I have tried them all, chaps, boots, shields.
Quite expensive at this price, but......

We keep reaching for, this pair, even without snakes,
to protect against heavy brush.

What are these?
Basically thin plastic sheet of less than half mm thick,
suspended from below your knee and wrapping your entire lower leg.
The protection sits far enough away from the calf that fangs can't reach your skin,
and the striking blows just glance off.

As stated, the protection above the knee is primarily for brush.
The snake protection is in the area most likely to be struck by a snake.
I would suggest watching some video of viper strikes.
The strikes which are most deadly are often on the hands from victims reaching
down to the snakes level, rarely are they on the foot itself.

These will provide the most protections when moving quickly through brush or trail.
The idea is to keep your feet moving, taking care where you slow or stop to rest.
Even the greatest strike will bounce right off of these if you are moving.
Check where snakes are most likely to strike in your area,
In timber, rattlers under logs may strike when your foot comes down next to a snake
resting under a fallen log.
In sagebrush, show diligence while passing shaded brush where a snake may be moving
in and out of shade to manage its' body temperature. Be aware of the angle of the sun
and spots of sunlight where a snake can capture warm.

Wear boots that are sturdy enough to protect the toes somewhat, and keep moving.

As mentioned, I now feel naked without these, and will only take them off on the hottest day.
We actually left a pair at the base of a trail.
We spent hours over two days looking for the lost pair;
that is how much we cherished that pair.

The guards themselves are great, but the little plastic buckles are junk. The buckle on the first belt strap broke on the first day (the second time I clipped it, as I was readjusting the fit). The buckle/clip on the other leg broke when I took it off again.

I tried to call for replacements, but the office was closed. I went to their email, but their "Data" was used up for the month and they could not receive any more mail.

Great product for my husband, they will protect him when he's out clearing the woods for the next hunting season.

These "fits all" chaps are in fact a bit long for me, at 5'4", and I have to anchor them as high as possible on my belt to keep from tripping on them.

That's my only criticism.

I use these in challenging environments -- rocks, cactus, rattlesnakes -- and with challenging equipment -- chainsaws and my "whizzing wheel of death," a string trimmer with a three-blade steel head mounted to do battle with scrub oak, tumbleweeds and other invasives that threaten my fire-safe zone. Before I bought these, I would wear my leather riding chaps while working, and always had a pattern of silver-dollar-sized bruises on my legs from the stones and bits of wood flung by the equipment. It was worse than working with weanling horses. (I strongly recommend other safety equipment as well -- a full face guard, long sleeves, gloves.)

I haven't had a single bruise since we've had these. And I felt pretty confident handling the snakes that have come calling, as well, though the snake proofing only comes up to the knee.

Other users have noted that these are not quiet, and indeed they are not -- though they are camouflaged, they do whisper as you walk. This is of no matter to me, as my quarry does not run away.

An added plus: the bits of grass and other herbage that are flung by my equipment brush easily off these chaps.

Recommended.

I hunt snakes as a hobby and sport. Specifically, timber rattlesnakes and northern copperheads. These simply work. No, i haven't tested them out (actually getting struck at), but they seem like a quality product.

Don't worry about the heat. They breathe suprisingly well. Even for someone who hates the heat, I don't mind wearing these and I actually wear shorts under them when I snake hunt!

Good product.