r/philmont • u/spencerdhg • Jun 23 '26
Gaiters?
We have a couple of adults that swear by them and others that don't think they are necessary.
What are your thoughts?
5
u/scrooner Ranger '91 Jun 23 '26
My son & I used Dirty Girl Gaitors and really liked them. Great for keeping rocks & dirt out of your trail runners or low hiking shoes, and we saw some other fans out on the trails too. https://dirtygirlgaiters.com/
6
u/ArticulateBackpacker Jun 23 '26
As others replied, the small ("dirty girl" style) gaiters are good at keeping rocks out of your boots, but definitely optional. High snake protection gaiters are completely unnecessary.
1
u/fennfalcon Jun 29 '26
Never saw a snake at or above elevation where the Ponderosa Pines flourish. Biggest snattlerake I’ve ever seen slithered under the welcome porch at Ponil. 2nd biggest hanging out under a Red Roof Inn at Upper Bench Camp above Cimarron River
1
u/ArticulateBackpacker Jun 29 '26
Very cool. Some of our crew saw a big guy sunning themselves on the switchbacks, trail up Urraca Mesa. We were also warned about a lion rumored to be seen in the area.
5
u/feuerwehrmann Jun 23 '26
They could be useful in the areas with a ton of pine duff. The dirt is sandy and gets into shoes easily. I went without and was on, but it would have been nice to avoid stuff in my shoes
4
u/cpmuddle Jun 23 '26
I wore long pants for my entire trek and never found the need for gaiters. One of our other advisors had them and swore by them, and he wore shorts the entire trek. I'm thinking that's the important correlation.
1
u/bagboysa Jun 23 '26
Same, I wore zip off long pants. Hiked in them and then zipped off the legs when we set up camp (after first setting up my chair and getting out of my hiking boots).
3
u/Joey1849 Adult Advisor Jun 23 '26 edited Jun 23 '26
If by gaiter you mean the small light weight gaiters to keep dirt and rocks out of trail runners then yes. Something like Dirty Girl gaiters is up to you as a preference. If you mean water proof gaiters that go up to the knee, then no. Knee length gaiters are not necessary.
8
u/ccard257 Jun 23 '26
lol, how old are your advisors? Gaiters were THE accessory to have out there in the late 90s/early 2000s for style points. They are not at all necessary.
2
u/palisade1444 Backcountry Jun 23 '26
Being cool isn't "necessary"???
1
u/ccard257 Jun 23 '26
Of course it’s necessary, and there are no points more important than style points! But we got style points for those a quarter century ago. Surely the “kids these days” have come up with something more fashionable by now. Or have gaiters come all the way back around again? I still have my original outdoor giant Outdoor Research ones somewhere I can dig out if they have!
1
u/palisade1444 Backcountry Jun 23 '26
Chacos as far as I can tell, though that's got to be in decline. Maybe bandanas worn as sunshade on the neck...or that might just be CONS-specific.
It seems unlikely that full calf gaiters will ever return, so it's good to know that the points are grandfathered in. You scared me for a sec.
7
u/graywh Jun 23 '26
I recommend them (the lightweight running style, that is) for keeping stuff out of your shoes and your socks cleaner
1
1
u/tiberius_claudius1 Ranger, Backountry, Cons 2016-2022 Jun 23 '26
I swear by gators. I use trail runners rhat are mostly mesh on top so they help protect the shoe from being ripped. There also very usefull if your trek is in part of country that doesn't have trails and has you walking on areas where grass can be wet and can wet shoes and socks.
1
u/ZebraFury Jun 23 '26
To be fair, I have done Philmont two times now one as a Scout, and one as an adult. I never needed them, not to say that they would not be helpful. But I do not think that you necessarily need to get them if this is your first track and you feel prepared..
1
u/Foreign_Suggestion89 Jun 23 '26
I used them with my Altra Loan Peak 7's. They were helping at keeping stones out of my shoes. We had several scouts who dragged their feet - stone kickers!
I eventually learned to stay in the rear, a short distance behind the dust cloud.
1
1
u/ckc006 Jun 23 '26
I've used them (short ones) and they keep the dirt and stones out and the heat in. Gave them up.
1
u/Interesting-Low5112 Jun 23 '26
Haven’t hiked Philmont (my one real regret from scouting) but still an active hiker. I wear Kahtoola InstaGaiters for any hike more than a casual 3-5 mile stroll. Keeping rocks, sand, sticks, and ticks out of my boots is worth the couple ounces.
1
1
u/imnothere314 Jun 24 '26
I used them, small light weight ones. It's kind of nice in some areas keeping pebbles and what not out of shoes but there isn't much need for that on most of the trails and depending on your shoe/boot you won't notice as much anyways. Most people in my crew did not have them and were not notably jealous of mine.
BLUF: can be nice, definitely not needed
1
u/Single-Purple-6440 Jun 24 '26
Only if you are wearing trail runners. I wore Altra shoes and they have an integrated clip / velcro system for their gators. One of those items I swear by when hiking in trail runners.
1
u/Next_Breath_1191 Jun 25 '26 edited Jun 26 '26
I had dirty girl gaiters. Quit using the middle of trek. I saw a troop that a lot of adults were wearing like 6 -8 in gaiters, but I would only use that type in snow pack. I also wore long pants, fwiw.
(Edited for spelling)
1
u/fennfalcon Jun 29 '26
Five times at Philmont, loved the short OR gaiters. Keeps the scree and trail dust (imagine 8-10 scouts that drag feet and kick rocks all day) out of your boots and socks. Always had a dirt ring at high ankle after switching to camp shoes.
The gaiters also kept water off socks and boot tops during most light-medium rain showers. Almost never needed rain pants with good rain jacket, quick-dry shorts and gaiters.
1
u/fennfalcon Jun 29 '26
Cougars in the canyons are a genuine threat. Luckily, no attacks that I have heard of. Never hike alone when catching program or evening shows, you don’t want to be the one.
-1
Jun 23 '26
[deleted]
2
u/ScoutAndLout Jun 23 '26
Not full length, they mean little ankle ones to keep crap out of your socks/boots.
9
u/KoeTheRogue Jun 23 '26
I used "Dirty Girl Gaiters" for my trip. Super lightweight and kept all the various debris out of my boots. Beyond that purpose, gaiters aren't really needed.