GAITERS!

[Doyled96]

This seems like a minor accessory for a hunt. However every single video I have watched almost everyone in the party is wearing them. I fully plan to be in shorts for my hunt so what does everyone prefer their gaiters be made of? Leather or Canvas or Other. (if their is one)

 

[375Fox]

Leather without zippers. Buttons or slip over the foot type.

 

[Hyde Hunter]

heavy canvas, elastic on the top slip on

 

[wesheltonj]

If we are talking about Africa, Canvas.

 

[Quest#1]

Leather and would not go without!

 

[deewayne2003]

I bought leather and ended up giving them away; the canvas were much better for me.

 

[Flipper Dude]

Canvas for me. Texas Hunt Co.

 

[375Fox]

If you do get leather gaiters I’d have your outfitter buy them for you in Africa. I think the quality is better and price is much better there.

 

[BeeMaa]

Briars don’t stick to leather like they do on canvas, so that would be the way I’d go. I’d second what @375Fox said about getting them in Africa.

I understand the attraction of wearing gaiters, but personally prefer long pants. Even in the heat. Too many times I end up crawling around or get thorns scraping by my calves and thighs. Easier to just wear canvas pants and not have to worry about having/not having gaiters. It’s one more thing.

 

[Luvthunt]

Canvas if I wear shorts that day. But there are days when I wear pants.

 

[Lancaster]

Most of the PHs wear them and generally canvas ones but I bought a pair of these leather ones figuring they would last me a lifetime: https://www.westleyrichards.com/cou...tWgJhu_uT6aTbWMQphCR4QrWR89o1vlQaAj-oEALw_wcB

 

[SFRanger7GP]

I prefer canvas gaiters. I use them even when wearing long pants as they keep my boot laces tied and prevent debris from coming in the tops of my boots. I treat mine with bug dope and that helps keep the critters out. With the leather ones, I sweat too much and I feel like I have Paso Fino training weights on my feet.

Safe hunting

 

[coreydb]

Fabric is personal preference. Both protect the ankles and prevent brush etc, from getting into the boot tops. It's a utility piece of equipment, so easy on easy off is priority 1.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

I haven't worn shorts in over twenty years. The very-gross veins in my lower legs are downright frightening. Anyway, I'm in South Africa during August which is their winter. Gotta keep in mind they have penguins on the beaches there. Very close to Antarctica. Two ocean currents keep the Cape Country relatively more temperate than Northern Canada but the mornings can be frosty that time of year. I would not be comfortable in shorts or short sleeves. And I'm obviously habituated to cold weather.

To keep shoelaces from coming untied see my tip in "Little Tips That Make a Big Difference."

 

[Ryan]

Canvas. I sweat a lot, so for me leather would make things worse. Four hunts ( two Namibia, two in RSA) mostly in shorts, and canvas worked great for keeping rocks and debris out of my boots.

 

[flying sailor]

I have used heavy canvas, even with long pants. Just had 4 pairs of leather made in RSA by my taxidermist. Options are good, depends on terrain and season.

 

[Ontario Hunter]

Site is a mess today and locking up continually.

I have tried gaiters here for hunting in wet conditions and cross country skiing. Found them to be noisy. Same with fancy upland pants. Got rid of those things very quickly! In Africa I noted that my last PH's gaiters were a bit noisy (and I'm hard of hearing!). Not sure if they were canvas or leather.

My first safari the PH shows up the second morning for breakfast wearing shorts and gaiters. There was frost on the windshields. Later during a break while hunting I asked him why he switched from pants. Apparently, after I turned in the night before the other PHs gave him a hard time about not fitting the image wearing long pants. He didn't want me to think he didn't know what he was doing. "Glen, don't worry about that. I have the utmost confidence in your abilities. Piss on what those guys think. I'm wearing pants and you can too if that's what you want." So he did.

 

[Kevin Peacocke]

Waxed canvas, elasticised, no velcro, zips or laces.

 

[buffybr]

I've worn shorts on all of my African hunts, except night hunts were I wore jeans. On my first trip I didn't know about the gaiters, so I cut the streatchy tops off of a pair of socks and used them for gaiters. I dulled their white by soaking them in mud from the red clay there.

On my next trip I wore a pair of canvas gaiters that I bought, but they were just a little short, so I made a pair myself, and used them on all of my subsequent trips.

 

[Lancaster]

A canvas option, for authenticity: https://www.johnrigbyandco.com/rigbys-releases-new-canvas-ankle-gaiters-hunting-africa/