Myths of the Outdoors
Myth No 1 - Walking boots are waterproof
The only form of footwear that is 100% waterproof is a pair of wellies.
Walking boots in general are made from two basic materials, leather or nylon.
Nylon ones are not waterproof at all. The nylon cloth is generally unproofed to allow breathing and even on the few proofed ones water enters rapidly through the stitching holes.
The only way to keep the water out is to line the boot with a waterproof membrane. This prevents the water that enters the boot from getting through to your socks. However the boot can be very wet. In warm weather this is no problem but in winter you could have freezing cold water a few mm from your feet. If your boot gets very wet the drying time will be extended as the membrane does not allow water through. It can only dry from one surface.
Membranes whilst keeping out the water do restrict the breathability. If you suffer from hot feet eg. heat rash, do consider the consequences of buying a membrane lined boot.
The membranes can be easily damaged resulting in points of leakage. Again this may not be a problem unless you are in very wet cold conditions. The life of the membrane depends very much on the care of the boot and the amount of usage.
The main areas of failure are :-
- Across the top of the toe at the main flex zone. Premature failure here is caused by not treating the boot with an appropriate boot care agent to maintain suppleness of the materials.
- Around the edge of the footbed. Small bits of grit that have entered the boot find there way into the gap at the edge of the footbed. They then work their way into the boot lining and puncture the membrane. After each wearing the footbed the footbed should be removed and the boot given a good shake. This form of damage is most likely to occur at points of highest pressure, around the heel and around the ball of the foot.
Remember that in a fabric boot the membrane is the only line of defense against water. Once it is damaged your boot will leak. Please look after it.
Most boots are made of leather, a material tried and tested over many years. Leather is not a waterproof material like rubber. It is porous and tough. This allows it to breathe but at the same time to protect your feet. The water resistance of leather depends upon its thickness, its original quality, how well it has been tanned and how much boot wax has been worked into it by the boots owner. The thicker and tougher the leather the heavier is the boot but the more waterproof and durable it becomes.
Modern 'Ultra light' boots have excellent water resistance. This is achieved by using thinner high quality leathers which have proofings impregnated into them. Often this is backed up by a waterproof membrane which in a leather boot acts as a second line of defense.
If you have a leather boot with a membrane the the membrane requires just the same care as in a fabric boot. However in a leather boot because the membrane is only the second line of defense you may have a damaged membrane an never know it. It will only be called upon to do its job when the outer leather has become saturated.
As with a fabric boot if your boot gets very wet the drying time will be extended as the membrane does not allow water through. It can only dry from one surface.
Membranes whilst keeping out the water do restrict the breathability. If you suffer from hot feet eg. heat rash, do consider the consequences of buying a membrane lined boot. There are still plenty of boots made without membranes which are much cooler to wear. They are normally boots made from better quality leather.
If you demand a boot that is 100% waterproof your retailer will have no option but to only offer you a membrane lined boot, despite the fact that in a few years time a conventional boot is likely to have maintained its level of proofing long after a membrane lining will have expired.
