Topic: Waterproofing hiking boots (Read 7899 times)

Mourneman · « **on:** November 09, 2011 »

Old scrooge myself found a you-tube video about water-proofing hiking boots using silicone and white spirits. I tryed it out and the result is pretty good,this photo was taken three days later.

DSCN8421 by surginor, on Flickr

works out about a three to one mix,three parts silicone to one part white spirit

here the you-tube video link -

ChuckMcB · « **Reply #1 on:** November 09, 2011 »

Interesting. What's their breathability like now?

Mourneman · « **Reply #2 on:** November 09, 2011 »

Basically the white spirit dissolves leaving the silicone behind,so it's just like the expensive sprays,except paying the high price.Breathability is good although I've never used it on gore-tex or canvas material foot-wear,but all my packs get a coat of this every year & they're all waterproof

RedLeader · « **Reply #3 on:** November 10, 2011 »

That's some shiny boots you've got there!

Matthew · « **Reply #4 on:** November 10, 2011 »

I get the idea of this in theory as I had looked at applying it to the base of my laser comp as it is really not that waterproof and I figured it would not add that much weight. As far as I see, it the ratio would need to be pretty specific, too thick and it will just peel off and too thin, what is the point because there is not enough silicone per unit area to properly seal.

Surely, by the very nature of the silicone polymer being hydrophobic water cannot pass through and so I would be willing to bet that breathability would be compromised.

It is interesting none the less and it's something which is crying out for a trial.

pablo · « **Reply #5 on:** November 21, 2011 »

surely there would be no reason to do this with goretex lined boots as they are water proof anyway?

interesting idea though for other applications.

Pitbull · « **Reply #6 on:** November 21, 2011 »

GT boots need proofing to work

pablo · « **Reply #7 on:** November 22, 2011 »

explain that please.

Pitbull · « **Reply #8 on:** November 22, 2011 »

Isn't Gore-Tex supposed to be inherently waterproof? Well yes. however, it requires care. The boot need to be kept clean and dry inorder for the GT to work. I mean dry by not saturating the outer membrane if it does become wet then the breathability reduces to zero.
Why would I spend the extra money on a Gore-Tex garment in the first place if I have to apply a waterproofing agent to it throughout its life-cycle?

Seriously, if you have to keep re-waterproofing it, what makes it better than say, waxed cotton? Perhaps this is the reason why almost invariably in my experience Gore-Tex lined boots cease being waterproof long before the boot itself wears out, or indeed, long before they've even seen much hard use. The waterproofing seems to break down at roughly the same time the boot gets nicely broken in as well!!

In order words its better to buy good leather boot instead of gt boots who nearly always reduce the quality of the leather because of the gt liner.

Eamonn · « **Reply #9 on:** November 22, 2011 »

The cleaning and reproofing keep the material dry because the rain beads up and rolls off, so the material doesn't become saturated, keeping its breathability.

mt goat russell · « **Reply #10 on:** November 26, 2011 »

keep them clean & wax them up every wk keeeps the leather soft + waterproof

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Author Topic: Waterproofing hiking boots (Read 7899 times)

Mourneman

Waterproofing hiking boots

ChuckMcB

Re: Waterproofing hiking boots

Mourneman

Re: Waterproofing hiking boots

RedLeader

Re: Waterproofing hiking boots

Matthew

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pablo

Re: Waterproofing hiking boots

Pitbull

Re: Waterproofing hiking boots

pablo

Re: Waterproofing hiking boots

Pitbull

Re: Waterproofing hiking boots

Eamonn

Re: Waterproofing hiking boots

mt goat russell

Re: Waterproofing hiking boots

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