AR Gaiters: Desert (Small, UK 5-9)

Running a desert or beach race? There is nothing worse than sand in your shoes. Aside from the discomfort, sand means abrasion and friction; the perfect recipe for blister trouble. AR Desert Gaiters completely cover the shoe to prevent even the finest sand from getting into your shoes.

Note: Leadtime of 2-3 working days on all AR Desert Gaiters.

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

PRODUCT SPECS:

• Available in two sizes. Small (UK5 – UK9) and large (UK9.5-UK12). If your shoes are smaller/larger, we can customise for you. Please contact us directly. 
• Weight: 80g 
• Four-way stretch Lycra.
• An adjustable Velcro tab around the ankle accommodates teeny-tiny ankles.
• A band of Velcro is attached to 4/5 of the bottom of the gaiter. This is what sticks the gaiter to your shoe. The final 1/5 (at the back) has a band of elastic for support and tension.
• The hook side of the Velcro is provided in your gaiter package. We recommend that you get it stitched on by a cobbler (See ‘Stitching the Velcro on to your shoe’ below). Shoe Glue / Shoe Repair Adhesive seems to work pretty well. Note that Super glue does not work for effectively as sand particles wiggle in to lift the glue. 

USE:

• Slip the AR Desert Gaiter over your foot. The one with the badge goes on your left foot.
• Then, put on your socks and shoes and do up your laces.
• Start attaching the gaiter from the front. Smooth the Velcro first over the toe cap and around the sides. Finally slip the back (elasticised; no Velcro here) over the back of your shoe.
• The elastic at the back accommodates different shoe sizes. You do not need Velcro at the back; sand does not come in through the rigid heel cup. Trust us.
• These gaiters have a higher ankle than the AR Mini gaiters. Great for going down steep dunes of soft sand. The ankle-tab can be tightened for going down big, deep dunes when knee-deep in soft sand.

The velcro can be attached to your shoe by two methods: stitching (first choice) or using Bostik Shoe Repair Adhesive.

1. STITCHING THE VELCRO ON TO YOUR SHOE:

• We provide the hook side of the Velcro separately in your gaiter package. We recommend that you get it stitched on by a cobbler.
• Take your shoes to a cobbler. It is possible to do it yourself but it isn’t easy to do by hand and a cobbler will have machines to do it quickly.
• We recommend stitching along the top and bottom of the Velcro (see image below).
• It is not necessary to stitch the Velcro around the hard heel cup (see image below). The heel cup is solid plastic and does not allow any sand in. The AR Desert Gaiter is elasticised at the back (no Velcro). It slips over the back of the shoe and stays snuggly in place.
• After the race, you can easily unpick the stitching to remove the Velcro from your shoes.

2. USING BOSTIK SHOE REPAIR ADHESIVE

• Bostik Shoe Repair Adhesive works; Super Glue does not as sand particles wiggle in to lift the glue. Contact adhesives get brittle, crack and come apart. The Shoe Glue is quite flexible and bendy; the shoe repair people use this mostly for sticking new soles on shoes.
• Make sure your shoes are clean. Give the area where you are sticking the glue a good scrub and let it dry. You don’t want any sand or grit on the shoe.
• Make sure you follow the instructions on the glue package, leaving the glue to dry properly before using your shoes with the gaiters.
• Glue the Velcro to your shoes as shown in the diagrams below.

Stitching option 1: If the toe cap of the upper is minimal.

 
Stitching option 2: If the toe cap of the upper of your shoe is hard and protective.

CARE INSTRUCTIONS

• AR Desert Gaiters can be washed in your washing machine, but be sure to shake as much sand from them as possible first. Air dry. No tumble drying, please.
• Should the Lycra get any small holes, use needle and thread to stitch them closed. If you can’t sew, use fabric glue.