I have worn several different types of gaiters whilst being a field surveyor. The best snake gaiters that I have worn are by far the SnakeProtex.
Having a quality pair of gaiters is important. Australia has some of the most deadly snakes in the world, and although deaths from snake bites are rare it’s better to be prepared with a quality pair of gaiters and hope that a snake never tries and bites you!
About SnakeProtex
The purpose of snake gaiters is to prevent a snake from injecting venom into you if you were so unlucky as to be bitten. SnakeProtex gaiters were developed in Australia, home to some of the most deadly snakes in the world.
SnakeProtex protects the wearer from above the ankle to just below the knee (the manufacturer requires the user to wear above-the-ankle boots to ensure full leg protection).
Do SnakeProtex Snake Gaiters Work?
According to the manufacturers they have done multiple “chew” tests with five of Australia’s venomous snakes.
None of the snakes was able to pierce through the entire gaiter suggesting that in a real-life scenario that your lower leg should be protected from snake bites.
If you want to know what their gaiters are made of head over to their website to view the materials used.
Other Benefits
Other benefits of wearing snake gaiters at work are when you are walking through sharp/spikey grass, the snake gaiters will protect your legs from getting pricked all day!
Are They Comfortable?
Wearing an extra layer of PPE over your legs will never feel overly natural. However, compared to other gaiters I’ve worn in the past I find the SnakeProtex to be comfortable.
The only extra discomfort I experience is that I just sweat a bit more on my legs. It’s a price I’m willing to pay to not get bitten by a snake.
Features of SnakeProtex
SnakeProtex comes in a variety of sizes – I’m wearing a large and I am 1.75m tall.
To fix the gaiters you have: (1) An adjustable bootstrap, (2) A velcro strap at the top of the gaiter to keep the top snug-fitting, (3) A zipper and a leather pullover tab (which prevents the zip from opening while walking).
How To Wear SnakeProtext Correctly
The manufacturers recommend you do the following:
- Wear gaiters over long work pants, and
- Suitable boots (don’t wear them with low cur boots),
Would I Recommend SnakeProtex?
Yes!
Even if you do wear SnakeProtex properly there isn’t a 100% guarantee that in the event of a snake bite that you will be protected.
I would definitely rather that I have an extra layer of protection for my own safety and peace of mind.
Where You Can Buy A Pair
Outside of Australia, there aren’t many places you can buy SnakeProtex – which is unfortunate if you are looking for a pair. There is a single supplier in America, Azerbaijan and Papua New Guinea.
In Australia, there are over 200 shops that are stockists for SnakeProtex. Not all stores carry all sizes so check what size you think you should be using the sizing chart so you can find a supplier with the correct sizes in stock.