EMS Summit Gaiters

Comments about Eastern Mountain Sports EMS Summit Gaiters:

First of all, I am a huge fan of EMS store and brands. I get 95% of my gears from EMS. But unfortunately I do NOT recommend getting this gaiters. I am a weekend warrior, average 5 to 7 peaks in a single weekend, 130 to 150 peaks in a year, and last winter 37 peaks alone. So, I have used this gaiters personally and do not like it one bit. The velcro is too narrow and it keeps coming off, and so does the hook that suppose to hook on to the tip of the shoe lace. My suggestion is to get a gaiters with a wider velcro so it would not come off. I had to switch back to my old REI gaiters. Sorry EMS, but you failed me on this one.

Comments about Eastern Mountain Sports EMS Summit Gaiters:

Mostly use this for winter hikes, but have also used them for caving. Work great in the cave to keep mud, and sand from creeping into my boots, also keeps pant legs from getting snagged.

Comments about Eastern Mountain Sports EMS Summit Gaiters:

Have used these on a couple of mountaineering trips and I can say that they do the job perfectly. The fit is great, just make sure to size them right to ensure they will fit over your boots. I don't recall any issues with them sliding down; in fact, when I'm wearing them I don't even realize they're on, which is a good thing. They do a great job of keeping the snow out and protecting your pants and boots from crampons. Everything you need and nothing you don't at a very reasonable price.

Comments about Eastern Mountain Sports EMS Summit Gaiters:

These are awesome. Admittedly I've never owned gaiters before. I took these out for their first use on two days in the White Mountains of New Hampshire to go snow-shoeing in 18inches of fresh snow. These gaiters were easy to put on, fit well, and kept my boots and ankles warm and completely dry. They don't show any signs of wear, and did a great job. I was so glad to be wearing them, and for what I paid, they were a great deal.

My only complaint would be that there is no little loop to tie back the top strap, so it was just flapping around near my knee, and I knocked the buckle loose once because I nudged the free end of the strap. I started tucking it into the top after that, but my friend's gaiters had a little loop to keep that strap tied down.

Comments about Eastern Mountain Sports EMS Summit Gaiters:

Used them for a 3.5 mile snow shoe trek...perfect fit, easy to put on and highly functional. Worth the cost and likely will last for at least a decade of recreational use.

Comments about Eastern Mountain Sports EMS Summit Gaiters:

A simple, useful gaiter. Have not used in appropriate snowy conditions yet, however did use on a recent cold rainy October hike. Mud puddles deep as my boots, and a rappel over Arethusa falls in the spray, the gaiters stayed in place, my boots and socks stayed dry, my pants stayed clean, and the gaiters cleaned up well after. Quintessential gaiter performance.

Comments about Eastern Mountain Sports EMS Summit Gaiters:

I recently purchased and used the Summit Gaiters on an 8 mile hike in the snow. They kept the snow out of my boots and stayed in place without readjustments thanks to the adjustable rubber boot strap (a huge improvement from the elastic strap on my old pair) and boot hook. Also, my Husband has used his pair of the Summit Gaiters for hiking and snowshoeing for the last 4 years and they are proving to be a very durable product. No complaints here.

Comments about Eastern Mountain Sports EMS Summit Gaiters:

I bought these march 2011. I've hiked and ran in them quite a bit. They are comfortable to run in, even when wearing shorts, trail runners and ankle socks. They stood up against ice, rocks and spruce traps. My pair are still 100% intact and are visibly passable as brand new. I did not want to claim that they were breathable, since it is hard to tell with gaiters.
The only 'problem' is that after about 5 miles of running / post-holing (painful combo) there was a bit of ice build up around the ankles. I doubt, however, that you can avoid this with ANY gaiters, and the quick fix is to simply clear them out and re-adjust them after a couple of hours.
I recently bought a pair for my step father as a gift. He was looking at a similar brand, but I wanted to make sure that he was getting a quality product.

Comments about Eastern Mountain Sports EMS Summit Gaiters:

So far so good. Once the bottom strap is adjusted the gaiters come on and off very easily. The hook for the laces doesn't stay hooked on but so far I haven't seen it as a necessity. The gaiters stay in place well enough.

My 2 concerns for the future would be the velcro not staying sewn on and the straps eventually breaking but both of these would come from wear and tear.

Comments about Eastern Mountain Sports EMS Summit Gaiters:

I've used these in every condition from chest-high powder to calf-deep slush and they've rarely let me down.
The Cons:
- Toe hook almost never stays put, except on semi-rigid or rigid boots (boot grades B2 and B3). The upshot of this is that even without it hooked, the gaiters still stay put and the snow stays out of taller boots.
- Deep slush or very wet conditions can penetrate the gaiters even though they are gore-tex

In snow, I've never had a problem with them. They are showing some wear on the insides, but my crampons and snowshoes are yet to snag on them or tear them.
I'd recommend these gaiters, but I strongly encourage you to go to your local EMS, bring the pants and boots (or multiple pairs) you intend to wear them with so that you can size them appropriately.