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?