No chaps for me either. Have a pair of Whitewater snakeproof gaiters for years and I would not be without them. Try Cabelas. Great for cactus, thorns, brush, and general lower leg protection. The buckles are sturdy, and the gaiters have held up well. They do get hot, but I guess that is the price you pay for protection. I have had a few encounters with rattlesnakes, but fortunately never tested the gaiters.