If you are hiking in wet weather, especially with many low-lying branches along the trail, waterproof rain gaiters keep your pants dry and free of dirt and debris. Having a high-quality pair makes a hike like this a lot more enjoyable.
I have used lower-quality gaiters in the past. Most of the time, they are still beneficial because they keep the debris out of your socks and off your pants. But if they are not waterproof, then you still get wet.
In this article, I will talk about the top 5 highest quality waterproof (rain) gaiters I know about on the market today. If you are in the market for gaiters and you like high-quality, this is the article for you!
One quick thing I want to mention before we get going. When it comes to the higher quality rain gaiters, most are unisex. Outdoor Research had a men’s and women’s version, but the rest of our top picks were unisex. See my related articles: “Top 5 Highest Quality Men’s Rain Boots 2024!” and “Top 5 Highest Quality Men’s Rain Hats 2024!“
1. Black Diamond Frontpoint Gore-Tex® Hiking Gaiters (Unisex)
The Black Diamond Frontpoint Gore-Tex® Hiking Gaiters (Unisex) are not just designed to keep rain and debris off of your legs and shoes; they are specifically designed for ice climbing. So, in other words, these puppies are rugged and tough rain gaiters; that’s my point.
They are made of two-layer material. The upper layer is Gore-Tex®, which is tough and waterproof. The lower layer is ballistic nylon. DuPont designed ballistic nylon as a material for flak jackets to be worn by World War II airmen. In other words, if ballistic nylon is thick enough, it stops bullets.
The gaiters are designed to fit comfortably over ice boots and have a neoprene-coated instep strap that keeps them securely fitted while you wear them. They have a drawstring around the top with a cord lock to keep them snug. They are lightweight, weighing just 8.9 ounces (251g).
Pros:
- Tough: Seam-taped, two-layer Gore-Tex® upper and Ballistic nylon lower
- Stays In Place: It has a drawstring with cord-lock upper closure. It also has a hook-and-loop front closure with a snap. Finally, it has a high-density, neoprene-coated nylon instep strap.
- Waterproof: These gaters are 100% waterproof.
- Lightweight: They weigh just 8.9 ounces (251g).
Cons:
- Price: These rain gaiters come at a higher price than lesser-quality gaiters.
2. Rab Muztag GORE-TEX® Pro Gaiters (Unisex)
The Rab Muztag GORE-TEX® Pro Gaiters (Unisex) are also high-quality, tough, and durable rain gaiters. These gaiters were designed specifically for rock climbers.
These gaiters are made out of GORE-TEX®, so they are both tear-resistant and breathable. The lower portion of the gaiters are reinforced with tough 300D nylon all around to guard against sharp crampons.
Similar to the Black Diamond gaiters shown above, Rab used a hook-and-loop closure instead of zippers. This makes them easier to take on and off, even with gloves.
Rab chose to go with a rubberized, abrasion-resistant instep strap with an internal adjustment system to help tailor the fit while eliminating the chance of buckle breakage. These gaiters are even lighter than the Black Diamon, weighing just 7.3 ounces (208g).
Pros:
- Tough: Seam-taped, made out of Gore-Tex® with a reinforced nylon lower.
- Easy On & Off: It also has a hook-and-loop front closure with a snap to make it easy to put on and take off. It also has a rubberized, abrasion-resistant instep strap.
- Waterproof: These gaters are 100% waterproof.
- Lightweight: They weigh just 7.3 ounces (208g).
Cons:
- Price: These rain gaiters come at a higher price than lesser-quality gaiters.
3. Outdoor Research Men’s Crocodile GORE-TEX® Gaiters
The Outdoor Research Men’s Crocodile GORE-TEX® Gaiters are, again are top of top-of-the-line, really high-quality tough gaiters. Since they are also made out of GORE-TEX®, not only are they 100% waterproof, but they are very breathable.
The lower portion of these gators is reinforced with “triple bar-tacked BioThane® webbing” and “abrasion-resistant Cordura®.” These are two synthetic materials some say are more durable than leather.
These gaiters have a double-stitched front closure, reinforced boot lace hooks, hook and loop front closure, and a buckle top hem closure. In other words, these gaiters stay put, and you can easily get in and out of them. They have a reinforced boot lace hook and instep strap.
The Outdoor Research Women’s Crocodile GORE-TEX® Gaiters are also lightweight, weighing only 8.9 ounces (252g).
Pros:
- Tough: Seam-taped, made out of Gore-Tex® with a triple bar-tacked BioThane® & Cordura®reinforced lower portion.
- Easy On & Off: It also has a hook-and-loop front closure with a snap to make it easy to put on and take off. It also has reinforced boot lace hooks and instep straps.
- Waterproof: These gaters are 100% waterproof.
- Lightweight: They weigh just 8.9 ounces (252g).
Cons:
- Price: These rain gaiters come at a higher price than lesser-quality gaiters.
4. Kahtoola LEVAgaiter Tall Gore-Tex® Packable Gaiters (Unisex)
The Kahtoola LEVAgaiter Tall Gore-Tex® Packable Gaiters are also made of Gore-Tex®, so you know that they are 100% waterproof, windproof, and breathable. These packable rain gaiters are our lightest pair yet, weighing only 4.59 ounces (130g).
They do have zippers rather than the hook-and-loop closure. However, their AquaGuard® coil zipper, they say, is water-repellant. Its “asymmetrical zipper entry” is designed to provide more comfort as your ankle flexes.
These gaiters come with an adjustable instep strap made from a durable thermoplastic polyurethane (TPU). An elasticized drawcord with a toggle lock prevents elements from entering the top of the gaiter. And they say they have “soft undergarment stitching,” which is supposed to be more comfortable against your skin.
Pros:
- Tough & Breathable: Made from three-layer Gore-Tex®.
- Waterproof: These gaters are 100% waterproof. Zippers are water-repellant.
- Lightweight: They weigh just 4.59 ounces (130g).
Cons:
- Price: These rain gaiters come at a higher price than lesser-quality gaiters.
5. SITKA Gear Stormfront Gore-Tex® Hunting Gaiters (Unisex)
The SITKA Gear Stormfront Gore-Tex® Hunting Gaiters are the most expensive of the high-quality rain gaiters on this list. As you can tell by the camouflage material, these gaiters are designed to be used while hunting.
Again, as with all of our rain gaiters on this list, these gaiters are made from Gore-Tex®. So again, we know they are 100% waterproof, windproof yet breathable.
These tall rain gaiters extend over the calf. They have a “gripper elastic bottom” designed to keep the water out. When traversing technical terrain, an internal ladder lock strap system maintains a low profile, minimizing noise and abrasion. These are the heaviest rain gaiters on this list. They weigh in at 11.2 ounces (317.5g).
Pros:
- Tough: Seam-taped, Gore-Tex® upper.
- Stays In Place: It has a draw strap with a buckle up top. It has an instep strap. I’m not sure what it is made of or how durable.
- Waterproof: These gaters are 100% waterproof, windproof & breathable.
- Lightweight: They weigh just 11.2 ounces (317.5g).
Cons:
- Price: These rain gaiters are the most expensive ones on this list.
Final Thoughts
Okay, everyone, I really hope this article is helpful. Again, if you are in the market for rain gear, particularly waterproof gaiters, this article gives you some really high-quality ones to consider. If you are in the market for other types of high-quality clothes, including rain gear, go to the main menu of this website, and you will be able to find articles on them there.
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