Gaiters recommendation?

unkel

Only starting to do a bit more serious hiking and have been caught out a few times in deep bog in Wicklow, sinking in (well) deeper than my boot. With water / snow going into the boot and water wicking up my outer or base layer trousers. Not good.

Are gaiters effective enough against this? Which would you recommend?

Alun

It's very rare that I go walking in Wicklow without them to be honest, and yes they do help a lot in preventing muck getting in and to a lesser extent water. The ones I have are made by Outdoor Designs, see here ...

http://www.outdoordesigns.co.uk/store-gaiters/permaevent

They have them in 53 Degrees North, or at least they did last time I looked.

These have both a zip fastening and a velcro flap, some have just the velcro which isn't as good IMO. They also have a good sturdy rubberized strap under them whereas some brands just have what is effectively a bootlace.

The Lowe Alpine ones are pretty good too.

BTW just a friendly warning, be very careful if you're out on your own in some of the more extreme boggy areas like Conavalla or Barnacullian for example. It's not entirely unknown for people to go down much deeper, sometimes past their knees or even up to their thighs, and even with a group of people assisting it can be very difficult to get them out.

unkel

They sure look the business. Hard to get them here for reasonable money though. 53 Degrees North haven't stocked them for over 2 years and won't get them. Most US sites won't ship here (including the one in your link even though it's a UK website!)

Edit £41.50 incl shipping is the best I can find. Ordered. Thanks Alun!

Linky

Alun

Thanks for that info, as I said, I bought my last pair there but it was a while ago.

unkel

And thanks for the heads up for those areas. I can see on the East West mapping that plenty of area around them is marked as marsh (=swamp =bog presumably)

I was planning to go to Barnacullian soon enough, so I will be extra careful

Alun

unkel wrote: »

And thanks for the heads up for those areas. I can see on the East West mapping that plenty of area around them is marked as marsh (=swamp =bog presumably)

The worst bit around Conavalla if you're coming from Lough Firrib is the last couple of hundred metres, called rather appropriately Hag's Sloughs on the E-W map. Best to avoid it by skirting around to the north instead.

I was planning to go to Barnacullian soon enough, so I will be extra careful

The best way to get from Mullaghcleevaun to Stony Top/Tonelagee, which is the only reason to go anywhere near Barnacullian, is not to go straight over the top, unless it's literally been bone dry for months.

Instead, aim for one of the gullies coming off Mullaghcleevaun heading south'ish until you hit the stream (Fall Brook). Follow this down until you're almost at the waterfall and can see a broken down fence to your right. Cross this and and follow the eastern edge of Barnacullian where it's still a bit wet but is mostly grassy. Only head back onto the ridge when you're almost at the end.

Wobbly_Legs

Bought my mother these, she loves them.. I didn't get them from this site although I wish I had, I would have saved a bomb!

http://www.karrimor.com/karrimor-munro-gaiter--780002?colcode=78000203

duckysauce

these are bomb proof http://www.amazon.co.uk/Berghaus-GTX-Gaiter/dp/B001YQGRFQ

Alun

duckysauce wrote: »

these are bomb proof http://www.amazon.co.uk/Berghaus-GTX-Gaiter/dp/B001YQGRFQ

I know a couple of people with those and I seem to remember they only have a velcro fastening and no zip which wouldn't be great IMO. Velcro only has a limited life before it stops sticking.

Gasherbraun

unkel wrote: »

Are gaiters effective enough against this? Which would you recommend?

I never used to use gaiters but bought a pair a few years back for the AON walk and now use them all the time in Wicklow. To answer your question are they effective I can walk through a river - obviously no deeper than the gaiter - and still have dry feet. Same goes for for keeping the general mud and bog of Wicklow out for hours on end. They are made by a company called Outdoor Research.

Alun wrote: »

The best way to get from Mullaghcleevaun to Stony Top/Tonelagee, which is the only reason to go anywhere near Barnacullian, is not to go straight over the top, unless it's literally been bone dry for months.

When I was new to hillwalking (very green but soon to be very brown!) I set off solo over Barnacullian from Stoney Top in Winter and I still remember the experience with far from fond memories. Like being lost in a sea of mud that was trying to swallow me whole. Not fun

Alun

Gasherbraun wrote: »

When I was new to hillwalking (very green but soon to be very brown!) I set off solo over Barnacullian from Stoney Top in Winter and I still remember the experience with far from fond memories. Like being lost in a sea of mud that was trying to swallow me whole. Not fun

Yes, I remember doing the Lug Walk in 2013 and coming off Mullaghcleevaun headed for my usual route along the edge. A big group just behind me, obviously not from Wicklow, headed straight over the top looking at me as if I was lost or something I remember looking back from the start of Stoney Top and they were still negotiating it.

duckysauce

Alun wrote: »

I know a couple of people with those and I seem to remember they only have a velcro fastening and no zip which wouldn't be great IMO. Velcro only has a limited life before it stops sticking.

yep velcro and buttons top and bottom . I have had them 5 or so years now and no probs. But clean them after each use , so that probably prolongs their life.

unkel

Alun wrote: »

Instead, aim for one of the gullies coming off Mullaghcleevaun heading south'ish until you hit the stream (Fall Brook). Follow this down until you're almost at the waterfall and can see a broken down fence to your right. Cross this and and follow the eastern edge of Barnacullian where it's still a bit wet but is mostly grassy. Only head back onto the ridge when you're almost at the end.

Did that, thanks! Still tough going the rest of the way to Stony Top up and down bogs when the legs were getting tired.

Took me nearly 6 hours from Sally Gap to Wicklow Gap this morning in decent weather but fairly wet underground. Hadn't walked any of it before (except between Mullaghcleevaun and East Top). Saw plenty of deer, hares, birds but didn't see any human until on the top of Tonelagee. There was a man hiking barefoot :eek:

Went into the muck up to my knees a few times, but the gaiters kept my feet completely dry. No sweaty / wet lower legs either. So thanks again, these are not cheap but they are very good.

Alun

Just seen this ... yes, once you get back up on to the ridge to go up Stoney Top it gets a bit boggy again. Negotiating peat hags and knowing when to clamber up on top of them and when the boggy bits in between are OK to walk across is an acquired skill. I know some people who when they're doing this section actually drop down to the right in the saddle, towards the top of the forest, contour around and then climb back up again just to avoid the peat hags, but that seems like too much hard work to me.

hmmm

Alun wrote: »

Just seen this ... yes, once you get back up on to the ridge to go up Stoney Top it gets a bit boggy again. Negotiating peat hags and knowing when to clamber up on top of them and when the boggy bits in between are OK to walk across is an acquired skill. I know some people who when they're doing this section actually drop down to the right in the saddle, towards the top of the forest, contour around and then climb back up again just to avoid the peat hags, but that seems like too much hard work to me.

On that section there is a large expanse of bog which is more than firm enough to walk on - I like to head for that, which saves all the up down rigmarole. The key thing is in a group not to all follow in a big line churning up one small section of bog. Sticks are useful too to spread the weight.