Although hiking in snowy conditions is not easy, it can be an unforgettable experience to wander around an amazing snow-covered landscape. To be comfortable and safe on snowy trails you will need some additional gear, like insulated clothing, winter hiking boots and gaiters.

Gaiters are very useful for hiking on snowy trails because they prevent snow and dirt from entering your boots – and few things are more annoying than having snow melting inside your boots. Gaiters are worn over the top of your boots and over the lower part of your pant legs. You attach them to the boots with an instep strap and lace hooks. Usually, they also have a drawcord at the top which ensures that they stay firmly attached to the pants thus preventing snow and dirt from entering in-between. As gaiters keep your feet warm and dry while you are hiking in deep snow, they are crucial for comfortable winter hikes.

Here we selected the best gaiters for hiking to make your buying decision a little easier. We only listed lightweight products which provide good durability and performance.

If you are new to winter hiking, check out our article How to use winter hiking gear as well. There we explain how to put on a pair of gaiters. If you are planning to hike on icy terrain, we recommend that you also check out our reviews of the Best Crampons and Best Ice Axes. For those who plan to hike on trails covered with deep snow, we also made a selection of the Best Snowshoes for Hiking.

1. Our Picks of Gaiters for Hiking

1. Outdoor Research Crocodile
2. Black Diamond Apex GTX
3. Outdoor Research Helium
4. Rab Latok Alpine
5. Sea to Summit Quagmire eVent

2. Comparison of Hiking Gaiters

Feature/Product	Outdoor Research Crocodile	Black Diamond Apex GTX	Outdoor Research Helium	Rab Latok Alpine	Sea to Summit Quagmire eVent
Weight (pair)	10 oz.	8.1 oz.	8.5 oz.	9.4 oz.	12.8 oz.
Weight - Metric (pair)	289 g	230 g	240 g	266 g	362 g
Material	Gore-Tex, Cordura	Gore-Tex	Pertex Shield	eVent, Tough Robic Nylon	eVent, 1000-denier Cordura
Design	3-layer	3-layer	2.5-layer	3-layer	3-layer
Height	Knee	Knee	Knee	Knee	Knee

3. The Selection

1. Outdoor Research Crocodile

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Mountaineering
• Trekking
• Backpacking
• Ice Climbing

The Outdoor Research Crocodile gaiters are extremely robust and therefore perfect for mountaineering and tough expeditions. They are made of a 3-layer Gore-Tex fabric which provides great breathability, durability and weather protection. Furthermore, they are reinforced with a 2-layer Cordura fabric in the lower part. This is very practical because this part is very exposed to tears from crampons. Even though the Cordura fabric is sturdier than the Gore-Tex fabric, it does not significantly decrease the breathability. On the contrary, Cordura is known for being very breathable. The Crocodile gaiters are also equipped with double-stitched Velcro front entries which allow you to put them on quickly and easily. The instep straps are made by BioThane – a well-known manufacturer of durable sport accessories. The straps are coated with a protective film and therefore provide superb durability. In addition to the instep straps they have lace hooks which ensure that they stay firmly on your boots. The top closures use cam buckles and therefore allow you to quickly adjust the right fit. The Outdoor Research Crocodile might not be the lightest product, but because they provide great durability and functionality, they rank first in this selection.

Sizing: S fits US shoe size 4-7 (EU 35-40), M fits shoe size 7-9 (EU 40-42), L fits shoe size 9-11 (EU 42-44), XL fits shoe size 11-13 (EU 44-46), XXL fits shoe size 13-15 (EU 46-48).

Women's Version: Available - Outdoor Research Women's Crocodile Gaiters

Note: Women's version might slightly differ from the men's version.

 

2. Black Diamond Apex GTX

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Mountaineering
• Trekking
• Backpacking
• Ice Climbing

The Black Diamond Apex GTX gaiters are very well-made. Because they are very light, they are perfect for ice climbing and other demanding activities on snow-covered slopes. They are made of a breathable and waterproof 3-layer Gore-Tex fabric. In the lower part they have an abrasion guard which is made of a welded 600-denier double layer fabric. This sturdy fabric efficiently protects them against abrasion and tears. Great fit is ensured with the neoprene-coated instep strap and lace hook which can be attached to the boot’s lace from the underside.  The Black Diamond Apex GTX  are also equipped with side-release top closures which can be easily used, no matter the conditions. Next to the buckles there are even reflective panels which help you find them in low visibility conditions. The hook and loop front entries allow you to put them on without a hassle.

Sizing: S fits shoe size 6-8.5 (EU 38-42), M fits shoe size 8.5-10 (EU 42-43), L fits shoe size 10.5-12 (EU 43-45 ), XL fits shoe size 12-13 (EU 45-47 ).

Women’s Version: No – this product is unisex and can thus be used by all. Be aware of sizing, though.

 

3. Outdoor Research Helium

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Mountaineering
• Trekking
• Backpacking

The Outdoor Research Helium gaiters differ from the Black Diamond Apex GTX and Outdoor Research Crocodile gaiters listed above in fabric; instead of Gore-Tex, they are made of a 2.5-layer Pertex Shield fabric. The Pertex Shield fabric is very light, waterproof and breathable. However, it does not provide as good breathability as Gore-Tex. Due to the Pertex Shield fabric, these gaiters are super lightewight – they weigh merely 8.5 ounces. The Outdoor Research Helium gaiters otherwise have quite similar features as the Outdoor Research Crocodile gaiters; they have reinforced ankles (no Cordura though), cam buckle top closures, Velcro front entries and metal boot lace hooks. However, some materials used on the Helium gaiters are less durable than those of the Crocodile model. For example, the foot panel is made of 1000-denier fabric on the Crocodile model, while it is made of 420-denier fabric on the Helium. The Outdoor Research Helium gaiters are best for those who want lightweight gaiters for various activities in snowy conditions.

Sizing: S fits US shoe size 4-7 (EU 35-40), M fits shoe size 7-9 (EU 40-42), L fits shoe size 9-11 (EU 42-44), XL fits shoe size 11-13 (EU 44-46), XXL fits shoe size 13-15 (EU 46-48).

Women's Version: Available - Outdoor Research Women's Helium Gaiters

Note: Women's version might slightly differ from the men's version.

 

4. Rab Latok Alpine

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Mountaineering
• Trekking
• Backpacking
• Ice Climbing

The Rab Latok Alpine gaiters provide great functionality. They are made of eVent fabric which is super breathable (more so than the Gore-Tex fabric) and very light. The eVent fabric has a hydrostatic head of 30.000 mm and MVTR (Moisture Vapor Transmission Rate) between 15.000 and 25.000 g/m2/24h. This is indeed a superb result. The Rab gaiters are reinforced with Tough Robic nylon for increased durability in the ankle area. In addition to the high-quality materials, the Rab Latok Alpine also feature Velcro front closures, rubberized abrasion-resistant instep straps and single-hand drawcord top closures for easy use while you are wearing gloves.

Sizing: S fits shoe size 6-8 (EU 38-41), M fits shoe size 8-10 (EU 41-44), L fits shoe size 10-13 (EU 44-47)

Women’s Version: No – this product is unisex and can thus be used by all. Be aware of sizing, though.

 

5. Sea to Summit Quagmire eVent

Suitable for:

• Hiking
• Mountaineering
• Trekking
• Backpacking
• Ice Climbing

The Sea to Summit Quagmire eVent is a pair of high-quality gaiters which meets the standards of even the most demanding hikers and mountaineers. The Sea to Summit Quagmire gaiters are made of the eVent fabric like the Rab Latok gaiters above. Therefore, they provide great breathability and weather protection. In the lower part they are reinforced with 1000-denier Cordura for protection against the abrasion and longer lifespan. The Sea to Summit gaiters are also equipped with Velcro front entries, cam buckle top closures, high-quality stainless-steel lace hooks and replaceable boot straps. The gaiters come in four different sizes to offer good fit.

Sizing: S fits US shoe size 5-7 (EU 37-39), M fits shoe size 6.5-9 (EU 39-42), L fits shoe size 8.5-10.5 (EU 41-44), XL fits shoe size 10-13 (EU 43-47).

Women’s Version: No – this product is unisex and can thus be used by all. Be aware of sizing, though.

 

4. Hiking Gaiters Buying Advice – What is important?

Material

High-quality gaiters are made of a fabric that is not only waterproof but also breathable – like Gore-Tex, eVent etc. Gaiters typically utilize 3-layer waterproof/breathable fabrics because these fabrics provide the best durability and weather protection. They consist of a face fabric, membrane and a liner. Note that these layers are bonded together and thus not visible to the naked eye. The face fabric protects the gaiter against the abrasion while the membrane prevents liquid water from the outside to enter but allows water vapor from the inside to pass through. The fabrics out of which gaiters are made are the same as the fabrics of high-quality rain jackets. To learn more about waterproof/breathable fabrics check out our Comparison of Shell Materials.

Breathability

Breathability of waterproof/breathable fabrics out of which gaiters are made is measured by MVTR. High-quality gaiters have breathability of 20.000 g/m2/24 h or more. Typically, you can find the MVTR value of gaiters by searching for fabric type (for example eVent or Gore-Tex Pro) on manufacturer’s website. Breathability is important because if gaiters are not sufficiently breathable you will sweat during intense activities and then be cold when the intensity level decreases. Wet clothes make your body rapidly lose heat due to increased thermal conductivity.

Protection

Gaiters keep debris (typically snow and ice) out of your boots and protect your clothing from tears and abrasion. In order to do that, they have to fit snugly around your boots and legs. Furthermore, they must be made of material that’s sturdy and provides good water resistance. When you are buying a pair of new gaiters, do check out that they fit snugly around your boots and legs. That’s how you can make sure that the gaiters will provide good protection against the debris.

Durability

Durability is important but so is weight. Weight tends to increase with durability and thus the most important is the balance between the two. The durability does not only depend on the fabric of the leg but also on the quality of the instep strap, top closure (cinch cord) and Velcro closure. Instep straps are especially important because they are exposed to a lot of abrasion (direct contact with the ground). The lower part of a gaiter is often reinforced with a resilient fabric such as Cordura or Kevlar for protection against abrasion. It is very common that a hiker accidentally gets his/her crampons hooked on the gaiters and tear them up. Therefore, a reinforced lower part is indeed a great feature.

Weight

Gaiters should be lightweight as all other hiking gear. Lightweight gear allows you to hike faster and reach your destination easier. All products in this selection weigh less than 15 ounces (per pair). Read more about why it is important to use lightweight gear in our article Why hike lightweight.

Ease of use

Gaiters should be easy to put on. Therefore, they are typically equipped with Velcro front entries which allow you to quickly attach them around the pants. Older models had zips which were difficult to use – especially if you were wearing gloves. The cinch cord at the top should also be easy to close when you’re wearing gloves.

Height

Gaiters come in different heights – such as over-the-ankle, mid-calf and knee. Short gaiters are best for trail running while high are a great option for hiking, mountaineering and alpinism. We only listed knee-high gaiters in this selection. These gaiters are also suitable for trudging through very deep snow.