Best for trail shoesKeeps the trail out of a low-cut shoe
Frelaxy Ultralight Trail Gaiters
Turns a trail shoe into something you can wear on dusty, gritty descents; it does nothing at all for deep snow, which is what most people buy gaiters for.
Best for snow
Full-height, for passes with real snow on them
Outdoor Research Rocky Mountain High Gaiters
Knee-height, waterproof, crampon-compatible
4.4 on Amazon (17 ratings)
What actually keeps snow out on Thorong La in a bad week — hot, noisy and completely unnecessary on any trek where the snow is only in the photographs.
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What you get
- Seals boot to knee against deep snow
- Takes crampon straps without shredding
- Protects trousers from your own crampon points
What it costs you
- Too warm below the snowline
- Bulky in the pack for something used twice
- Fiddly to fit over a boot in the dark
Do not buy this if: A monsoon or autumn teahouse trek below 4,500 m. Rent a pair in Kathmandu if a single pass is the only reason you need them.
Treks we recommend this for
Not every route needs it. These are the ones where our guides would put it on your list.
The alternatives
Everything else we recommend in gaiters & insoles, including the ones we think suit a different trekker.
Best for trail shoes
Best insole upgradeFor high arches that ache by mid-afternoon
Superfeet Green Insoles
Fixes the arch ache that ends afternoons for a lot of people; they are firm to the point of being uncomfortable if your arch does not actually need supporting.