I like the simplicity of pull-on gaiters but have always struggled to get the instep cord the perfect length - long enough to go underneath the heel of my shoe and then to the instep, but tight enough to keep the snow out. Even with elastic shockcord I couldn't get it right. And if I expected to use the gaiter on a different shoe all bets were off.

So after reinventing this wheel ;-) I thought I'd share, to spare...


Just add a cordlock to whatever you use for an instep cord. The eyelet or loop will serve as the stop.



Leave the cord long enough to ease getting it on, then pull it tight. Finally, tuck it up inside the gaiter to protect it, and to keep from getting it snagged.

Edited by greg23 on 01/17/2011 19:04:28 MST.

The simple things are often the most useful, and the one's that seem to escape us too easily!

Thanks for sharing.

Cool idea Greg. I like that. Might want to put the cord through a piece of tubular webbing as a protection sleeve.

Finding an instep cord that can take the abuse is a never ending experiment in your environment and style.

My favorite so far is the small diameter, coated, braided yellow stuff commonly used in bear bagging. For me, on the dry rocky trails of the Winds of Wyoming, and the CT, and CDT in Colorado, it lasts the longest. And it is easy to take a bunch of spares, as they don't take much room.

The big stuff in the photos is yet another test.

YMMV

Greg what material did you use or is this just a modification to a pair you already had?

They kinda look like MLD superlights...

James,
They "were" Superlites. They've been hacked a bit, so I hesitate to identify them out respect to MLD. They are a great piece of UL gear.