Outdoor Research  Expedition Crocodile Gaiters

I ordered these because I needed a new pair of gaiters for pruning in deep snow out in the orchard. I wanted these because they look more durable than any other pair I could find. I have used them about 6-8 times all day long out in the orchard and so far they are doing great. They have managed to keep my insulated bibs underneath dry and are showing no signs of wear. I wear a size 15M Sorel Conquest boot and the XL sized gaiter fit over them just perfectly. Although, I noticed that one of the gaiters has one side of the Velcro end longer than the other. It was probably a defect but I am not going to lose sleep over it. Overall, I am very happy with these gaiters.

I bought these because they are advertised as the toughest. I do a lot of off-trail hiking and snowshoeing through things like Mahogany or Sagebrush (looking for deer or elk antlers). After about 3 months, the Velcro on the top was unstitching. I sewed it back together. Then about 3 months later, the red fabric (apparently weaker) tore in three places. I sewed that back together. Then, the little fabric slip where the strap tucks into ripped out. I sewed that back together. Finally, the plastic straps that come down under the foot split in two. I threw them away. If this is how these hold up (similar to cheaper pairs), I suggest going with a cheaper product.

Sizing on this page is wrong compared to the sizing tag that comes with this product. I wear women's 7.5 boots. Buy sizing chart on this web page I should get M. But it was too big. On the sizing tagged on the product, I should get size S, which seems to be more accurate than the sizing on this page. If you wanna avoid return & re-order, you probably should look at attached picture of sizing guide of this product from Outdoor Research. I have been using Outdoor Research Rocky Mountain High Gaiters and I found that one is not enough for mountaineering anymore so I ordered this one. I haven't used it yet, Expedition Crocodile seems to be 5x - 10x more sturdy than Rocky Mountain High Gaiters. I haven't used it because of sizing issue stated above. But I have full confidence in this item after trying on it.

I use the Expedition Crocodile Gaiters in an alpine trekking capacity. The upper is an extremely durable Cordura type fabric, and I have no fears of it ripping at any point. The gaiter is very breathable, and ultimately does a phenomenal job of keeping debris out of my boots and my pants dry. Despite this, one of the buckles on the gaiter failed after a tumble down a scree slope bent the buckle hook and snapped it off. For this reason, I have taken off a star. That said, the warranty process through OR is supposed to be exceptional, and I hope I can work something out with them. I have previously used OR Verlas gaiters, and I find these to run about a size larger than those.

Great gaiters. Its in the details, see images of the front clasp and instep strap. The tab on the boot lace hook keeps ice/ rocks etc. from wearing it out prematurely. The instep strap has been reinforced and is made of a thicker material, including a place to tuck the tail. OR has also (not pictured) addressed the top cinch strap as well, with a hook-and-loop addition to the cinch buckle. I used to have to tape the tail down for long days and litter carry-outs. The material is durable and I have yet to get it snagged on rocks, branches, or have wet boots/socks/pants despite Colorado winter.

I've spent a lot of Alaskan summers walking around for days with wet feet, wet socks and wet shoes. I'd pretty much gotten used to and accepted the fact that hiking anywhere off the well-beaten path just means that your feet will end up wrinkled, white-skinned, and if you regularly spend a week or more on a long traverse, you're going to be a member of the foot fungus club. Enter the OR Exp Croc gaiter. I'm embarrassed to say that I've had these sitting in the gear room for about a year before actually using them. Initially I just wasn't willing to add another piece of gear to my pack, figuring that the weight wasn't worth whatever meager protection was gained, but after a few 2-3 day outings, my regard for them has completely changed. Above all, I've found that these gaiters are an essential partner for any Gore Tex hiking shoe. Sure, the Gore Tex shoe is going to keep your feet dry--but if you're hiking through wet, waist-high foliage or stepping in water that goes over the top of the shoe, you're done for--and the shoe is going to become a foot-bath pretty quick. Pair it up with these gaiters however, and voila! You've just solved your problem, and at the end of the day when you've made camp at the top of a ridge in 100% humidity clouds and the rest of your party is fruitlessly trying to dry out their shoes and socks with their lower legs scratched and bleeding from hours of bushwhacking through brush and prickers--you can lay back, relax and day-dream about your future as a high-paid lower leg and foot model. Disclosure: Gore-Tex Mountain Techs member

This is a heavy duty gaiter, They do run a size larger than the original black. The cam lock is replaced with a velcro closure at the top which can be problematic if you have skinny calves, so it doesn't cinch tight.

Used these for Kilimanjaro in 2009, and Aconcagua in 2010-11. Particularly on Mt Aconcagua, while wading through waist deep snow, I found these invaluable! Granted I had North Face snow pants on, but these expedition gaiters, where just that. They kept my lower legs and ankles dry, and stood up to the rocks snow and ice!

Disclaimer: I haven't had a chance to use the gaiters, they just arrived a couple of days ago. This review is for people concerned about sizing. I plan to wear the gaiters (size L) with size 10 (US Men) low-profile, lightly-insulated mountaineering boots. Having tried them on, they fit the boot perfectly. On the other end, the top of the gaiters (wrapping around above my calves) could also be tightened significantly to fit comfortably/stably around my smaller-than-average legs. However, the size L gaiters would be far too large for "ordinary" size 10 shoes. I suspect this is where all of the reviews about the gaiters being too big come from.

Excellent heavy-duty gaiters. These fit better over my mountaineering boots than the regular Crocs or the Verglas gaiters (both excellent). However note that these would be too big for regular winter boots, these should be considered strictly for mountaineering boots only. I've only used this a few times so far, but I have not yet managed to make a hold in them with crampons. It will probably happen eventually, but the extended coverage with 1,000 denier cordura on the full inside leg should take more abuse than other gaiters. On my last climbing trip I snagged a crampon at least once (though not badly) on the gaiter and it barely left a mark.