Outside Magazine’s gear guy has opened a can of worms; he’s answered a question most gear manufacturers would prefer wasn’t asked: Are Gore-Tex boot liners a waste of money :
It’s a controversial question alright. Add Gore-Tex, or some newer fabric like Event, to a boot and you can easly add $20 to the price. Not just that but thanks to some smart marketing, most buyers won’t touch anything now that doesn’t say Gore-Tex on it.
He concludes that:
it’s fair to say that a Gore-Tex liner allows the manufacture of a lighter boot that’s still pretty waterproof. I say “pretty waterproof” because feet just find a way to get wet. Water can over-top a boot, your feet sweat (and will sweat more in a boot with a Gore-Tex liner than an otherwise identical boot without said liner), and so on. On the other hand, most really good-quality boots do NOT have a Gore-Tex liner. That would include a boot such as the Scarpa SL M3 ($229; www.scarpa-us.com), a beefy but comfortable all-leather boot that’s virtually waterproof when new and will stay that way with only occasional boot treatmentsMyself, I don’t care for Gore-Tex boot liners. But I’m sort of old school. Several of my boots have them, however, so I’m not completely dogmatic about it.
I’ve got to say it’s a view I share. I’ve owned some light fabric boots with Gore-Tex liners and been very happy with them. In general they’ve proven to keep most of the water out my boot and manage to let most of the sweat out. That said, when moving fast in hot weather one can very easily overload the membrain, pumping out more moisture through your feet than can get out – that means sweaty feet. It’s an experience that most of my friends also share with Gore-lined boots. I’m told that Event linings are better.
But, the flip side to Gore-Tex is that it does wear out. And once that happens, there is almost no way you can keep your feet dry with a light fabric boot, like the KSB 300 that I reviewed in August.
On the other hand a good leather boot can last for years and will stay as waterproof as they day you got it with a bit of care.
What do you think?
But, the flip side to Gore-Tex is that it does wear out. And once that happens, there is almost no way you can keep your feet dry with a light fabric boot, like the KSB 300 that I reviewed in August.
On the other hand a good leather boot can last for years and will stay as waterproof as they day you got it with a bit of care.
What do you think?
Dharma Bam says
I have several pairs of boots with gore-tex lining, having bought them because that was what was available at the time and because I was interested in finding out how effective the lining would be.
(And also because I too like buying outdoor gear)
Living on the West Coast of the UK, I find them to be good generally in keeping my feet dry.
However, by their very nature footwear have big holes in them, to allow you to get them on your feet. It’s a sort of Maginot Line for designers of the ultimate waterproof boot. And once the water gets inside, you’re feet are wet, lining or not…
I don’t see any great advantage in buying gore-tex lined boots. I think gore-tex liners can make a fabric boot much more waterproof than they would have been otherwise. However the attendant price mark-up sort of defeats the purpose for me. Why go down a hill in order to go up a hill (if that’s not too cryptic)?
I would prefer to buy a decent pair of leather boots at roughly the same price (if you can find stockists).
All in all I think that Gore-tex lining is the outdoor equivalent of the sonic equalizers that used to be plastered all over hi-fis. A gimmick the manufacturer thinks we will want and then proceeeds to tell us it’s something that we need. Even when there’s something there that already does the job.
Unfortunately, the gtx lining also seems to make my boots smellier.
Dharma Bam says
sorry, I meant to compliment you on your blog!
I came across it while searching for searching for reviews of the Keela Simpson jacket.