Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunter's Campfire Gore Tex Footwear lining just a big lie ?

Shopping for boots... Every boot I see has a Gore Tex liner...

What for ? The boots I have with Gore Tex will not, (in my option) let the sweat from my feet leave the boot as well as non-lined Gore Tex boots.

And, my Gore Tex boots seem to smell worse than my unlined boots.

When I walk thru wet grass for any length of time... and the boot gets soaking wet... my feet still get wet with the Gore-Tex liner...

Don't even get me started with the "Breathable" Gore-Tex rain jacket... I have a few really nice rain jackets made of GoreTex.. I really like these jackets... until it rains. A light sprinkle and the Gore-Tex will do fine as wood any other fabric would do as well... including cotton denim... But... if you are out in a good rain for any length of time... a Gore-Tex jacket will leave you just as wet as no jacket at all.

Why, as consumers, do we keep getting this Gore-Tex lie continue ?

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Some cheaper Gore-Tex outer wear and I am guessing this applies to footwear as well do not have the seams tapped which is crazy to me. Anyway from what I understand, Gore-Tex has to be "treated" every so often to keep it "water-proof".
I have read how to do this and "revive it" but I don't remember but I think it had to do with washing and drying it.
I am sure someone will come along and clear this up.

I renamed it "Pour-Tex" quite some time ago.

Many years ago when GT first hit the market, it got a bad rap because clothing makers weren't taping the seams properly. It about bankrupted Gore. They went to all of their customers and told them to do it right or they couldn't use the GT name. It made a big difference and saved the company. I had a pair of Vasque GT boots that way. If a cloud went over, my feet got wet. There are lots of clones on the market today and many don't have taped seams. I don't think you'll find anything with the GT label that way.

GT allows water vapor to get through but not liquid water. However, it's easy for water to vaporize around a warm body and and it naturally moves from the wet side to the dry size. Your body heat will allow some of the water outside the membrane to vaporize and soak in. It's not a one way deal.

Gore Tex is sorta waterproof when it’s new.

I'll admit, I chased the Gore-tex marketing scam for years...spent +/-$2000 looking for that magic jacket...and boots. And, like a gambler at a casino who can't quit, I got sucked into buying those expensive cleaners and conditioners.

Maybe 20 years ago, I bought a Hodgman rain jacket (poly-cloth) at a fleet store on Spring sale for $10-15. A couple years ago I reached into the back of the closet and pulled it out...yeah, "you-bet", still pliable...still water proof.

No more Gore-tex for me.

My feet are always hot in Gore Tex boots. I switched to leather lined Lowa Tibets for my hiker type boots and use rubber or rubber bottom leather upper pack boots when it's wet or cold and wet.

"Breathable" gear pretty much isn't, and it wets from the outside, after very little use. Yeah - I chased that phantom.

They don't make Gore-tex condoms do they? There's a reason.

Although I have met a few people who were probably strained through a cheap sheet.

I think it works ok when the boots are newer. IMO its not meant to mean you can keep your boot submerged for long length of times underwater. its meant for wet grass, maybe snow. and a creek crossing. I would call it water resistant. I think the breathable part has more to do with the height of the boot shaft. of course the lower it is the better the boot breathes. if you are ok with unlined boots, Alico makes a pretty decent boot for the money that is all leather lined inside, it also has one piece leather which makes the boot a little water resistant, probably about the same was a wore out gortex boot.

Gore Tex has always worked for me. Have a 35 year old Columbia Quad Parka that will still keep me dry in an all day rain. Also, a vintage North Face parka that still works as intended. Purchased Cabela’s mt050 whitetail extreme Gore Tex parka and pants about 10 years ago and although they’re pretty heavy, they work.
As for Gore Tex footwear, have used Rocky, Timberland, Meindl, Oboz, Irish Setter and probably one or two other brands over the years. Maybe I’m just imagining that they’ve kept my feet dry. ymmv.

One of the great mysteries of our time. I have fabric waders that I can wander about chest deep in the river all day and come out dry. Yet any decent shower will find me soaked in my raincoat. Back on the waders: When worn out I've taken to cutting off the feet and using the old ones as rain pants. Those really work.

All the gore tex Items I ever owned leaked after about 3 or 4 wearings. Over priced junk in my opinion. I will never buy any again.

If you’ve got about an hour to kill, call Wiggy’s and talk to him about GoreTex. He has some thoughts on the topic!

I also bought a Columbia Quad Parka and Bibs when they first came out.They still work.All my Danner boots have goretex and keep me dry

This.
It requires a LOT of maintenance and even that is of dubious value. I gave up on Gore-Tex when I found out about Filson waxed cotton shells. A lot more breathable. And if cold, wool is better at absorbing moisture under the shell, but still breathes.

Danner used to offer a waterproof guarantee on GoreTex boots. They were good boots but I sent 4 pairs back after a year of hard hunting in the snow. Best investment I have made.
But no it is a bit better than greased leather. If you want waterproof rubber bottoms are the way to go

I’ve had good luck with pants and jackets keeping me dry. Boots have been a mixed bag. Most leak, but a pair of Crispi boots have kept me dry on a number of wet hunts.

Not all goretex booties are created equal. In high end boots, they generally perform as advertised. The throw away timberlands I buy every year? Not so much….a wet lawn soaks my feet. As noted above, I’ve used Simms waders for years, and unless damaged, they’ve been absolutely water proof.

One pair of Goretex Wolverines yrs ago leaked after a yr or two. Only worn deer hunting. Got a leather pair w goretex and they kept me dry for a decade ( diff brand ).

With everuthing these days sucking azz I said fuggit and went to rubber boots.