Are 'waterproof' gaiters actually waterproof?

This is one of the clearest disagreements in our sources. Marketing copy on budget Amazon listings (likloks, some Pike Trail variants) leans hard on the word waterproof, while specialist threads on r/Ultralight and r/CampingandHiking note that most fabric gaiters are water-resistant at best and that seams, the instep strap, and the cuff are common leak points. For genuine snow and slush use, reviewers consistently recommend stepping up to a coated or membraned high gaiter and accepting that even those benefit from a waterproof boot underneath.