Of all items of outdoor clothing, gaiters are perhaps the most Marmite. Some would never leave home without wrapping up their lower legs, preferring to sweat even on hot dry days without a hint of bog; others clearly prefer wet socks and trousers to being seen dead in them. I'm no fan, but living in the Highlands, not known for arid terrain, there are certainly days on which I'll set fashion sense aside and get gaitered up. In winter a full-length model provides both the necessary calf/shin coverage and extra warmth. But what about wet spells in warmer spring or summer weather? Or use with trail shoes? Or lightweight backpacking where you may be carrying them as much as wearing them? Here's where the lighter, cooler, and less all-encompassing ankle gaiter may be more use.

Trekmates offer a couple of ankle-length options to suit different budgets: the Glenmore GTX and Orchy Dry Gaiter, each a pretty standard design with velcro closure and a rubber underfoot strap. While no one will claim these are exciting products, and they perhaps don't fit quite as neatly as some more expensive alternatives, they're good value and they work. 

Both are waterproof, so if you want something solely to keep debris out of your running shoes and don't fancy the added sweat of a waterproof fabric, then look at something else such as the Montane Trail Gaiter.

Glenmore GTX Ankle Gaiter - £35

With its Gore-Tex fabric this is the more premium of the two models, and its tougher and slightly more protective feel makes it arguably better suited to three season use and gnarlier off-trail terrain. The slightly heavier weight of 104g/pair reflects this.

In terms of fit and feel the Glenmore is better suited than the Orchy Dry for use with bulky walking boots. I've worn them most often with the La Sportiva Ultra Raptor Mid, a lighter, less bulky boot/shoe; they also go well with my Scarpa Ribelle Run GTX trail shoes: in fact, on the basis that there's not much point pairing a waterproof gaiter with non-waterproof footwear, these are the only running shoes I've used with either of the ankle gaiters.

Fit

As a one-size model the Glenmore should fit most folk, and has an official range of shoes sizes 36-46. With size 47 feet and fairly chunky legs I am right in the upper end of its size range, though it does still work on me. The Glenmore goes well with trail shoes, but also has enough room and adjustability, courtesy of its underfoot strap, to fit over standard walking boots. With a bulkier B2 boot I just about get sufficient over-cuff coverage, but while I could conceivably wear the Glenmore in winter conditions it wouldn't be my choice since it offers less protection from snow and cold than a calf-length gaiter.

All gaiters can give rise to an annoying baggy knickerbocker effect, where your legwear balloons out of them at the top, but one thing to note about ankle gaiters is that they particularly don't work well with looser trousers. The Glenmore has a degree of adjustability around the top, but you still need leggings or trousers with a very close-fitting calf, or your trouser legs will simply puff out from under them.

Fabric

A three-layer Gore-Tex upper keeps the Glenmore GTX nice and breathable, and I've yet to find them sweaty. For toughness there's a lower panel in 600D polyester, which is good once you start wading through heather.

Orchy Dry Gaiter - £25

Priced very fairly, and slightly lighter than the Glenmore, at only 76g per pair, the Orchy isn't as burly, and won't work as well with bigger boots, but could be a good bet if you're counting either pennies or grams. Being lighter, softer, and a bit smaller, this is my preference of the two for running, and it's also the one I'd take for summer backpacking if I wasn't expecting to need gaiters but wanted to have them just in case.

Fit

Again this is a one size model, and with an official range of 36-46 shoe size I'm nudging the upper limit in my size 47s. The Orchy is noticeably closer fitting than the Glenmore, so while users with petite feet should be able to wear them with walking boots (if not, perhaps, bulkier winter boots), I get best results with trail shoes. Since there's no size adjustment at the top, just some elastic, and the soft fabric doesn't stand up on its own, I find they do tend to slip down the leg a bit.

Fabric

You save money by not having Gore-Tex, but the own-brand Dry Protect fabric is unlikely to be as breathable (I've not yet had a chance to verify this with a side-by-side hot weather test). Of the two models, the Orchy is clearly going to be less durable than the three-layer fabric of the Glenmore, so for regular heather bashing or rocky hillwalking the Glenmore would be worth the extra £10.