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Ragged Mountain Intervale Gaiters Review

Off-Trail Snowshoeing in Deep Powder on Cave Mountain, White Mountains
Off-Trail Snowshoeing in Deep Powder on Cave Mountain, White Mountains

Ragged Mountain’s Intervale Gaiters are designed for winter hiking, snowshoeing or XC skiing. Made with soft Supplex nylon pack-cloth, they’re super breathable, water-resistant and lightweight, nothing like heavy mountaineering gaiters, Outdoor Research Crocodile Gaiters for instance, that you need to wear to protect your lower legs and pants from being speared or shredded by full mountaineering crampons.

Ragged Mountain Intervale Gaiters

Breathability
Ease of Use
Durability
Water Resistance

Excellent

I've worn the Ragged Mountain Intervale Gaiter for snowshoeing and XC skiing in very deep snow and they've done a marvelous job at keeping snow out of my boots. My calves don't sweat and saturate my socks when I wear them and they're extremely lightweight, weighing just 4.2 ounces for the pair.

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I rarely wear mountaineering boots and heavy crampons anymore, even on more technical peaks, because there are much lighter weight insulated boots and (safer) winter traction systems available like Kahtoola Microspikes and the Hillsound Trail Crampon Pro. I’ve been searching for a lighter weight and more breathable gaiters for some time, especially ones that won’t make my calves sweat and soak my socks, like the heavier weight “Gore-tex” gaiters I currently own.

Sixteen inches in height, the Ragged Mountain Intervale Gaiters have elastic at the cuff and ankle to help with the fit, and there’s a drawcord at the top that you tie with a double shoelace knot to keep the gaiter from falling down your calf. A full-length YKK zipper runs up the back, with an under-boot cord (easily replaceable if it ever breaks) and a lace-hook keep the gaiter in place. The zipper has proven durable because there’s almost no little tension on it. Very simple and they cost just $23.75, which is a steal.

The under-boot cord fits easily through the lugs of your boots making the Intervale Gaiter compatible with boot or shoes that have flat soles without a pronounced arch, like those found on many lightweight insulated winter hiking boots or XC ski boots. You don’t want to wear flat soled winter hiking boots with gaiters that require under-boot webbing straps because you’ll be stepping on them all the time and quickly chew them up. If you have gaiter straps the drag on the ground now, you know what I mean.

Ragged Mountain Intervale Uncoated Gater
Ragged Mountain Intervale Uncoated Gater

I’ve worn the Ragged Mountain Intervale Gaiter for snowshoeing and XC skiing in very deep snow and they’ve done a marvelous job at keeping snow out of my boots. My calves don’t sweat and saturate my socks when I wear them and they’re extremely lightweight, weighing just 4.2 ounces for the pair. Compare that to OR Crocodiles which weigh 9.3 ounces a pair. Water-resistance is very good and they dry very quickly when they get wet, but the Intervale Gaiters are really intended for use in cold, dry, or crusty snow. For wet snow, Ragged Mountain also sells a 10″ waterproof coated Tourgaiter, with the same construction for just $15.75.

Affordable winter gear. Hand sewn in the USA. I know it’s hard to believe.

About Ragged Mountain Equipment

Ragged Mountain Equipment is a cottage ski, climbing, and hiking clothing and gear manufacturer located in Intervale, NH, between Bartlett and North Conway. All of the gear they make is made in a small factory space, located behind their store on Rt 302, next to the old Scarecrow Pub. They also have an outlet in the basement that sells astonishingly low priced technical clothing as well as consignment items. Check out their online catalog or visit their store if you’re in the White Mountains. You’ll be impressed.

Disclosure: The author purchased this product with his own funds and has no business relationship with Ragged Mountain Equipment. 

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8 comments

  1. Wow! Blast from the past! I bought a black fleece scarf from Ragged Mountain Equipment back in the early 90’s on a ski trip to Wildcat.

    I’m glad to hear they are still going. I still have the scarf 20+ years later.

    • I really like their mountaineering gloves systems. They have a vintage look, but they’re made with excellent materials and super functional. In other words you pay for value, but not advertising and glitz. Kind of refreshing actually.

      • Glad you posted this, because I’ve never heard of this outfit. And they have some interesting looking stuff! Curious which of their glove systems you’ve used / liked?

        • The three beefiest mitts look like they might be able to grip an ice axe but still provide insulation against the metal.
          I haven’t used these yet, but I’d start with the Trail Mitts and then try the Alpine Contour Mitts. In fact, I’ll just take an ice axe the next time I pop in and visit them. They’re located very close to the group ski house I belong too in NH.
          https://raggedmountain.com/handwear

  2. I like their stuff! Im glad you posted it. I spent most of the morning looking at their website and am planning a trip there next month.

    • Drove by after recovering from a climb up Madison. Stopped in and browsed the store and ended up purchasing some fleece pants and a wind block fleece balaclava. Not everything in the store is on their website, I noticed. I saw some softshell pants with full sidezips that I rather liked, but fought with the $169 price tag. I need to bring my girlfriend so she can check it out. She needs mittens that are easier to slip on and off her hands.

  3. Hi Philip!
    I’m using the Mountain Laurel Designs Light Snow Gaiter for winter. The shock cord I’m using for the under-boot cord keeps coming detached from the gaiter when I stretch the cord out to get it under my shoe. The knot that I use to fix the cord to the nylon webbing loops on the gaiter just comes undone when I stretch the cord out that much. Is there a knot you’d recommend I use which won’t come undone when the cord is stretched out? I’m knot-illiterate, but if you give me the name of a knot, I can probably find a YouTube video that will teach me how to do that knot.
    Thanks!

    • I’m pretty sure I don’t have the original cord on mine. I just use an elastic cord with a cord lock I took off some backpack, probably.
      Oh you mean the MLD gaiters. Man! Those are long gone. I’m still using the Intervales for times when I need extreme breathability and S2S mountaineering gaiters when I need moisture and puncture protection.

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