Gaiters in Africa

Although gaiters will make you look like a futuristic space fiend, I can't imagine doing even the most casual hiking in East Africa without them.

For one, they'll keep Africa's prodigious amounts of dust and debris out of your boots, thus saving your feet from further abuse. They'll also keep water out of them when you're crossing a stream or trundling through a downpour; if you're curious about trenchfoot, don't bring gaiters. And last but not least, they add another protective layer against a snakebite. Considering that East Africa has the world's deadliest snakes, from the black mamba (called the three-step snake--if it bites you, three steps and you're dead) to the puff adder, it's a good precaution to have gaiters when carousing through the low-visibility-below-the-knee bush.

I have always been more than content with Outdoor Research's brand of gaiters. I would recommend getting the model that 'buckles' under your boot instead of the newfangled ones that do the job with an elastic cord. The cord seems very suspect and sacrifices durability in the name of convenience. And it's not as if the buckle is 19th century German metaphysics. So, get the Outdoor Research Verglas Gaiter.

Keep in mind that gaiter sizes recommended according to men's shoe size. Use this key for fitting: Small (4-7), Medium (6-9), Large (8-11) and Extra Large (10-13).