Sometimes, it makes sense to invest in a logo. Other times, it doesn’t. Gaiters are one area where I want simple, effective, and affordable gear. I know they’re going to wear out and need replacing, no matter how much I spend.
I had a chance to test the Kings Camo XKG Leg Gaiters in South Dakota, and they made me a believer. You don’t have to spend a fortune to get good gaiters.
In short: If you’re in the market for gaiters, just buy these. At $80, they’re among the most affordable gaiters available from a major brand you can trust. I postholed through waist-deep snow for a week in South Dakota, and they kept me dry and kept debris out of my boots. I didn’t notice a single difference in performance compared to my other gaiters, which cost almost twice as much. The only decision you have to make is what size to get.
- Sizes: M/L, L/XL
- Material: 3-layer, 4-way stretch polyester
- Closure: Velcro with button, boot buckle
- Colors: XK7, Charcoal, Dark Khaki, Desert Shadow
Pros
- Price
- Fully waterproof
- Solid boot buckles
Cons
- Sizing can be tough
Do the Kings Camo XKG Leg Gaiters Do the Job?
For a week straight, I trudged across the snow-covered plains of South Dakota in the Kings Camo XKG Gaiters. Throughout that entire week, the only place moisture hit my pants was where the gaiter cuff sat next to my lower knee. Multiple times, I walked through snow up to my hips and was well past the height of these knee-high gaiters. Some snow got caught in the cuff in those instances.
That’s completely understandable, and water never once penetrated the gaiters themselves. The three-layer, waterproof membrane can be relied on. At times, the exterior appeared wet, but the interior was bone dry. No matter how much I soaked them throughout the week, water never penetrated past the exterior fabric.
The fit of these gaiters is fairly tight, but not uncomfortably so. The tight fit kept all sorts of debris from cattail sloughs and CRP fields out of my Meindl Air Revolution Alpine Pro 200 boots.
Again, I experienced zero issues in the debris department. I put my boots and gaiters on first thing in the morning, never felt the need to take them off, and was bone dry and clean at the end of the day. What more can you ask for?
Final Thoughts
The Kings Camo XKG Leg Gaiters have a durable, adjustable boot strap. They close via Velcro and a small button on the lower cuff. The XKG Gaiters come in M/L or L/XL sizing, and they have a size chart with measurements for those unsure which size to buy.
I was between sizes and opted for the smaller one. It made getting the gaiters on every morning a bit of a chore. I had to pull tight to get the Velcro to close, and it was time-consuming to get the button closure to line up.
They weren’t uncomfortable, though, and I’m happy with the size choice I made. It kept the cuff closed tight at the top of my leg with the adjustable strap, and a tighter fit is more impenetrable. If I had gone to a size larger, I think there may have been more room for snow and debris to creep into the interior of the gaiter.
That’s really the only trade-off or negative I’ve found with these Gaiters. You either go with the smaller size, which will be tougher to get on, or opt for the larger size and risk a too-loose fit. Outside of that, they do exactly what you need. I wouldn’t buy anything else.
