Gaiters...

[Doc Harry]

There are many, many threads on gaiters here on scubaboard.

 

[diversteve]

I did a google search and came up empty with only two hits with very little info.

Try gaiters with an e.

Results 1 - 10 of about 57,000 for drysuit gaiters

 

[Mark Michaud SELAUSAR]

Mike, I used to use neoprene knee wraps that you get at Walgreens (or other like stores) for about $10.00. I used the ones that are about 8" with no knee hole. I put then around my calf and they worked pretty well. I dive a neoprene suit and after a while I didn't need them anymore, but these were a very cost effective option. I also had a pair of dive-rite gaiters and there were about the same as the knee wraps. And I second the comment about air trapping because of gaiters....................not happening. Air will find its way out. As I mostly dive caves, and can stand in the water before a dive, I found that worked well for putting them on as the air in my feet was already being forced upward. In open water I just had to get upright, when I entered the water, to purge my feet before I would descend.

 

[LiteHedded]

casey mckinlay wears them

 

[rjack321]

casey mckinlay wears them

Amateur

 

[TSandM]

Mike, when you say "floaty feet" are you talking about losing your trim and ending up feet up, or are you talking about the boots and socks starting to feel too loose on your foot? If it's the former, it sounds like you are just going from too little air in your legs and feet to too much, and that will sort out with time. If the latter, it could be one of a couple of things. Either your boots are too large, or you are not lacing them up tightly enough, or you just aren't used to the feeling.

Gaiters are primarily useful when the legs of the suit are cut a big large and tend to balloon. Properly used, they don't prevent gas from getting into the feet (you need SOME to relieve squeeze and keep your feet warm) or from getting out.

Finkeepers are useful for integrated boots or for Turbosoles, but I don't think they'd help much over rockboots.

And a final note . . . When I did Fundies, I thought I had to fine-tune everything in order to maintain my trim. And I probably did, then. After four more years of diving, I can cope with a LOT more unbalance in my gear, just with body posture and moving the bubble in the suit. It just took a lot of practice.

 

[lamont]

And a final note . . . When I did Fundies, I thought I had to fine-tune everything in order to maintain my trim. And I probably did, then. After four more years of diving, I can cope with a LOT more unbalance in my gear, just with body posture and moving the bubble in the suit. It just took a lot of practice.

Yeah, I used Gaiters the first 125-150 dives and then found I didn't need them anymore.

One thing that can cause a problem for fundies-level students is if you're trying to stay constantly flat and never break trim you'll never get gas out of your feet... Occasionally on ascent you'll want to extend your legs, go a little head up and rotate to let the gas out of your feet and out your exhaust...

 

[kanonfodr]

Wow...some good information here for beginner drysuit divers (myself, dive number 1 today). So the consensus among the community is that gaiters are little more than an interim measure until the divers technique has progressed to the point where they do neither harm nor good?

I'm asking because I got floaty feet several times during my dive and had to do some scubatics to get air dumped, but by the end of the dive I was starting to catch up to the suit and understand how much squeeze I could live with.

Peace,
Greg

 

[Sas]

Wow...some good information here for beginner drysuit divers (myself, dive number 1 today). So the consensus among the community is that gaiters are little more than an interim measure until the divers technique has progressed to the point where they do neither harm nor good?

No there is no consensus. Some people like them, some don't and a whole bunch more don't like them but have never tried them. And assume certain things about them that are not true such as the air trapping.

I think one reason where people can benefit from them is when their drysuit does not fit perfect. But if it helps with your technique too, great. There is no shame in getting help from gear towards technique.

 

[Bubbletrubble]

Wow...some good information here for beginner drysuit divers (myself, dive number 1 today). So the consensus among the community is that gaiters are little more than an interim measure until the divers technique has progressed to the point where they do neither harm nor good?

I think the consensus is that if your drysuit is too loose in the legs (particularly in the lower leg area), gaiters will mitigate pooling of gas there. However, it's better to have a drysuit that fits. If your drysuit fits, then no need for gaiters.