Last updated: 24-Oct-18
Salomon Trail Gaiters (Low)
The gaiters are designed to stop debris and fragments from getting into shoes when running on mixed terrain.
Features
- Fit over the cuff of any running shoe and around the ankle
- External side closure with Velcro
- Made of stretchy fabric
- Sole strap
- Reflective details
- Weight: 130g
- Price: £20
Photo credit: Fiona Russell.
Pros: What’s good about Salomon Trail gaiters (low)
Of all the gaiters on test, these are the easiest to attach and offer good access to tying and adjusting the shoes when the gaiters are fitted. The gaiters can be attached after you have your footwear on.
The wrap-around design is very good. With your shoes and socks already on, you wrap the gaiter around the ankle and the top of the shoe. A strap fits under the shoe to keep the gaiters taut and neatly in place.
To avoid the sole strap being worn out on rough ground you need to make sure there is some kind of heel instep or a difference in height between the base of the shoe and the lugs that will hit the ground when running. Most Salomon trainers work well with the gaiters.
The gaiters will fit most people because they can be adjusted to suit around the ankle.
I didn’t really notice I was wearing the gaiters once they were on. The stretchy fabric flexes with the motion of the foot and because I wore them over socks I did not feel the gaiters against my ankle.
The gaiters kept out mud splashes and all kinds of debris on a mucky forest run. They also stop light water, such as rain, from getting in around the ankle but they do not keep out puddle water if it is deep. To be fair, the gaiters do not claim to be waterproof, I was simply hopeful that they might be.
The gaiters look and feel well made and the Velcro is strong.
The reflective details are a nice extra touch.
Photo credit: Fiona Russell.
Cons: What’s not so good about Salomon Trail gaiters (low)
I have thin ankles and I found the gaiters were a bit too large. The Velcro fastener did not cover a wide enough area to accommodate my narrow ankles so it was only half attached. This didn’t really cause a problem but it might do as the Velcro wears out.
If you do not wear long-ish ankle socks under the gaiters the gaiter edges rub on skin.
The sole strap can only be used if there is a raised area in the sole of the shoe. Many trainers have an even or fairly flat sole, which means there is no obvious place to put the strap. If the strap is against the flat sole of a shoe and taking the brunt of the rough terrain under foot they will not last long.
Conclusion
These are a more versatile pair of gaiters because they can be worn with a range of running footwear and they can be adjusted to suit your foot and ankle size, so long as your ankles are not too skinny. I like that you can access laces even after the gaiters are fitted.
The gaiters are well made and they do as they say they will and keep out the debris and muck that you might expect on a rough off-road run.
I presume they can be washed in a machine although there are no details about this on the packaging.
| Score | |
| Design | 9/10 |
| Features | 7/10 |
| Performance | 8/10 |
| Value | 8/10 |
| Total | 8/10 |
Other gaiters you may want to consider:
Inov-8 Debris Gaiter 32
Gore Running Wear X-Running shoe gaiter
Raidlight Stop Run gaiters
Salomon Trail Gaiters High
About the writer: Fiona is a keen runner, preferring off-road and hilly to flat and road. She lives in Scotland where the weather is fickle so needs to be prepared for all conditions.
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