Snow Skills

Gaiters are an important tool for a successful day of snowshoeing. There’s a natural exposure point between your leg and the top of your boot that can introduce snow and ice into your clothing. Gaiters are the solution: they seal the area between your boot and clothing with a flexible joint that moves with you.

One of my favorite gaiters are the Outdoor Research Rocky Mountain High gaiters , from L.L. Bean or other outdoor gear retailers. The lower part of the gaiter is very durable, resisting scrapes and scuffs. The top of the gaiter has a strap with a buckle, instead of an elastic which is more common. The strap allows you to get the best fit below you knee after you’ve sealed the velcro enclosure up the front.  The High gaiters are awesome for snowshoeing in fresh snow or hiking in areas of high vegetation.
The same style gaiter in a ‘low’ cut is also available: Outdoor Research Rocky Mountain Low gaiters.  The Low gaiters are awesome for snowshoeing in firm snow or hiking in areas of low vegetation.
In hiking and snowshoeing, my preference is to have very sturdy, very water resistant, and pretty much ‘bomb proof’ gear on my feet and legs and the OR Rocky Mountain High gaiters will surely meet those needs.