A wall of color blooming in a sea of olive green and camo. That’s what caught me first — twenty-two colorways stacked up like paint chips, in the middle of a show where everything else was olive, camo and grey.
I was presented with options that felt like me.
Why I recommend it
Then they wrapped an arm around my shoulder and pulled me into the booth. They showed me the oyster shells — actual oyster shells — that become the stuffing. They walked me through the samples, right down to an itty bitty kids version.
Hikas are ankle gaiters: the cuff that sits over the top of your boot or sneaker. They keep mud, grit, rocks and ticks out of your shoes, and on a cold morning they add some warmth at the ankle.
- Shell: 100% recycled polyester
- Insulation: goose-free down made from oyster shells and post-consumer plastic bottles
- Weight: 2.5 oz a pair
- Water resistant · one size, patent-pending universal fit
- 22 colorways
The oyster shell insulation isn’t a gimmick. It’s a genuine alternative to down, and it’s odor-resistant — which matters more than you’d think for something that lives against your shoes.
Missy’s Honest Take
Here’s the part I want to be straight about: I haven’t worn them yet. It’s been nearly 100 degrees all summer. Gaiters have not been the problem.
But I’ll be ready for a crisp fall day and a cozy hike in my hot pink Hikas.
So this isn’t a review. I don’t review gear — I tell you what I know, and you decide for yourself.
What you’ll need
Nothing. One size, patent-pending universal fit, so there’s no sizing to get wrong, and they go over whatever you already wear on your feet.
At 2.5 ounces a pair they’re not a packing decision either.
Get this gear
Hikas are for people who want mud, grit and ticks kept out of their shoes on a cold or wet day — and who’d rather not do it in olive green. In high summer you won’t reach for them.
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