Montane Endurance Pro gaiters review: a good choice for winter mountain adventures

Montane Endurance Pro gaiters: first impressions

Balancing low weight with top-level waterproofing and breathability, Montane Endurance Pro Gaiters make use of Gore-Tex Pro fabric, with a 70-denier nylon face. They’re reinforced with additional nylon overlays around the base of the ankle and lower leg for added durability. 

However, the most noticeable element is just how much attention has been paid to patterning, with the emphasis on ergonomic design in order to ensure a close and precise fit. This ensures that these gaiters work well in more technical scrambling and mountaineering scenarios as well as for general hillwalking. As a result, they are extremely close-fitting, with a low profile. However, the design still permits a wide range of movement. Part of this is down to the clever placement of the Velcro front closure, which is slightly offset towards the outside of the leg to allow for increased ankle articulation. 

The gaiters close at the top with a neat press stud. Rear calf adjustment is enabled via an elasticated drawcord, and there are also two stitched darts at the top of the gaiter to reduce excess material and bunching. A plastic front lace hook and adjustable TPU-reinforced underfoot strap provide two points of attachment to mountaineering and hiking boots. Usefully, the tail of this underfoot strap can be threaded back inside the gaiter when fastened, so it doesn’t pose a trip hazard. However, the strap itself is relatively narrow, particularly compared to some other gaiter designs. This saves a little weight, but potentially comes at the cost of long-term durability.

Montane Endurance Pro gaiters: on the trails

On test, these gaiters were used and abused all over the UK, from summer tramps through the peat bogs of the Peak District to winter mountaineering routes in the Cairngorms. They’ve generally held up well, proving to be far lighter and more comfortable to wear than burlier, bulkier styles. In fact, their best quality, aside from the neat and precise fit, is that once you’ve got them on you tend to forget you’re wearing them – something that can’t be said of heavier gaiters, which tend to be both hotter and sweatier. 

The downside is that although the 70-denier main panel is reasonably durable – and the kick panels are reinforced with even thicker nylon overlays – they still aren’t the most rugged. We did manage to put a crampon point through them during the Scottish winter season, though arguably that was more attributable to clumsy footwork rather than anything else. So, although they might not be our first choice for winter use, for general three-season hillwalking, scrambling and mountaineering in wet conditions or tricky terrain, these are a great pick.