Best Trail Running Gaiters of 2023

JUMP TO: SALOMON LOW TRAIL GAITERS / ALTRA TRAIL GAITERS / ULTIMATE DIRECTION FK GAITERS / MONTANE VIA TRAIL GAITER / KAHTOOLA INSTAGAITER LOW GAITERS / DIRTY GIRL GAITERS / BUYING ADVICE

Author: Alecsa Stewart

The Short Version

The Long Version

Trail running is one of the best sports when it comes to getting dirty and disheveled. No one judges you out on the trails and, certainly, no one’s expecting you to look polished after a muddy ultramarathon!

While being out on the trail is amazing and liberating, there are downsides to the “dirtiness” of the sport. One being the amount of rubbish that ends up in your shoes! Rocks, grit, and dirt – all creating the potential for painful blisters or discomfort.

Luckily, this is where trail running gaiters come to save the day.

Especially useful in rocky areas, trail running gaiters help keep small pebbles and grit out of your shoes. This helps prevent excess friction that could, ultimately, ruin your run.

And if you love racing in hot climates like the desert, then you’ll absolutely need gaiters to protect you from small particles of sand that are guaranteed to make your run uncomfortable.

In this article, we’ve reviewed some of the best trail running gaiters currently available, so you can keep your feet fresh and your spirits up next time you hit the trails!

If you love reading this review of the best trail running gaiters, then you'll likely love reading some of our other running related content:

Need To Know What To Look Out For?

When purchasing gaiters, you’ll want to make sure they have the right features for the conditions you’ll encounter on the trail. If you’re not sure what to look for, then check out our buying advice at the bottom of the article!

WEIGHT: 2.1 oz

HEIGHT: Over-the-ankle (6.7 inches)

PRICE: $$

PROS: Very versatile, lightweight and water resistant, plus unisex so fit most shoes

CONS: May not attach perfectly to some shoes

Salomon have long been the experts in trail running across European mountains, so it’s no surprise that their gaiters are great for protecting your feet on gravel, mud, and snow.

Despite being called “low”, the Salomon Low Trail Gaiters are high enough to keep your feet dry and debris-free. They are also very versatile and will fit most trail running shoe designs, so you don’t need to have Salomon shoes to have a good fit.

An extra feature of these gaiters is that they have protective pads over the ankles, however they remain quite lightweight. The protective pads are great on rocky trails or if you’re crossing over scree, where you risk knocking your ankles against rocks… which can hurt.

Salomon gaiters rely on outsole straps to stay on your feet. The drawback of this design is that the rubber will wear over time, but you’ll need to put them through a lot of sharp rocky trails before that happens.

Given the size, weight, features and overall performance, these gaiters are a great choice for the mountains. And fortunately they can be used in dry conditions without causing your feet to sweat like crazy.

Best for Value: ALTRA TRAIL GAITERS

WEIGHT: 2.6 oz

HEIGHT: Over-the-ankle

PRICE: $

PROS: Value for money while providing excellent fit and coverage, attaching really easily to Altra shoes as well as other brands

CONS: Potentially problematic fitting if you haven’t got the right size

Altra’s excellent Trail Gaiters are great value for money. They also have a rather unique design, whereby you don’t have to pass a rubber strap over your shoe to wear them.

Their “strapless” design is both a blessing and a curse. On the one hand, they are more durable and you’re less likely get debris stuck in between your gaiter strap and your shoe. On the other hand, your trail running shoes need to have a way to connect to the gaiter.

All Altra shoes come with a small plastic loop at the top,  where you can connect your gaiter. Or if you wear a different brand of shoe, you might have a hook-and-loop piece built in. But even if you don’t, Altra fortunately provide a hook-and-loop piece that can be used for connecting their gaiters to other shoe brands.

They also come in a few different colors and two different sizes – so you should be able to get a decent fit with most shoes.

Forgoing any attachment issues, Altra Trail Gaiters are one of the best choices when it comes to value – they retail for one of the lowest prices in their category and yet are great at keeping out rocks and debris.

Best for Close Fit: ULTIMATE DIRECTION FK GAITERS

WEIGHT: 2.3 oz

HEIGHT: Higher above ankle

PRICE: $$$

PROS: Very durable yet lightweight and comfortable, close fitting – so great in sand

CONS: Velcro ankle strap might be tricky to keep in place on difficult terrain

Ultimate Direction’s FK Gaiters offer a close fit and an adjustable, replaceable, strap that will help extend their overall lifespan.

The adjustable strap that will fit most stack heights and as a bonus, it can be replaced when it’s worn out. This counters the higher price paid for these gaiters, as you’re likely to get a lot more life out of them. However, on the flip side, some runners have reported that the straps fail relatively quickly (which is disappointing given the high initial outlay).

The Velcro closure along the outer edge of the gaiter allows you to get a tight fit around your ankles, which helps prevent the entrance of sand or rocks. However, the Velcro can become loose on particularly technical or unstable terrain.

Finally, we do love that these gaiters have a range of size options available – three each for men and women – helping you to dial in the right fit for your size of shoe.

Best for Ultralight: MONTANE VIA TRAIL GAITER

WEIGHT: 1.6 oz

HEIGHT: Higher above ankle

PRICE: $$

PROS: Unisex, very lightweight, stretchy

CONS: Too light for cold weather, not sturdy for winter runs

Montane’s VIA Trail Gaiters are ideal for runners looking for something easy and lightweight with a stretchy fit.

They come in three sizes and use a simple “pull on” design.  The elasticated strap that passes under the sole of your show might seem thin at first, but it is surprisingly durable.

The gaiters are made from a stretchy softshell material. However there is a reinforced “kick patch” on the inner ankles to provide additional reinforcement and help increase durability and lifespan.

The stretchy materials provide a close fit and make these gaiters suitable for both the mountains and the desert. The They also run a little higher up the ankles — providing additional protection without adding bulk.

The lightweight material may not be sturdy enough for dense brush or suitable for use on long winter runs. But for warmer conditions when you want to go fast and light, the Montane VIA Trail Gaiters are an awesome choice.

Best for Low Riding: KAHTOOLA INSTAGAITER LOW GAITERS

WEIGHT: 2 oz

HEIGHT: Over-the-ankle (5 inches)

PRICE: $$$

PROS: Very low riding so great for hot climates and running in short socks, tight fit

CONS: Almost too tight fitting (especially the strap), plastic strap not very durable

Kahtoola INSTAgaiter Low Gaiters are one of the best pairs of gaiters for desert running. They ride really low so you can wear them with short socks and not sacrifice any tanning (or end up with odd tan marks halfway up your calves)!

Seriously though, they offer great protection for the whole ankle area extending halfway down the upper of your shoe. Plus, they are really easy to put on thanks to the zip fastening design. The zipper closure is also better at remaining closed than, say, a Velcro closure design. And there is a small elastic drawcord and lock to ensure a snug fit around your ankle.

They’re not your best choice for snow and mud, but they are a great pair of gaiters for dusty, sandy trails in the summer. Plus, the added water repellent finish should see you through light rain.

We also like Kahtoola INSTAgaiter Low Gaiters for their looks. All in all, they are a solid performer when you are looking for a summer trail running gaiter with a low-cut design.

Best for Style: DIRTY GIRL GAITERS

WEIGHT: Not specified – but very lightweight

HEIGHT: Higher over ankle (6.75 inches in size M)

PRICE: $

PROS: Great value for money and amazing looks, plus 6 sizes to ensure a good fit (and they fit men’s shoes too!)

CONS: Not waterproof so only work in good weather, attachment system might not be very sturdy

By far the most stylish gaiters on offer to trail runners, the Dirty Girl Gaiters come in a huge number of colors and styles to brighten up your dusty runs. They also come in six different sizes to ensure a proper fit to your shoes and are very stretchy, too. 

These gaiters attach to your shoes using a hook on the front and a Velcro tab on the heel. The front hook can be attached to either a built-in loop (like found on Altra shoes) or to your shoelaces.

If your trail running shoes don’t have an existing gaiter trap on the heel then you will need to add a Velcro tab onto the rear of your shoe – a self-adhesive Velcro tab is provided, but if your shoes are old & dirty or have a particularly uneven surface on the back of the heel, then you might need to use some glue.

The Velcro attachment system is good for dry runs, but we don’t see it lasting too long on muddy mountain trails unfortunately. Nonetheless if you want something bright, fun, and stylish for trail running on hot days, then Dirty Girl Gaiters are near unbeatable!

BUYING ADVICE FOR TRAIL RUNNING GAITERS

Shoe attachments

A key thing to consider is how your gaiters will stay secured to your trail running shoes – you’ll want to consider both the front and rear attachments.

FRONT ATTACHMENT: The front of most gaiters will attach to the top of your shoe using a hook. The hook is generally designed to attach directly to your shoelaces or to a built-in loop on the upper of your shoe (if your shoes have one).

Some brands, like Dirty Girl Gaiters, have the hook underneath the protective material of the gaiter. Whilst others, like the Ultimate Direction FK Gaiter, have the hook resting on top of the gaiter material – therefore being a little easier to use but potentially offering a little less protection to the hook itself.

REAR ATTACHMENT – OUTSOLE STRAP: Many gaiters use an elastic, rubber, or plastic strap that goes under the outsole of your shoe. This ensures the base of the gaiter stays down around your shoe and doesn’t ride up while you run. The outsole strap approach will work with almost all running shoes, so might be preferable if the Velcro approach (described below) doesn’t sound suitable for you.

Of course, the downside is that the strap is exposed on the underside of your shoe and so will wear over time. For this reason, they are designed to be durable, but might not be the best on dry, jagged, rocky terrain. Some gaiters – like the Ultimate Direction FK Gaiters or Montane VIA Trail Gaiters – have a strap that can be replaced, so that you don’t need to replace the entire pair of gaiters when the strap wears out.

REAR ATTACHMENT – VELCRO TAB: To avoid a strap passing around the outsole, some gaiters instead use a Velcro tab at the rear of the heel. Obviously, however, you need a place to secure the Velcro to your shoe. Some trail running shoes will have a “gaiter trap” on the rear of the heel – this is a Velcro tab used for securing gaiters. If your shoes don’t, then make sure you are prepared to permanently attach a small Velcro tab using adhesive. 

WHICH SHOULD I CHOOSE? Which rear attachment style you should choose likely depends on the terrain you’ll be running on and the conditions you’re likely to encounter. If you do a lot of running on dry, jagged, rocky terrain, a rubber strap will wear out relatively quickly and you might prefer a Velcro attachment. However, if you run in wet, muddy, bush conditions, a Velcro fastening may regularly detach from the back of your shoes and a secure strap might be preferable.

Fastening

You’ll want to consider how you put your gaiters on, how you take them off, and how you secure them around your ankle.

PULL ON: Many gaiters use a “pull on” design. These aren’t always the easiest to get on and off (depending on how flexible you are!), but they are often more lightweight and simpler because they don’t have Velcro or zippered closures that can open during your run.

ZIPPERED OR VELCRO CLOSURE: These gaiters use a zipper or Velcro closure, often placed vertically along the outer side of each ankle. This makes the gaiter much easier to get on / off mid-run, but the use of zippers and Velcro can add bulk. It can also come undone during your run if not secured well. However some, like Ultimate Direction FK Gaiter, use a snap at the bottom of the Velcro to ensure the gaiter stays closed during your run.

SECURING THE ANKLE: Pull-on gaiters are often made from stretchy materials, and elasticated around the top to stay tight around your ankle. Gaiters with a zippered or Velcro closure may still have stretch around the top of the ankle– but some, like the Kahtoola INSTAgaiter Low Gaiters, specifically have a small drawcord at the top of the ankle to ensure a snug fit.

Waterproofing & breathability

One thing you might want to consider is waterproofing or water resistance. Unlike hikers, most trail runners are happy to forgo waterproofing when it comes to gaiters. However, depending on the conditions you’ll encounter, you might wish to consider it.

With gaiters, you’re essentially picking between two types of conditions: wet and muddy, or dry and sandy/rocky. For the former, you may want waterproofing. Whilst for the latter, you will likely forgo waterproofing in preference of lighter weight materials and breathability. So consider what you want these gaiters to protect your feet from and pick accordingly.

Some trail running gaiters may be treated with a durable water repellent (DWR) – which can provide protection from light rain without sacrificing breathability. However, if your priority is breathability in warmer conditions, then you’ll likely be looking for gaiters made from lightweight spandex or softshell materials and so may need to sacrifice water-resistance altogether.

MORE INFORMATION

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