Is Goretex footwear overated?

[Blackhorse7]

I've been giving this some thought, and I put the question out for comments... is Goretex footwear overated?

 

[Matt_Fisher]

Yes.

Gore-Tex footwear is great in cold and wet until you step in a puddle that is higher than your boot.  Then you find out that Gore-Tex boots are as good at keeping water out as they are at keeping it in.

I prefer to use a non-GT boot and when it gets wet use Rocky Gore-Tex oversocks.  The non-GT boots tend to dry out faster than the GT ones and they're much more breathable in hot/dry weather when you have the option of not wearing the gore-tex socks.
http://www.mec.ca/Products/product_detail.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=710239&PRODUCT%3C%3Eprd_id=12855&bmUID=1102966177578

 

[Blackhorse7]

I actually have a pair of those...

The reason I put the question out, is because I am thinking of going to a black jungle boot for duty use in the summer.  Much lighter, and WAY more breathable.  Quick lace is a must.

 

[Matt_Fisher]

The only thing I don't like about Jungle Boots is the sole.  They are pretty unforgiving in terms of shock resistance/padding and tend to wear out quite quickly and aren't the best setup for resoling as they're directy moulded to the boot.

If you're looking for something lightweight and breathable which have a better cushioned sole I suggest you have a look at some of the boots that Wellco makes:
www.wellco.com

Their boots are regarded as pretty comfortable, built for military use/abuse and are quite affordable.

 

[Redeye]

The only thing I don't like about Jungle Boots is the sole.   They are pretty unforgiving in terms of shock resistance/padding and tend to wear out quite quickly and aren't the best setup for resoling as they're directy moulded to the boot.

If you're looking for something lightweight and breathable which have a better cushioned sole I suggest you have a look at some of the boots that Wellco makes:
www.wellco.com

Their boots are regarded as pretty comfortable, built for military use/abuse and are quite affordable.

Thanks for the link, Matt.  I was contemplating finally buying my Acadias, but these boots look pretty sharp for a lot less money.  I think I'll have to give them a look.

 

[Blackhorse7]

What about the Altama Seirra soled boots?  They look more comfortable than the old Panama sole, and they seem, at least from the photo, to be re-sole-able (?)

 

[Infanteer]

I actually have a pair of those...

The reason I put the question out, is because I am thinking of going to a black jungle boot for duty use in the summer.   Much lighter, and WAY more breathable.   Quick lace is a must.

Well, this is going to throw the thread off a bit, but what are the dress standards in the Mounties?

I ask because I seen a Mountie with slicked up hair on duty and wearing black "DC" Skateboarding shoes.  The other Constable (a female) had her hair up in a nice looking style (if she was going to the bar) and was wearing a pile of make up.  I must say I was a little taken aback by the apparent lack of any sense of professional bearing as a law-enforcement officer (This is in the detachment one hour south of you, judging by your location).

 

[Blackhorse7]

The standard is pretty strict.  For men, no hair touching the ears or collar, women are allowed a modest amount of make-up, stud type earrings, and their hair must be up.  That being said, it's all about the policy being enforced.  We just had a recent transfer show up with pink highlights in her hair.  My understanding is that she was told to remove them, but so far she hasn't.  The dress regs are similarly stiff, but allow more leeway.  We have members wearing Danners, issue boots, surplus military boots (I myslef was wearing the new cold weather goretex until they became too slippery), etc.

I just find goretex footwear too hot in the summer, but not unbearable.  I just don't know if the waterproofness is worth the extra comfort I may get from a non waterproof cordura/leather combo, like a jungle boot or Magnum Stealth.

 

[Matt_Fisher]

What about the Altama Seirra soled boots?   They look more comfortable than the old Panama sole, and they seem, at least from the photo, to be re-sole-able (?)

I've got a pair of the Altama Ripple Soled Desert Boots.  The Altamas tend to fit a bit snug.  I'm 10 1/2 wide normally, which is what I ordered and the boots were a bit of a pain to get on and off, but never gave my feet any problems.  If I was going to purchase them again, I'd go with a pair of 11s.  Best to order a half size up and if your feet are swimming in them, you can add an insole like Sorbathane or Superfeet to improve the fit.

As far as construction quality goes.  The only problem I had with my Altamas were the original laces.  They frayed considerably and were generally too short for the speed laces to work effectively.  I replaced them about 1/4 of the way through my tour with the laces that came with the issued DBs.

Interterestingly, we were issued Altama desert boots with the Panama soles and these things were crap.  The soles disintegrated after about 2 months of continuous wear and the leather wore through on several pairs.  However, my privately purchase Altama ripple sole DBs held up quite well after 7 months of daily wear.  For me as an LAV crewman they were great in climbing around the vehicle, as the ripple soles gripped onto handrails and edges quite well.  However for patrolling work, anytime we'd go through mud, the soles would cake up really badly and it would take some time for the caked on mud to come off.

 

[Grunt]

I absolutely agree regarding the goretex boots, they are great for keeping water out, but if they get wet (ie stream crossing), they are never going to dry out.

I carry a pair of Wellco OD Green jungle boots (the modern type, not the nam era ones) in my ruck for either very hot conditions, or my goretexes have gotten wet.   My J-boots saved my feet a couple weekends ago on a nav ex, when I didnt even have the Goretexes yet and my Mk 3's had an inch of water in each of them.    

I also wear another pair of J-Boots daily...just because they are cool (in both ways lol) ;D


The only real problem with jungle boots is they take along time to break in (about 1 month of regular wear!), and are very uncomfortable to break in (expect blood! :skull, but once broken in, they are some of the nicest fitting boots for the price.