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Main Boards => Gear => Topic started by: MIB on 18:38:52, 29/08/19

Title: Need waterproof boots
Post by: MIB on 18:38:52, 29/08/19
its it me ? Every pair of textile Gortex walking boots I buy leak after a few months , I don’t walk mega miles and clean as per manufacturers guidelines. Currently have a pair of Scarpa boots they are the 3rd pair I have had as they are very comfortable , previous 2pairs replaced under warranty, now 6 months old and leaking around toes. I have tried most manufacturers and now wonder if I am doing something wrong. My leather Meindl boots work well but due to plantar fasciitis I cant wear them for more than 4 or 5 miles.
So frustrating, any tips on increasing longevity or recommendations for good textile boots.
Title: Re: Need waterproof boots
Post by: jimbob on 19:34:31, 29/08/19
I had PF. I got over it  using exercises from the physio dept. I changed the footbeds in my boots for green superfeet. On advice from same person and my chiropodist.
They took some getting used to as they were bullying my foot. I persevered and am now fine. So it could be that your Meindls are fine but you could maybe try some orthotic insoles inside them. Some shops can mould the footbeds to suit your your feet.
Title: Re: Need waterproof boots
Post by: MIB on 19:54:47, 29/08/19
Cheers Jimbob it’s was my foot specialist who told me8 need flexibility so leather boots were not suitable, but will give it some thought.
Title: Re: Need waterproof boots
Post by: kinkyboots on 19:55:13, 29/08/19
It's difficult to offer specific advice or recommendations without knowing the model of Scarpa boots you have. The waterproof liners in most if not all leather/fabric combination boots fail at some point in their life rendering the boots useless in wet weather and some makes and models have a reputation for failing quicker than others. 6-12 months would be the average life expectancy for this type of boot with exceptional models lasting maybe 2 years.

Full leather boots are a much safer and cost effective option as they will still remain waterproof even when the waterproof liners have failed providing that you regularly wax them.

As jimbob suggests if you haven't already done so I would suggest that you attempt to sort your  plantar fasciitis problem by replacing the manufacturers standard insoles with after market insoles such as Superfeet Green or Blue. It's definitely not an overnight fix and will take time and perseverance for the muscles and tendons in your feet and arches to adjust to being held and supported in the correct position. It's not a cheap fix but they can be transferred between different pairs of boots as required.

These Oboz nubuck leather/fabric combination boots and shoes might be worth a look and at only £60 a pair they won't break the bank.

https://www.magic-mountain.co.uk/collections/oboz-2/products/ob-20701-sawtooth-mid-bdry (https://www.magic-mountain.co.uk/collections/oboz-2/products/ob-20701-sawtooth-mid-bdry)

https://www.magic-mountain.co.uk/collections/oboz-2/products/ob-21401-sawtooth-low-bdry (https://www.magic-mountain.co.uk/collections/oboz-2/products/ob-21401-sawtooth-low-bdry)

There's plenty of info/reviews on the web and videos on YouTube. I have both the Sawtooth Mid B-Dry Boots and Sawtooth Low B-Dry Shoes and have had no leak problems so far but generally only use them in summer and switch back to full leather boots for most of the rest of the year.
Title: Re: Need waterproof boots
Post by: Pitboot on 20:18:39, 29/08/19
Sorry to be personal but do you keep your toe nails short/clipped?
I know that if I let mine grow they chew through socks like nobody's business, and so would equally abrade a waterproof liner in a boot. Just a thought.


In the army we were always reminded about foot hygiene, which was not just keeping your feet as clean as possible but also about clipping nails, sorting out blisters, applying foot powder, and changing wet socks for dry at the first opportunity. Our boots were never waterproof but that was never a problem with a decent foot care regime. (OK, there were trench foot cases in the Falklands, they were extreme conditions.)
Title: Re: Need waterproof boots
Post by: WhitstableDave on 22:18:52, 29/08/19
its it me ? Every pair of textile Gortex walking boots I buy leak after a few months , I don’t walk mega miles and clean as per manufacturers guidelines. Currently have a pair of Scarpa boots they are the 3rd pair I have had as they are very comfortable , previous 2pairs replaced under warranty, now 6 months old and leaking around toes. I have tried most manufacturers and now wonder if I am doing something wrong. My leather Meindl boots work well but due to plantar fasciitis I cant wear them for more than 4 or 5 miles.
So frustrating, any tips on increasing longevity or recommendations for good textile boots.

At least 95% of my walking is done in shoes (both Gore-Tex and non-waterproof) but I do use boots when conditions require them. My previous 'waterproof' boots leaked after a few months, but my current ones - Scarpa R-Evo GTX - have been by far the best, only leaking eventually in very soggy conditions.

I've settled on a solution that seems to work very well. If I suspect they might be needed, I carry a pair of Bridgedale waterproof socks and change into them just before heading off into the bog (or whatever!). My wife had been using her magic socks for some time before I tried mine and, although her boots leak badly, her feet were always perfectly dry. I resisted using my waterproof socks until quite recently because I thought they'd be hot, uncomfortable and sweaty, but I've slogged my way for hours through terrain that would normally leave my feet squishing and they've been completely dry. I'm a convert!
Title: Re: Need waterproof boots
Post by: Ronin83 on 09:17:01, 30/08/19
For plantar. F you need to strengthen the arch. If you wanted to strengthen your biceps would you exercise them or put them in a supportive cast?
Supportive insoles work to prevent overstrain and fatigue on long walks, but an arch is like a spring or muscle, you can't just push it into place.
Do foot exercises and train in barefoot or minimalist shoes, then hike with support because you can't risk it when you're up a mountain.
Training should be hard, make it hard for yourself. On the day support to prevent injuries.


Train hard, fight easy
Title: Re: Need waterproof boots
Post by: jimbob on 09:55:11, 30/08/19
For plantar. F you need to strengthen the arch. If you wanted to strengthen your biceps would you exercise them or put them in a supportive cast?
Supportive insoles work to prevent overstrain and fatigue on long walks, but an arch is like a spring or muscle, you can't just push it into place.
Do foot exercises and train in barefoot or minimalist shoes, then hike with support because you can't risk it when you're up a mountain.
Training should be hard, make it hard for yourself. On the day support to prevent injuries.


Train hard, fight easy
Not quite what I was advised by a qualified physiotherapist. The fascia is not actually either muscle or ligament it is the collagen sheath that surrounds the, in this case, plantar ligament. I was given exercises and told NOT to overdo them. At the same time as doing the exercises I was told to use properly fitted orthotic footbeds to hold and support that web like ligament. Dual approach. The orthotics were not that easy to get used to. However the exercise and the footbeds together sorted the problem out.
My chiropodist also backed up the physio.

ThePF exercises on a step also helped put some strength into my legs which I found useful for getting up steep hills the tennis ball under the foot was east to do while relaxing in the evening . As the knifing pains were pushed back I had to increase the amount of time spent exercising but was warned never to overdo it as other ligaments could be at risk of damage due to postural compensation.
Title: Re: Need waterproof boots
Post by: gunwharfman on 10:17:22, 30/08/19
MIB, no I don't think it's you, I too have experienced the same problem. Every textile type of boot I have bought, four different models all claiming to be waterproof. A cheap pair from Decathlon, then 'expensive' pairs from Salomon, Keen, and Salomon again. They all leaked, my first and second pair of Salomon leaked almost from day one!

I had already decided to go back to all leather but my present Salomon boots were bought for me as a Christmas present so I couldn't bring myself to reject them. My Salomon's have been the worst, during the past few months my present boots have hardly experienced wet conditions. However on my first morning on Dartmoor recently, my feet were soaked within 10 paces as I walk through some wet grass.

I'm now at home and was determined to send them back but I just cannot find out where they were bought from. My son cannot find the receipt, can't even remember if he had a receipt, or the name of the firm either and he has trolled through his emails to nothing! I know it may reflect my age but I am forever telling young people "get a receipt!"
Title: Re: Need waterproof boots
Post by: wobblyknees on 10:31:53, 30/08/19
It's not a cheap fix but they can be transferred between different pairs of boots as required.
I never suffered from PF but did once suffer from pronation. My podiatrist gave me a pair of TPD insoles from these https://www.healthystep.co.uk/brand/x-line/ (https://www.healthystep.co.uk/brand/x-line/)   for about £40. She said they might or might not work but were worth a try as they would be a very cheap fix compared to getting purpose made insoles. They worked a treat.
I got fed up changing them from one boot / shoe to another so, using the exact ref. no. of the insoles from the box they came in, I bought about 5 pairs direct from the supplier. At £14.99 per pair after the first pair they were a very cheap fix.
 

I know that if I let mine grow they chew through socks like nobody's business, and so would equally abrade a waterproof liner in a boot.
Ah yes. There's nothing my big toenails enjoy more than dining out on Goretex boot liners.
Title: Re: Need waterproof boots
Post by: Slowcoach on 10:39:55, 30/08/19
I have 2 styles of Oboz boots, the leather and fabric sawtooth and the leather bridger. They have Oboz own waterproof lining and both versions have kept me bone dry in awful weather, wet grass and boggy conditions. The bonus with these boots is that the inner sole is absolutely great and many reviewers say it is the only make of boot where they do not change the insole.
Title: Re: Need waterproof boots
Post by: ninthace on 12:28:31, 30/08/19
 I had a flirtation with fabric boots between 2003 and 2011.  Initially I had some Salomon boots but the more I walked, the tighter they got.  I swapped them for Millet boots.  They lasted for about 3 years and were always watertight until on one trip they became dramatically leaky when one of the seams split.  Just had a look at the Millet website - streuth they are pricey now.  The real problem with fabric is they are only as good as the membrane as most proofing treatments are water soluble both in application and in use.  This coupled the proliferation of seams, often just to make them look snazzy, make them a sub optimal choice for long life IMHO.
Title: Re: Need waterproof boots
Post by: gunwharfman on 12:48:22, 30/08/19
I agree and I know that I need to buy leather boots sooner or later. I'm fairly sure it will be back to the Brasher Superlites for me very soon!
Title: Re: Need waterproof boots
Post by: gunwharfman on 20:09:01, 30/08/19
I've been at home today and have been thinking about my 'waterproof' Salomon Ultra boots and wondering how extensive the leakage problem really is. About an hour ago I filled both boots with cold water to see what happens. Within a few seconds, one drip started from the right inside part of the boot (it's now dripping every 3 seconds) at the point where the boot flexes as I walk.

Within a minute both top toe fabric areas were also wet. I have just had another look, my left boot now has 11 points all around the sole area, except at the heel, where the water is slowly but continuously dripping out. The right boot has 5 leaking points around the sole area. Very disheartening! It looks as though someone has gone around the boots just poking the boots with a pin.

I'm going to leave them overnight and then look at them again.
Title: Re: Need waterproof boots
Post by: Slowcoach on 20:42:00, 30/08/19
Perhaps what you are replicating is the ability of the boots to allow moisture to escape through the breathable lining. Maybe you could have stood the boots in water and monitored the water leaking in.
Title: Re: Need waterproof boots
Post by: sussamb on 20:49:04, 30/08/19
Exactly, the boots should be placed in water, not water placed in the boots  :D
Title: Re: Need waterproof boots
Post by: Bigfoot_Mike on 21:04:41, 30/08/19
Does it matter which direction GWM tries his waterproofness test? Surely the effectiveness of the lining is the same in both directions. Breathability of Goretex is due to it allowing water vapour to pass through, not liquid water.
Title: Re: Need waterproof boots
Post by: ninthace on 21:15:21, 30/08/19
Perhaps what you are replicating is the ability of the boots to allow moisture to escape through the breathable lining. Maybe you could have stood the boots in water and monitored the water leaking in.
  Unlikely - the membrane is supposed to allow the passage of vapour, not liquid and is bi-directional as far as I know.  Also very hard to monitor where the water is coming in that way.  Not sure what GWM hopes to achieve by working out where they are leaking.  The results will be misleading as the water will travel between the inner and outer layers before it finds an exit or exits and there is precious little you can do about it.  Sounds like the membranes are punctured or worn through.  Unlike leather boots, once the membrane is breached there is no second line of defence.
If you ever get to take membrane protected clothing apart, you may be surprised just how thin the membrane is.  It also can get more brittle with age - or at least that is what happened in my salopettes.
Title: Re: Need waterproof boots
Post by: WhitstableDave on 22:33:26, 30/08/19
If it helps... when I took my Salomon GTX boots back to Cotswold Outdoor, the boots were filled with water to confirm they leaked.

(I was relieved when water oozed out!)
Title: Re: Need waterproof boots
Post by: gunwharfman on 10:48:24, 31/08/19
I tried three ways to check if they really leak. I first put a teaspoon amount of water on the fabric area above the toe area, that's the first place that I noticed that they were leaking. I soon felt the water on my fingers when I placed them inside the boot under the toe area. I then placed the boots in water, that was a bit tricky, they wanted to float away so I used a couple of stones inside to hold them down. The water seeped in quickly, within an hour and a half a 1/4" of water was in the bottom of each boot, the stones were wet. I then filled the boots to the top with water and it seeped and dribbled out quickly, this morning only about 1/2" of water was still in the boot. All of the leakage points were coming out via the fabric areas.

I have now discovered where they were ordered from, (sportsshoes.com) so in a couple of days, I will contact them for a 'discussion.'

My boots are really great, so comfortable and they fit my feet like a glove, so for me ideal for hiking. I wouldn't be so annoyed if these 'waterproof' boots had a small leak that had developed slowly, I do not seek perfection. But these boots leak so badly there is no way that they can be considered waterproof.
Title: Re: Need waterproof boots
Post by: jimbob on 13:43:46, 31/08/19
If you Google the ASA vs Mountain Warehouse Ltd you may be shocked at the official tests that manufacturers give in order to advertise boots as water proof.
MW lost the case but the official tests have not been changed. They only test to 20mm above the feather line (they stated about the bottom third of the boot).


Title: Re: Need waterproof boots
Post by: ninthace on 15:07:58, 31/08/19
If you Google the ASA vs Mountain Warehouse Ltd you may be shocked at the official tests that manufacturers give in order to advertise boots as water proof.
MW lost the case but the official tests have not been changed. They only test to 20mm above the feather line (they stated about the bottom third of the boot).
And I bet they don't test every pair.
Title: Re: Need waterproof boots
Post by: jimbob on 15:51:38, 31/08/19
And I bet they don't test every pair.
True probably just a random sample from a batch.

MW were told to stop the word useage of their advertising.  The tests themselves, which are clearly not totally fit for common sense understanding of the word waterproof, are what they all use as it is the accepted standard.

Quite a surprise to me.