Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting Back country equipment- leg snow gaiters

I am needing some advice, I have a elk hunt planned in Montana next month and would like to add some leg gaiters to my equipment stash ......any recommendations? Last year my buddies hunted the same area I am going to and they experienced quite a bit of snow, and I want to be prepared .

Thanks

I have a pair of fleeced outers and water proof inners. Think I got them from Cabelas. However,anymore,I wear rain pants over my blue jeans. Nasty snowy weather I wear insulated bibs that are water proof.

The rain pants allow you to sit any where and you don' have to worry about getting wet.
There are several brands available. Cabelas are way over priced. I got a set at Brass Pro for about $50.

For rainy days or those with heavy dew, I use a pair of lightweight gaiters made by Outdoor Research. I think that I got them from REI. They keep my pants and my boot uppers dry, and I don't even notice that I have them on.

For snow, I have a pair of fleece gaiters like Saddlesore's. Mine weremade by Fieldline. They are at least 10-12 years old and have held up very well. Last year, I hunted in snow up to my knees for three days and my pants and boot tops stayed dry. I have no idea if Fieldline is still even in business, but there are other sources for the same item.

I have used a pair of OR Crocodiles gaiters for twenty-five years, for all activities in the snow such as alpine climbing, mixed rock & ice climbing, hunting, cross country skiing, snow shoeing, sledding, and for working in the snow, etc. I also use them when I anticipate lots of mud. I have had several pairs because my crampons tear them up when climbing vertical ice (frozen waterfalls).



OR Crocodiles Gaiters



I have never used insulated gaiters and never felt that I needed them. Unfortunately I've only seen the OR Crocodiles in red or black and I'm not sure that they are still offered in red.

KC

The OR Crocodiles look virtually identical to the Kenetrek gaiters that I use. Not a fan of fleece gaiters in wet snow, as it gets colder as the day gets long, you will get ice build up. Anything that will absorb much water just make your legs heavier too. I love a good pair of gaiters though, hard to beat having dry boots and legs when the snow is deep or things are wet.

They do look similar. I have the Kenetreks that were free when I bought my boots and they've worked well so far.

I use a set of ORs that look like the Crocodiles. They were issued to me about 10 years ago and have been excellent in extremely wet and snowy conditions. Mine are coyote brown in color though.

Another vote for the Outdoor Research gaiters. My wife just got a pair of the lightweight GTX ones in forest green. If I could wear out my Crocs I would get those.

mike r

The problem with OR gaiters and other name brand backcountry gaiters is that most of them are made of 500 or 1000 denier nylon for the outer cover--they are noisy as he11. Kinda' sound like an all kazoo band while walking. But they are durable. I use OR gaiters for backcountry skiing or snowshoeing when I don't wear my ski pants with internal gaiters.

The best gaiters I have used are the Cabela's Gore-Tex 'Quiet Cloth" gaiters. The Kennetrec gaiters are interesting but I haven't used them.

Casey

Kenetreks here and I'm very happy with them.

Be Safe,

I like the softer gaiters. A lot of the ones that are made for snow sports are seriously loud fabric.

Kuiu gaiters seem to be very popular and I'll be getting a set soon.

That is why I like the fleece gaiters, everything else I have seen go swish swish. I use to hunt elk up close in the timer so I needed quiet. Being an old fart now, it is mostly just sitting.

Mine never seemed to collect much water or snow though

Saddlesore going "swish-swish??"

I'd pay to see that.

Seriously though, if it comes down to staying dry vs. making a little noise while elk hunting, I go for staying dry. I used REI gaiters last year. It rained every day, almost never took 'em off, and they worked great. Not as quiet as fleece, but pretty quiet if you're careful and very waterproof.

Apparently Cabela's have discontinued the ones I've been using.

Here's the closest replacement I see:

Quiet Gaiters

My lovely wife bought me a pair of gaiters for Christmas a few years and you would swear I wrapped my legs in potato chip bags.

Like I said, an All Kazoo Band..........

Casey

Dry is good, but quiet is essential if you are hunting, especially elk. My kenetrek's work great. And I stay dry with them. Like others above, I have gaitors for skiing and snowshoeing, but they are so noisy that you are more apt to see elk from camp than to walk thru the woods with those gaiters. .
Not sure they are an all kazoo band, but they will get some attention!

Well dang then, I guess the REI's (pictured below) must be more quiet than I thought, I shot the elk at 15 yards:




I'd say you need to be more quiet hunting whitetails. If they're up and on their feet, elk are a little noisy themselves and you can get away with more than you can with deer. IMHO

This year in ML season, I am wearing Bass Pros, rain pants that seem to be very quiet.

In Unit 12 there are high weeds and ferns, 20 steps and you are wet to the crotch. Gaiters don't work there.

Snowy country , which I don't get in too often now, I wear insulated bibs that are almost water proof.

I am leaving this coming Wednesday ( 2 days), I'll be back the 23 of Sept.