Hillsound is an alpine products manufacturer out of Vancouver, BC. Their line of gaiters are some of the best I have ever used. The Hillsound Armadillo LT Gaiter (Editors Note: The Armadillo LT Gaiter will be available Fall 2014) is well built and durable, surviving all the field tests I put it through. In snow, it refused to allow ice to stick. Mud and water simply ran off while tramping through ponds, puddles and streams in the rain. In high winds, they kept my lower legs warm. Even in warm spring sunshine, they didn’t hold in wetness or make me feel overheated while backpacking.
The Hillsound Armadillo LT Gaiters are constructed of high quality materials. The upper is made of a 3-layer “Flexia” that is nicely contoured to fit snug on the calf but not too tight. This material breathes quite well. It also holds its shape. No one likes saggy gaiters. The lower portion is tough, high-density nylon which is durable and helps protect boots and legs from impalement by crampons as well as brush. The arch strap is smooth, tough plastic and, of course, it is replaceable for those who hike enough to make replacement a necessary part of owning gaiters. The zipper is a good quality YKK unit which resists water intrusion.
I was impressed with how snug and truly comfortable the Armadillo LT Gaiters are. They fit so well over my boots that even while tramping through 6” deep spring slush, almost no snow got under the gaiter to melt onto my boots. They are quite light, weighing in at just under 10 ounces for the pair. The strap is so tough I found it barely scratched after walking on gravel roads, crossing scree fields and up numerous trails. They also have a tightening strap at the top to synch it as tight as you like, but even with it loose, the gaiters stayed in place very well.
The only issue I had with the Hillsound Armadillo LT Gaiters is the zipper. It’s a bit small to grip unless you take off your gloves. A small zipper gripper or bit of parachute cord can fix that. A couple times I failed to insert the end of the zipper fully into the receiver and the zipper pulled apart as I started to walk, but I could return it to the open position again and re-zip it which didn’t seem to damage the zipper at all.
Overall, I am very satisfied with the Armadillo LT Gaiters and would highly recommend it to anyone who wants a high quality, durable, breathable gaiter. You will find you use it a lot if you live in a wet or snowy climate or for any alpine adventure you may choose.
Pros
- Stretch fabric upper
- Excellent snow, water and wind repellency
- Abrasion resistant
- Machine Washable
- Very durable
- Replaceable arch strap
- Lightweight
Cons
- Zipper could use easier larger grip
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