AR Gaiters: Bush

Inspired by the customised gaiters that we made for our friend who hiked the length of the Kruger National Park, we are delighted to present our new AR Gaiters Bush model. 

The Bush gaiters' most redeeming feature is that they are abrasion-resistant and they are your main defence against grass seeds. Our Bush gaiters work incredibly well to protect socks and shoes against even the most penetrating grass seeds like that of steekgras (spear grass). 

Sharp, barbed grass seeds and burrs can work their way into the fabric of shoes and socks. They are not only scratchy and irritating. These seeds can can completely ruin your socks, increase your risk of developing blisters, and they can embed under your skin causing sores and abscesses. Bush gaiters are your primary defence. Preventing grass seeds from attaching to your socks and shoes is the first prize. Also, keep in mind that seeds that cling to your hiking socks may come from invasive plants. Preventing adhesion, limits the inadvertent spread of these seeds to other areas.

The fabric that we use is splashproof; it does not make these gaiters waterproof. Your Bush gaiters will shed the dew droplets from along grassy trails, helping to prevent your socks from getting saturated from the top of your ankles down. Keep in mind that unless your boots are waterproof, your socks and shoes can get wet from the upper toe area and sides.

When selecting a print, please check that the design you want is the one displayed in your shopping cart and order confirmation.

Bush Gaiters is a new model. We will steadily add more prints.

PRODUCT SPECS:

• Weight: 42g for the pair
• One size fits most. If your boots are very big or very small, please contact us directly.
• Attaches to your laces by a metal hook.
• Elastic in the bottom seam creates tension to keep your gaiters snug.
• Squares of Velcro are stitched to the back of the Bush gaiters. We provide you with the other side of the Velcro to attach to the back of your shoe. The purpose of this is to keep the back of your gaiters down, to prevent them riding up and ensure the widest coverage of your shoes. This is not always needed, but we recommend the fullest coverage possible.

USE:

• Slip an AR Gaiters Bush gaiter over your foot, wider end downwards. 
• Clip the hook on your bottom-most lace or lowest lace that the hook reaches. The lowest lace is important because 1) you get maximum coverage from the gaiter over your shoe and 2) this creates tension on the gaiter to keep it snug.
• Pull the back of the gaiter over the back of your shoe.
  

Velcro Tabs

• Included in your gaiter packet are Velcro tabs, which you can stick on the back of your shoe to keep the back of your AR Gaiters down. This Velcro tab is not necessarily needed – it just depends on the tension of your gaiters and how smooth the rear of your shoe is. It is worth putting on regardless.
• We recommend using Contact Adhesive or a shoe repair glue to attach the provided piece of Velcro to your shoe. Because the heel area is rigid with no flex or movement, glues that dry without flex are fine. Read the instructions on the glue regarding its suitability for the material of your shoe and also application instructions. Epoxy-based glues and hot glue (glue gun) should work too. We haven't used these before because Bostik Contact Adhesive and Bostik Shoe Repair Glue work so well.
• The shoe surface must be new or clean, free of dust and mud, and dry before sticking on the Velcro. 
• You may need to trim the Velcro using a blade or scissors if there is a mixed-material patterned structure at the back of the shoe so that the tab is flush. Do any trimming before adding glue.
• Give it a good press and even clamp it on. Allow the adhesive to dry properly (a few hours / overnight) to ensure that the Velcro stays stuck.
• 20mm Velcro is readily available from hardware stores and fabric/haberdashery stores so if you have multiple shoes or you get new shoes, you can easily get more Velcro for these.

Our prints and colours change regularly so check back with us in a few months to add to your AR Gaiters collection.