I have the First Lite Bramblers
Pros:
Keeps pants dry
Protects pants
Cons:
Don't breath
Not as comfortable if your pants have knee pads

 

I love mine, I have an old pair I got at cabelas they have the zipper as well as Velcro. They help to insulate my lower part of my leg as well as keep my pants dry. If fitted right they should help keep ticks out as well.

 

Also Check out the ones from Outdoor Research I used them at the Cold Weather Warfare Course at Black Rapids training area in AK. There was underbrush on the trails (can't remember the exact name) The gaitors really helped with repelling them.

 

I had a pair of snake proof gaiters I wore when I lived in Oklahoma that were pretty comfortable but I never thought about wearing them back here until just now. They are made of some kind of light weight material that's pretty tough. I bought mine from Amazon for around $30

 

I bought a cheap pair of Amazon "Freelaxy" gaiters to use in turkey season last Spring. They surprisingly were very durable and I didn't get the "swish-swish" noise I feared from walking.
They keep your pants dry in tall wet morning dew grass, therefor keeping your socks dry, therefor keeping water from wicking down your socks and into your boots.
They keep your boot laces protected and they won't snag and come untied.
I imagine they keep ticks from going up your pant legs to some extent since they ride down so low.

I just picked up a pair of green Kennetreks off amazon because they were 50% off. My reason for going with gaiters was to get away from rubber boots when I don't expect to be in super muddy or swampy conditions. So far they have kept my pants and inside of my boots completely dry. It always baffled me why my boots "leaked" in wet grass, but after watching Randy Newburg explain it and trying gaiters for myself I realized it was from water wicking from your pants and down your socks into your boots.

 

Keeps your boots tied walking through brush.
Tick barrier

I wear a pair pretty much all the time. Have a soft shell version for mild weather and when I want to be quiet and a hard shell for wet conditions.

 

I use them in turkey season. Gore-Tex gaiters are far more comfortable to me than rubber boots. I despise rubber boots.

I don’t use them in deer season as I don’t find myself walking through tall wet grass then.

I wore them in Colorado to pack out my elk too, as they kept boot laces from snagging on the fallen trees I had to cross (I had to cross an old burn) and believe it or not you can wade a stream in them if you just keep moving.

 

I love them. I have 1 pair of SKRE gaiters that I wear every time I hunt and will be adding a second pair of either First Lite or Dan's. Maybe Outdoor Research, they're good. Kuiu too. I just want a second brand to compare. We even wear them for summer dog training.

They're great for crossing creeks and swampy areas and for snow (the stirrups can collect a wet snow underfoot though.) They also protect your pants bottoms and your laces a bit. They came in real handy on 57 this year when I got turned around and had to cut through a swamp and cross a swollen creek. Kept my pants dry and prevented water getting into my boots. And so much more comfortable than rubber boots. Can wear my mountain boots with them so I still have that ankle stability. Spray 'em down good too with permethrin for a nice tick barrier.

 

I have made in USA Outdoor Research that I got 23 years ago and are finally getting to the point of needing replaced. The problem is they don't make the style anymore.
The biggest weakness is going to be the buckle on ANY brand. My style had paracord...which in my opinion is the best route to go because once that buckle strap breaks or pulls out.. the gaitors are trash.
Used them no less than 25 times a year for cc skiing, snowshoeing, hiking and winter hunting.

 

You guys are selling me on them for sure. Thanks for the advice. I guess quiet, waterproof and a good buckle seem to be very important.

 

I have Sitka gaiters. They’re nice but if you have thick calves they may not fit. Mine baaaaarely fit my calf.

The benefit to that is if I make sure I close them just below my knee, they can’t slide down my calf because they don’t fit, lol.

I know, however, they won’t fit everyone’s legs, so beware of that issue with Sitka. It’s a pity because they make a really nice and comfortable gaiter. I love mine.

 

Outdoor Research.

Protect my pants
Waterproofing for your boots and pants
keeps laces covered

 

I love mine and mine are snake proof as well. I wear them rattlesnake hunting and when there is deep snow. Keeps my pants dry and boots tied as i tend to walk through lots of thick stuff in all hunting seasons.

 

I have a rattlesnake hunt planned for next summer so I am thinking a duel purpose snake proof might be the ticket? Are the snake proofs much noisier or heavier?

 

https://www.tractorsupply.com/tsc/product/rocky-mens-16-in-leather-prolight-snake-boot-1068109?cid=Shopping-Bing-Product1068109-&msclkid=275bd9dd36bd1f5882ecba60b55b0bc3

 

I have several different styles that I wear almost every hunt throughout the year. The ones I wear most often are Kenetrek, I have both the green and camo versions. I like them in turkey season for keeping my feet dry and also for ticks. Sometimes late morning when everything has had a chance to dry out I will remove them. I wear them archery hunting also just to avoid getting my boots untied in laurel, green briar, etc. I just think it’s easier to walk around quietly with them on.

I also have an old pair of Fieldline fleece camo that I usually wear in the snow.

As far as the snake proof gaiters go, I spent the money on Turtleskins a few years ago for wearing turkey hunting in Potter Co. From what I’ve researched, they’re the most comfortable of the snake gaiters. They’re nowhere near as comfortable as the Kenetreks however.

 

My snake gaiters are an off brand from Amazon and they are very stiff, not nearly as comfortable as the FL's. As mentioned make sure you're stirrup is adjusted snugly so your not lassoing things & faceplanting.

 

That’s funny, but true!

 

I have some snake proof ones I wore for a Texas hog hunt.

I do not wear them here. They are way too thick and uncomfortable for that.

Other options maybe can be dual purpose but the ones I have are definitely not comfortable enough for that.

 

I have been thinking of getting a pair of gaiters too. I have about 3 pairs of brush chaps 2 pairs are 1000 denier nylon which are pretty comfortable, but not snake proof. One pair is snake proof which if you are going to walk a long time in them will start to rub. Am I correct in assuming the gaiters stop below the knees? I saw where some of them will stop water from going inside of them when crossing streams, is this true?

 

Yes, just below the knee and yes, you snug them good at the top to help keep water out. You can't exactly go wading in them for an extended period and expect to be dry but they're great for stream crossings.

 

I have a pair of Pike Trail (not snake proof) that I picked up off of Amazon. They have held up pretty well and are very comfortable. This was probably mentioned but keeping ticks out is a huge advantage. Mine are light weight and I really don't even notice them on.

 

I saw that those are a bit less $ than many of the others. Are they relatively quiet when walking through brush or when your legs rub together?

 

I have two pairs of cheaper ones off Amazon. I rarely wear them, just too lazy I guess. I never felt they really made much difference and just one more thing to put on.

 

I have some snake gaiters that I always wear in certain areas when it's warm.They offer a piece of mind but they aren't comfortable.I think chaps would be better.

 

I have never really thought about wearing gators before but after reading this I may have to look into them.

 

I would suggest a pair to hunt and a pair to snake hunt in. Dual purpose won't be comfortable in my opinion. Outdoor research are great.

 

Gators are awesome in wet conditions and really help keep your boots and pants dry. If they fit right, you can cross shallow creeks and the help protect your boot and lower pants. I have kennetreks and outdoor research crocs. The or model is bombproof.

Get separate snake gators.

 

I use FIrstlite Brambler gaiters. Keep pant legs out of the way from being snagged and ripped, keeps boot laces protected/tied, can ford streams about knee deep without water entering boots, in wet/snowy conditions - boots and legs stay dry. I wear a small light weight pair of Outdoor Research gaiters for hiking/trail running to keep sticks/stones/sand out of trail runners in summer time when hiking.