Why You Might Want, and How to Make Ankle Gaiters for Hiking, Climbing, and Backpacking Kids

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Kids’ gear isn’t typically made for unusual conditions. That’s understandable. Most parents (I won’t dare say “all”) are probably pretty conservative when it comes to getting their kids out and into the wild. So, we pick the sunny days, and the trails we know. And we can’t get to deep into the wilderness due to the simple reason that our kids’ bodies can’t go super long distances. So, I can see the reasoning: small market equals few sales equals don’t make the gear.

I’m a big believer in delivering positive experiences early in my kids’ outdoor-exploring lives; so, while I accept that there will be, from time-to-time, some level of discomfort when we get into the backcountry, I certainly am trying to avoid prolonged experiences that are unpleasant. I want the kids to want to come back, after all.

But the thing about the wilderness is that conditions can and do change often, and sometimes with little notice. So, whatever the kids are using has to work. It may not need to be as robust as the stuff I use, because their growing bodies mean the equipment doesn’t have to last as long, but they should have the option to at least have the gear in the first place, even if it isn’t designed to hold up forever.

So, I have spent a considerable amount of mental energy coming up with solutions to the gaps in my kids’ proverbial gear closets. There are an awful lot of needs with limited or no options. The micro-spikes are and example; I didn’t need to make anything, but I spent quite a bit of time tracking down the one-set of kids’ spikes that had the functionality we needed.

These ankle gaiters are another. If I want to lengthen my kids season in the alpine by even one month (moving from a July start date to a June start date), then this is actually equipment they need. It’s not a luxury item. Having snow fall into, and then melt, in my boys’ shoes is a health and safety problem. It deserves my attention. It was a problem. There wasn’t a workable, existing solution. So, I made a solution.

You can find the adult, Inov-8 All Terrain Gaiters, which I used and modified and the elastic paracord that fit so well, by following the links.

Here’s to spring hiking in the alpine! We can make it a family affair!