Outdoor Research Crocodiles Gaiter - Men's

Bomber closure system, diverse fit (used with tennies and used with large boots), and durable materials. An all-time classic piece of gear, and mine are warrantied forever.

I mean, what else is there?

I’ll preface this review with my cut and paste statement that I work as a backcountry backpacking guide in Yosemite National Park. Nearly all of the products I take the time to review have seen at least a half a season, if not more, of use... and I’m committed to not bothering to write a review until I feel like I’ve really gotten to know a product. I never thought I’d bother to write reviews, but I’ve recently decided that since I’ve spent so much time over these last many years reading reviews, and finding a tremendous amount of value in articulate and well-informed opinions, that I wanted to give back to the community. So, with that being said, here we go...

I've put some miles on these gaiters, and am very, very happy with them. They offer fantastic protection, and as gaiters go, are the nicest I've found. Even aside from the basic water/snow protection that they offer, they add quite a bit of warmth for your calves, so they function as a decent layer, making them quite multi-functional... which is always something I'm looking for in my backpacking gear. Also, beyond the layering aspect, they are great for bushwhacking through manzanita, poison oak, or any other off trail adventure that involves getting your legs jacked up.

My only single complaint, which knocks them down to four stars, is that a week ago I had one of the buckles break in half in the middle of a trip to Lassen. Turns out the buckles are plastic. Now, I don't mind plastic, its great and all... but I expected more from the buckles on these. It most certainly wasn't the result of abuse, I just looked down and, lo and behold, as I'm about to remove them upon reaching camp the broken half of one of the buckles is dangling from the strap at the top of the gaiter.

Other than the buckle durability/design issue these are as good as gaiters get, and could possibly last you a decade or more with some care.

I first bought these for my first time ice climbing to keep my inexperienced self from ripping holes in my pants with my crampons. Well they did the job and they've continued to do the job. No holes in my pants or the gators. These things are built to last. I bought the women's version for my wife and she loves them too.

Much better fit than MH gaiters. The top strap needs to be a little more durable maybe a metal buckle instead of plastic. Rest of the gaiter is totally bomber.

If there is a do all gaiter these are it. Gore-tex fabric that will take about anything you throw at it. I have had these in snow and rain and my legs have never been wet under them. The straps are very durable and adjust easily. These will save your pants and so far my crampons have not ripped them.

Wrap around style gaiter with velcro closure with a hook on the bottom.

Best in the business:

I love OR gear, and this is no exception. I have two pairs of these gaiters...the first pair was ripped in a few spots while I was learning to walk (and climb, slide, hang out) in crampons. I patched my first pair up, and got a new pair for X-mas from my girlfriend. It is worth noting that every hole on the gaiter was accompanied by a more painful/bloody hole in my calf...so these are no give-away.

Very very well made...I wish all gear was made this tough. Repels mud, ice, water, and anything else you can throw at them. Highly recommended

Bought these gaiters for a 5 day trip to the boundary waters in Minnesota and absolutely loved them. After a three mile trek through a swamp i was glad i had them as not a drop of water ended up in my boots. They even worked well when i was snowshoeing in the white mountains. my only comment is that if you are planing to use them with crampons you should invers the extra $20 in the expedition version as crampons will tear the upper nylon apart. Fit over my snow pants with ease and the under boot strap is more than sufficiently durable, after 6 months of heavy abuse there is no signs of failure anytime soon. All in all a great gaiter!

Don't want to add a long review. They work great with the right size. If they break, OR has your back.
'nuff said

These things are bomber. The fit can be a bit finicky, but once you get it dialed they work really well. The strap underneath can be reinforced with a bit of webbing- just slip it over the strap and replace as needed.

Possibly one of OR's best products? Have owned these for five years, besides some color wear and minor abrasion these look as good as they did of the shelf. Fit well on all of my boots and have never failed to keep my feet debris and water free. With over 10 years of awards behind it, need I say more?

Only complaint is when I wish I had tied a boot tighter AFTER I have put these on.

i use these for everything from winter mountaineering to summer trail work. tough as nails and keeps the crap out of your boots much better than other gaiters i have used...great product!

My oldest peace of gear. Everything else has either been replaced by lighter/stronger items, has warn out, or turned into a hand-me-down. Not my Croc's though. I last used these this winter snowshoeing. On hikes or backpacking trips with high brush, they work excellent for protection against wet weeds and the horrid ticks. I can't believe how long these have lasted,, and I easily have another 10 years before they need any kind of patch up or repair.

We are using these for a little snowshoeing. They seem great. No concern of tearing but they're reinforced just in case. They're plenty adjustable and seem to be a perfect addition to the keep it warm/dry arsenal. OR stuff has always worked very well for me and I expect the exact same from these!

Great construction, solid materials, nice wide hook and loop closure, tough replaceable strap. Overall a little heavy but worth it.
I wear a size 12 boot and I am 6' 275lb. My calf measures 20" and the XXL are nearly too big. I usually tend to go up in size because of my size but I wish I had went with XL on these. If you are borderline or have small legs I would recommend downsizing rather than up because these seem to run large.

Used these in snow last week in the high sierra mountains and they performed flawlessly. The heavy denier on the inside of the leg did a great job of protecting against nicks from crampons, not even a mark from all the crampon spike rubs throughout the day. My leg punched through some soft snow all the way down to my waist and no snow penetrated. Hooked up real tight an secure with a pair of backpacking boots, I never had to readjust. Even glissading down the mountain in sloppy wet snow nothing got in. The strap around the arch held up without a scratch even with a lot of waking around on sharp rocks.
I'm 5'11" and wear a size 10 boot, have thick strong calves and a Large fits perfect.

Much like actual crocodiles, these gaiters have been around since prehistoric ages. Their longevity is due mainly to the fact that gaiter technology hasn't changed all that much in the last million years. Keep snow out and prevent a crampon from going through your pants/leg. If you can do those two things, you have a winning design. OR Crocs do that AND they are made out of super tough material, so they will last forever. I have abused mine for years and I highly recommend them. They will be the last gaiter you ever buy.

In the winter these are my go to gaiters. I really have no complaints other than a little small. I got XLs and they are really really really tight over heavy boots but I also wear a size 14-15 so I have this problem all the time with everything. They are bomb proof though they have taken a beating and only feel better and with gore-tex they are still waterproof. For the price there is no better option out there!

I've tried others but nothing compares. I had a pair for about 11 years on every hike I took - summer or winter. Eventually I had to sew them multiple times (velcro coming off the cordura). The best thing about them is their stiffness - they repel gravity on their own so you don't have to cinch anything down around your calf. The are a bit hot, but worth it most of the time.

I just wore these for three days on a fall backpacking trip we hit snow, mud and a little sun and these kept me comfortable through all of it. I don't wear gaiters too often but stoked to have these in the quiver when i do need them.

just used them today after 16 years just one small crampon tear that i put in them on the first time out!

very sturdy. definitely water proof!!. too bad i ripped them after first use with crampons. they worked great on Spantix boots.

Best Gaiter ever...nuff said
super good build, great materials. awesome
i've had the same pair for like 6 or 7 years. I've also glissaded probably 20,000 vertical feet in these over the years which has abraded them pretty badly, but they still hold up! I also have put countless holes in them from crampons, but seam-grip and gorilla tape fixes that just fine.

Buy no other gaiter

lightweight and reliable...standard gaiter for a reason...the new nylon strap is nicer than the previous leather and its great that can be replaced...these or the expedition crocs and you cant go wrong...the upper portion is NOT crampon proof tho so watch those front points

I use these gaiters for climbing up colorado 14er's year round. Needless to say they get a little bit of everything thrown at them, and never fail to take it in stride. Everything from sharp ice to loose talus going at it on the tough ankle sections. The gore-tex is bombproof as always. Was climbing in March and while crossing a snowbridge over a river near La Plata peak, fell right through. I was up to just below my knee in water and the gaiters might as well have been a dry suit for the moment I was in the water, I managed to climb out and was bone dry. Highly recommended gaiter!

Does exactly what they say they do. I Highly recommend them.

Fantastic product! Very durable, easy to adjust, and water/snow resistant. It actually kept my feet completely dry even when standing in water shin-high in my mountaineering boots. Only complaint is they fit very tight over plastic boots. It does work, but the OR Expedition Gaiters are probably a better fit. Still, awesome product. Great fit over hiking/backpacking boots!

regarding OR croc fit: i am 6'0", 165 lbs, and freakishly spindly. my lower leg is 18" from bare heel to crease at back of knee, and my calves are 13" in circumference at rest. above the calf muscle my lower leg is twelve inches in circumference. my shoe size is 10.5 in new balance, converse, and five ten, as well as wolverine and l.l. bean hunting boots.

i wear the size large croc gaiters over tennies, and soft boots, and get a good seal both top and bottom. i find it necessary to "help" the cinch tape at the top of the gaiter through the sewn tunnel, by holding the mouth of the tunnel with one hand, while pulling the webbing through with the other- a little bit of forcing the tunnel back along its length over the webbing, seems to help the process, as well as to more evenly distribute the fabric around the leg. i have worn these with any combination of patagonia long johns in all weights, mountain hardwear and north face fleece pants, mtn hdwr syncro bibs, north face mountain bibs (damn, i'm old), and carhartt double knee work pants. i have never had a problem with the gaiters falling down my calves.

i am not exactly putting these things to the test these days; i wear them as a pedestrian when virginia gets blizzard schwacked, and when i have to work on a thirteen story, copper clad gable roof through calving drifts and peeling cornices (which has been occurring with alarming frequency lately). while i cannot speak to plastic boot and crampon related issues, i can say that these gaiters are definitely "layman proof", and are well worth the expense, even if one is not a mountaineer or ice climber.

buy one set of gaiters now and for years to come, instead of having to re-up in the middle of every other season.

i hope the sizing information is useful.

These are the standard gaiter, simply because they're by far and away the best.

I recently returned a pair of these because they tore above the ankle. I decided to give them another shot and rather than returning my old pair for a refund, simply exchanged them for a new pair. Despite the consensus that these are an extremely durable gaiter, I've found them to be too delicate (especially the upper half). Unfortunately the new pair of gaiters ripped from nothing more then a stick shot. Also, the velcro on the toe piece loses its grip very quickly and soon becomes useless. I will be returning this product when I get back from my trip. I would recommend something a tad more hardy. I will say, however, that my feet never got wet (while they were intact) and that for light use these would be great gaiters.

Keeps my calves warm and dry, and the closure system is very secure. The sizing is a little off - go based on your calf more than your shoes. I wear a 10.5-11 Merrell shoe and Asolo boot, and made the mistake of ordering the XL. It was MASSIVE! I exchanged it with no problems for a medium, which fit perfectly around the calf, and tight/secure fit around the ankles of the boots.

What do you want from gaiters? As far as I'm concerned, I just want to keep the snow out of my boots. These do the job admirably. They are quick and easy to put on and take off, and seem to be pretty breathable, too. The velcro closure looks like it might be a weak point, but it doesn't leak, and seems to be holding up well. And you can't argue with the convenience: this closure is way quicker than a zipper. I've had these for a couple of years and worn them on something like a hundred winter runs/hikes in the Wasatch, an they look as good as new. Still, it's nice to know they have an unlimited warranty.

I bought these several months ago to replace my old TNF Gore-Tex gaiters, which had zippers in the back and were therefore difficult to put on (at least I found them difficult to put on despite having them for 15+ years). My girlfriend has MH Ventigaiters (see separate review), which are very durable and perhaps better for rock climbing, but for snowshoeing, these are much better because the lower part is less stiff (which allows the back strap of the snowshoe to wrap more tightly) and more breathable. These are very quick and easy to put on - just step onto the bottom strap (which can be left in the same position unless you used very different boots), velcro the front, hook the clip onto the ring on your boot (or onto the front laces if you do not have one), velcro the rest of the front, and cinch the top around your calf. They are light and breathe very well. They are well designed, well built, and should last a very long time.

Just got back from a weeklong elk hunting trip in the high mountains of Wyoming. All week the weather was snowy cold and downright miserable. I purchased the Outdoor Research Gaiters to keep the bottom of my pants dry, and boy did they work. Never had a problem with them falling down or keeping them secure. I got many comments from other hunters who wanted a pair of their own after seeing my success. After I returned home, I took a wet rag to them, and they look like new. Totally bombproof!!!

Works great in the snow. Honestly, they are a little overkill for most needs but, I am the type that prefers that kind of gear just in case... I have used these with the Salomon B52 winter boots and they fit fine. I mostly use them with my Salomon XA Pro 3D Ultra GTX trail run shoes while hiking/snowshoeing. The XL's fit great and I wear a size 13 shoe and have pretty good size calves.

I actually had on some ankle smartwool socks with my Sali trail run shoes and stuck these on with some North Face pants to hike in 5" of snow without snowshoes and they worked great. No snow ended up in my shoes at all.

Like I said before, they are a bit overkill for most outings but they perform flawlessly. They actually keep my lower legs pretty warm, but, they don't breathe very well, which usually is not an issue though. Another solid product...

There's no topping the crocs. Size 11 boots, 6'1" 185, and crocs size L has been solid. From my mountaineering boots, to old-school little XC ski boots - and everything in between - they fit.

I use mine for FOUR-season adventuring and work. For me, they have shed just as much mud as they have snow. However, because of their durability, they do have a maximum temperature at which they're comfortable, depending on activity level.

I had a pair of these tree planting and they did extremely well. By the end of two seasons they were completly done but they lasted longer than all or most of the ones my friends were using. The rubber strap that goes around your boot isn't super durable so if you want it to last forever all you need to do is take a small piece of tubular webbing and put it around the leather. It works like a charm.

Nothing negative to say... Bullet-proof, water-proof, and breathable which is why they are the standard by which all other gaiters are compared. I agree with the gent below that they tend to run big (depending on boot type of course). I wear a large with a size 13 backpack boot which fits perfectly even over my shell pants. I'm guessing they were sized around a plastic mountaineering boot???

I've used these daily all winter for both work and play. They've held up very well.
Attachment is easy. Fit is great over my La Sportiva Nepals.
I wouldn't hesitate to buy them again.

Used the B.C. gear search under xc-ski gaiters and these came up. Ordered my size and these were WAY TO BIG! Not recommended for xc-skiing.

Just got them and they look perfect. I'm sure they'll be a good help when snowshoeing or snowhiking. If I was listening to the sizing guides I would have bought a pair of XLs but I'm happy I bought the Ls. Outdoor Research should think about going something like M-Tall or so to better fit taller and skinnier people like me.

These are, hands down the best investment I've ever made for winter/early spring hikes. For snowshoeing they keep my boots dry and snow-pack free. They work excellent with La Sportiva Trango S Evo boots.

Have held up to once full winter, spring and summer. Used them in the 14ers of Colorado this summer and they show little signs of slowing down.

I would not considered buying another brand/style of gaiter (the crocs expedition gaiters not included). The Gore-Tex is priceless as is this piece of gear in any outdoor enthusiasts toolbox.

Great - unless I have loose clothing - then the gaiter does not fit EZily around my calves. (I don't have huge calves...) - I wear a size 11.5 Raichle hiking boot and the gaiter does fir over that nicely. Otherwise, I have no snow entering; the gaiters are worth every cent. Next pair will be XXL though so I can also wear other stuff that winter bike stuff for snowshoeing!

I work at snowshoe mountain ski resort. This year we got two and half feet of snow over night, a lot for us on the east coast. These kept my feet and ankles powder free and warm on my slog to work each morning.
The fit seems good, and theyre burly as hell

I have other gaiters that are cheaper and was not a gaiter fan until I decided to purchase these to use while doing trailwork.My others would not stay up and the strings under the feet seemed to come untied regardless of the methods I tried.First I like that these stand up without even having to buckle the upper strap which allows for needed ventilation during hot humid conditions plus the straps under the foot can't come lose.Great for hiking in snow and dirt has no chance getting through and I prefer no raingear unless weather is to cool to go without so I use these to keep the rain out of my boots and add warmth when needed

These are my first gaiters and I'm very happy with them. They are easy to mount and stay on.
The design and the materials look solid.

I used these gaiters on a backpacking trip in the Adirondacks last winter and they were great for the hike in. We had to break a trail, but the snow was only about a foot and a half deep, so these were tall enough to wear and they kept my legs dry. I prefer these to wearing bulky snow pants any day. Also, I should note that I choose these because of the heavy duty materials. They don't feel wimpy, and I would be comfortable walking through a torn bush with them on.

I use my Gaiters on cold mornings riding my motorcycle to work. They are awesome keeping the wind out of my pants legs and keeping the cold off my shins. Works great, Great price.

All about this gaiter is great, except...! After two years of working in them, the Velcro has come un-stitched. The stitching can easily be fixed.

Front closures make for easier attachment & they stay closed. Top cam buckle locks securely. Neoprene instep straps are extremely durable. These gaiters keep snow out of your boots & legs dry.

Fits well, don't move around or shift, breathes well, and keeps everything out of your boots. Plus, they're totally bomb-proof. How could they get better?

I did get a nice cut in them from the front points of my crampons, but that's my doing. patched right up.

These are great gaiters. Just be sure you need all that room. I got the XL to fit over jeans / boots / insulated wind pants. They would have fit over padded coveralls. Backcountry (good folks!) swapped them for size L which had plenty of room for my needs.

I am pretty confident in saying these are the best out there.

Just in case you are still not sure from the other 100's of reviews these are probably the best for the price. Only thing to consider is if you are going to be using sharp objects is if you need the expedition model.

This is only the 2nd pair of gaiters I have ever owned. First pair (also OR Crocodiles) got lost in a move. They protect your upper boot and calf from anything thrown there way from snow to rocks to short dunks in an icy river.

These gaiters fit well, are easy enough to put on, they stay put, and they’re rugged. I am glad I bought these. I have seen some Mountain Hardwear ventigators on the trail and those look like an interesting design. They might be an interesting choice too.

These are very nice gaiters. They kept snow out of my boots and are easy to take on and off. I'm not crazy about the nylon webbing and clasp used to tighten the top though. It's definitely a two-hand operation to tighten the strap.
The stitching between the upper and lower fabric pieces came undone after only about ten days of use (granted, probably due to repeated rubbing with my snowshoe while walking). But since OR has an excellent warranty and stands behind their products, I just get a new pair with no hassle at all.

These things are great. Kept my feet and lower legs dry after a few mile walk through snow and an fall through ice in a stream (just over a foot of water). My friend had another brand of gaiters and wasn't so lucky... He had a cold and wet hike back to the car. All in all they are great. I wore a pair of Vasque Ice 9000 mountaineering boots on... size 12 and I bought the XL Gaiters... Nice tight fit.

Excellent Product. Bought these for my wife. OR's women's products tend to be a tad short for those over 5'9". Have worked a pair of these hard for a few years now with no complaints. This years model has a few great upgrades like a double locking velcro seam and replaceable boot strap. Since this strap is the only item of concern on my old gaiters, this is a wonderful upgrade!

Only had these for a few months. Taken them on a few excursions in spring mountain snow, but nothing terribly deep yet. So far so good. Love the durability, waterproof yet breathable.

These are excellent gaiters. Very strong, very waterproof, strong Velcro. My only -slight- complaint is that they don't seem to be very breathable, but then again these are certainly hardcore gaiters and that's not too much of a concern! Great product.

These are the very definition of bomber. I'm a little dubious of the claims that you can stand around shin deep in water and stay bone dry (no gaiter is designed for that kind of sealing). But when I used them in snow, ice, and talus, they held up perfectly, kept me dry, and stayed on tight.

These gaiters are great! I needed something tough and strong 1) to protect me from sticks and poison oak and 2) to keep dirt and rocks from getting into my shoes.
Part of my job requires me to bushwack through in-tact scrub, and before I got these gaiters, my ankles and lower legs were covered in poison oak and deep scratches on my ankles and lower legs. Since getting these gaiters, my lower legs are safe!
I was very impressed by the toughness of these gaiters--they're really holding up well so far.