Patrik Orcutt 03.02.23
Outdoor Research is a Seattle-based manufacturer of technical apparel and gear for outdoor sports. They were formed back in the 1980s after a climber was attempting a summit of Mt. Denali when he and his team had a failure of a set of gaiters that sent them packing back down the mountain. That climber was Ron Gregg and after just over a year, Ron would have started his own outdoor brand, Outdoor Research (OR). Back in 1980, their flagship product was an improved pair of gaiters, fixing the problems Ron had with older pairs. Today, OR’s product line includes everything you would need for alpinism, rock and ice climbing, backpacking, paddling, and backcountry skiing and snowboarding. This review will take a look at the Outdoor Research Crocodile GORE-TEX Gaiters to see if they are still made as good as the ones that helped launch the company.
This product we privately purchased and there was no money exchanged between the manufacturer and the reviewer.
Specs – Outdoor Research Crocodile GORE-TEX Gaiters
- MSRP: $89
- Weight: 8.9 Ounces (Men’s)
- Fabric: GORE-TEX 3L, 70D Nylon Upper and 1000D Cordura Boot
- Height: 17″ | 43 cm
- Country of Origin: Cambodia
These Gaiters were tested over the course of 4 years in various alpine environments all over Europe including the Austrian, German, and Julian Alps. Before we get into this review I would like to just explain what a boot gaiter is. A gaiter is a fabric guard that covers the gap between your trousers and your walking boots. Try to think of a gaiter as looking like a cut-off sleeve with an attached loop on one end designed to easily hook under your boot heel by a strap. The top part then wraps around your ankle or calf. They prove to be invaluable when walking through high snow or tall fields of wet grass in my experience.
Quality – Outdoor Research Crocodile GORE-TEX Gaiters
These particular gaiters are composed of a heavy 1000 denier Cordura on the bottom and triple-layer GORE-TEX lined with 70 Denier nylon on the top meaning they are tough and capable of withstanding some serious wear. I’d even go as far as to say if you lost your footing with crampons on and maybe stepped on your gaiters you would be fine and there would be no holes. Don’t ask me how I might know this. The GORE-Tex helps vent moisture that will build up also. This is a really important feature because the last thing any hiker wants is moisture building up in your boots and creating some nasty feet. In the dozen or so times I have used the Crocodile GORE-TEX Gaiters I have not put any real wear marks on them and that tells me they are going to last a very long time.
Unlike three-season or trail running gaiters that tend to be shorter, the Crocodiles are high gaiters that end just below your knee. This extra height is necessary when you find yourself in deep snow or wet high grass. If you’re not wearing gaiters in these kinds of situations then you’re going to soak your pants and your socks meaning you’re going to be getting pretty uncomfortable a lot sooner. Some people might make fun of you for wearing them but I promise you you will be the one laughing in the end when your boots are dry the next morning at camp.
Features – Outdoor Research Crocodile GORE-TEX Gaiters
To secure the Gaiters to your feet, there are a couple of things that keep them in place. First, the primary opening to the Gaiter is a long strip of heavy-duty Velcro that runs the horizontal length of the garment. Once closed there is a set of additional Velcro closures to really keep everything in place. The bottom of the Gaiter has a metal hook that can and should interface with your boot laces for proper fitment. This will help keep all the nastiness out of your boots by at least 200%.
The bottom of the boots has an adjustable strap to keep them tight to your boots no matter the size. Finally, there is a small strap with a plastic closure on the top of the Gaiter for final adjustment. I’d recommend keeping this one as loose as possible as when I tightened this down it would constrict movement and actually really hurt my leg muscles. I would like to see OR go with a stretchier material for this closure strap over traditional nylon in future versions.
Likes
- Highly Breathable
- Easy to adjust and tighten
- Available in many colors and options
Dislikes
- Kind of Expensive
- Tapered fit may leave larger boot sizes out of luck
- Nylon Top strap can cause pain to legs
Wrap Up – Outdoor Research Crocodile GORE-TEX Gaiters
The reason that Outdoor Research Crocodile Gaiters are so popular really boils down to the simplicity of their construction. They do exactly what they are intended to do and can stand up to incredible abuse for ice climbing, winter mountaineering, or off-trail hiking. I swear by my Crocodiles and think they’re the best gaiters you can buy for hardcore winter hiking.
