Contrary to what the name suggests gore tex hiking boots are not made entirely of goretex. In fact, only one main component of the boots materials of construction will actually be goretex – the liner.

Goretex hiking boot liners are the key element in the evolution of lightweight, waterproof hiking boots. Before gore-tex liners, in order for a hiking boot to be waterproof, it needed to be constructed from full grain leather uppers. These heavy uppers then needed to be treated (with beeswax) to enhance and insure their being waterproof. Additionally, all of the sewn seams also needed to be treated in order to maintain the waterproof  integrity of the boot. Another drawback to the classic full grain leather hiking boot is that they tend to be stiff and require a substantial break-in period. Add in the fact that traditional, all leather hiking boots can be quite heavy (relatively speaking) and it is no wonder that hiking did not experience a significant growth in popularity until the introduction of goretex liners.

So what exactly is gore-tex, and what makes it waterproof?

Goretex is a fabric (technically it is expanded PTFE) which, due to the nature of its pore structure, is naturally waterproof. The pores are small enough to prevent the liquid water from penetrating in, but large enough to allow water vapor (such as perspiration) to pass through. Taking advantage of this unique physical characteristic, boot liners keep your feet dry by preventing liquid water (such as rain, snow, river water, etc) from getting in, and allowing perspiration to wick out (the wicking effect also keeps your feet cool).

Once hiking boot manufacturers (such as Danner, Asolo, Keen, Scarpa, Vasque) realized their boots could be made waterproof with just an internal liner,  they also realized that the weight of the uppers could be greatly reduced by incorporating split leather and nylon mesh. The introduction of the waterproof liner permitted the use of lighter materials for the external construction of the boot, generating not only a new class of waterproof boots, but also lightweight hiking boots. Lighter boots meant that less effort was needed for each stride, generating less foot fatigue. This in turn allowed younger children, and more women, to enjoy the benefits of a day on the trail.

In addition to lighter boots, manufacturers were also able to redistribute heavier/stiffer materials throughout their boots. This led to lighter boots with enhanced ankle support and sturdier – better balanced outsoles with improved traction.

The introduction of goretex waterproof hiking boot liners not only made possible the development of lightweight boots, but also increased the popularity of kids hiking boots and women’s hiking boots. So when shopping for waterproof hiking boots, if they are constructed with waterproof goretex liners, you’ll get the added benefit lthe boots being lightweitght, which will allow you to enjoy longer hikes in greater comfort than ever before.