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Posted by pillowthread on May 14, 2008 at 1:26:28 pm EDT
In reply to To Gore or Not to Gore posted by Keegan1696 on May 13, 2008 at 9:54:54 pm EDT

My vote goes for non-Gore. In footwear, breathability is key, because sweat=soft skin=greater chance for blisters over an extended period of time. I'm going to assume anyone can properly waterproof non-Gore boots to be as water-tight as Gore'd boots, if only because I can. I use a nikwax paste wax waterproofer that, after you put it on and work it into the cracks w/your fingers, "cures" after about 24 hours to create a durable barrier against water penetration. I've stood in 5" deep streams with my Lowa Banff's after completing this process, having no problems whatsoever with wetness. I've found that non-Gore'd boots do breathe much better than those with the membrane, and this opinion comes from experience. There's a wealth of information out there in the form of customer reviews that should be able to help sway your decision in choosing between the very excellent Asolo boots you've mentioned.

In my opinion, Gore-tex is really just an excuse for boot manufacturers to use lower-quality leather, less-skilled sewers, and skimp out on glue. They realize that the majority of those that buy Gore-tex boots will likely not use them past the point where the membrane will develop wear spots, and so, build the remainder of the Gore'd boot accordingly. A boot manufacturer using a single piece of 3mm thick nubuck for the upper will need to build the rest of the boot to match, meaning that the seams on this leather will need to be well-placed, and it will need to be bonded well to the sole, as the sole will most likely be of the replacable kind.

I do understand that many Gore'd boots come with replacable soles, and I also understande that many Gore'd boots do not fit the pattern I've described above. I do, however, see the pattern above as something to keep in the back of one's mind when comparing the features of a Gore'd vs. a non-Gore'd boot. I say stick to leather and wax for boots, and leave Gore-tex to storm shells.

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