Duct Tape Hiking Gaiters

These Hiking Gaiters are easy to make and are perfect for hiking in snowy, wet, or grassy conditions.

Supplies: old t-shirt, duct tape (2 rolls), 2- 18" separating zippers (heavyweight), thread, ruler, marker, sewing machine, sewing machine oil, Q-tips, and straight pins. 

Cut the t-shirt down the middle and also through the top part of the sleeves.

Wrap the t-shirt around the calf and over top of shoe. Tape enough to hold in place.

Start adding strips of duct tape to leg. 6"-8" strips work best. Smooth onto leg overlapping itself and work up the entire leg. Make sure to cover shoe tops. You can cut away excess later.

Trim the bottom to shape over the shoe.

Use the ruler to draw line down the side seam.  Carefully cut through the t-shirt/tape on the line, this will be where the zipper is placed.

Once off the leg, trim top and bottom to neaten and wrap all edges with duct tape.  Trim away any excess t-shirt from the inside that will be flopping around.

Pin the zippers in place.

In order to straight pin the zipper onto the gaiter, soak a Q-tip in sewing machine oil and rub the pins.  This will allow the pins to easily slide through the glue on the tape.

You will also need to rub the oil from the Q-tip on the sewing machine needle repeatedly to be able to sew through the duct tape without gumming up the needle.

Sew the zippers to the gaiters.

The last step is to create an overlap with tape to cover the zipper.  This will help keep moisture out.  Cut a strip of tape the length of the zipper.  Fold onto itself so there is only 1/2" of glue edge showing.  Place the strip to the front edge of the zipper opening and reinforce the flap with another length of tape.

You now have a pair of windproof, waterproof, and foxtail resistant gaiters!  It also helps protect pants from Poison Oak on hikes!