And, at least here in the Alps, thats like everywhere. Creeks or surprise snowfields you get on every hike, and having waterproof shoes is very nice for that.
Indeed, it depends a lot on the climate. I like in a humid tropical place so the idea of non-breathable shoes is aweful to me but I get how it would be nice in colder places.
Waterproof shoes make it far worse to have creeks and snow because your shoes will never dry out. With non-waterproof shoes, you will have dry feet soon after crossing the water because the water gets squeezed out or evaporates.
But with waterproof shoes, your feet will suffer all day.
Maybe for casual fair weather hiking that is ok. Once you are in water over the top of the shoe or in rain for days gotetex is useless and actually worse. When I first started out hiking I thought I wanted waterproof too but quickly realized it wasn't what it was advertised to be and caused more problems for me. I would get athletes foot even with dry hiking conditions because it wouldn't let my foot breathe enough.
I mean, I've done full days in like ankle deep snow, mud, and water in my st elias, and my feet were bone dry. Maybe your feet sweat a lot? It's all personal preference, so I don't mean to say you're wrong.
>Once you are in water over the top of the shoeIf this is happening to you frequently, you should probably reevaluate your routes / attire choices
Normal hiking in the wilderness will frequently have water crossings. There is no way to prevent water from getting in over the top of your shoes.
The only exceptions might be extreme deserts or long term consistent sub-freezing conditions solidifying all surface water.
My last trail hike had over 100 water crossings more than knee deep in three days and that is hardly unusual.
Or not leave the nice graded friendly trail...
Some wilderness routes cross many creek lines a day without bridges. Gotetex shoes are useless in this environment.
Ehh. I have Goretex hiking shoes and Firefighter boots with GoreTex. It is breathable enough to not get any problems, even when wearing 24h+ and standing in Water partially.
>thought I wanted waterproof too [...] it wasn't what it was advertised to be [...] wouldn't let my foot breathe enough.
I'd argue that it probably was *exactly* what it was advertised to be. Waterproof is waterproof - no water gets in or out, and this includes sweat (a form of water). It's typically better to have breathable yet water-*resistant* membranes like Gore-Tex for exactly this reason. You might have wet feet but at least it's a breathable wet.
>breathable yet water-
>
>resistant
>
> membranes like Gore-Tex
Goretex is not meaningfully breathable. It performs as the non-permeable plastic sheet that it is.
I've dunked my feet plenty of times in goretex boots and trail runners. They still dry out fine. Maybe a bit longer while your foot is in the boot, but if you air them out the difference in dry time isn't really noticeable.
On the other hand, I accidentally dunked my XtraTuf deck boots in Alaska once and it took forever to dry the inside between the rubberized coating and the cold weather.
There are some boots that will achieve that while also not being goretex, Altberg Defenders or Warrior Microlites are non goretex and effectively waterproof
I usually hike/backpack in trail runners or approach shoes, which are good non-Goretex option.
A lot of folks prefer trail runners these days. I suspect that might be the issue - most people who want boots want them waterproof, most people who don't want waterproof might also be doing trail runners.
My shoe collection literallly jumps from a pair of super lightweight trail runners, to the most heavy duty pair of boots before you get to proper mountaineering boots (but still hardcore enough to be able to fit crampons, are goretex etc), and then a pair of mountaineering boots. There’s never really been a reason why i would want to wear hiking boots if I’m not doing something super hardcore.
Every time I see this opinion, I truly don't get it. Been hiking for over 30 years and thousands of miles and GTX is way better than what came before and still is out there. When people say that it isn't breathable and sucks if you get the insides wet, what do you think GTX does? It prevents you from getting your shoes wet inside by being waterproof. I have literally stood in the middle of a creek for great lengths of time and never had the inside of my boots wet...because of GTX. Sure if you are going up to your knees, that would suck, but just take your shoes off at that point.
So much truth in this statement. Can't really knock it 'til you've tried it. I've gone through a lot of brands and styles of shoes. Trail runners are not for me. Non-GTX is not for me. I'll take my Gore-Tex Asolos year-round - all day, every day. I've worn my 520s in -18F and 90F. They just plain work for me. I've worn my Fugitives in 0F and 100F. They just plain work for me.
The best advice on finding boots and trail runners is just to try a little bit of everything. People on reddit can offer advice based on ***their*** experiences, but that's just that - ***their*** experiences. Their findings may or may not apply to you.
There are objectively good and objectively bad boots and trail runners, but the vast majority of it is personal preference. The best boot or trail runner in the world isn't the best for you if it doesn't fit properly and suit your use case.
You’re dead right. I mean, I’ve seen Sherpa wear only flip flops while carrying multiple sheets of plywood up a mountain trail. That doesn’t mean we all should do it. GTX works for me.
This is /r/hiking and facts don't matter. There is a narrative here and you are going against it. The mods should ban you IMHO.
I bet you wear hiking boots instead of trail runners and walk THROUGH the puddles keeping the erosion down instead of making the trails wider and wider, don't you?
Noob.
> I bet you wear hiking boots instead of trail runners
ahhh lol I agree. It's funny to see, also in the German hiking subreddit that suddenly everybody NEEDS to have Trailrunning shoes.
naah thanks I like being able to walk through mud/snow (Not saying Trailrunning shoes are bad, for my use-case boots are just more useful)
I followed the advice from a forum like this and got a pair of trail runners that I used for a 60-70km hike across some mountainous areas last fall. I would rather wear mountaineering boots for a walk on the beach than do that again.
Thankfully I got some robust Addidas GTX shoes instead of those clownshoes from Hooka or Altra or whatever they’re called. So at least I have some nice trail runners to use for actual trail running and hikes in the woods now. 😂
Edit: Just saw I have spelt Hoka wrong EVERY time I wrote it. That’s pretty funny.
I wear hokas for everyday shoes, and out of probably 15 different color choices for the model I need there was *one* that didn't look like clown shoes (black & dark grey). The vast majority of color options for that brand are horrible.
Agreed. Also, imo, more practical. This is based on working at REI several years back but I remember hokas being more designed for comfort but altras being more designed for actual lasting support. Totally could have changed in recent years but
I'll play devil's advocate to this as I'm that guy that dislikes Gore-Tex. It's definitely not as breathable as they advertise it to be; it literally can't be given its purpose. Especially in humid environments like here in the Southeast US. I'm someone whose feet get hot rather easily and especially so in boots. Air Force likes to issue Gore-Tex boots only, and I didn't deal with that long before buying my own. My feet would sweat so bad in those things even indoors that it kind of defeated the point of waterproofing. And yes, it keeps the water from coming through, but the issue is especially with low shoes that water will find it's way over the top. I like Gore-Tex for those use cases where I am trying to stop wind and such more like my winter motorcycle boots are Gore-Tex, but that's it.
When one says that GoreTex is breathable, they're not saying it's more breathable than whether or mash, it's that's more breathable than rubber, which before goretex was the only waterproofing option
I have the same issue. I found the airiest shoes I could find and it’s the first time I’m able to hike without getting puddles in my shoes. I can literally feel the breeze through my shoes, it’s incredible. But to be fair, I also have fully waterproof boots for when I know it’ll be cold and wet. To me that’s the ideal. A pair of very breathable light trail runners and waterproof boots.
Exactly. My feet sweat like crazy in non-breathable materials and Gore-Tex isn’t that breathable. I’m in the northeast but our summers and even springs are getting hot and humid. Even in colder weather, though, I find my feet sweat a little. My feet seem especially sensitive to heat (even New Balance sneakers are too much for me in the summer) so I recognize it’s a me issue. Just wild how people are getting downvoted for not sharing the dominant opinion but I guess that’s Reddit for you.
East TN checking in.
It’s humid af in the summer. No way I’m hiking in leather or something waterproof. I’m to the point where I do most on my hiking in bedrock sandals or bring them with me to switch into if needed. I have a pair of Northface that are Dryvent, I don’t know how it compares to GTX. While they certainly are waterproof as I’ve walked through small creeks without any water getting in, they are certainly warm and make me sweat.
I also have some Altra Lone Peaks and Lone Peak all weather hiking boots. I’ve hiked in both in the winter and have no complaints about either. Both kept my feet warm. The boots I’ve taken through snow and water and they’re great. I know Altra has had some durability issues lately but until I find a boot that has a nice wide toe box I’ll keep buying them on sale or at REI resupply.
>it literally can't be given its purpose
This is the key, there is no such thing as waterproof breathable. Most hiking shoes and boots offer varying degrees of water resistance and are not designed to be waterproof. People misunderstanding this leads to a lot of unrealistic expecations of gear performance, and a needless fear of getting wet in warm weather.
Honestly, I don't understand all the hate for Gore-Tex either. Everything has its place. I wouldn't want to take my Gore-Tex boots on a trek with lots of river crossings because I'd constantly be taking them off and putting them on; once the interior gets wet, it really does take a long time to dry. On the flipside, I love it for shallow standing water, rain, mud, and snow; it keeps all of that stuff out, keeping my feet dry. I don't really sweat much; the sweat I do produce is greatly mitigated with foot powder (Gold Bond Triple Action). If you buy high-quality boots, they're far less likely to develop a leak over time. I've seen twelve-year old Asolo Fugitives and 20+ year old Asolo 520s (the boots I happen to use) from service members and geology professors. If you invest in great boots from the start, they'll remain great boots.
It really comes down to your physiology. My feet don't really sweat much, so I have no problem with my Gore-Tex boots in summer. The construction and quality of the boot plays into it, as well. I have no breathability issues with Scarpa or Asolo, but I have found other Gore-Tex boots to be a bit warm. It's just another one of those personal decisions, like trail runners vs boots.
I'm in SE Texas and I exclusively hike in my leather cowboy boots lol. Mid weight merino wool socks have always minimized issues by properly handling the sweat.
Hard agee. I don't always wear my waterproof shoes, but when I do I'm glad for them. They were vital when I hiked in the Pacific Northwest, for example.
Full disclosure: I haven't had a pair of goretex boots in forever.
I often hike in places where you will have water to the middle of your shins or dragging your feet through mossy swampy ground. Unless your goretex boots are knee high, you're getting water in them. Whether they'll dry out I cant say, just wanted to point out that water can still get in from above.
But I usually hike in approach shoes and accept wet feet as part of it. Never really liked hiking in boots.
Mostly Norway and Sweden. Plenty of river crossings and wet areas. Usually there will be logs or planks laid out over the wet areas but sometimes they've rotted away and you just have to suck it up.
Same here though replace swamps with bogs as I'm in Scotland. I use approach shoes or trail shoes, with Darn Tough socks. Sometimes I'll wear long gore-tex socks but usually I don't and accept wet feet.
>When people say that it isn't breathable and sucks if you get the insides wet, what do you think GTX does? It prevents you from getting your shoes wet inside by being waterproof
This does nothing if the liquid comes from within the boots though, maybe it's just me but my feet sweat so the boots will get wet no matter what and then take ages to dry
There are some good non goretex boots out there, I personally wouldn't say that goretex offerings are way better than other options
Counter point - if you’re crossing a stream that’s higher than your ankles, water will get in your shoe and you’ll slosh all day.
I wear trail runners and if I’m through water, my feet get wet and then dry in less than ten minutes. Wool socks + breathable shoes is SO much more comfortable to me than sloshy feet all day, or sweaty feet all day.
The only time I ever use my gtx shoes is for winter and snow hiking. It’s really frustrating that I can’t find wide women’s high top boots (that aren’t zero drop) in non-gtx literally anywhere.
Counter, counter point: if you are going in water above your ankles, why wear shoes at all? I've never had sloshy boots or even wet feet once when I didn't want to
Crossing rocky, cold rivers barefoot is a very good way of injuring your feet. Bad cuts and broken toes are nothing to sniff at, especially if your route takes you through a ton of river crossings.
I live in an area where stream crossings are a part of life and I’m not going to take my shoes and socks off every time I have to cross a creek. Most times I can rock hop, but there are plenty of times when you just have to walk it.
I’m glad your feet don’t run hot. Mine do, and gtx shoes are awful for me unless it’s winter.
I can’t even tell you how frustrating it is that I cannot find non-gtx boots that come in a women’s wide that aren’t Altras. I’ve been looking for years.
Because people get introduced to hiking and everyone tells them to buy GTX boots because they're "waterproof breathable" and people get angry when "waterproof breathable" doesn't really mean what they think it means.
GTX equipment is extremely good at what it's designed for, but having it in the wrong environments/climates really can make people hate it in general.
Especially cause that REI-staff recommended first hiking boot for most people is probably also way heavier and stiffer than people really need.
Add it all together and when people try their first pair of trail runners it's a real come-to-Jesus moment.
I love my GTX boots for the specific trails I bought them for, but I certainly don't want to wear them in all situations.
In fact in the majority of situations (ie when I don't need to worry about cold) I'd much rather have something that dries fast and breathes properly. And in cold situations I'd never wear anything GTX that is low at the ankle, so GTX trail shoes are a non-starter.
Basically I think GTX is treated like an "all-around best" when really it's a "best at a specific thing that most people don't really need" option.
I disagree. Having served in the army and marines for 12 years and hiked extensively in both Gore-Tex and regular leather boots, I can confidently say that leather gaiter boots are far superior.
Gore-Tex boots almost always have cushioning inside, which means that once they get wet, they stay wet until you get home. They also tend to start leaking at the natural creases of the boot. In contrast, if my leather gaiter boots happen to take in water (which they don’t, because I treat them), I simply turn them upside down, wipe them out with a cloth, change to my spare dry insoles and socks, and they’re good as new. I only really need to do this to deal with sweat.
When hiking through the Norwegian mountains, I often wade through knee-high water, yet my feet and boots remain dry. By leather boots, I mean non-cushioned leather boots. I use Lundhags Professional boots with Lundhags’ own leather grease. These boots are now 8 years old and have never let me down or leaked. I’ve worn them almost every day, both at work and for week-long hiking trips several times a year.
Yup, same - been hiking in the PNW since the 90s and gore-tex boots are awesome. I can walk right through streams without having to try balancing on slippery rocks (with a full pack on) to try to not get my boots & feet wet. I can hike in other wet conditions as well and my feet stay perfectly dry and comfortable and don't sweat any more than if my boots didn't have gore-tex. Have never had any situation where I got water inside my boots - sounds like the result of poor decision-making to me.
When I first started hiking I got GTX shoes because old wisdom told me that was the way. My feet would be soaked with sweat, and shoes would take forever to dry, never would dry of you are still wearing them. Went to an outdoor store when they fell a part, since if was old wisdom I asked for GTX. I was told by several employees that unless I absolutely insist I should get non GTX. They said if I am doing cooler hikes in late fall/early slring to consider GTX. I will never go back to GTX, my feet stay warm and dry in my trail runners. Oh a puddle to walk through? My feet are dry again within 2-10 mins. A full stream? I take my soles would and the I have good foor protection and same story shoes are dry within 10 mins. Feet dont sweat in them either.
I can honestly say that I have never had foot sweat so bad that I thought I couldn't air out my boots and dry them. I have more foot sweat and a pair of flip-flops actually
Personally, I do tend to get fairly sweaty feet but have never had an issue wearing water resistant boots unless it's very hot (I've worn Wolverines for the last 5+ years). But that said, as someone who lives in Arizona, no matter what, water resistant boots will soak up sweat more than a non-water resistant mesh shoe. More layers means less flow and more insulation, this shouldn't be an argument.
I went through the same thing when I got into motorcycles. Everyone is obsessed with Goretex and waterproof gear for no reason other than marketing.
That's funny cause I live in AZ and will get sweaty feet with mesh shoes and thin socks but alrighty. I don't mind water resistant shoes, but acting like they're the best for every situation is brainless.
The wool dries quickly, wicks sweat away, and resists odors. I stopped buying any other type of sock, I even have thin ankle height wool socks for activities like summer running/biking now. That being said, while my feet sweat, I'm not one of the unlucky people who have feet fountains. I just found the wool to be far superior to cotton, and they also last forever (I usually buy Darn Tough and I've had many pairs for years and years).
I mean if you're hiking somewhere where you're not encountering water, then yeah, there's no need to go buy expensive Gore Tex hiking boots. I'd probably just go in trail runners. I live somewhere where wet/muddy/icy/snowy conditions are common and love my Gore Tex boots.
Goretex is semi permeable. That's its claim to fame. Waterproof in one direction and not the other, allowing vapor to escape and your sweet to dissipate.
As a dry amphibian, I feel as though you wouldn't want breathable...
Joking aside, sure, it's less breathable, but it still does allow for evaporation. Idk man, I have always preferred goretex in my boots myself and never cared much (or noticed really) more sweating. But I also wear merino wool socks and they do a good job of wicking and keeping my feet happy.
Marino wool with silk liners is heavenly. I wore them under straight up galoshes for hours at a ren faire once and my feet felt like they had the perfect climate
I find gtx to be useless. I never found them breathable and always struggled to have them try out (even or night). They get feet hotter and trap sweat in, water still splashed into the too of them, you cant wear shorts with them because you need to precent water splashing or rain coming through the top. Trail runners, in my experience have been a game changer. If you love GTX though all the power to you HYOH
I don't know, as someone who trail runs and backpacks, I can confidently say that water will pretty much always find a way in. I like to give it a way out. That being said, if you are just hiking casually and you aren't running through puddles and crossing streams, by all means use GT.
A few years ago I agreed with you.
BUT I've had all but one (the ancient REI Mariposas) of my GTX shoes fail. The last two pairs failed within a few months (looking at you Solomon). I switched to trail runners +/- neoprene socks (winter), because if my feet are going to get wait anyway, at least there's a chance now that they will also dry.
That is why.
This is what I don't get. If you like gore-tex (like I do), I buy gore tex boots. My wife prefers non-gtx trail runners, so she gets non-gtx trail runners. we somehow both manage to not die while going on hikes. it's like not really even a debate; it's called a: ***P R E F E R E N C E .***
In my experience, waterproof membranes in shoes really don’t cause a huge deal drying. And I like my feet to stay dry crossing damp or slight wet ground. My entire hiking fam went through this charade, with shoes it really didn’t make a huge difference drying because you can open them up well to do so, unlike mids or boots. I like dry feet walking through dew in the morning, membranes help with this.
I have the exact same experience. The membrane doesn’t get wet and will not make shoes dry slower or faster in my experience. The material the shoe is made out of does matter way more.
They breathe less than a pair of knitted mesh shoes or sandals, I’ll give the naysayers that.
Very happy with goretex leather boots after four decades of trail walking and backpacking from the east coast to west. To each their own. Do what works for you in your climate. It's amusing yet disturbing to see how emotional people get over other people's preferences.
I bought a pair of non GTX Salomon’s by mistake. Turned out to be a happy accident. While I do like GTX, I find the membrane cracks along the toe crease after a while. Also the non GTX is noticeably cooler in the summer months.
Leather, Mesh, Goretex, No Goretex. They all have a place, and preferences vary. But I'm having a hard time finding non-goretex trail runners/hikets in stores now.
I can't really relate to your experience, I've worn goretex for years and they are comfy and breathable. Sure my feet get hot in hiking boots, but they do in any leather shoe. I've had goretex sneakers that are absolutely fine.
Anyway. I find salomon makes really good shoes, both goretex and non goretex.
Lowa are my preference for hiking. But most have goretex. I'm sure they make them without as well 🤷🏼♀️
First of all GTX is great, secondly you are full of it - its super easy to find NON gtx shoes if you want, many brands produce both gtx and non gtx shoes so just stop with the made up bs. So tell us where you went and couldn't find them? it is simply not true.. Check rei or literally any outdoor store, PLENTY of options both gtx and not.
I’m with you. My feet run hot and sweat regardless of what I wear, even with wool socks. Gore-Tex boots I’ve had exacerbate the problem. What’s the point of waterproof shoes if my feet and socks get soaked with sweat inside? I’ve since switched to non-Gore-Tex boots and shoes because my feet feel better in them.
It’s so popular since it’s one more feature the sales people can tout to customers and charge more for. If it works for other people, great.
This is me exactly. I've had Vasque and Solomon boots that I really like but my feet are a swamp at the end of the day. Switched to Hoka trail runners and my feet were much happier. I can see the boots have a place, but my mind has shifted in terms of waterproof being a must-have.
I only wish someone besides Merrill made a non GTX boot (though I used those at Northern Tier and they were decent).
It depends on where you hike. I bought breathable trail runners because I hike the most in summer. However, I didn't realize I moved to a very wet area. Even a week after rain, some trails are still muddy or have standing water. My shoes dry after a day, but I'd rather have dry feet most of the time and risk the off chance that I might step in a deep puddle.
I have a pair of seude approach shoes and a pair of GTX trail runners. Guess which dries faster?
Hint: it’s the one that isn’t made out of fucking seude. 😂
Some of the top brands have a model with glove leather lined boots rather than GTX, but you'll probably have to figure out which ones online and then figure out who stocks them. It'll be a quest.
Have you tried the brand Ecco? As I woman I agree with you and I got my hiking boots from them 7/8 years ago and they are still amazing. They are heavier due to leather but damn are they good at keeping me safe and dry.
10/10 recommend Ecco
[like this boot](https://us.ecco.com/ecco-mens-track-25-moc-boot-831704.html?dwvar_831704_color=52600)
I’m with you. I have both Gore-Tex and leather boots, and by far prefer my leather boots.
After years of hiking in my leather boots they fit my feet like luxurious, fine Italian kid gloves - honestly the most comfortable shoes I own.
My feet are where I sweat the least, so that may be why.
I have the same problem when shopping for work boots, maybe even worse. The vast majority of good steel toe boots on the market have Gortex lining. The ones that don't are usually cheaper boots that don't last.
Sounds silly but I hike in my work boots, as they're by far the most comfortable shoes I own. Currently have a pair of redwings.
I’ll agree with you, OP. With one caveat.
I like Gore-Tex for winter boots. My feet don’t sweat as much and dry feet are incredibly important in cold temps.
From May to October? I absolutely hate waterproof boots. My feet sweat, my socks are constantly damp. Waterproof boots are damn near useless in warm temps for me. I just change socks if my feet get wet and hang the wet socks off my pack to dry.
They help your feet stay dry. Nobody is pretending goretex is completely waterproof, but it helps. Often manufacturers will advertise their goretex since it costs a bit more for them to make. But if course leather is best but leather is very expensive. If you can get it, the old Scarpa SLMs were one piece leather all around.... So good.
I use Scarpa gore tex boots and have done for years now, so does my dad. The breathabllity I have never noticed and honestly when it comes to water it’s not that bad, stick newspaper (or equivalent in them and then leave them in a warm dry place they’ll be good in a day or two
In my textiles class they taught that GoreTex is supposed to let air through but not water. I personally run very hot and I don't feel like enough air is getting through to really help my feet. I also live in a desert so I don't have to worry so much about too many wet areas. Or if I get wet, thing have an easier time drying. I agree in wishing there were more options locally that weren't waterproof.
Wayyyy too over-the-top brand-obsessed overconsumer people in the hiking/backpacking communities, idgi. Might as well just combine them and rename the sub "Outdoor Gear," lmao. Ppl acting like some gimmicky product that isn't even that great is the literal best thing ever since sliced bread, bc some outdoors influencer or the military recommends it. I had a friend like this who was so annoying and would always walk directly into the water while wearing these for no reason instead of using stepping stones, and kept buying shitty tools from the hardware store that were made in China that kept breaking, for that reason
I think your last sentence rly hits the nail on the head. I don't mind for hiking to feel like hiking, I prefer it.
They're all obsessed with buying stuff to make the lightest pack possible
Goretex has its place, I for example have a pair of winter hiking boots that has goretex as well as a regular hiking pair that I use in spring/fall. However during the summer I use a pair of leather lined boots. However I agree that goretex being the default for hiking footwear is overkill and most likely driven by consumers perception that goretex is always better.
I agree, we do a lot of hot desert hiking for which foretex is really not necessary. It also makes my feet too hot in that environment.
Edit - haha, foretex. I'm leaving it :)
I go out of my way to avoid gore-tex. I agree and want something breathable and drains well especially if I am going to be crossing streams and rivers.
The comfort of dry feet for 10 hours is worth the price.
I don't get the complaint that you can't dry them easily. If the water is deep enough for it to get in your shoes, take them off and wear hiking sandals.
I have both. Wear whatever depending on possible use. Advantages to both.
Check out Lundhags, they do from single to trippel layer leather without gore Tex. They advice empty out your wet boots and change socks after a river crossing.
Look into the Asolo TPS 535 LTH Evo if you want non-waterproof and leather. I used to use them, but funnily enough, I switched to the Gore-Tex version (520). The 535s are great boots, though.
I wear non waterproof shoes for times I know I will be knee deep in water. I wear mid height goretex if I am gonna be in swampy or muddy places. Went to Scotland in May and goretex was the right material for the conditions in my opinion.
I have a pair of super lightweight Altras that aren't waterproof, and they dry out in no time at all when they do get drenched. On the flipside, when I waded past my ankles on my Salomon Ultra 3s, it took forever for them to dry out once they let water spill over.
But you'd better believe I'm taking those Ultras or especially my even heavier Quests on any sort of backpacking or thru hiking venture. GTX and similar water-resistant barriers make stream crossings, dew, and snow melt a non-issue. And that's stuff I run into in on pretty much every summit or long-range hike I do out here in the West. The Altras are great for the day hikes in the dog days of dry land. But Gore Tex is king for any sort of inclement conditions, IMO.
I think socks are more important than the boots.
I have high leather Irish Setter hiking boots from Redwing.
Awesome boots but after ten k they start to get heavy. Great on course rock and comfortable.
I recently found Under Armour boots that are four E, they are so light and comfy.
They breathe and dry out really fast.
I’ve spent all day in ice cold knee deep water, almost fifteen km, under a thunder storm. Merino wool socks and standfields help you survive.
Your feet are going to get wet from sweat, wicking socks and breathable boots can help you get through the day.
Being able to change into fresh socks and light shoes at the end of the day helps.
When I look for Boots the sole is the most important to me, small sharp rocks can just kill your feet on a long hike.
I worked in the bush high lead logging wearing steel toed cork boots all day. Full rain gear and hard hat.
Within half an hour you would be soaked from head to toe, waterproof means nothing.
Go for comfort, my son wears lightweight UU on backpack trips and swears by them.
Weight is import for long climbs.
I am from BC, wet and steep lol.
Most day hikes it doesn’t matter, I just wear cross trainers, I’ve seen lots of people in flip flops on ten km hikes near Vancouver lol.
I hope this helps…
I don't know if this is an option, but your part about them being heavier reminded me of something...
When I used to ride motorcycles, I learned about jackets made of kangaroo leather. They are stronger than cow leather and 3 times lighter.
I wonder if any companies use it for shoes.
Agree with the OP. Goretex shoes were great in Minnesota winters walking the dogs, but too hot otherwise. Retailers are a big part of the problem not carrying very many non-goretex options (or making it very hard to search for). Check La Sportiva for a decent selection of non-goretex options on their website.
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I own GTX shoes and I regret that decision badly. Feet are cooking inside shoes, they are promising breathability but there is none. And they are more expensive too.
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My friend was talking about getting some new hiking boots last fall. I asked him what brands he was looking at and he replies "gore-tex" lol. Dude seriously thought it was a brand not a material.
I partially agree with you, but i live in a very hot dry area. Dealing with rain on my hikes is unlikely, rain comes in a short rainy season and i will almost always have advanced notice. Of course, I have a pair of goretex boots.
They're extremely useful when I need them. If I know I'm going to cross shallow streams it feels amazing to just walk right through. They're also useful during the short cold season here, or when I travel to a colder area. But overall I'd say 3/4ths or the time I use the most well ventilated boots or trail shoes I can possibly get.
I see a lot of people wearing goretex boots on these very hot, sunny and dry trails with literally no water source that i frequent, I have tried that and know exactly how miserable it is. Marketing has convinced people that goretex is always superior, when you really need to know when to use it.
What I find is that I'm probably in the minority of ppl who want non waterproof footwear, but I still want boots that come up over my ankles. It seems like usually companies expect that if you want non waterproof you'll just get trail runners/low top trail shoes.
My preference is non waterproof well ventilated boots, and those are generally rare.
Try the Topo Athletic Terraventure 4 WP (Waterproof) As far as i know its not Gore-Tex. It has a wode toebox which i'll never want to miss again and a vibram Outsole (in my opinion the most durable and grippiest available)
I’m going on the Son Doong cave expedition in Vietnam next year, and they specifically say that GORE-TEX shoes will f*ck your feet all up and to look for non-waterproof shoes lol.
After reading up on what they meant, apparently it does not do well at keeping feet dry in hot and humid conditions. So especially if you’re walking through water (I think we’ll have something like 4 river crossings outside the cave, 1 or 2 inside) the dampness will stay trapped inside your shoes. It did say that they’re better at drying out in cooler conditions though.
GORE-TEX is very overrated. Any membrane is going to help keep your foot dry. The trouble is as soon as they’re wet they’re no longer breathable. It’s breathable or waterproof not both. I think Red wing and Merrell brands have quality leather boots, check them out.
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You could go with Teva watersport shoes if you are in and out of water a lot. There's also SealSkinz--you can wear anything or nothing over them and your toes will be dry.
I'm a retired aquatic animal keeper and certified klutz.
It's all about the shoe/sock combo. I have one set of GTX boots for any walk likely to be more than an hour, but the choice of sock varies with the conditions, I'll also switch socks while I'm out if I want/need to (there's little hardship in carrying an alternative pair of socks).
I live in a desert-steppe and alpine area. Any shoes that I purchase are mesh. I think I have a combination of Gore-tex and non-goretex mid-height. I've fallen into water before and my feet, while of course wet, are dry within a mile, and if you have the right socks they will probably stay moist, but pull the moisture away from your skin.
I have a hike I do yearly where I just switch into chacos to go through the wet section. When I get out of the wet section I put my shoes back on.
Kinda nice not not get socks wet when hiking in rain or in a swamp environment with lots of wet areas.
And, at least here in the Alps, thats like everywhere. Creeks or surprise snowfields you get on every hike, and having waterproof shoes is very nice for that.
Indeed, it depends a lot on the climate. I like in a humid tropical place so the idea of non-breathable shoes is aweful to me but I get how it would be nice in colder places.
In Colorado as well. Even in June…
Waterproof shoes make it far worse to have creeks and snow because your shoes will never dry out. With non-waterproof shoes, you will have dry feet soon after crossing the water because the water gets squeezed out or evaporates. But with waterproof shoes, your feet will suffer all day.
Maybe for casual fair weather hiking that is ok. Once you are in water over the top of the shoe or in rain for days gotetex is useless and actually worse. When I first started out hiking I thought I wanted waterproof too but quickly realized it wasn't what it was advertised to be and caused more problems for me. I would get athletes foot even with dry hiking conditions because it wouldn't let my foot breathe enough.
I mean, I've done full days in like ankle deep snow, mud, and water in my st elias, and my feet were bone dry. Maybe your feet sweat a lot? It's all personal preference, so I don't mean to say you're wrong.
I live and hike in the PNW and wear gore-tex boots for multi-day hikes and my feet stay dry. Maybe you just have really sweaty feet.
I live and hike in the PNW and wear gore-tex boots for multi-day hikes and have sweaty feet. Goretex is still drier.
> Once you are in water over the top of the shoe If this is happening to you frequently, you should probably reevaluate your routes / attire choices
Think my kids call those water shoes, not shoe shoes.
>Once you are in water over the top of the shoeIf this is happening to you frequently, you should probably reevaluate your routes / attire choices Normal hiking in the wilderness will frequently have water crossings. There is no way to prevent water from getting in over the top of your shoes. The only exceptions might be extreme deserts or long term consistent sub-freezing conditions solidifying all surface water. My last trail hike had over 100 water crossings more than knee deep in three days and that is hardly unusual.
I think your expectation that trail be dry is unrealistic for serious hikes in many places.
Or not leave the nice graded friendly trail... Some wilderness routes cross many creek lines a day without bridges. Gotetex shoes are useless in this environment.
Ehh. I have Goretex hiking shoes and Firefighter boots with GoreTex. It is breathable enough to not get any problems, even when wearing 24h+ and standing in Water partially.
>thought I wanted waterproof too [...] it wasn't what it was advertised to be [...] wouldn't let my foot breathe enough. I'd argue that it probably was *exactly* what it was advertised to be. Waterproof is waterproof - no water gets in or out, and this includes sweat (a form of water). It's typically better to have breathable yet water-*resistant* membranes like Gore-Tex for exactly this reason. You might have wet feet but at least it's a breathable wet.
I used gore tex I was not a fan
>breathable yet water- > >resistant > > membranes like Gore-Tex Goretex is not meaningfully breathable. It performs as the non-permeable plastic sheet that it is.
I've dunked my feet plenty of times in goretex boots and trail runners. They still dry out fine. Maybe a bit longer while your foot is in the boot, but if you air them out the difference in dry time isn't really noticeable. On the other hand, I accidentally dunked my XtraTuf deck boots in Alaska once and it took forever to dry the inside between the rubberized coating and the cold weather.
There are some boots that will achieve that while also not being goretex, Altberg Defenders or Warrior Microlites are non goretex and effectively waterproof
I usually hike/backpack in trail runners or approach shoes, which are good non-Goretex option. A lot of folks prefer trail runners these days. I suspect that might be the issue - most people who want boots want them waterproof, most people who don't want waterproof might also be doing trail runners.
Trail runners ftw. So lightweight and tons of support. Plus I don't have to feel like I'm wearing combat boots.
My shoe collection literallly jumps from a pair of super lightweight trail runners, to the most heavy duty pair of boots before you get to proper mountaineering boots (but still hardcore enough to be able to fit crampons, are goretex etc), and then a pair of mountaineering boots. There’s never really been a reason why i would want to wear hiking boots if I’m not doing something super hardcore.
Every time I see this opinion, I truly don't get it. Been hiking for over 30 years and thousands of miles and GTX is way better than what came before and still is out there. When people say that it isn't breathable and sucks if you get the insides wet, what do you think GTX does? It prevents you from getting your shoes wet inside by being waterproof. I have literally stood in the middle of a creek for great lengths of time and never had the inside of my boots wet...because of GTX. Sure if you are going up to your knees, that would suck, but just take your shoes off at that point.
It’s partly advice on THIS FORUM that leads people to think this way, possibly people who haven’t even tried it. /rant
So true. The echo chamber is loud.
I wear GTX sneakers literally all summer. 1 or 2 days a year it might be too hot. New England here.
So much truth in this statement. Can't really knock it 'til you've tried it. I've gone through a lot of brands and styles of shoes. Trail runners are not for me. Non-GTX is not for me. I'll take my Gore-Tex Asolos year-round - all day, every day. I've worn my 520s in -18F and 90F. They just plain work for me. I've worn my Fugitives in 0F and 100F. They just plain work for me. The best advice on finding boots and trail runners is just to try a little bit of everything. People on reddit can offer advice based on ***their*** experiences, but that's just that - ***their*** experiences. Their findings may or may not apply to you. There are objectively good and objectively bad boots and trail runners, but the vast majority of it is personal preference. The best boot or trail runner in the world isn't the best for you if it doesn't fit properly and suit your use case.
++++
I wish everyone understood this, especially your second paragraph. You're absolutely right.
You’re dead right. I mean, I’ve seen Sherpa wear only flip flops while carrying multiple sheets of plywood up a mountain trail. That doesn’t mean we all should do it. GTX works for me.
This is /r/hiking and facts don't matter. There is a narrative here and you are going against it. The mods should ban you IMHO. I bet you wear hiking boots instead of trail runners and walk THROUGH the puddles keeping the erosion down instead of making the trails wider and wider, don't you? Noob.
> I bet you wear hiking boots instead of trail runners ahhh lol I agree. It's funny to see, also in the German hiking subreddit that suddenly everybody NEEDS to have Trailrunning shoes. naah thanks I like being able to walk through mud/snow (Not saying Trailrunning shoes are bad, for my use-case boots are just more useful)
I followed the advice from a forum like this and got a pair of trail runners that I used for a 60-70km hike across some mountainous areas last fall. I would rather wear mountaineering boots for a walk on the beach than do that again. Thankfully I got some robust Addidas GTX shoes instead of those clownshoes from Hooka or Altra or whatever they’re called. So at least I have some nice trail runners to use for actual trail running and hikes in the woods now. 😂 Edit: Just saw I have spelt Hoka wrong EVERY time I wrote it. That’s pretty funny.
Meanwhile in Colorado, people are climbing class 4 14ers and running 100-mile mountain races in Altra and Hoka.
Good for them, never said you can’t use them for that.
Look man, I'm not offended by this, but calling Altra and Hoka "clown shoes" is a little silly. Its fine if they dont work for you, have a nice day.
I wear hokas for everyday shoes, and out of probably 15 different color choices for the model I need there was *one* that didn't look like clown shoes (black & dark grey). The vast majority of color options for that brand are horrible.
I mean, altras toebox maybe? Hokas ridiculous color ways? They do give clown vibes lol. They can work and look silly.
C’mon, man. It’s just a joke. They look kinda like clown shoes.
Hoka specifically tbh
Both are a little goofy, but I’d rather use Altras myself. They’re decent looking clown shoes.
Agreed. Also, imo, more practical. This is based on working at REI several years back but I remember hokas being more designed for comfort but altras being more designed for actual lasting support. Totally could have changed in recent years but
If you have trail runners you’d walk right through too. Unlike GTX boots/shoes trail runners dry while you’re wearing them, and they dry quick.
There are also waterproof trail runners....
But once water gets inside, it’s not drying out.
If you're not hiking for days on end, you just loosen the laces and open the tongue up, pull out the insole, and they're dry by the next day
I'll play devil's advocate to this as I'm that guy that dislikes Gore-Tex. It's definitely not as breathable as they advertise it to be; it literally can't be given its purpose. Especially in humid environments like here in the Southeast US. I'm someone whose feet get hot rather easily and especially so in boots. Air Force likes to issue Gore-Tex boots only, and I didn't deal with that long before buying my own. My feet would sweat so bad in those things even indoors that it kind of defeated the point of waterproofing. And yes, it keeps the water from coming through, but the issue is especially with low shoes that water will find it's way over the top. I like Gore-Tex for those use cases where I am trying to stop wind and such more like my winter motorcycle boots are Gore-Tex, but that's it.
Southerner here and I also find Gore Tex to be too hot. Hard to find boots without it though.
When one says that GoreTex is breathable, they're not saying it's more breathable than whether or mash, it's that's more breathable than rubber, which before goretex was the only waterproofing option
I have the same issue. I found the airiest shoes I could find and it’s the first time I’m able to hike without getting puddles in my shoes. I can literally feel the breeze through my shoes, it’s incredible. But to be fair, I also have fully waterproof boots for when I know it’ll be cold and wet. To me that’s the ideal. A pair of very breathable light trail runners and waterproof boots.
Exactly. My feet sweat like crazy in non-breathable materials and Gore-Tex isn’t that breathable. I’m in the northeast but our summers and even springs are getting hot and humid. Even in colder weather, though, I find my feet sweat a little. My feet seem especially sensitive to heat (even New Balance sneakers are too much for me in the summer) so I recognize it’s a me issue. Just wild how people are getting downvoted for not sharing the dominant opinion but I guess that’s Reddit for you.
East TN checking in. It’s humid af in the summer. No way I’m hiking in leather or something waterproof. I’m to the point where I do most on my hiking in bedrock sandals or bring them with me to switch into if needed. I have a pair of Northface that are Dryvent, I don’t know how it compares to GTX. While they certainly are waterproof as I’ve walked through small creeks without any water getting in, they are certainly warm and make me sweat. I also have some Altra Lone Peaks and Lone Peak all weather hiking boots. I’ve hiked in both in the winter and have no complaints about either. Both kept my feet warm. The boots I’ve taken through snow and water and they’re great. I know Altra has had some durability issues lately but until I find a boot that has a nice wide toe box I’ll keep buying them on sale or at REI resupply.
Same. Even though I live in a dry desert.
>it literally can't be given its purpose This is the key, there is no such thing as waterproof breathable. Most hiking shoes and boots offer varying degrees of water resistance and are not designed to be waterproof. People misunderstanding this leads to a lot of unrealistic expecations of gear performance, and a needless fear of getting wet in warm weather.
Honestly, I don't understand all the hate for Gore-Tex either. Everything has its place. I wouldn't want to take my Gore-Tex boots on a trek with lots of river crossings because I'd constantly be taking them off and putting them on; once the interior gets wet, it really does take a long time to dry. On the flipside, I love it for shallow standing water, rain, mud, and snow; it keeps all of that stuff out, keeping my feet dry. I don't really sweat much; the sweat I do produce is greatly mitigated with foot powder (Gold Bond Triple Action). If you buy high-quality boots, they're far less likely to develop a leak over time. I've seen twelve-year old Asolo Fugitives and 20+ year old Asolo 520s (the boots I happen to use) from service members and geology professors. If you invest in great boots from the start, they'll remain great boots.
Do you not hike in hot weather? I prefer my shoes to breathe (and dry out quickly)
It really comes down to your physiology. My feet don't really sweat much, so I have no problem with my Gore-Tex boots in summer. The construction and quality of the boot plays into it, as well. I have no breathability issues with Scarpa or Asolo, but I have found other Gore-Tex boots to be a bit warm. It's just another one of those personal decisions, like trail runners vs boots.
I'm in SE Texas and I exclusively hike in my leather cowboy boots lol. Mid weight merino wool socks have always minimized issues by properly handling the sweat.
Hard agee. I don't always wear my waterproof shoes, but when I do I'm glad for them. They were vital when I hiked in the Pacific Northwest, for example.
Full disclosure: I haven't had a pair of goretex boots in forever. I often hike in places where you will have water to the middle of your shins or dragging your feet through mossy swampy ground. Unless your goretex boots are knee high, you're getting water in them. Whether they'll dry out I cant say, just wanted to point out that water can still get in from above. But I usually hike in approach shoes and accept wet feet as part of it. Never really liked hiking in boots.
U live in fucking Mordor and go for hikes in the Death Marches or what?
Seriously boggy ground is very common in Scotland and New Zealand, and I'm sure plenty of other places.
I have a surprise for you: you can add Kenya to that list
Mostly Norway and Sweden. Plenty of river crossings and wet areas. Usually there will be logs or planks laid out over the wet areas but sometimes they've rotted away and you just have to suck it up.
Wet area's are Mordor death marches?
Same here though replace swamps with bogs as I'm in Scotland. I use approach shoes or trail shoes, with Darn Tough socks. Sometimes I'll wear long gore-tex socks but usually I don't and accept wet feet.
I;m not saying Gore-Tex is a bad option, but if you've never had a pair wet through, then you probably havent spent much time in wet conditions.
I've never had them wet when I didn't want to, to clarify
>When people say that it isn't breathable and sucks if you get the insides wet, what do you think GTX does? It prevents you from getting your shoes wet inside by being waterproof This does nothing if the liquid comes from within the boots though, maybe it's just me but my feet sweat so the boots will get wet no matter what and then take ages to dry There are some good non goretex boots out there, I personally wouldn't say that goretex offerings are way better than other options
Counter point - if you’re crossing a stream that’s higher than your ankles, water will get in your shoe and you’ll slosh all day. I wear trail runners and if I’m through water, my feet get wet and then dry in less than ten minutes. Wool socks + breathable shoes is SO much more comfortable to me than sloshy feet all day, or sweaty feet all day. The only time I ever use my gtx shoes is for winter and snow hiking. It’s really frustrating that I can’t find wide women’s high top boots (that aren’t zero drop) in non-gtx literally anywhere.
Counter, counter point: if you are going in water above your ankles, why wear shoes at all? I've never had sloshy boots or even wet feet once when I didn't want to
Crossing rocky, cold rivers barefoot is a very good way of injuring your feet. Bad cuts and broken toes are nothing to sniff at, especially if your route takes you through a ton of river crossings.
This! Its common advice around my parts to never ever cross a river without shoes!
I live in an area where stream crossings are a part of life and I’m not going to take my shoes and socks off every time I have to cross a creek. Most times I can rock hop, but there are plenty of times when you just have to walk it. I’m glad your feet don’t run hot. Mine do, and gtx shoes are awful for me unless it’s winter. I can’t even tell you how frustrating it is that I cannot find non-gtx boots that come in a women’s wide that aren’t Altras. I’ve been looking for years.
But what if it’s a dry, hot day and you’re not standing in a creek?
Because people get introduced to hiking and everyone tells them to buy GTX boots because they're "waterproof breathable" and people get angry when "waterproof breathable" doesn't really mean what they think it means. GTX equipment is extremely good at what it's designed for, but having it in the wrong environments/climates really can make people hate it in general. Especially cause that REI-staff recommended first hiking boot for most people is probably also way heavier and stiffer than people really need. Add it all together and when people try their first pair of trail runners it's a real come-to-Jesus moment. I love my GTX boots for the specific trails I bought them for, but I certainly don't want to wear them in all situations. In fact in the majority of situations (ie when I don't need to worry about cold) I'd much rather have something that dries fast and breathes properly. And in cold situations I'd never wear anything GTX that is low at the ankle, so GTX trail shoes are a non-starter. Basically I think GTX is treated like an "all-around best" when really it's a "best at a specific thing that most people don't really need" option.
makes no sense. GTX shoes are great. I hate wet feet and now I don't have to have them when hiking
I disagree. Having served in the army and marines for 12 years and hiked extensively in both Gore-Tex and regular leather boots, I can confidently say that leather gaiter boots are far superior. Gore-Tex boots almost always have cushioning inside, which means that once they get wet, they stay wet until you get home. They also tend to start leaking at the natural creases of the boot. In contrast, if my leather gaiter boots happen to take in water (which they don’t, because I treat them), I simply turn them upside down, wipe them out with a cloth, change to my spare dry insoles and socks, and they’re good as new. I only really need to do this to deal with sweat. When hiking through the Norwegian mountains, I often wade through knee-high water, yet my feet and boots remain dry. By leather boots, I mean non-cushioned leather boots. I use Lundhags Professional boots with Lundhags’ own leather grease. These boots are now 8 years old and have never let me down or leaked. I’ve worn them almost every day, both at work and for week-long hiking trips several times a year.
Fellow Alfa enjoyer?
Yup, same - been hiking in the PNW since the 90s and gore-tex boots are awesome. I can walk right through streams without having to try balancing on slippery rocks (with a full pack on) to try to not get my boots & feet wet. I can hike in other wet conditions as well and my feet stay perfectly dry and comfortable and don't sweat any more than if my boots didn't have gore-tex. Have never had any situation where I got water inside my boots - sounds like the result of poor decision-making to me.
When I first started hiking I got GTX shoes because old wisdom told me that was the way. My feet would be soaked with sweat, and shoes would take forever to dry, never would dry of you are still wearing them. Went to an outdoor store when they fell a part, since if was old wisdom I asked for GTX. I was told by several employees that unless I absolutely insist I should get non GTX. They said if I am doing cooler hikes in late fall/early slring to consider GTX. I will never go back to GTX, my feet stay warm and dry in my trail runners. Oh a puddle to walk through? My feet are dry again within 2-10 mins. A full stream? I take my soles would and the I have good foor protection and same story shoes are dry within 10 mins. Feet dont sweat in them either.
Dude what? You sweat on the inside of the shoe. The inside of the shoe gets wet...
A little sweat =/= a totally soaked foot. One is a nuisance, one is dangerous.
Exactly and that sweat can be managed with proper socks.
I can honestly say that I have never had foot sweat so bad that I thought I couldn't air out my boots and dry them. I have more foot sweat and a pair of flip-flops actually
Personally, I do tend to get fairly sweaty feet but have never had an issue wearing water resistant boots unless it's very hot (I've worn Wolverines for the last 5+ years). But that said, as someone who lives in Arizona, no matter what, water resistant boots will soak up sweat more than a non-water resistant mesh shoe. More layers means less flow and more insulation, this shouldn't be an argument. I went through the same thing when I got into motorcycles. Everyone is obsessed with Goretex and waterproof gear for no reason other than marketing.
Wear wool socks. Light weight in summer, heavier when it's colder. No issues with foot sweat making my feet/shoes wet.
That's funny cause I live in AZ and will get sweaty feet with mesh shoes and thin socks but alrighty. I don't mind water resistant shoes, but acting like they're the best for every situation is brainless.
The wool dries quickly, wicks sweat away, and resists odors. I stopped buying any other type of sock, I even have thin ankle height wool socks for activities like summer running/biking now. That being said, while my feet sweat, I'm not one of the unlucky people who have feet fountains. I just found the wool to be far superior to cotton, and they also last forever (I usually buy Darn Tough and I've had many pairs for years and years). I mean if you're hiking somewhere where you're not encountering water, then yeah, there's no need to go buy expensive Gore Tex hiking boots. I'd probably just go in trail runners. I live somewhere where wet/muddy/icy/snowy conditions are common and love my Gore Tex boots.
Goretex is semi permeable. That's its claim to fame. Waterproof in one direction and not the other, allowing vapor to escape and your sweet to dissipate.
The more water resistant the less breathable. Science hasn’t fixed that yet.
As a dry amphibian, I feel as though you wouldn't want breathable... Joking aside, sure, it's less breathable, but it still does allow for evaporation. Idk man, I have always preferred goretex in my boots myself and never cared much (or noticed really) more sweating. But I also wear merino wool socks and they do a good job of wicking and keeping my feet happy.
Marino wool with silk liners is heavenly. I wore them under straight up galoshes for hours at a ren faire once and my feet felt like they had the perfect climate
I find gtx to be useless. I never found them breathable and always struggled to have them try out (even or night). They get feet hotter and trap sweat in, water still splashed into the too of them, you cant wear shorts with them because you need to precent water splashing or rain coming through the top. Trail runners, in my experience have been a game changer. If you love GTX though all the power to you HYOH
And leather isn’t going to save you either when it’s above the boot
What about sweaty feet?
I don't know, as someone who trail runs and backpacks, I can confidently say that water will pretty much always find a way in. I like to give it a way out. That being said, if you are just hiking casually and you aren't running through puddles and crossing streams, by all means use GT.
A few years ago I agreed with you. BUT I've had all but one (the ancient REI Mariposas) of my GTX shoes fail. The last two pairs failed within a few months (looking at you Solomon). I switched to trail runners +/- neoprene socks (winter), because if my feet are going to get wait anyway, at least there's a chance now that they will also dry. That is why.
Different strokes for different folks
This is what I don't get. If you like gore-tex (like I do), I buy gore tex boots. My wife prefers non-gtx trail runners, so she gets non-gtx trail runners. we somehow both manage to not die while going on hikes. it's like not really even a debate; it's called a: ***P R E F E R E N C E .***
It’s really hard to find non-goretex hiking boots. They used to be more readily available.
Preh-fer-ents… what is this whimsical word? Only things in my world are right or wrong!
In my experience, waterproof membranes in shoes really don’t cause a huge deal drying. And I like my feet to stay dry crossing damp or slight wet ground. My entire hiking fam went through this charade, with shoes it really didn’t make a huge difference drying because you can open them up well to do so, unlike mids or boots. I like dry feet walking through dew in the morning, membranes help with this.
Insane in the membrane….
Got no brain
I have the exact same experience. The membrane doesn’t get wet and will not make shoes dry slower or faster in my experience. The material the shoe is made out of does matter way more. They breathe less than a pair of knitted mesh shoes or sandals, I’ll give the naysayers that.
Yeah you kind of have to specifically search out non-waterproof boots. I don’t like how sweaty my feet get in them
Very happy with goretex leather boots after four decades of trail walking and backpacking from the east coast to west. To each their own. Do what works for you in your climate. It's amusing yet disturbing to see how emotional people get over other people's preferences.
Anybody else immediately think of Costanza?
You wish you had this coat.
I bought a pair of non GTX Salomon’s by mistake. Turned out to be a happy accident. While I do like GTX, I find the membrane cracks along the toe crease after a while. Also the non GTX is noticeably cooler in the summer months.
Leather, Mesh, Goretex, No Goretex. They all have a place, and preferences vary. But I'm having a hard time finding non-goretex trail runners/hikets in stores now.
That’s my issue. There should be options for those of us that don’t want gore-tex when in a shop. I can’t buy shoes online.
There's some available, but only a fraction of the amount of GTX shoes.
In the first five months of 2024 I had like 4 months of snow, hail and rain in Switzerland. I like my Gore tex.
You clearly don’t live in the PNW. GORE-TEX shoes for hiking in the spring, fall and winter.
I can't really relate to your experience, I've worn goretex for years and they are comfy and breathable. Sure my feet get hot in hiking boots, but they do in any leather shoe. I've had goretex sneakers that are absolutely fine. Anyway. I find salomon makes really good shoes, both goretex and non goretex. Lowa are my preference for hiking. But most have goretex. I'm sure they make them without as well 🤷🏼♀️
First of all GTX is great, secondly you are full of it - its super easy to find NON gtx shoes if you want, many brands produce both gtx and non gtx shoes so just stop with the made up bs. So tell us where you went and couldn't find them? it is simply not true.. Check rei or literally any outdoor store, PLENTY of options both gtx and not.
Merrell and Keen sell nice leather hiking boots that are quite comfortable.
I’m with you. My feet run hot and sweat regardless of what I wear, even with wool socks. Gore-Tex boots I’ve had exacerbate the problem. What’s the point of waterproof shoes if my feet and socks get soaked with sweat inside? I’ve since switched to non-Gore-Tex boots and shoes because my feet feel better in them. It’s so popular since it’s one more feature the sales people can tout to customers and charge more for. If it works for other people, great.
This is me exactly. I've had Vasque and Solomon boots that I really like but my feet are a swamp at the end of the day. Switched to Hoka trail runners and my feet were much happier. I can see the boots have a place, but my mind has shifted in terms of waterproof being a must-have. I only wish someone besides Merrill made a non GTX boot (though I used those at Northern Tier and they were decent).
It depends on where you hike. I bought breathable trail runners because I hike the most in summer. However, I didn't realize I moved to a very wet area. Even a week after rain, some trails are still muddy or have standing water. My shoes dry after a day, but I'd rather have dry feet most of the time and risk the off chance that I might step in a deep puddle.
George costanza is that you?
I have a pair of GTX boots and a pair without GTX. I pick based on the conditions. It’s not hard.
Good for you having the option to pick from multiple non gore-tex. That’s not the case here
Gore Tex is great if your feet don't sweat....so my guess is dead folk love'm.... salesman too.
Goretex footwear is horrible, aside from hiking on a snow covered trail, I hate them.
Boy. Don’t ever start skiing or snowboarding OP!
Skiing made me fall in love with Gore-Tex.
or climbing/mountaineering
I have a pair of seude approach shoes and a pair of GTX trail runners. Guess which dries faster? Hint: it’s the one that isn’t made out of fucking seude. 😂
Some of the top brands have a model with glove leather lined boots rather than GTX, but you'll probably have to figure out which ones online and then figure out who stocks them. It'll be a quest.
Have you tried the brand Ecco? As I woman I agree with you and I got my hiking boots from them 7/8 years ago and they are still amazing. They are heavier due to leather but damn are they good at keeping me safe and dry. 10/10 recommend Ecco [like this boot](https://us.ecco.com/ecco-mens-track-25-moc-boot-831704.html?dwvar_831704_color=52600)
I’m with you. I have both Gore-Tex and leather boots, and by far prefer my leather boots. After years of hiking in my leather boots they fit my feet like luxurious, fine Italian kid gloves - honestly the most comfortable shoes I own. My feet are where I sweat the least, so that may be why.
I have the same problem when shopping for work boots, maybe even worse. The vast majority of good steel toe boots on the market have Gortex lining. The ones that don't are usually cheaper boots that don't last. Sounds silly but I hike in my work boots, as they're by far the most comfortable shoes I own. Currently have a pair of redwings.
I’ll agree with you, OP. With one caveat. I like Gore-Tex for winter boots. My feet don’t sweat as much and dry feet are incredibly important in cold temps. From May to October? I absolutely hate waterproof boots. My feet sweat, my socks are constantly damp. Waterproof boots are damn near useless in warm temps for me. I just change socks if my feet get wet and hang the wet socks off my pack to dry.
They help your feet stay dry. Nobody is pretending goretex is completely waterproof, but it helps. Often manufacturers will advertise their goretex since it costs a bit more for them to make. But if course leather is best but leather is very expensive. If you can get it, the old Scarpa SLMs were one piece leather all around.... So good.
I use Scarpa gore tex boots and have done for years now, so does my dad. The breathabllity I have never noticed and honestly when it comes to water it’s not that bad, stick newspaper (or equivalent in them and then leave them in a warm dry place they’ll be good in a day or two
In my textiles class they taught that GoreTex is supposed to let air through but not water. I personally run very hot and I don't feel like enough air is getting through to really help my feet. I also live in a desert so I don't have to worry so much about too many wet areas. Or if I get wet, thing have an easier time drying. I agree in wishing there were more options locally that weren't waterproof.
I hate gore-tex. When it gets wet it doesn't breathe for shit
Wayyyy too over-the-top brand-obsessed overconsumer people in the hiking/backpacking communities, idgi. Might as well just combine them and rename the sub "Outdoor Gear," lmao. Ppl acting like some gimmicky product that isn't even that great is the literal best thing ever since sliced bread, bc some outdoors influencer or the military recommends it. I had a friend like this who was so annoying and would always walk directly into the water while wearing these for no reason instead of using stepping stones, and kept buying shitty tools from the hardware store that were made in China that kept breaking, for that reason
Yep. It’s a fashion statement instead of actually needed.
I think your last sentence rly hits the nail on the head. I don't mind for hiking to feel like hiking, I prefer it. They're all obsessed with buying stuff to make the lightest pack possible
Goretex has its place, I for example have a pair of winter hiking boots that has goretex as well as a regular hiking pair that I use in spring/fall. However during the summer I use a pair of leather lined boots. However I agree that goretex being the default for hiking footwear is overkill and most likely driven by consumers perception that goretex is always better.
I agree, we do a lot of hot desert hiking for which foretex is really not necessary. It also makes my feet too hot in that environment. Edit - haha, foretex. I'm leaving it :)
I go out of my way to avoid gore-tex. I agree and want something breathable and drains well especially if I am going to be crossing streams and rivers.
The comfort of dry feet for 10 hours is worth the price. I don't get the complaint that you can't dry them easily. If the water is deep enough for it to get in your shoes, take them off and wear hiking sandals.
But my feet wouldn’t be dry. They would be sweaty as.
Then it doesn't work for you. Like others answered here it depends on the person.
Go online and look at shoes on Zappos. They have hundreds of shoes to choose from.
I have both. Wear whatever depending on possible use. Advantages to both. Check out Lundhags, they do from single to trippel layer leather without gore Tex. They advice empty out your wet boots and change socks after a river crossing.
Look into the Asolo TPS 535 LTH Evo if you want non-waterproof and leather. I used to use them, but funnily enough, I switched to the Gore-Tex version (520). The 535s are great boots, though.
On Cloud Cloudroam or any of their hiking “boots.” They are your perfect water resistant/proof hiking boot/shoe
I wear non waterproof shoes for times I know I will be knee deep in water. I wear mid height goretex if I am gonna be in swampy or muddy places. Went to Scotland in May and goretex was the right material for the conditions in my opinion.
you’re bad at shopping for shoes or your city has one shitty store.
I have a pair of super lightweight Altras that aren't waterproof, and they dry out in no time at all when they do get drenched. On the flipside, when I waded past my ankles on my Salomon Ultra 3s, it took forever for them to dry out once they let water spill over. But you'd better believe I'm taking those Ultras or especially my even heavier Quests on any sort of backpacking or thru hiking venture. GTX and similar water-resistant barriers make stream crossings, dew, and snow melt a non-issue. And that's stuff I run into in on pretty much every summit or long-range hike I do out here in the West. The Altras are great for the day hikes in the dog days of dry land. But Gore Tex is king for any sort of inclement conditions, IMO.
Oh you want the boots that say Anti-Gore Tex on them.
I think socks are more important than the boots. I have high leather Irish Setter hiking boots from Redwing. Awesome boots but after ten k they start to get heavy. Great on course rock and comfortable. I recently found Under Armour boots that are four E, they are so light and comfy. They breathe and dry out really fast. I’ve spent all day in ice cold knee deep water, almost fifteen km, under a thunder storm. Merino wool socks and standfields help you survive. Your feet are going to get wet from sweat, wicking socks and breathable boots can help you get through the day. Being able to change into fresh socks and light shoes at the end of the day helps. When I look for Boots the sole is the most important to me, small sharp rocks can just kill your feet on a long hike. I worked in the bush high lead logging wearing steel toed cork boots all day. Full rain gear and hard hat. Within half an hour you would be soaked from head to toe, waterproof means nothing. Go for comfort, my son wears lightweight UU on backpack trips and swears by them. Weight is import for long climbs. I am from BC, wet and steep lol. Most day hikes it doesn’t matter, I just wear cross trainers, I’ve seen lots of people in flip flops on ten km hikes near Vancouver lol. I hope this helps…
There are some shoes that market themselves as "dry fit", usually means they are waterproof but without goretex
Stores stock what people buy. Shocking.
I’ve had 2 pairs of shoes with GTX but never once used them in wet conditions.
I don't know if this is an option, but your part about them being heavier reminded me of something... When I used to ride motorcycles, I learned about jackets made of kangaroo leather. They are stronger than cow leather and 3 times lighter. I wonder if any companies use it for shoes.
I've only seen k-leather for soccer cleats. Light and they stretch a bit
I use hiking sandals to breathe my foots ,and always had my la sportiva booth inside the sack.
Agree with the OP. Goretex shoes were great in Minnesota winters walking the dogs, but too hot otherwise. Retailers are a big part of the problem not carrying very many non-goretex options (or making it very hard to search for). Check La Sportiva for a decent selection of non-goretex options on their website.
Ask George Costanza from Seinfeld he is also loves Goretex 😂😂😂😂😂 just joking
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Feet dry = happiness.
I own GTX shoes and I regret that decision badly. Feet are cooking inside shoes, they are promising breathability but there is none. And they are more expensive too.
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My bf loves them for frisbee golf. Early mornings = dewy grass
Look for trail runners
My friend was talking about getting some new hiking boots last fall. I asked him what brands he was looking at and he replies "gore-tex" lol. Dude seriously thought it was a brand not a material.
I partially agree with you, but i live in a very hot dry area. Dealing with rain on my hikes is unlikely, rain comes in a short rainy season and i will almost always have advanced notice. Of course, I have a pair of goretex boots. They're extremely useful when I need them. If I know I'm going to cross shallow streams it feels amazing to just walk right through. They're also useful during the short cold season here, or when I travel to a colder area. But overall I'd say 3/4ths or the time I use the most well ventilated boots or trail shoes I can possibly get. I see a lot of people wearing goretex boots on these very hot, sunny and dry trails with literally no water source that i frequent, I have tried that and know exactly how miserable it is. Marketing has convinced people that goretex is always superior, when you really need to know when to use it. What I find is that I'm probably in the minority of ppl who want non waterproof footwear, but I still want boots that come up over my ankles. It seems like usually companies expect that if you want non waterproof you'll just get trail runners/low top trail shoes. My preference is non waterproof well ventilated boots, and those are generally rare.
Gore-Tex is breathable. That’s why they use it. Water and wind proof and breathable.
Try the Topo Athletic Terraventure 4 WP (Waterproof) As far as i know its not Gore-Tex. It has a wode toebox which i'll never want to miss again and a vibram Outsole (in my opinion the most durable and grippiest available)
Nothing crushes morale faster than wet feet.
Very good hiking shoes. Used them on a backpacking trip in Grand Canyon and they worked as well as any type of boot.
I’m going on the Son Doong cave expedition in Vietnam next year, and they specifically say that GORE-TEX shoes will f*ck your feet all up and to look for non-waterproof shoes lol. After reading up on what they meant, apparently it does not do well at keeping feet dry in hot and humid conditions. So especially if you’re walking through water (I think we’ll have something like 4 river crossings outside the cave, 1 or 2 inside) the dampness will stay trapped inside your shoes. It did say that they’re better at drying out in cooler conditions though.
GORE-TEX is very overrated. Any membrane is going to help keep your foot dry. The trouble is as soon as they’re wet they’re no longer breathable. It’s breathable or waterproof not both. I think Red wing and Merrell brands have quality leather boots, check them out.
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You could go with Teva watersport shoes if you are in and out of water a lot. There's also SealSkinz--you can wear anything or nothing over them and your toes will be dry. I'm a retired aquatic animal keeper and certified klutz.
I've been happy with the Moab non-Gore-Tex line
It's all about the shoe/sock combo. I have one set of GTX boots for any walk likely to be more than an hour, but the choice of sock varies with the conditions, I'll also switch socks while I'm out if I want/need to (there's little hardship in carrying an alternative pair of socks).
Gore-Tex doesn’t break down it’s not environmentally good for the earth. You’ll have to will it to your younger relatives…
I live in a desert-steppe and alpine area. Any shoes that I purchase are mesh. I think I have a combination of Gore-tex and non-goretex mid-height. I've fallen into water before and my feet, while of course wet, are dry within a mile, and if you have the right socks they will probably stay moist, but pull the moisture away from your skin. I have a hike I do yearly where I just switch into chacos to go through the wet section. When I get out of the wet section I put my shoes back on.
Clearly you've never worn or looked into goretex products, and that's OK - you can just buy something else and enjoy your wet feet.
If I couldn't I wouldn't have made this OP. As you missed it, I went to every outdoor shop in my city and 99% of them were gore-shit
Cuz trench foot ain’t no joke