Author Topic: Leaking boots! (Again)  (Read 3716 times)

gunwharfman

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Leaking boots! (Again)
« on: 16:38:10, 19/11/18 »
I have owned my present Bergaus Superlights for about two years and they have always kept my feet dry, until 11th November 2018. I walked up Great Gable in the rain and by the time I reached the summit my feet were sodden!

Over the weekend (my wife was visiting her mother) I decided to check them out. I filled each boot with water and left them on our draining board. Within the hour water was seeping out all along the top edge of both soles. By the morning I realised that they are of no further use to me!

I started to think why now, they have not leaked for two years, so what happened? The last time I used them was in early August and for most of my hike (about a week) the weather was really hot and sunny. I'm thinking now, is this the reason why they now leak, unbeknown to me did the summer heat affect them so by November the 11th the waterproofing part of the boots had just broken down?

During the last few years I have had a few boots that have leaked, 2 pairs of Saloman Quest's, Keen Targi's and now Berghaus Superlites! Really irritating!


ninthace

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Re: Leaking boots! (Again)
« Reply #1 on: 17:00:16, 19/11/18 »
Time to get theself a decent set of leather boots.  Bit o'wax, bit o'elbow grease and the waterproof lining becomes academic.  They do have to be quality boots mind, good leather and the minimum amount of stitching.
Never understood these fabric boots that are made of more bits of cloth than I've had hot dinners.  All that sewing has got to fail and, when you come down to it, any waterproof liner is nowt but a thin plastic bag anyway.  According to the man from Altberg, the lining has gone in my old Tetheras but they are still as dry as a bone inside.
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jimbob

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Re: Leaking boots! (Again)
« Reply #2 on: 17:53:10, 19/11/18 »
I spray my fabric boots after cleaning and also the night before  I need them. No problems so far.

In Malta at the minute using Karrimor trail runners. My feet  got soaked on Saturday only because I had to wade through a huge gushing torrent due to the extremely  heavy rain. So not a fault of the runners. 
BUT a Maltese worker in the hotel showed me how to dry out the shoes without paper. (I had asked if they had a warm room and some old newspapers) He filled a sock with dry rice and popped them into the intensely wet boots . He told me to take them out every couple of hours and dry the rice out in the room microwave and re-pack.  This morning the shoes were dry and I mean dry.
I have a couple of silica gel welly bags at home that I use and this using socks and dry rice is just as good. But cheaper to buy.
Too little, too late, too bad......

kinkyboots

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Re: Leaking boots! (Again)
« Reply #3 on: 18:16:46, 19/11/18 »
The sole separation you have experienced could have a number of causes and the exact cause will probably never be known but I would guess the adhesive has just given up the ghost.

I would point you to our previous dicussion in this earlier thread http://www.walkingforum.co.uk/index.php?topic=34052.msg490360#msg490360 and I hate to say I told you so!  ;)

Unless I'm mistaken I believe Berghaus are now also part of the group which owns Millets, Blacks, Ultimate Outdoors and Go Outdoors where the name of the game is the cheapest possible overseas production costs with profit margins over quality being their main priority.

With boots (and with everything else in the world) I do not find that you actually get what you pay for!  :)

For someone who loves their walking as much as you do I honestly really struggle to understand your misguided thinking.

I think it's time for you to stop being a stubborn skinflint and finally accept that your boot choices so far have been poor on each and every occasion and move on and buy the best you can afford which will give you an increase in build quality, performance and longevity. 

Be guided by the numerous forum members who regularly recommend Altberg boots and at least make the effort to go and have a look at them and try some on. The Malham, Fremington, Tethera and Nordkapp models will all suit your needs but you will need to increase your £100 budget limit significantly in order to get the increase in quality of materials and build quality. (A ladies version is availble in each model except the Nordkapp which is unisex if you prefer.)



Maggot

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Re: Leaking boots! (Again)
« Reply #4 on: 19:42:34, 19/11/18 »
One word......


Scarpa


Get some nice expensive leather ones, proof them regularly.  And if the soles come loose and leak with 10 years I will eat my computer!  Real quality Italian workmanship.  You definitely get what you pay for with Scarpa.


It is a shame to see really nice quality British brands get swallowed up by the likes of Go OUtdoors and Sports Direct etc.  Karrimor and Berghaus were pukka brands a while ago, now they are merely trusted names stuck on not big brand quality kit.  I understand the same happened to Brasher boots, sacrilege  ::)

kinkyboots

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Re: Leaking boots! (Again)
« Reply #5 on: 20:28:09, 19/11/18 »
@ gunwharfman

The Scarpa Delta GTX Activ is another full leather boot which might be worth considering https://www.gooutdoors.co.uk/scarpa-delta-gtx-activ-walking-boots-p20555

If they fit and suit your feet get Go Outdoors to price match here https://www.snowandrock.com/p/scarpa-men-s-delta-gore-tex-active-B1122414.html which will reduce the price down to £108 and is much closer to your usual budget limit of £100.

richardh1905

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Re: Leaking boots! (Again)
« Reply #6 on: 22:37:48, 19/11/18 »

I tried on some Scarpa boots recently - very narrow for my wide plates of meat.


Ended up buying Grisport Peaklanders - a full leather wide fitting boot for £80. Pleased with them so far - been out on boggy ground, and even paddled in the sea without any problems.
WildAboutWalking - Join me on my walks through the wilder parts of Britain

BuzyG

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Re: Leaking boots! (Again)
« Reply #7 on: 23:37:07, 19/11/18 »
Time to get theself a decent set of leather boots.  Bit o'wax, bit o'elbow grease and the waterproof lining becomes academic.  They do have to be quality boots mind, good leather and the minimum amount of stitching.
Never understood these fabric boots that are made of more bits of cloth than I've had hot dinners.  All that sewing has got to fail and, when you come down to it, any waterproof liner is nowt but a thin plastic bag anyway.  According to the man from Altberg, the lining has gone in my old Tetheras but they are still as dry as a bone inside.
Spot on.  Decent does not have to mean silly money either.  My Peter Storm boots are finally properly waterproof, even after a day bog trotting on Dartmoor.  They were not completly waterproof, when new, but put enough Nikewax or similar on and hey presto. 

pauldawes

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Re: Leaking boots! (Again)
« Reply #8 on: 08:33:33, 20/11/18 »
Time to get theself a decent set of leather boots.  Bit o'wax, bit o'elbow grease and the waterproof lining becomes academic.  They do have to be quality boots mind, good leather and the minimum amount of stitching.
Never understood these fabric boots that are made of more bits of cloth than I've had hot dinners.  All that sewing has got to fail and, when you come down to it, any waterproof liner is nowt but a thin plastic bag anyway.  According to the man from Altberg, the lining has gone in my old Tetheras but they are still as dry as a bone inside.


I thought the Berghaus Supalight was a leather boot, so the process of waxing, etc you describe ought to have made boot waterproof even if Goretex liner “gave up”.


If KB is right and problem is due to adhesive holding sole “tight” to rest of boot giving up, then I think there’s a case for saying that’s a manufacturing fault in a two year old boot,


(It does seem to be a fault that does surface over time if boots are little used for long periods in dry warmish conditions...if somebody bought and stored boots without use for say 5 years...I wouldn’t be that surprised if glue gave up on first serious outing. One possibility I’d wonder about would be if they had been in shop a longish time before sale.)

gunwharfman

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Re: Leaking boots! (Again)
« Reply #9 on: 10:50:29, 20/11/18 »
Yes the Superlights are all leather. I started my hiking career on leather boots, none ever leaked, then I moved over to fabric type waterproof boots, they all leaked so I returned again to all leather.

I have owned 3 pairs of Superlights, I like them, they suit my feet, they are hardy and they are very easy to live with. The first two pairs never leaked, the first pair I changed because of worn soles, I've never heard of an expensive pair that solves this problem? I changed the second pair because a crack developed in the leather inside my boot, above my toes, which became just too uncomfortable for me to live with. They were already over a year old before I did a 50 day hike in the Pyrenees and they finally gave up after about the 40th day. So for me this is the first time that my cheap Berghause Superlights boots have leaked. I'm still not sure why exactly, whether it was the adhesive, a GPX problem, the heat of the summer, or something else, I just dont know? All I know is, the reality was, that on the first wet day after months of hot sun and dry weather they failed me. I've equilised my previous sole wear problem by fitting half a trainer liner under my Sorbothanes. They still wear of course but not always down one side of my boots as they used to

I am happy to buy another pair of Superlights but I might or might not? I will not do anything until after the New Year, unless I see a bargain priced pair of course! If I made the decision to go back to fabric type boots I would go back to buying a pair of Keen Targee's, they were so comforable and are just made for long hikes! I still don't go along with the expensive is best notion, sorry about that.

ninthace

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Re: Leaking boots! (Again)
« Reply #10 on: 12:51:07, 20/11/18 »
When I had my Tetheras resoled the entire bottom of the boot was replaced.  If you had your Supalites resoled - would that not cure the leak issue and you would still have a set of worn in boots to play with.
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pauldawes

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Re: Leaking boots! (Again)
« Reply #11 on: 13:26:17, 20/11/18 »
When I had my Tetheras resoled the entire bottom of the boot was replaced.  If you had your Supalites resoled - would that not cure the leak issue and you would still have a set of worn in boots to play with.


I wondered about that. Only contra-argument I can think of is that it might be a relatively expensive repair, for a mid priced boot...and might not be a complete guarantee of solving problem.


In my case, I live very close to a specialist boot repairer (Feet First Resoling), so I'd just take them down, and see what they said and what they would charge for repair.


Incidentally...I think overall design of the Supalight is pretty good, very little stitching to let water in, etc...and I found its "ancestor" (the Brasher Supalight) incredibly comfortable, probably most comfortable boot I ever had.


For type of walking I do nowadays, it would certainly be on my list of "possible contenders", assuming its manufacturing standards haven't gone completely to pot.
« Last Edit: 13:29:21, 20/11/18 by pauldawes »

kinkyboots

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Re: Leaking boots! (Again)
« Reply #12 on: 16:08:46, 20/11/18 »
I still don't go along with the expensive is best notion, sorry about that.

I don't think anyone is saying that and I'm sorry if that's what you think is being implied.

Having said that there's no doubt that better quality boots are made from better quality leather and materials and have a better build quality and more stringent quality control processes which obviously costs more money and makes the boots more expensive.

The outdoor footwear market is so competitive that with very few exceptions generally the more expensive the boots the better the overall quality is and the better they will perform and last.

In my opinion the type of walking you do and the type terrain you walk on is pushing the Berghaus Supalites (a 2-3 season boot at best) to their absolute limit and you would probably get much better value for money by moving to a slightly heavier and more durable 3 season boot.

All soles eventually wear out and on expensive boots if the leather is still in good condition it's often worth having the soles replaced to keep overall costs down. Buying new boots is usually a far more expensive option than simply replacing the soles when they wear out.

Believe it or not we are trying to help you by pointing out some alternative boot options which may offer better long term value for money for you to consider which from personal experience will definitely give better longer lasting service than those you keep buying.

If you choose to put your head in the sand and ignore and dismiss the advice and/or recommendations being offered to you out of hand without even considering them, looking at them or trying them on that's fine and if you are happy to keep replacing your boots every year or two then that's fine too after all it's your money you're spending and not mine or anybody else's.

When I had my Tetheras resoled the entire bottom of the boot was replaced. If you had your Supalites resoled - would that not cure the leak issue and you would still have a set of worn in boots to play with.
I filled each boot with water and left them on our draining board. Within the hour water was seeping out all along the top edge of both soles. By the morning I realised that they are of no further use to me!

Apart from the expense the only problem with replacing the soles is that from what gunwharfman describes it sounds reasonably likely that the Gore-Tex sock liner has possibly also been breached. Spending £50 on fitting replacement soles on £100 boots with no guarantee that the Gore-Tex liners would be intact and waterproof afterwards would make it a non-starter for me.
 

ninthace

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Re: Leaking boots! (Again)
« Reply #13 on: 16:42:10, 20/11/18 »
Apart from the expense the only problem with replacing the soles is that from what gunwharfman describes it sounds reasonably likely that the Gore-Tex sock liner has possibly also been breached. Spending £50 on fitting replacement soles on £100 boots with no guarantee that the Gore-Tex liners would be intact and waterproof afterwards would make it a non-starter for me.


I hear what you say.  When Altberg did my boots the technician called me to say that my big toe had worn through the waterproof liner and there was a split in the leather under the rand.  He was happy to replace the soles but said he could not guarantee a waterproof job.  I told him to do it anyway as I was fond of the boots and a spare pair are always handy.  Fact is the boots are almost as good as new and they do not leak.  Cost me £56.90 inc p&p.  Current price at my nearest stockist is £193 before discount.
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