Gaiters look optional. They aren't. A pebble in your shoe at mile 60 ends races. Five picks below for the conditions you'll actually run in.
The picks
Dirty Girl
Dirty Girl Gaiters
The gaiter most ultrarunners actually wear. Lightweight, fun patterns, attaches via velcro to your shoe. Made by a small Northern California outfit. Disappear after 5 minutes of running.
- Lycra/spandex blend
- Velcro attachment to shoe
- 100+ pattern designs
- Sub-1-oz weight
Salomon
Salomon S/Lab Trail Gaiters
Pricier than Dirty Girl but slightly better at keeping fine sand and pebbles out. Direct integration with Salomon's S/Lab shoes makes them race-day standard for elite mountain runners.
- Stretch fabric, knee-low cuff
- Salomon S/Lab fit + integration
- Faster on/off than Dirty Girl
- Reflective trim
Outdoor Research
Outdoor Research Sparkplug Gaiters
The right gaiter for races with snow crossings, creek crossings, or mud. More substantial than Dirty Girl; the right call for spring-mountain races.
- Sub-knee height
- Waterproof bottom panel
- Hook + bungee attachment
- Best for snow/water
Altra
Altra Trail Gaiter
Built specifically to attach to the GaiterTrap velcro hook on Altra trail shoes (Lone Peak, Olympus). The right pick if you run in Altras.
- GaiterTrap-compatible
- Stretch nylon
- Reflective hits
- $28 vs Dirty Girl $17
Kahtoola
Kahtoola INSTAgaiter
Mid-calf height for serious mud, deep creek crossings, or stage races. Pricey but bombproof; tested at Bigfoot 200 and Tor des Géants.
- Mid-calf 10-inch height
- Velcro + under-foot strap attachment
- Waterproof bottom
- For mud + serious water
When to wear gaiters
- Always if the course has any sand, scree, or fine dirt — desert ultras, exposed ridges.
- Always in snow or wet conditions.
- Optional on dry, predictable trail (most California courses, smooth single-track).
- Skip for road ultras and mostly-paved races.
The velcro-on-shoe trick
Most gaiters require velcro attachment to your shoe. If your shoes don't have a built-in velcro patch (Altra GaiterTrap), glue an industrial-grade velcro hook strip to the shoe heel before the race. Once attached, gaiters take 5 seconds to put on and stay on for 100 miles.