Collection: Gaiters

Gaiters for Hiking, Snow, and Mountaineering

Gaiters close the gap between boot and pant cuff, keeping snow, scree, mud, and trail debris out of your boots. This collection covers styles from ankle-height trail gaiters to expedition-grade protection, in men’s and women’s fits.

The Crocodile Gaiters

The Crocodile Gaiter is the category’s reference point: the style mountaineers and winter hikers have reached for over decades, now in men’s and women’s versions, wide-calf fits, a Crocodile Mid-Height Gaiter, and the Expedition Crocodile Classic Gaiter for the coldest objectives. If you need one gaiter for deep snow and hard use, start here.

Trail and Hiking Gaiters

Warm-season trails call for lighter protection. High and low gaiters keep pebbles and grit out without overheating, while insect-repellent styles add tick protection for brushy miles. Ultralight options bring gaiter coverage down to minimal pack weight. Find the full lightweight range in Hiking Gaiters.

Snow and Mountaineering Protection

Deep snow is where gaiters stop being optional. Full-height styles seal boot tops against postholing and snowshoe spray, and the burlier Crocodile builds stand up to crampon points and ice. For objective-specific coverage, browse Mountaineering Gaiters, or see the whole gear collection in Gear.

FAQs

What are gaiters for?

Gaiters seal the gap between your boot top and pant cuff so snow, mud, scree, and trail debris cannot get in. In winter they keep snow from packing into boots on deep days; in summer they keep pebbles and grit out on loose trails and protect pant legs from brush.

Do gaiters go over or under pants?

Over. A gaiter wraps around the outside of your pant leg and boot upper, hooks to the laces, and straps under the instep, so anything sliding down your leg sheds over the boot instead of into it. The one exception is deep powder, where some skiers run bibs over low gaiters; for hiking and snowshoeing, over is always right.

What height of gaiters do you need?

Match height to the hazard. Low and ankle styles handle summer trails where the enemy is gravel. Mid heights cover shallow snow and rougher terrain. Full-height styles are for deep snow, snowshoeing, and mountaineering, where coverage up the calf is the whole point.

Are gaiters waterproof?

Many are, and it depends on the build. Expedition and snow styles use waterproof fabrics to handle wet snow all day, while ultralight trail styles trade full waterproofing for breathability and weight. Each product page states whether the fabric is waterproof or weather-resistant, so match the spec to your conditions.