For years Outdoor Research (OR) has cornered the market on gaiters for mountaineering. OR Expedition Crocodile Gaiters have become the de facto standard. The Mountain Hardwear Xenon Stretch gaiters are the competition to the Expedition Crocodiles.
The first impression of the Xenon Stretch is that they have some very nice little details. Both ends of the strap have places that they can be tucked in so you don’t trip. The straps are field-replaceable if they break or get worn out. The instep side of the gaiters has the standard Mountain Hardwear nut pattern applied on the scuff guards. Inside the gaiter, all the seams are taped to help keep any wetness out.
The bottoms of the gaiters are made of Cordura, a tough fabric that helps protect from a stray crampon pucture. The top is composed of sections of Gore-Tex Paclite. Paclite is a thinner version of Gore-Tex, made to pack down with less bulk and breathe better than Gore-Tex Pro Shell or XCR. The downside is that Paclite is less durable than the other forms of Gore-Tex. Mountain Hardware has used Paclite in the sections of the gaiter that aren’t usually vulnerable to crampons.
So how do these compare to the Expedition Crocodile? Many of the features are the same between the two. Both pairs of gaiters have cordura bottoms, field replaceable straps, and taped seams. While the Xenon Stretch gaiters use Paclite, the Expedition Crocodiles use regular Gore-Tex. The Xenon Stretch gaiters are 1 ounce lighter than the OR gaiters. Pricing between the two are nearly the same.
The choice between the two gaiters comes down to personal preference. Both gaiters are extremely well made and can be relied on in even the worst conditions. While I wouldn’t go out and replace a good pair of Expedition Crocodiles, I’d certainly upgrade from a less durable pair. The Mountain Hardwear Xenon Stretch is one of the best gaiters I’ve run across. The fact they can compete toe to toe with the Expedition Crocodiles is a testament to how good they really are. While they aren’t cheap at an MSRP of $85.00, they’re well worth the price.
