Leaving the end of this month for SA in the Limpopo area around Lephalale and have a question about boots and gaiters. I was planning on buying some some boots or light hiker's but my Rocky Lacers are on there last leg and I just bought some some insoles for them to make them doable. We will be there the 28th through the 9th of October and I know it will be hot with these leather boots. They have 8" uppers and was curious if I still need gaiters with this high of a boot. I thinking the gaiters are beneficial with shorter boots or sneakers. Due to the time of year and temp I will be wearing shorts if that makes a difference. Insight would be helpful, thanks

Gaiters keep some trash off your bootstrings, that's it. Nothing to worry about.

Gaiters or not is less important than Scotch or gin in camp.

I have been hunting in Africa for over 30 years, and have never wore boots or gaiters.

I wear trainers, and they work great.

Light weight too.

quote:

Originally posted by SquirrelNut:
Gaiters keep some trash off your bootstrings, that's it. Nothing to worry about.

Gaiters or not is less important than Scotch or gin in camp.

Please tell us about your experience in Africa. Word is you only hang out in the Political Forum and are a bit tired of getting your butt kicked there so now you are pretending you actually have been in Africa. Please inform us of your experience there. We wait with baited breath.

Otherwise stick with the children that play in the Political Forum.

Take moleskin for blister instead of gators.

If you will be in grass that has burrs or seeds the gaiters will keep them out of your laces. I haven't hunted that areas so I do not know.

I have the ones from Boyt Harness that are $16 (plus shipping etc.), Some do not like them because they have to go on before your boots but they work for me.

http://www.shopboytharness.com...duct/safari-gaiters/

Light weight , standard cut works best and are a good combo with gaitors. 8" uppers you shouldn't need gaitors and if that is what you are comfortable then go for it. But it will be very hot at that time of the year

Bayou , terrain varies greatly throughout South Africa. You might be over dressed with your heavy boots. Its going to be warm this time of the year. Have your outfitter advise you accordingly.

With shorts, gaiters can be useful......but not essential.

I wear an all leather Pikolino sneaker for warm weather hunts.

I almost always hunt and work with shorts. Cotton gaiters (sock savers) are a sensible way to keep debris out of your shoes.

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by SquirrelNut:
Gaiters keep some trash off your bootstrings, that's it. Nothing to worry about.

Gaiters or not is less important than Scotch or gin in camp.

Please tell us about your experience in Africa. Word is you only hang out in the Political Forum and are a bit tired of getting your butt kicked there so now you are pretending you actually have been in Africa. Please inform us of your experience there. We wait with baited breath.

Otherwise stick with the children that play in the Political Forum.

Squirrel Nut - Is that like a tiny bollock?

Well its certainly not a plural.

Don't wear socks and then it's all good

quote:

Originally posted by Jan Dumon:
Bayou , terrain varies greatly throughout South Africa. You might be over dressed with your heavy boots. Its going to be warm this time of the year. Have your outfitter advise you accordingly.

+1 depends on the time of year too. May - August in the Eastern cape highlands will see you walking in tons of grass that will prick and itch you through your socks .

In Limpopo in mopane country it will be dry with very little ground cover and leaves and sand les would work

Find out from your PH what the terrain will be like
Best regards

I hunt in Tevas most of the time, but some folks prefer boots and gators. If you do decide on gators, make sure they are cotton/canvas type (like ozhunter's) and not a poly fabric. Your PH will burn your poly gators after a few stalks. You will sound like a fat kid in corduroys eating potato chips.

So far in hunting TZ, RSA, Namibia twice & Zim I have always hunted in New Balance walking shoes that I walk in 6 days a week. I have gaiters in my gear bag and have used them once in Namibia to keep the grass seeds from driving me nuts. I may be nuts but it did keep the seeds out of my socks

I've always worn long pants and about 6"-8" boots. I've never had any need at all for gaiters.

Mark

I never hunt without them. They keep the crap out of your boots and keep your laces from snagging on thorns and other vegetation.

quote:

Originally posted by MARK H. YOUNG:
I've always worn long pants and about 6"-8" boots. I've never had any need at all for gaiters.

Mark

Long pants can be nice in some areas

Anton,

My scrotum contracted the first time I saw that photo of your legs and I had the exact same reaction just now.

Mark

If you take away all the scratches etc and look at my right foot also, had something bit me on the ankle and I think I sprained it also. (as you could see its about double the size lol..) Those leopards don't come easy!

quote:

Originally posted by A.Dahlgren:
Those leopards don't come easy!

Looks like you tried to kill it with your hands.

I hunted the Limpopo region a few months back (June).

I decided to take mesh type boots. It was a big mistake! Leather boots (lightweight) without the mesh, would be my recommendation.

I can remember we spent a few hours tracking an eland bull. It seems as if I had about half of every thorn, weed.... etc. in my socks.

If you take regular shoes, or non-leather hikers, use gaiters. If you have leather hiking boots, I don't think you need them....

Really hard to be a good pair of courtneys or leather Russell chuckkas...I like gaiters and wear them every time I wear shorts.

Ed

Short shorts and gaiters look really cool in pictures. That's why I wear them.

Also I have noticed that when I put on my well worn dirty gaiters with blood spots on them, the PH starts to relax more and stops talking to me like I'm a total newbie.

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:
I almost always hunt and work with shorts. Cotton gaiters (sock savers) are a sensible way to keep debris out of your shoes.

Glad you had your gaiters on to keep the trash you are sitting on out of your shoes. Nice.
Bill

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by SquirrelNut:
Gaiters keep some trash off your bootstrings, that's it. Nothing to worry about.

Gaiters or not is less important than Scotch or gin in camp.

Please tell us about your experience in Africa. Word is you only hang out in the Political Forum and are a bit tired of getting your butt kicked there so now you are pretending you actually have been in Africa. Please inform us of your experience there. We wait with baited breath.

Otherwise stick with the children that play in the Political Forum.

+1 although we have it on good assurance from members who apparently know him that he really has been to Africa. i hunt in shorts and use Boyt gaiters to keep crap off my socks and out of my low boots.

quote:

Originally posted by Frostbit:

quote:

Originally posted by SquirrelNut:
Gaiters keep some trash off your bootstrings, that's it. Nothing to worry about.

Gaiters or not is less important than Scotch or gin in camp.

Please tell us about your experience in Africa. Word is you only hang out in the Political Forum and are a bit tired of getting your butt kicked there so now you are pretending you actually have been in Africa. Please inform us of your experience there. We wait with baited breath .

Otherwise stick with the children that play in the Political Forum.

What is "baited" breath? Are you baiting me? I await your response with bated breath.

nice semantic response to dodge the question.

the question i referred to was you African experience. and from my experience, they do a lot more than keep seeds off your boot strings if hunting in shorts and in an area where there is a lot dried grass. sorry to make the question to oblique for you.

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
the question i referred to was you African experience. and from my experience, they do a lot more than keep seeds off your boot strings if hunting in shorts and in an area where there is a lot dried grass. sorry to make the question to oblique for you.

Gaitors are great if one chooses to wear them but they aren't really necessary. I have two pair upstairs if anyone wants them.

Snake boots here in the south, different story. I wear them.

are you bright enough to understand the question?-re. your African experience? i don't think snake boots or gaiters, and their use in Africa vs the southern US is at issue...

quote:

Originally posted by jdollar:
are you bright enough to understand the question?-re. your African experience? i don't think snake boots or gaiters, and their use in Africa vs the southern US is at issue...

Give it up, we both know the answer.

well, i guess you do but i am apparently to stupid to know the answer. maybe you should quit avoiding the question...... or i should

Is Shootaway using a new name?
Bill

you gotta wonder how someone gets 386 posts in a month. and still avoids the question of experience. reminds me of a few years ago with Andy, the consummate shit stirrer....

I went today and bought some light weight hikers to wear on the trip. They are not the most expensive but I figured they would do for a week and also bought some good insoles. Also checked into the gaiters since I have to make another order through midway and the boyt's are only $10. The hikers are a suede mesh 6" and have to do a serious break in in the next two weeks. If they don't work, whats $10 after all this. Thanks

quote:

Originally posted by Bill Cooley:

quote:

Originally posted by ozhunter:
I almost always hunt and work with shorts. Cotton gaiters (sock savers) are a sensible way to keep debris out of your shoes.

Glad you had your gaiters on to keep the trash you are sitting on out of your shoes. Nice.
Bill

Could have been this pretty Buff

That is a pretty buff!!
Where was this one taken?
Bill

Since I hunt in long pants, I never used to use gaiters. Then a PH loaned me a pair -- we had some tick issues if I recall correctly. I've not hunted without them since, long pants and all.