Kahtoola  RENAgaiter Low Gaiters

Snug, secure but doesn't get too hot. The strap that goes under the boot, you cannot feel at all, even when climbing over rocks. Everything is adjustable but stays in place. I got these to stop those tiny pebbles from getting into my boots while hiking. I'm in the Rocky Mountain region so tough terrain and so far they handle well.

I have tested these gaiters twice so far - once with running shoes and once with hiking shoes. In both instances I adjusted the size of the gaiter strap that is placed under the bottom of the shoe so it was let out all the way/set to the largest size (I wear size 8-8.5 regular width women’s hiking & running shoes). It was easy to adjust the sizing. I also cinched the top of the gaiter tightly but it still felt comfortable when running and hiking. I thought I would feel the chunky strap on the bottom of my shoe but, even with my running shoes, I did not. When testing the gaiters, I only wore one at a time so I could compare one shoe with the gaiter and one without. When I went running it rained lightly & when I went hiking it started sunny but then ended up pouring. In both instances the shoe with the gaiter let in less water than the one without. When hiking, before the rain, I definitely didn’t have any leaves or dirt getting into my shoe/sock with the gaiter. In areas with more brush I did get dirt in my shoe without the gaiter. If you are interested in keeping dirt/dust/rocks out of your shoes I definitely recommend these gaiters!

I used the Kahtoola RENAgaiter Low (ankle) Gaiters for wooded hikes on moderate trails as well as climbing approach hikes on loose talus terrain. These gaiters work fairly well to keep small stones, sticks, pine needles, and sand kicked up from walking from ending up inside your shoe. The gaiters are made from stretch-woven nylon fabric which feels quite durable and resistant against tears from abrasion on rocks or hooking on twigs and small shrubs. The material seems permeable to air circulation, but like all other gaiters I’ve used before they definitely makes your feet and ankles heat up. That is the usual trade off with gaiters — no debris in shoes, but hot ankles and feet. The gaiters fasten to the laces with a lace hook on the front and an instep strap. The lace hook is easy to put on and take off, but never popped off inadvertently during use. The instep strap is a hardy rubber-like plastic, and felt durable and easy to adjust or even remove completely. The instep strap requires a solid heel on the boot or at least tread deep enough to prevent rolling it under foot during walking. On rocky terrain, the instep strap comes in contact with rocks but seemed to maintain its integrity and function with minimal scuffs and zero structural damage. Trade off here is an instep strap can be annoying and when poorly adjusted can snag on terrain features such as rocks or branches, however the alternative is a hook-loop (Velcro) fastener on the heel which is annoying to rig up on every pair of shoes (a la Dirty Girl Gaiters). The zipper closure is easy to open and close and seems burly enough that it would not be the point of failure on these gaiters. For comparison, Dirty Girl Gaiters are thinner and lighter material with slightly better ventilation, and fasten using lace hook in front and Velcro on heel (no need for instep strap gap on shoe). However, the Dirty Girl Gaiters are perhaps more prone to tears in rugged and abrasive environments, and requires shoes with built-in Velcro unless you want to start supergluing Velcro on all your shoes. Overall, I think the Kahtoola RENAgaiter Low Gaiters are a solid choice for a burly ankle-covering gaiter for a low hiker boot or a trail runner shoe with a prominent instep gap (from heel or tread) to accommodate the instep strap.

I typically don’t like to wear hiking boots, I prefer trail runners even for our bigger hikes. Therefore, I thought gaiters may be a great solution for keeping the dirt and peddles out. These fit great (I’m a size 6.5 shoe) and I had zero issues with them slipping or shifting. They were pretty unnoticeable on my feet with the except that they are slightly on the heavier side for a gaiter. It didn’t bug me as the quality felt great. They do hold in the air so my feet felt a little hot but that is kind of normal for me. I love the ease of assembling, and I didn’t get anything in my shoes on the way up or down. I even trail ran down and took them off way to test. There were no debris in my shoes until I took them off for the last mile and I ended the trail with some stuff that snuck in there so seems to be working as intended. Trail was 6 miles and 2500 elevation in Utah so I’d say these were a success. I plan to wear them for Havasupai next month!

Very good product. They are super light, flexible, and provide good coverage. I used them for trail running and have only put about 12 miles on them so far, but they seem like they will hold up well. I found that the underfoot cable fits better with shoes that have stiff knobby soles (sportiva bushidos) than cushy ones (Hokas in photo). Pretty easy to rinse and keep clean too.

My LaSportiva hiking boots run over the ankle, but these low gaiters were just tall enough to go over the top. With the adjustable bottom strap, front lace hook, and top cinch, I was able to dial in the fit perfectly. I loved being able to put these on or take them off after I have my boots on. I used these for a 10 day hiking trip in the Sawtooth mountains and they worked great. Threw them in the washing machine when I got home and they look like new. Ordered a spare set of the bottom straps from the Kahtoola web site for $5 just to make sure I am prepared. After several hundred miles of hiking, the original bottom straps still look great.

As an avid trail runner I rely on low gaiters to keep dirt, rocks and moisture at bay; and I never hit the trail without a pair! The Kahtoola RENAgaiters form a lock-tight barrier, not allowing a single grain of sand to invade my shoes and disrupt my runs. The key advantage to these gaiters is how well they fit. I like how I can customize that fit to just about any shoe (or boot), using the drawcord top and the adjustable Duralink instep strap. The pair of drawbacks to this customization are the few extra minutes it may take to get the right fit, particularly when I am moving the gaiters from one pair of shoes to another, and that my feet feel a bit warm during my treks. The warmth may turn out to be an advantage when running colder temps, however. With that said, I've got about 45 miles of trail time wearing these guitars so far and I'm noticing that the Duralink strap is withstanding impact on the terrain like a champ. I'm eager to put the Duralink strap/Aegis rock guard to the test of Kahtoola's 1000 mile warranty promise! All in all, I recommend giving these gaiters a try.

These gaiters are great. Easy to put on and off with the zipper and drawstring, and the instep strap is easy to adjust to different boot/shoe sizes. I tested these out on a few sandy/gravel trails where my hiking partner got a bunch of rocks and sand in her shoes, but I didn’t get any. Excited to take them out on snowy and muddy trails as well. The shorter height seems perfect for most trails, unless there’s a ton of water to cross. The only potential con is that the instep strap is plastic- seems possible it could break, but so far it seems to be holding up fine.

These gaiters are lightweight, breathable, very adjustable, and comfortable. They did a great job keeping sand and grit out of my sock line and out my shoes. I used them on a pretty sandy section of the Pioneer Express trail outside of Folsom lake on a hot and dry summer morning. They were quick to adjust, held their position well, and I pretty much forgot about them once I started logging miles. It is still dusty trail running - don't expect your socks and feet to come out sparkly clean. Dust will filter through these gaiters, since they are breathable. But I wear gaiters to prevent sandy pebbles from rolling around under my feet and, well mission accomplished. I'd choose these again for any fast hike in the sierra summers, where the (sometimes deep) sandy trails can wreak havoc on your heels. But look for taller gaiters to shed anything more significant than this.

I bought these gaitors as a gift after having purchased a pair for myself. They are cool, lightweight and and easy to put on over low top hiking shoes. I use them when hiking in tall grass to keep the foxtails out of my socks. I also wear them when working in thick brush to keep ticks from climbing up my pants legs. I wear a size 6 1/2 shoe and the S/M fits well. The combination of the strap that goes under the sole of your shoe, the hook for attaching to your shoelace, and the cinch cord hold the gaiters securely in place. So far my pair are holding up very well after 9 months of intermittent use.