If you have ever been out hiking in heavy snow, thick brush, or sharp or thorny plants, then you know just how important a good pair of leg gaiters can be. This is especially true for hunters, who often have to leave groomed trails to scout through dense brush in search of their quarry.

We’ve picked the 15 best hiking gaiters for your outdoor adventures, whether you’re in snake country or trekking in snowy terrains.

There are many different types of gaiters, from lightweight hiking gaiters to snake gaiters. Also, you will find that some leg gaiters can also be used as snow gaiters and other challenging terrains.

Certainly, we’ll cover what type of leg gaiters that requires tougher fabric to those that need to be light for fast hikes. While on the subject of fast hikes, take a read on hiking shoes vs. trail runners if you like to travel light. Take a read below to see which best suits your next adventure.

See our Comparison Guide to see which gaiters are right for you.

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What is the Purpose of Hiking Gaiters?

Hiking gaiters are meant to protect your legs from moisture, brush, and sharp objects as you walk through wooded areas that are not smooth and easy to traverse.

Gaiters can help prevent ticks and other insects from getting into your boots as well, which can be really nice in areas of the East Coast where Lyme’s Disease is common.

If you are hiking through areas with snake infestations, then you might be wondering, do leg gaiters stop these bites? The answer is yes, actually. 

You can be fairly certain that leg gaiters or snake chaps will protect your lower legs from snake bites of all kinds, even venomous snake bites.

Should I Buy Snow Gaiters?

Many gaiters offer up the proper protections for hiking in the rain and the snow, and the best gaiters are often fit for all kinds of weather. 

You might be wearing basic hiking boots, but you can elevate your boots to mountaineering boots with the addition of some good snow gaiters for hunting gaiters.

Are Leg Gaiters Comfortable?

So long as you buy the right size leg gaiters, you will probably never even notice that they are there on your legs. Still, you should always wear long pants or jeans with your gaiters unless you buy running gaiters or short gaiters. 

There are lightweight hiking gaiters for people who are hiking in the summer or in deeply wood areas. If you need a heavyweight pair, then mountaineering gaiters that can handle deep snow are ideal to keep your legs protected and warm.

Remember that you should consider the kind of weather you will be using your gaiters in before committing to a lightweight or heavyweight pair.

Picking the Right Leg Gaiters Doesn’t Have to be Tough!

If you are still unsure which leg gaiters are the right ones for your needs, read on to check out our list of the 15 best leg gaiters for your outdoor adventure needs.

Outdoor Research Men’s Helium Hiking Gaiters

Best For: Lightweight and Waterproof

Helium lightweight gaiters are perfect for both long and hard miles hikes where you could scrape your legs with a brush, snow, and med. Additionally, you won’t need to worry about getting debris out of your shoes with these. 

Moreover, they fold up and pack easily into your bag, when you don’t need them anymore. This is a highly adjustable pair of gaiters that comes in many sizes.

You can fit any kind of shoe under them as well, and you will not sacrifice the waterproof coverage with heavy shoes or lighter weight footwear.

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Outdoor Research Men’s Expedition Crocodile GORE-TEX Gaiters

Best For: Heavyweight gaiters in extreme conditions

Outdoor Research is known for making quality products all around, especially in this case, their durable Expedition Crocodile gaiters. Surely, these will protect your legs from both the heaviest snow and brush.

Perfect for hunters or people who are going to be out walking through lots of heavy snow, these gaiters will not snag, rip, or get punctured while you are out being active.

You will be happy with the comfortable interior lining, which will not chafe your legs. In addition, they’re tall enough to keep snow from falling into the top of your boots.

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Hillsound Armadillo LT Gaiter

Best For: Close Fit and Comfort

Design wise, the Hillsound Armadillo LT is one of the best looking and a great choice for your leg gaiter needs. If you want to have lightweight and waterproof protection, then you’ll like these. Also, it is reinforced with a zipper and Velcro closure, ensuring there won’t slide down.

Moreover, these gaiters stay up really well in all kinds of terrain, and they are very breathable. You will not feel hot and sweaty when you wear these gaiters.

What’s more, is that you can fold and put it into a bag with ease. Even though its more expensive, you’ll avoid tick bites and briars with these gaiters. If you want an extra layer of tick protection, then spray them down with Sawyer insect repellent.

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Black Diamond GTX FrontPoint Gaiters

Best For: Mountaineering boot fit and sturdy neoprene straps

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TurtleSkin Snake Armor Gaiters

Best For: Easy to fit and price point

Heading into snake country means wearing snake gaiters is non-negotiable. While there are some known issues with riding up for certain wearers, you should have no problems if you use the manufacturer’s guides to secure the gaiter.

The fact that these are both durable and lightweight gaiters means you can always keep a pair in your bag. Overall, they’re a great value for their price point.

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Pike Trail Leg Gaiters

Best For: Hunting in summer and reliable fit

These are a decent pair of gaiters if you are looking for a lower price point. They’re meant for summer use and perfect for light hiking or hunting in the brush that isn’t too thick. 

In contrast, these aren’t rated for snow or heavy brush, and the foot straps can be too lightweight for heavy snags.  Also, since the only closure method is velcro, once the material gets muddy or dirty, it may not hold as well.

On the upside, it comes in a wider range of colors and is harder to lose in a duffel bag.

However, this is a great pair of gaiters for hiking or light use in the snow or during summer hunting trips. We wouldn’t recommend these if you have thick calves or extended outings.

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Sea to Summit Alpine eVent Gaiter

Best For: Overall quality and durability

A heavy-duty, made for mountaineering and trekking snow gaiters is the description that comes to mind for Sea to Summit Alpine eVent Gaiters. These leg gaiters are well-constructed, durable gaiter yet is lightweight. Additionally, you can use these gaiters in even the toughest of conditions, because they’ll keep your feet and legs, dry and warm. 

What’s more, you won’t have to worry about snags or punctures, since these lightweight gaiters will not make your legs sweaty or uncomfortable, no matter how long you wear them.

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Razer Gaiters Snake Gaiters

Best For: Snake Protection and Durability

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REI Co-op Backpacker Low Gaiters

Best For: Stretchy and lightweight hiking gear

If you want the ultimate breathable and lightweight hiking protection, these leg gaiters are the perfect choice for your needs. Perfect for use over sneakers for running on trails with long grass, or you can use them to keep snow out of the tops of short boots.

Surely, they’re the perfect short, lightweight gaiter for your outdoor hiking camping adventures.

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Salomon Trail Gaiters

Best For: Easy on and off

Ideal for trail runners, these ankle gaiters are a wonderful choice if you want to be able to put them on as the terrain changes. What’s more, since they have a strap around your ankle and under your shoes, they won’t fall off on day hikes or trail running.

Although low gaiters won’t protect you from deep snow or snakes, it does prevent rocks or debris from traveling into your boots as you hike or walk.

These are easy to both put on and take off, and they pack well in your bag. Overall, these are lightweight, comfortable, and will keep out the gravel from your shoes. If you’re racing, you won’t need to stop and lose valuable time.

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Kenetrek Hunting Gaiter

Best For: Lightweight Hiking Use

If your next hike involves wide trails or warm weather, these are great lightweight gaiters that are perfect for light use. You’ll get excellent protection from water and debris with these. Although they’re breathable, these are not meant for hunting or heavy brush. 

Even so, they’re ideal for active treks with light brush and debris.

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Khatoola INSTAgaiter

Best For: Stretchy and Comfortable

These are great lightweight gaiters that are perfect for running or hiking on trails or in the very light brush. However, they will not protect against snake bites well, but they are perfect for outdoor use on trails as long as you are not in heavy brush. 

Still, they will also do well at keeping wet out of your shoes as well.

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Triwonder Gators

Best For: Running use and nighttime use

These are great fitting gaiters that are easy to put on, and that stay put even in the heaviest of snow. These are great and very waterproof. The straps are very flexible but can be too tight for larger boots.

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Triwonder Reflective Running Gaiters

Best For: Running use and nighttime use

Practical, reflective, and adjustable, these are really great gaiters to choose if you love to run on trails or at night on roads.

The stretchy nylon fabric materials have an adjustable cord that you can tighten to custom fit the ankle. It also has a rear anti-slip rubber band around the heel of the shoe so the gaiter won’t ride up. In addition to the rubber band, these trail gaiters also have a sole fixing strap with a quick-release buckle.

All in all, mud, scree, and debris won’t find its way into your socks or shoes. When there are 8 color options to pick from and priced under $16.00, you can buy several to match your trail outfit.

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Frelaxy Leg Gaiters

Best For: Price Point and Basic Use

These are solid leg gaiters to keep water out of your boots and if you’re heading into the medium brush. 

Also, they may not hold up to more demanding terrain or heavy snow. But they’re a decent pair of gaiters for basic use and will keep water, debris, and snow out of your boots with ease.

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Hiking Gaiters -Our Top Picks

Best Overall: Black Diamond GTX FrontPoint Gaiters

This is a great overall leg gaiter that offers up superior protection as well as sturdy construction and is easy to fit any size wearer. You will be able to hike, hunt, and use these in the snow, and they will not let you down.

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Best for Snake Bite: Razer Gaiters Snake Gaiters

These gaiters will never let you get bitten by a snake, and they are very durable for use in areas with other pests like ticks and ants.

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Best for Lightweight: Khatoola INSTAgaiter

These are great, stretchy, and are so comfortable that you will not even know that you are wearing gaiters. In addition, they’re a great choice if you need lightweight protection and want to be able to run or climb with ease.

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Comparison Guide to Gaiters

Hiking Gaiters

PRODUCT	WEIGHT oz	DIMENSIONS inches	CLOSURE	MATERIAL	RATING
Outdoor Research Men’s Helium Hiking Gaiters $68.95	4.9	4 x 4 x 2	Velcro drawcord cinch	Pertex® Shield Diamond Fuse 2.5L, bluesign® approved 100% nylon, 30D ripstop upper leg panel, 100% nylon 420D Packcloth with PU Coating Foot Panel
Outdoor Research Men's Expedition Crocodile GORE-TEX Gaiters $98.95	12	53.34 x 3.81 x 26.67	Double Stitched Front Closure Hook/Loop Front Closure	GORE-TEX® 3L, 100% nylon, 70D plain weave leg panel, Cordura® 2L, 100% nylon, 1000D woven foot panel, Cordura®, 100% nylon, 1000D woven back leg panel
Hillsound Armadillo LT Gaiter $65.00	11.04	20 x 8 x 2	Velcro strap to tuck zipper away	Upper section: Flexia 3.0 Lower section: 1000D nylon YKK Waterproof zipper
Black Diamond GTX FrontPoint Gaiters $69.95	8.82	7.09 x 4.72 x 4.72	Velcro, snap	GORE-TEX, ballistic nylon
TurtleSkin SnakeArmor Snake Gaiters Price not available	12	9 x 9 x 2	zipper, cinch strap	high-strength ballistic fibers & polyester
Pike Trail Leg Gaiters $24.99	-	15” (38cm) tall	Velcro	Light, Polyester Fabric
Sea to Summit Alpine Gaiters Price not available	9.7	16.5	Velcro, hooks onto laces	500D
Razer Snake Gaiters $63.99	13	12 tall	tightening straps & buckles	Nylon, Polycarbonate
REI Co-op Low Gaiters	6.5	9.25	Velcro, ladder lock and loops, quick-release buckles	Nylon
Salomon Trail Gaiters, Low Price not available	4.06	5 x 1.5 x 6	Side hook-and-loop closure	Polyester,78% polyamide/22% elastane
Kenetrek Hunting Gaiter $41.98	16	21.1 x 5.7 x 1.9	hook and loop closures and secure snaps	Nylon
Khatoola INSTAgaiter Price not available	2.6	8in / 20.3 cm	Top adjustable Elastic Drawcord Asymmetrical Low-profile Tooth zipper Zips bottom up	Stretch-Woven Nylon
Triwonder Gators $13.99	4.23	‎ 8.9 x 6.14 x 1.5	Velcro	600D Oxford fabric
Triwonder Reflective Running Gaiters $12.99	2.47	5.91 x 3.54 x 3.54	Buckle	600D Oxford Fabric
Frelaxy Leg Gaiters Price not available	6.03	11.93 x 7.87 x 2.4	Buckle	Nylon, 900D & 420D Anti-Tear Waterproof coated Oxford Fabric

Last update on 2022-02-27 / Affiliate links / Images from Amazon Product Advertising API