3 ms·

Keep in mind that with Gore-TEX you still have to sacrifice a lot of breathe-ability. If you don't need something to be waterproof, you may be happier with a no

Keep in mind that with Gore-TEX you still have to sacrifice a lot of breathe-ability. If you don't need something to be waterproof, you may be happier with a non-waterproof alternative. I've found that to be particularly true of shoes.

williamscales 4y ago
The Gore-TEX membrane in the shoe also tends to break down quite quickly. Think on the order of months if worn daily.
- trillic 4y ago
  Yup, Gore-TEX shoes don't stay waterproof long enough to justify the cost in my mind. If I know my feet are going to be wet for 6+ hours I go with my shoes-with-drain and waterproof socks, over N layers of thin wool socks depending on temperature. I have only replaced the socks twice because I don't use em too much. I've found for offshore sailing or backpacking in the wet that Sealskinz (not gore-tex) are the best. Still wearing gore-tex bibs and top anytime there's any wet.
  - tra3 4y ago
    That’s brilliant. I imagine waterproof socks also keep the moisture in as well? Is it worth it?
    - Thlom 4y ago
      On expeditions in extreme conditions managing moisture is half the job. I read an interview with Børge Ousland (polar explorer, crossed the north pole in winter conditions on ski in 2019) about how he plans and executes expeditions. He use a thin wool sock, then a plastic bag(!), then a thick wool sock (or several wool socks) inside his shoes. So the inner sock will be wet by sweat, but the plastic bag stops the moisture so the thick wool sock and shoes are kept dry. Then at night he can dry the thin wool sock by keeping it close to his body. He also sleeps in a plastic bag inside the sleeping bag to keep moisture out of the sleeping bag. It's quite interesting how these extreme expeditions work. They have to spend much of the time in the tent brushing ice off clothes, shoes, the tent itself, equipment and so on, because if the ice melts it will freeze again and shit will get ruined.

williamscales 4y ago

The Gore-TEX membrane in the shoe also tends to break down quite quickly. Think on the order of months if worn daily.

trillic 4y ago
Yup, Gore-TEX shoes don't stay waterproof long enough to justify the cost in my mind. If I know my feet are going to be wet for 6+ hours I go with my shoes-with-drain and waterproof socks, over N layers of thin wool socks depending on temperature. I have only replaced the socks twice because I don't use em too much. I've found for offshore sailing or backpacking in the wet that Sealskinz (not gore-tex) are the best. Still wearing gore-tex bibs and top anytime there's any wet.
- tra3 4y ago
  That’s brilliant. I imagine waterproof socks also keep the moisture in as well? Is it worth it?
  - Thlom 4y ago
    On expeditions in extreme conditions managing moisture is half the job. I read an interview with Børge Ousland (polar explorer, crossed the north pole in winter conditions on ski in 2019) about how he plans and executes expeditions. He use a thin wool sock, then a plastic bag(!), then a thick wool sock (or several wool socks) inside his shoes. So the inner sock will be wet by sweat, but the plastic bag stops the moisture so the thick wool sock and shoes are kept dry. Then at night he can dry the thin wool sock by keeping it close to his body. He also sleeps in a plastic bag inside the sleeping bag to keep moisture out of the sleeping bag. It's quite interesting how these extreme expeditions work. They have to spend much of the time in the tent brushing ice off clothes, shoes, the tent itself, equipment and so on, because if the ice melts it will freeze again and shit will get ruined.