Here's more recently informed gear review. Just did the bi-annual 5-day backpacking trip. Here's some shots of the lower leg gear:
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Oboz ankle high (I can't find a specific model name on them) with yak-trax slip ons and Hill Sound gaiters. I love the gaiters- fit great (especially like the adjustment strap at the top of the thigh) and incredibly water/mud resistant. they are pretty thick, waxed (or more likely plasticized) canvas. Not sure if they are rattler proof, but combined with a thick canvas pant underneath, there's a lot of protection there). Our March trip has historically been in the snow (often with snowshoes), and the set-up is great with snow and ice. This year it was very muddy and wet, with lots of puddles. Low top hikers and gaiters kept all the mud and water off the pants. The yak-trax actually gave an added bit of grip in the mud, which was a bit suprising- i thought they would be overkill. I'm still up-in-the air with the Oboz, as they are VERY stiff in the sole. However, this hike involves a lot of logging roads. The area we hiked (Merck Forest in VT- yep, the pharmaceutical Merck family), uses the road for ATV vehicles to access forestry projects and mapling operations, so they put down a lot of litttle, sharp rocks for traction and erosion control. Made me really appreciate the stiff soles (my wife has lighter hiking Keens, and she felt some of the rock poking into her- I did not). We got 3 inches of snow for the hike out, so I was happy to have the gaiters and the yak-trax.