Outdoor Research Crocodile

There’s an old Irish proverb that goes, “May the path rise up to meet you and your lower legs be sheathed in armor.” (Or something like that.) If that quip isn’t a paean to the Crocodiles, it ought to be. For three decades, from Mt. Rainier to Mt. Washington, the Crocodiles have kept our feet dry when we’ve postholed through snow, slush, or muddy sludge. They fit tight (tip: choose the size based on your calf circumference, not height; one 6’2”, chicken-legged editor wears a small) to prevent snagging on crampons or skis, and the 1,000-denier Cordura panel at the bottom shrugs off scrapes from errant sharps and rocks. “If you’re going to take a chunk out of the Crocodile, you’re probably doing something with enough force to take a chunk out of your leg, too,” says one long- time tester. The Crocodiles use a 2-inch-wide hook-and-loop closure, which lets users dial in a more precise fit than with a zipper without worrying about them freezing shut. “I’ve had mine for 10 years,” says one tester. “If it weren’t for sun fading due to high-altitude UV, they’d still look new.” 

Weight: 10.2 oz. (m’s L)

Sizes: Men’s S-XXL, Women’s S-L

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