Are boots ever totally waterproof?

Is there such a thing as water proof boots or are we all being cond into buying WP boots by the various companies. I make a special effort by wearing gaters and waterproof pants so that water does not get into the top of the boot but my Salomon Mega Trek 6 starts getting wet through the seams etc in rain and snow after about 2 hrs. I have done 400km in them. I paste nick wax onto them after evey hike. These type of boots should do better as far as I am concerned
Regards
Todd

You can... gumboots

I'll let you guys know how my Scarpa Manta's are like when I eventually get them...

As ST² said, besides a ducks bum, nothing is waterproof!

In my 19 years of hiking, I have had 3 pairs of boots:
1) Dachstein with gortex inner.
2) La Sportiva Makalu with Dry best.
3)New pair of La Sportiva Makalu with Dry best.

The principle behind gortex and other propitiatory products, is a micro-pore layer sandwiched between two fabric layers, is that the pores are 20 000x's smaller than a drop of water, thus preventing water from gaining entry, but 700x's larger than a molecule of water vapor, thus allowing it to breath.

You do need to look after your boots though, removing grit from the boots so that it does not wear through the lining and also cool air dry them once you have used them. Don't leave them in direct sun to dry, or near a fire. This won't help the inner fabrics and other layers.

However, on areas of the boot where there is flex or intense creasing, ie around ball of your foot, I would imagine that over time, the layers will break down.

I think my Dachstein's were the most waterproof, perhaps because of gortex, however they did have a shiny seal on them, whereas my Makalu's have a roughout leather, which without Nikwax, will let water in. Having said that though, if you walk a couple of km's through wet knee length berg grass, they are likely to get wet unless you are wearing knee length snow gaiters, which can get rather hot, especially in summer when everything seems to ooze water.

I can however rate the Makalu's as a good boot, but like most boots, are not 100% waterproof once they have been used a bit.

Serious Tribe
Thanks a mil for your advice - very interesting
rgds
Selous

Intrepid

Thanks a mil for your advice too. Much too think about when buying new boots in future
regards
Todd

Okay so how many of you had wet feet at some point this weekend..... Sigh!

I used PicknPay packets over my socks, which worked well until they started sweating... back to wet feet again.

I am considering finding a friend to bring soemthing back from the states as the stuff here is super expensive.

Any thoughts on these:
www.rei.com/product/782088/scarpa-barun-gtx-hiking-boots-mens
www.rei.com/product/798039/scarpa-bhutan-gtx-hiking-boots-mens

Secondly, as we all know gortex looses its waterproofing no mater how much nikiwax you put on. I have head this has to do with the fibre wearing with dirt etc. How do you normally wash your boots?

I also think boots that where ones toe bends tends to be the problem area, any neat solutions?

Yep, I was sloshing around in my Tibets all weekend - becomes quite a problem when wading through snow and your toes get cold as well... That said, I've had these boots for 5 years now and they've only recently started letting water through. That includes 2 Swiss alpine trips with weeks of snow wading and feet staying bone-dry!