Previously I was using a pair from 'Highlander' but these started to show the classic signs of cheaper gaiters - namely they were unbreathable and caused more moisture inside the gaiter than they kept out. The same is true of clothing and hard shells in general.
The lesson is don't compromise but wait and buy what is good quality unless you absolutely cannot. The Rab gaiters are quality!
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| Rab Latok Alpine Gaiter - image from Rab's website |
These have travelled to Wales, Scotland, the Lakes and Dartmoor and have been invaluable. Not only do they help keep rubbish and muck and rain from your trousers or waterproof hard shell, they are hard-wearing and do what they need to do. They've got a tough exterior and a crampon patch on each gaiter all the way around the lower part of the gaiter.
The gaiter features a velcro closure, a popper at the top, a drawstring at the top, a strap over closure at the foot of the gaiter and a hook to connect to the laces of your boot. There's an adjustable strap for under the boot which can be adjusted from inside the gaiter cleverly.
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| Drawstring at the top of the Rab Latok Alpine gaiter |
These have been worn in the snow, the rain, the mud and on ice. They've climbed up things, scrambled over things, walked through Dartmoor heather and gorse and held up pretty well.
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| Rab Latok Alpine Gaiter showing velcro, strap, closure tab, hook etc |
The eVent has breathed brilliantly as expected and the only issue has been that the eVent on the rear section of the gaiter has begun to rub away on the stretchy part. Nothing too serious but being stretchy and strapped to the back of the boot inevitably causes some wear. Seems to have happened on one gaiter more than the other.
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| Where the gaiter's eVent has 'rubbed' on the inside, presumably from the back of my boots |
The gaiter did get a rip in one of the gaiters from one of the spikes on my crampons (always a risk), so I patched it up with Tenacious Tape which has been pretty solid. This didn't happen on the stronger corder lower leg part but on the 'normal' gaiter part (
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| Inside of the Rab Latok Alpine gaiter showing the eVent material |
I did think I had a picture of the Gaiters on in the snow, but in fact you can't see them. Sorry...
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| Halls Fell in the snow (from slushy snow to nevé). Can't see the gaiters, sorry. But there were on! |
I did a mini review of these on the Go Outdoors website, which says the following:
They've gone through 'field and fountain, moor and mountain' (not always following yonder star) but been brilliant. They've been scrambled in, walked in, climbed in, 'summer, spring, winter and fall' and even suffered an ice axe piercing (tenacious tape to the rescue). Incredibly breathable compared to other non 'branded' membranes, easily adjustable and strong velcro etc. I did get them in large as a medium male but possibly could have got them in medium. The back section (around the heel) which is stretchy (great idea) is beginning to lose some of the eVent on the inside but aside from this, all good!
The final thing to say about the gaiters is about the sizing. Mine are the large and while they are fine, I wonder whether medium would have fitted better. My feet are size 9 1/2 - 10 (UK) and I've got an athletic build if that helps.
So overall these are brilliant gaiters and when they give out I'll get another pair. No problems with the eVent and breathability. I've cleaned them fairly regularly with Tech Wash and have re-proofed once. They're gaiters. They work. Say no more.
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