |
| Type of Waterproofing | Pertex Shield waterproof/breathable laminate with Diamond Fuse Technology |
| Gaiter Height | Knee |
| Lower Material | Main: 420-denier nylon packcloth; foot panel: polyurethane-coated 420-denier nylon packcloth (bluesign® approved) |
| Upper Material | Main: nylon; upper leg panel: 30-denier ripstop nylon (bluesign® approved) |
| Lace Hooks | Yes |
| Weight | 4.9 ounces |
| Gender | Men's |
| Sustainability | Contains materials that meet the bluesign® criteria |
| S | M | L | XL | XXL | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| U.S. Men's | Less than and equal to 7 | 7 - 9 | 9 - 11 | 11 - 13 | 13 - 15 |
Sizing Notes
For gaiters, please refer to your shoe size.
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Cautionary Note:
Heads up, this is not a review of how this product functions as a gator. Just a word of caution. The female side of the snaps which Secure the top and bottom of the Velcro strip on the front of the gators are razor sharp. I learned this while, removing the gator I had just size fit to my boot - prior to my use. opening the top snap, with no more than normal force, caused the inside edge of the Snap two slice open my finger. Perhaps the machining on the snap was a little tired. In any case, upon close examination of the hardware, it is razor-sharp around It’s entire circumference. I will need to use caution when Removing these in the future!
Utter junk. Inside waterproof lining is feeble.
Wore these once up Wildcat mountain. Took them off and the inside lining on the lower portion of the gaiter was rubbing off like a bad skin blister.
Not fit for their intended purpose. Do not buy.
I have loved other OR gaiters I purchased. Thus, I bought these gaiters excited to use them. So I threw them in my pack and headed out for a day trip up Mt. Baker. I hit snow, pull out my gaiters, unsnap one, and the snap breaks off instantly. so now I am without a top snap to keep it shut. Then, I pull the string to tighten the gaiter on the top and it also breaks off. I had not even used these once yet and they broke putting them on. These are not fit for the purpose they are designed for if they are so delicate they can't even be put on without breaking. Do not buy these. I am throwing these in the trash as they cannot be relied upon in the mountains. This is a safety issue and these should be recalled.
Utter garbage. Broke putting them on for the first time.
I have loved other OR gaiters I purchased. Thus, I bought these gaiters excited to use them. So I threw them in my pack and headed out for a day trip up Mt. Baker. I hit snow, pull out my gaiters, unsnap one, and the snap breaks off instantly. so now I am without a top snap to keep it shut. Then, I pull the string to tighten the gaiter on the top and it also breaks off. I had not even used these once yet and they broke putting them on. These are not fit for the purpose they are designed for if they are so delicate they can't even be put on without breaking. Do not buy these. I am throwing these in the trash as they cannot be relied upon in the mountains.
Hi Anton, We're sorry to hear you had trouble with your gaiters. We're hoping you haven't disposed of them! If you submit a warranty claim with our team at https://www.outdoorresearch.com/us/warranty-submit, we'd be happy to assist you further with either a refund (depending on place and time of purchase), a replacement (if available) or an online credit to check out options on our .com -OR Customer Service
Serves my unique needs well
Unlike most outdoor enthusiasts, I sport a prosthetic leg. As such, it is narrow near the knee joint but wears a regular winter boot. Most of the year, including most of the winter, I wear shorts to facilitate donning doffing the prosthetic leg. For traveling through snow, I need gear that keeps the prosthesis nearly dry (it can hand a few drops like a brief rain shower). So I wear long pants and waterproof boots, but gaiters are the final touch to keep moisture out. These gaiters cinch at the top with a locking adjustable elastic cord, so they work perfectly on the prosthetic leg and my regular leg. The takeaway for you from my review is that the OR gaiter can fit a variety of leg sizes (just make sure it fits over your intended footwear and around your larger calf, then it will fill a smaller leg, too (it may surprise you that thousands of people walk with one leg smaller than the other).
Inner waterproofing deteriorated in 5 uses!
I have older OR gaiters that I have worn for two years with no problem. Bought OR men's helium gaiters for a house guest, about 11 months ago. After only 5 uses, the inner waterproof lining on both gaiters has crumbled, and now wet comes right through when hiking in snow. So they are useless. The OR customer service rep said this is "wear and tear" so not warranted, because of when I bought them, even though they have only been used 5 times. Wasted my $69, very disappointing quality. Not like OR quality used to be.
I would not buy this product again
I have used OR Gaiters for years and thought I would try these out on an 8 day backpack trip into Olympic National Park. Bottom line - the strap that runs under the boots shredded on both boots (Hanwag Tashi Welt Stitch Boots) in 4 days. My wife was wearing a pair of 5 year old traditional OR gaiters on the same terrain that worked perfect. SO - OR does know how to make a strap that will hold up. I used DUCT Tape on them so I could finish the hike out with them Bottom line - the strap is not ready for prime time. OR gave me my money back..but did not seem interested in the design problem. All you have to is use the same material on that strap that you use on the other gaiters and they will be fine. All it will do is add a a few milligrams to the weight (if that).
These gaiters are my first choice. They are light weight, easy to put on. They conform well to my boots and legs and as a result they keep the snow out. Other brands seem to allow snow to enter where the gaiters meet the boots and are often to stiff and irritating on my upper legs. Not OR gaiters. Because these are light weight, they don't stand up to abuse, but they withstand normal wear and tear. If you are a klutz while wearing crampons, don't expect great results. However, if you are well versed in maneuvering with crampons on your boots, no need to worry. Of my several brands of gaiters these are my first choice.
Love these!
These are great for winter day hikes and shorter backpacking trips. Lightweight, quick on/off, and mostly waterproof. I have a pair for myself and my daughter, both have held up well. My other kids use the OR Verglas gaiters which I think are more waterproof and more durable BUT they weigh more, aren't as packable, and have an annoying clasp for the hem closure. If I could redo my purchase, I would have gotten Helium gaiters for all of us.
Super light
I'm 5'10" 175lbs, size 11 shoe. I followed the sizing chart and ordered an XL. I think that OR sizes these gaiters the same way that they size the heavy duty ones. It's fair to say that the shoe or boot and pant that a gear-weight conscience person is going to wear will be lighter and smaller in nature. So size down. The large size fits so much better with GTX shoes and light sweats. The Helium Gaiters stitching is solid and has definitely held up to some abuse. I would never beat them up like I would other gaiters. They really shine on super wet trails and fields. Great for cutting ounces and staying dry.