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 insole upgrade
For high arches that ache by mid-afternoon
Superfeet Green Insoles
High-volume, firm arch support
4.5 on Amazon (75,448 ratings)
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.
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What you get
- Genuine relief for high arches over long days
- Stiffens a soft budget boot usefully
- Outlasts several pairs of shoes
What it costs you
- Uncomfortable if you do not need them
- Takes up volume — your boot may no longer fit
- Needs its own break-in
Do not buy this if: Flat or neutral feet with no pain. Do not solve a problem you do not have eight weeks before a trek.
The alternatives
Everything else we recommend in gaiters & insoles, including the ones we think suit a different trekker.
Best for trail shoes
Best for snowFull-height, for passes with real snow on them
Outdoor Research Rocky Mountain High Gaiters
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.