Outdoor Research Helium Gaiters Review

OR’s Helium Gaiters are excessive mountaineering gaiters which can be appropriate for four-season use with any footwear that has an arched sole. They’re a lot thinner, cooler, and lighter weight than heavier-duty mountaineering gaiters (comparable to OR’s Crocodile Gaiters) however nonetheless completely appropriate for winter mountaineering with non-technical traction aids comparable to Hillsound Trail Crampons or Kahtoola Microspikes.

Specs at a Glance

• Type: High Gaiter
• Weight: 4.9 oz/pr
• Gender: males’s (women’s mannequin additionally accessible)
• Waterproof/Breathable: Pertex Shield 2.5L
• Upper: 30D Ripstop Nylon
• Lower: 420D Nylon Packcloth With PU Coating
• Closure: Snap, Velcro, Drawstring

The OR Helium Gaiter is a light-weight excessive gaiter that reaches to simply beneath the knee. It has a replaceable Hypalon (artificial rubber) strap that runs by the arch of your footwear to maintain the gaiter from using up and closes within the entrance with a full-length velcro strip and a prime and backside snap. An elastic drawstring cinches the gaiter on the prime and prevents it from falling down beneath your calf whereas worn.

I bought these gaiters as a result of I needed a pair for winter mountaineering that was cooler with thinner material than the mountaineering gaiters I usually put on for winter mountaineering and snowshoeing. Heavier mountaineering gaiters make my calves sweat profusely in winter, dampening my socks and decrease pant legs. While there are occasions once I want the added decrease leg safety {that a} mountaineering gaiter offers, comparable to when utilizing full crampons, most of my winter hikes contain should much less aggressive traction aids like Hillsound Trail Crampons the place the hazard of self-inflicted wounds is just about non-existent.

I’m fairly happy with these Helium Gaiters as a result of they’re a lot cooler than the mountaineering gaiters I personal. They’re additionally very breathable and the outside feels noticeably damp once I’m mountaineering or snowshoeing in them. They’re totally waterproof with a gaiter hook on the base to connect to your laces or a gaiter ring in your boots. I’m additionally a fan of the elastic drawstring on the prime as a result of it prevents the gaiters from dropping beneath the calf and bunching across the ankles which tends to happen once I use mountaineering gaiters that shut with a webbing strap and buckle. (see additionally Winter Hiking Gaiters: Benefits and Pitfalls.)

If there’s one concern I’ve about these gaiters it’s the standard of the development. The first time I took them off, the highest snap on the prime of the entrance velcro closure tore off and flew throughout the room. I take into account that prime snap to be redundant with the entrance velcro closure because the gaiters don’t depend on it to remain shut. Still, it was disconcerting to have the snap tear out that simply and I plan to contact OR for a guaranty alternative.

Otherwise, these OR Helium Gaiters are straightforward to love. They’re comfy to put on, they shed snow effectively, they usually keep up once you cinch the drawstring twine. I believe they’ll additionally show worthwhile within the spring in the course of the mud season when my soiled woman gaiters are inadequate to maintain splashback off my decrease legs.

Disclosure: The creator bought this product.

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