Duct Tape Hiking Gaiters

These Hiking Gaiters are easy to make and are perfect for hiking in snowy, wet, or grassy conditions.

Step 1 Supplies

Supplies: old t-shirt, duct tape (2 rolls), 2- 18" separating zippers (heavyweight), thread, ruler, marker, sewing machine, sewing machine oil, Q-tips, and straight pins. 

Comments

[iPodGuy]

I made a set of these and they're pretty great.

Did mine a little differently. I had to use a zipper that doesn't separate because that's all the store had. I left out the T-shirt because I wrapped my leg with the tape backwards (sticky side out) first. I was also able to sew the zipper by hand (with the help of pliers).

They did a great job out in the swamp a couple of weeks ago.

[mpettit]

In general I think that all of the duct tape stuff here is kind of wasteful, but I kind of like these ones. Gaiters are a necessary hiking item when wet and brushy, the construction on these ones is good, plus they're custom.

[Karletto555]

I would suggest to tape lower inner part higher up. If that shirt gets wet, it 's game over.
Anyway gaiters are very useful fore hiking, top 5 on gears list.
5/5

[Blaaken]

you could make a variation of this if you live in an area with alot of snake but you still like to hike, you could put either cardboard or actual pieces of wood in the design so that a snake could not bite you.

[bridge47]

Such an awesome idea! I'm afraid of sticking duct tape through my sewing machine though. Is there anyway I could just do it with the duct tape?

[Blaaken]

well, you could make a series of small holes going down the 2 seams, so you can lace them with either shoe string or something, this would take no sewing and you could use a metal ring to make it so the fabric/tape does not rip. you would also want to make it over lap.

[squeakykeek]

Thanks! You could definitely close the sides with a long strip of tape. Just make sure you take off the tape in the direction that doesn't peel off the layers of tape below. Also, I bet that snaps would work great. You would need to create an overlap and underlap with tape to make the gaiters still fit.

[Landon Sullivan]

I can imagine that some other sort of fastening system such as velcro or those little snap things would work.

[bridge47]

Mine didn't go so well :(. It was a disaster and I threw them out. I used black duct tape and it looked like a garbage bag on my foot. I cut my pants trying to get them off too. I think the problem was I was doing them on myself and it was too hard to manage to be in a good working position and fit right while doing it.

[bridge47]

I still think its a great idea though! Just a note for other people, be sure to do it on someone else, not on yourself, also black is not the best color. :)

[rockadio101]

goood job you must need a lotttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttof duct taoe

[beth1322]

Yet another reason to bring duct tape everytime I go hiking. Is there anything it can't be used for?

[adbkwhitley]

Yes, Beth, but I don't think it's appropriate for a mixed audience. ;)

[cowscankill]

Oh snap, that's useful! Especially in a place like Georgia... too bad I don't get to hike... (or technically, too bad I never hike)