Commuting - Old-style gaiters/spats?

Any interest in classic style canvas gaiters? My wife has been doing some sewing projects for her shop, and one I've thought about for my commute is basic water resistant canvas gaiters with Scotchlite fabric trim. Since the hot weather down here makes knee-length insulated gaiters pretty much useless, we were looking at something that would come to about the bottom of the calf muscle bulge; just enough to keep the pants from working their way up and out easily. She's thinking they would be priced along the lines of $40-50.

My thinking is that I'd like something I can throw over work shoes that would keep both the pants and the shoelaces out of the chain, keep some road grime and splashes off the pants cuffs and shoes, and provide a nice large ankle reflector. Heavier canvas might also help out on trails with lots of low brush.

I got a pair of these:

https://www.taigaworks.ca/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=65?reloaded=true

They work well. I didn't get the Gore-tex model, but I have been wearing mine over old (formerly) waterproof hiking boots and my feet stay dry.

https://www.taigaworks.ca/cart.php?m=product_detail&p=65?reloaded=true

Looks like those come down far enough that there might be some interference with toe clips. Since I use clip-and-strap on the commuter, I was planning to have her make these stop just shy of interfering with them. That should still leave enough length to keep the shoelaces under control. Also, part of the plan is to look for high-vis canvas for daytime visibility. Obviously, if they're made-to-order, anything we can get would be available for a price. I do get awfully tired of the "available in your choice of asphalt black, fog gray or olive drab" products when we're supposed to be trying to be visible.

I don't understand the niche for gaiters and bikes. Why they would do anything more for me than a simple strap as far as pant leg control that is worth the gaiter cost/hassle over the strap? And if I wanted them for all the debris, slop, gaiter-y stuff, why would I be wearing pants, and/or why wouldn't I want them a little higher?

No shortage of choices here: http://www.rei.com/search?cat=40005942

I do like your colors / reflective options idea, but that's icing on the cake. Make sure you have some cake.

I don't understand the niche for gaiters and bikes. Why they would do anything more for me than a simple strap as far as pant leg control that is worth the gaiter cost/hassle over the strap? And if I wanted them for all the debris, slop, gaiter-y stuff, why would I be wearing pants, and/or why wouldn't I want them a little higher?

Mainly because there's a dress code at work, and I'd be doing this partly to eliminate the need to change clothes. Just like the shoes; I need to wear steel toes at work, so I use clip/strap and some steel toes that fit in the clips rather than have to carry extra shoes. That means I have mid-rise laces to deal with too, and getting one of those in the chain is a bad thing.

Looks like those come down far enough that there might be some interference with toe clips.

You might be right. I put platform (BMX) pedals on my bike for the winter. Also because my hiking boots don't readily fit into my toe clips, even without the gaitors. So much of my riding in the rainy season is in the dark that the color doesn't really matter.

Gaiters serve a different purpose than booties. I'd imagine there's a market. After all, Carradice has sold gaiters for years. I would suggest that if you choose to use cotton, you use a waxed cotton. It's much more waterproof. Or you could go high end and use Ventile fabric. It's way expensive, though.

Mainly because there's a dress code at work, and I'd be doing this partly to eliminate the need to change clothes. Just like the shoes; I need to wear steel toes at work, so I use clip/strap and some steel toes that fit in the clips rather than have to carry extra shoes. That means I have mid-rise laces to deal with too, and getting one of those in the chain is a bad thing.
Understood. Basically bombproof shoelace retainers? ;) Maybe there's a latent market need that will explode once the solution presents itself! Bon chance.

Understood. Basically bombproof shoelace retainers? ;) Maybe there's a latent market need that will explode once the solution presents itself! Bon chance.

Somebody used to make some, but the $100+ price tag for basically cheap high-school-band-uniform high-top spats with a piece of reflector tape on the back doomed the product. Hand sewn or not, the relatively short amount of time that should go into making each pair just isn't worth that much. The ones from http://www.fabrichorse.com aren't bad, but probably a bit too tall and thick for 100F+ weather. Shaping them for my skinny ankles could be a bit of a challenge too, which is why I'm looking at having them stop at the bottom of the calf bulge.

As a companion for My cycling rain cape, I have some leggings .
they slide over your toe, and cover the top of your shoes to the front of your shins,
and just over your knee..

an extra durable truck tarp model would be a lifetime purchase,
but then a commercial sewing machine , that draws heavy thread thru a wax cup
would be a good thing, thats the key to rubberized fabrics, it seems.

I have a pair of trail running gaiters that I bought at REI for $4.83. I have never had to use them for cycling yet but when I feel the need to protect my pant leg, I wear a pair of knee high socks and tuck in the fabric then ride to work.

Tuck the aglets and the loops of the laces in the shoes, and use a velcro reflective band for the pants. What more do you need?

http://www.fieggen.com/shoelace/hikingbikinglacing.htm
a way to lace your boots so the knots are on the outside, as far from the chain as they can get. I learned it from a hiker, where they want the loops on the insdie, away from underbrush.