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Snake Gaiters
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by birdbob on May 26, 2011
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After reading Dean Ripa's excelllent article "In the Garden of Good and Evil", plus 4 venomous snake bites I know of in April, of which one was fatal, in the area I live for six months a year, I am wondering about the effectiveness of Turtleskin Snake Gaiters. I've done the Google searches and have only found reviews by the maker and the places that sell Turtleskins. The reviews sound great but they may have a bias. Does anybody have personal experience or know of an independent online review? I always wear mine while snaking at night but do not wear them while bird watching during the day. My fanasty about toughing it out and making it back to the road after a venomous snake bite, even a bushmaster, has been put to rest by Ripa's article. I also have a pair of Windriver gaiters that a friend gave me after finding 2 unused pairs, still in the boxes, in a California thrift store at $3 each. I find them a little bulky to wear and travel around with by bus, but would they give me significantly more protection?
I live on the Osa Peninsula in Costa Rica and the fatality was a Costa Rican tourist who was climbing up the side of a waterfall and encountered a bushmaster. It bit him 3 times before he could get away. God rest his soul, he didn't have a chance with a 2-3 hr boat ride to the nearest vehicle to take him to a hospital.
Regards,
Bob
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RE: Snake Gaiters
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by Cro on May 27, 2011
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Robert,
I think that the Turtleskin Snake Gaiters would offer an additional level of protection, but, should not be considered "snake bite proof," but instead "snake bite resistant."
Even if a snakes fangs made it through the material, it would surely slow them down, and help keep them from reaching deeper tissue. The same can be said for cotton jeans, and snake boots.
I have a pair of the Turtleskin puncture resistant gloves, and it is easy to push a small gauge insulin syringe needle through them. Of course, a snakes fang starts out sharp, and tapers wider, so, it would probably encounter more resistance the further it went.
I think my Turtleskin gloves are the original model, and I can not speak of the newer model that is supposed to offer more protection.
It does sound like the Gaiters have a thicker material than the gloves, which would be good.
Considering just how long the fangs of some tropical pit vipers are, I think I would enjoy the extra potential protection of Gaiters, but, would never test them by allowing a snake to intentionally bite me while wearing them.
Best Regards
John Z
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RE: Snake Gaiters
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by birdbob on May 29, 2011
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Thanks John.
I was afraid that would be the kind of response I got, but it is what I expected. I was hoping for more on the line of---these are great gaiters, totally snakeproof. I always try to be super careful and not put the gaiters to the test. I guess the Windriver Gaiters would be better protection and I should probably wear them when I go out snaking in the rainforest around where I live and use the Turtleskins when I'm traveling around by bus.
Regards.
Bob
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RE: Snake Gaiters
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by AquaHerp on May 30, 2011
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I have tested a number of snake boots and such. Although I have seen some great ones, I have never once labeled one "snake proof". Resistant, yes, but never say never.
DH
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RE: Snake Gaiters
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by brentamac on December 27, 2012
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I have used them before. They work pretty good. I am not using a different product called Tuff Shins. Google tuffshins and you should find them. I like Tuff Shins because they are snake proof but they are super easy and FAST to put on. the Snake Gaiters take to long to put on.
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RE: Snake Gaiters
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by KayEhm on July 6, 2015
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Snake Guardz are snake proof up to 17 inches and utilize a unique toe cover which protects the laces of your boot!! I get mine from SnakeProtection.com
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