ProView – Rab Muztag GTX Gaiter
An invitation to summit Mt. Rainier was extended to me by a co-worker who has guided and climbed bigger mountains for years. I was excited. I grew up in the greater Seattle, Washington area and stared out at that mountain constantly (at least as much as you can with the fickle pacific northwest weather). Having grown up there, I had a good idea of what the weather could be like: sunny, clear, moderate temps – dreamy. Of course, though, the PNW delivers something else. Full on winter conditions is what we encountered in our end-of-May summit attempt: snow, rain, slushy snow, and wind – lots and lots of wind. I was well equipped with layers that were well suited for the environment. Despite great pants and mountaineering boots, I wanted an extra layer to help keep my boots and pant cuffs dry and the weather out. I took along a pair of Rab Muztag GORE-TEX Pro Gaiters and they performed flawlessly on the snowy slopes of Mt. Rainier.
Rab Muztag GTX Gaiter
Product Name: Rab Muztag GTX Gaiter
Product Description: When the rockface is steep, exposed and difficult, you need to focus on the climb. With its lightweight design, low-bulk fit and elite-level dryness, the Muztag GTX Gaiter enables you to do exactly that. As our most technical protective gaiter, the Muztag GTX uses lightweight 40D GORE-TEX® Pro Most Breathable - a multi-layer, air-permeable membrane, delivering premium breathability for outstanding dryness during high-output mountain activities. It also features tough 300D nylon ankle reinforcements for increased impact resistance against ice, rock and crampon spikes. To ensure a close, snag-free fit, the gaiter comes with an elasticated ankle, a zipless hook-and-loop front closure and single-handed drawcord upper hem adjustment. It also features a rubberised, abrasion-resistant underfoot strap with internal adjustment system to help tailor the fit while eradicating the prospect of buckle breakage.
Offer price: MSRP: $85.00
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Performance
(5)
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Features
(5)
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Fit
(4.5)
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Durability
(4.5)
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Eco-Friendly
(5)
Summary
The Muztag GORE-TEX Pro gaiters are a fantastic addition to an otherwise functional kit. They are incredibly lightweight which means you will not feel the addition of them to your pack if you never decide to wear them. I will continue to find uses for these gaiters until I make it back to Mt. Rainier for a second attempt at the summit!
Overall
4.8Pros
- Lightweight
- Snap closure at the top of the Velcro closing systems provides added security
- Highly breathable GORE-TEX fabric
Cons
- Sizing was snug on a size 11.5 boot
- Quality control issue out of the packaging
Size and Fit
Rab only offers these gaiters in two sizes: medium and large. Supposedly the mediums cover shoe size 6-8 and the larges cover 8-10. I am a solid 11.5 boot and wondered how they would fit. I wore a pair of La Sportiva G5 Evo boots with a pair of Outdoor Research Cirque II pants and these gaiters were working hard to fit around everything. In the end, they fit nice and snug with a slim profile which was nice as this desert rat is not accustomed to crampon walking.
You are able to adjust the rubberized underfoot strap to raise or lower the gaiter on the boot, but I found there was no need to fine tune that adjustment. The top has a great elastic band and draw cord to cinch up around the leg to help keep it closed off to the elements and help to stay put.
Performance
The Muztag gaiter was a welcomed addition to my mountain kit. I had initially not planned on bringing gaiters as the over the boot softshell pants I had were durable against the weather and the G5 Evos have a built-in gaiter. I thought I might as well bring some and the ones I was borrowing were old and short. I ended up getting a pair of the Rab Muztag GORE-TEX Pro gaiters and they proved highly beneficial.
The snow was soft at its best condition and only got worse as the rain began to fall lower on the mountain. By the end of the trip there was so much moisture in the snow that you were post holing into puddles. It was all hands-on deck to keep my boots, pants, socks, and feet dry as I post holed my way to and from the trailhead and the GORE-TEX material did the heavy lifting.
I had one issue with these and had my trip been longer could have exacerbated the issue. The underfoot rubberized strap feeds through the gaiter via a hole. That hole has a 2-piece press-fitted rubber grommet that creates a durable surface for that strap to pull against. Without it, the strap is pulling on the GORE-TEX material itself as well as creating an opening at the very bottom of the gaiter for moisture to go between the GORE-TEX layers. I would expect on a longer trip or on a route that encounters more talus and rock that this would have caused tearing or damage to that hole. I was easily able to press the two grommets back together and I thought the problem was solved but they did not have holding power and would fall apart within a few steps. This issue was noted on both sides of one gaiter, whereas the other gaiter’s grommets could not be pulled apart.
Friendliness to the Earth
Rab is doing a great job at both making corporate efforts to increase their sustainability as well as make it easy to see what they are doing. It is nice to see a company make pledges and then take website space to showcase the achievements they have made.
The big positive to purchasing Rab equipment is that they strive to provide opportunities for consumers to get their gear repaired. I am confident that if my issue with the underfoot strap causes material damages that I can confidently send it in to be repaired instead of throwing out an otherwise highly effective tool.
The Muztag gaiters do not advertise any recycled material, but GORE-TEX does state that since 2010 all of their fabric manufacturing sites were Blue Sign approved, which means that their GORE-TEX products are made responsibly.
Final Word
The Muztag GORE-TEX Pro gaiters are a fantastic addition to an otherwise functional kit. They are incredibly lightweight which means you will not feel the addition of them to your pack if you never decide to wear them. I will continue to find uses for these gaiters until I make it back to Mt. Rainier for a second attempt at the summit!
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About the Gear Tester
Patrick Betts
Patrick Betts is the Technical Director at Front Range Climbing Company and is based in Moab, Utah. He has been in the Outdoor Industry since 2009 and guides year-round in Colorado, Utah, and beyond. When he is not guiding, you will find him traveling to climbing destinations around the world. Patrick is an experienced adventure photographer who enjoys taking photos of people pushing their own limits and capturing the landscapes of the areas that rock climbing takes you. Follow along @adventurethrulens
