Ski Pants / Internal Boot Gators...

[Huck_Schmuck]

Just picked up a new pair of ski pants. I find it hard to find nice fitting, technical shell pants in nice colours so was pretty happy to find some yesterday.

Tried them on in the shop as didn't even notice the lack of internal boot gator. I tried them on at home and realized, checked them out with my ski boots and now I'm a little concerned.

I figure for regular skiing it's no big deal but I could see post holing in deep pow will mean cold legs...

What say the wise maggot collective?

[bfree]

Fine for mountaineering/alpine climbs when you would put a real GAITER on anyways, but not so much for skiing...no go IMO.

[Tutuko]

It's a hassle, especially if the pant doesn't cinch around boot or hook on. I use both styles, always get damp toes when there fresh without the gaiter, fine for day tours when it's not too cold. Any forced stoppage or o/n would probably end badly.
Can anyone recommend a pant with tough integrated gaiters that won't get ripped to shreds by buckles?

Edit: A real gaiter is the best, but transitions are annoying.

[Dry]

Fine for mountaineering/alpine climbs when you would put a real GAITER on anyways

Does anyone actually use an add on gaiter these days? No one I know in the alpine.

[LightRanger]

Can anyone recommend a pant with tough integrated gaiters that won't get ripped to shreds by buckles?

Patagonia Primos.

Or, at least the ones I've had for years.

[bfree]

Does anyone actually use an add on gaiter these days? No one I know in the alpine.

Rarely, but I still keep them around for the occasional spring/summer slog in unconsolidated snow.

[mntlion]

check out the OR stuff, most comes with gators

[kootenayskier]

I'm going into winter planning to use Patagonia Knifeblade pants, as my ski touring pants. I'm anticipating that their relatively long inseam and narrow lower leg profile will compensate for the lack of an internal gaiter. I've had internal gaiters in my ski pants for at least 15 years, but before then I never had a problem.

[XXX-er]

I scored some arcteryx full zip gortex shells and since they were 82% off (!) I figured I could forgo the gaiters and its been OK

to keep the cuffs from riding up the leg/boot I use an instep strap made of some light bungy, if you don't have eyelets on the cuffs to run a strap its easy to add them yourself

[Ocean]

I've read about people solving this problem by stretching the ankle of their base layer over the boot liners. No idea how well it works as I havn't tried it myself.

[saxon]

I used a pair of pants without gaiters for a season or two. It didn't really bother me, though they rode up sometimes and I'd have to pull them down again. I don't do a lot of boot packing in deep snow, but the limited amount I do has me convinced all elastic gaiters built into pants will be a disappointment; an old pair of North Face pants had built-in gaiters that lasted a season, all other pants I've owned have had their gaiters lose enough elasticity within about half a season to make them effective only while skinning. If the pants you got are otherwise good I'd hang onto them. If I decided I needed the functionality of gaiters I'd probably put a hook and elastic system onto my boots and pants or something.

[Dry]

nope..no gaiter

[Huck_Schmuck]

Thanks for the feedback. Fucking gators ruining my gait.

I'm going to give it some more thought...

Cheers.

[cool J]

You definitely need gaiters when skiing pow.

[Dry]

sadly, proof that 68% of the TGR traffic is from just another clueless jong

[Hugh Conway]

< shrug > in lots of lift served pow, I've found gaiters nice. add ons are nice to keep mud + shit (literally) out of your boots sometimes too. YMMV.

clueless jong vs. dickswinging over power straps. epic choices.