Waterproofing. It’s so widely touted as one of the most desirable features in hiking boots that it’s almost hard to imagine there is any merit to non-waterproof boots at all barring their lower cost.
As most of us know, however, the marketing peeps at the big brands are no strangers to exaggeration. Or, more importantly, trying to convince us to part with our hard-earned cash for something we might not really need.
Waterproof shoes are more expensive and can be heavier and less breathable than waterproof. The conditions and duration of your outing are factors in your decision to hike with waterproof or non-waterproof shoes.
In this article, we aim to help you decide whether you need waterproof boots for your time on the trails with an in-depth but straight-talking analysis of why this attribute might be desirable and why, for some users, it might not be all that it’s cracked up to be…
An Overview of Advantages and Disadvantages
Pros
- Protect your feet from external moisture (rain, groundwater, dew, snow)
- The most effective models eliminate the need to carry spare socks
- No need to avoid puddles, wet grass, or snow while hiking
- More flexibility in trail choice and weather conditions in which you do your hiking
Cons
- Can cost twice as much as comparable non-waterproof shoes or boots
- Waterproof membranes can restrict breathability and leave feet sweaty
- Weigh more than non-waterproof boots
Waterproofing 101: How do Hiking Boots Keep Out the Wet Stuff?
Hiking boots billed as “waterproof” or “water-resistant” by their manufacturers use two methods or design features: waterproof membranes and/or DWR (durable water-repellent) coatings.
Below, we explain the differences between the two.
Waterproof Membranes
Waterproof membranes are ultra-thin, film-like linings placed under a boot’s outer shell. Typically, these membranes are made with expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). ePTFE works by using microscopic pores that are large enough to allow sweat to escape as a vapor but too small for external moisture to enter as a liquid.
While commonly labeled “waterproof-breathable,” the term is a bit of a misnomer. In practice, these membranes are great at keeping out ambient H20 (rainwater, dew, streams, rivers, and puddles) but can cause things to get a bit sweaty inside the boot when hiking in higher temps.
While Gore-Tex has had a monopoly over the membrane market for the best part of five decades, alternatives exist in the form of eVent (which many users claim to boast superior breathability to Gore-Tex) and a handful of other proprietary membranes.
DWR Coatings
DWR coatings are chemical treatments applied to the outer surface of hiking boots’ uppers during the manufacturing process. A little unpacking of the name can go a long way to explaining their worth and effectiveness…
First up, the term “durable” clues us in on one of DWR’s biggest drawbacks—namely, that it’s not permanent. Unlike fixed membranes, DWR coatings need to be reapplied every so often as they gradually wear off and lose effectiveness over time.
Secondly, the term “repellent” is a giveaway to DWR’s degree of efficacy.
DWR coatings repel water by causing it to bead up on the fabric surface and roll off instead of saturating the fabric. They by no means, however, provide the same barrier as a membrane. This being so, when used in isolation, DWR coatings are considered to make boots water-resistant as opposed to waterproof. What this means for the hiker is that a DWR coating will fend off light, short-lived showers or splashes from groundwater, but won’t be of much use in a downpour.
The most significant advantage of DWR coatings over membranes is that DWR coatings do not impact breathability. DWR coatings are often used in combination with waterproof membranes, but when used in isolation (on membrane-free boots), they pose no barrier to airflow and, as such, are a much better option for hiking in warm, dry conditions.
Is Waterproofing All It’s Cracked Up To Be?
Before the folks at Gore-Tex and their subsequent competitors blessed us with the introduction of waterproof-breathable fabrics, outdoors-goers had a fairly uncomfortable time of things, with mountain-goers, explorers, and adventurers of yore typically wearing PVC or canvas materials coated in heavy wax to keep them dry.
While perfectly effective at blocking out airborne liquids, these materials were very shoddy performers in that other gold standard by which most hiking attire is judged: breathability.
Breathability refers to a material’s ability to let water vapor from your sweat escape from the interior while preventing external water from entering.
As a general rule, sadly, the more waterproof the fabric, the less breathable it will be. And, with regard to boots, the less breathable the boot, the more likely your feet are to end up soaked in sweat.
In recent years, advances in waterproof-breathable technologies have seen brands like Gore-Tex and eVent churn out several products that have taken a step closer to offering the perfect balance between breathability and waterproofing. For the time being, however, the Holy Grail of a membrane that offers solid waterproofing in combination with sweat-free breathability remains elusive.
Is Getting Your Feet Wet Such a Bad Thing?
Given that the purpose of waterproofing hiking boots is to avoid the inconvenience of having wet feet, it’s well worth spending a little time looking at just how much of an inconvenience a wet pair of walkers really is.
Some of the ailments that might result from a pair of wet feet include:
- Blisters
- Trench foot
- Fungal infection (like athlete’s foot)
- Cold feet
- Mild discomfort
All of the above are, of course, perfectly non-fatal and remediable with a little bit of care and attention during or at the end of your day on the trails. It’s also well worth noting that, with the exception of cold feet, the other ailments mentioned are just as likely to be caused by sweaty feet as feet soaked by intruding environmental moisture.
What Materials Are Most Water Resistant?
Hiking boots are typically made with one or two of the following materials:
- Full-grain leather, like the Scarpa SL Active
- Split-grain leather, like the Scarpa Zodiac GTX or La Sportiva Nepal (which are silicone impregnated)
- Nubuck, like the Keen Targhee II
- Synthetics (nylon, polyester, poly-nylon blends), like the hugely popular Salomon Quest 4d 3 GTX
While no material is totally waterproof, boots that use full-grain leathers are usually the most waterproof. Conversely, synthetic materials typically offer the least waterproofing, though this will depend on the use or lack of a waterproof membrane.
So, you might ask, why aren’t we all wearing full-grain leather boots? Well, in most cases, the solid waterproofing boasted by full-grain leather boots usually comes at a cost to weight, breathability, and drying time.
Water Resistance vs. Weight, Breathability, and Drying Time
Weight
While all varieties of leather (full-grain, split-grain, and nubuck) are inherently more hydrophobic—that is, water-resistant—than synthetics, they also usually weigh considerably more.
Given that research has shown that one pound of added weight on your feet is comparable to having about five pounds in your backpack, the weight of your boots is hugely consequential. This is particularly true if you happen to already plan on carrying a heavy pack and/or putting in some serious mileage on the trails, in which case the muscle fatigue caused by heavier boots could turn your trip into more of a slog and sufferfest than the pleasurable stroll it should be.
To give you an idea of how material type can impact weight and waterproofing, the following table lists the specs of three popular hiking boots made with the three main material types.
| Model | Material | Waterproofing | Weight (pair, men’s size 10) | Best Use |
| Merrel Moab Ventilator 2(Mid-height) | Split-grain leather and mesh | DWR coating | 2 lbs 6 oz | Day-hiking |
| Scarpa R-Evolution GTX | Split-grain leather | Gore-Tex Membrane | 2 lbs 14 oz | Three-season hiking/backpacking/day-hiking |
| Zamberlan Vioz | Full-grain leather | Gore-Tex Membrane | 3 lbs 3 oz | Backpacking |
Breathability
Boots with uppers composed of only full- or split-grain leather are also poor performers in terms of breathability. This is because leather lacks the porous construction of synthetic materials that permits airflow. The take-home? If hiking warmer, drier climates, synthetic or synthetic-leather hybrid uppers are the way to go.
Drying Time
Finally, leather boots take much longer to dry out than synthetic competitors. While not a big issue for day hikers, this means that if you happen to soak the upper while on a multi-day hike, the chances are you’ll be walking in wet, heavy boots on subsequent days, too.
Do Waterproof Hiking Boots Require a Lot of Maintenance?
Both boots with waterproof membranes and non-membrane models with DWR coatings require maintenance. The difference is one of degree…
Barring any serious mishaps, waterproof membranes will continue to perform for as long as your boots remain usable—usually 4 or 5 years, depending on how much use and abuse you subject them to. There’s very little you can do to extend their longevity beyond ensuring any damaging corrosives (animal scat, sand, dirt, and grease are the most common culprits) are cleaned off post-hike.
DWR finishes, on the other hand, tend to wear off every ten to fifteen hikes and, as such, take a little more TLC to maintain. This entails frequent reapplication of the DWR coating with a treatment like Nikwax TX Direct.
If I Choose Non-Waterproof Hiking Boots, What Can I Do to Keep My Feet Dry?
As mentioned above, DWR treatments are the best way to provide non-membrane hiking boots with some degree of water resistance.
Other measures you can take to keep your feet dry in non-waterproof boots include the following:
- Carry an extra pair of socks if on extended hikes or backpacking trips
- Stick to established trails to avoid soaking your boots in dewy grass or undergrowth
- Take extra care to avoid boggy sections of trail and puddles
- Carry a pair of gaiters to keep off the worst of rainfall and groundwater
Post-Hike Boot Care: Tips to Keep Your Boots in Good Condition
How you care for your boots after a soaking out on the trails can have a big impact on their performance in the long-term.
Poor post-soak practice can lead to several issues, including a deterioration of the fabric, shrinkage, mold, and that exquisitely foul stench that only damp hiking boots, roadkill, and vintage European cheeses are capable of producing.
To avoid the above, after every hike you should take the time to do the following:
- Wipe the boots down with a wet cloth to remove debris and contaminants that might damage the fabric, DWR coating, waterproof membrane, and impair breathability. Some of the most common offenders are regular mud, animal scat (which contains highly corrosive hydrogen sulfide), sand, and oil.
- Leave the boots to dry at room temperature—never be tempted to dry the boots out on a radiator as this can seriously compromise the fabric’s suppleness, damage the waterproof membrane, and weaken the adhesive bond between the outsole and the upper.
- Store the boots in a dry, well-ventilated room to avoid exposure to the humidity that can result in mold.
The Main Arguments For and Against Waterproof Hiking Boots
For
Perhaps the main argument in favor of waterproof boots is that they allow us to get our wander on no matter what the weather, thereby ensuring we’re less likely to take a rain check or start making excuses should weather conditions not be entirely favorable.
As we all know, moreover, weather forecasting is far from an exact science and the weather gods delight in surprising us with unforecasted hostilities (showers, downpours, deluges, etc.).
Given the elements’ penchant for mischief, having a pair of boots that are capable of dealing with whatever they throw at us seems only a prudent choice and will give us more freedom over trail selection and where and when we choose to do our hiking.
Against
For many of us, the main benefit of waterproof boots is also the source of their main drawback.
Waterproof membranes help to keep our feet dry by fending off external moisture. However, waterproofing almost always comes directly at the expense of breathability, with the most waterproof boots out there capable of leaving our feet just as sodden with sweat as they might have become with rainwater in non-waterproof boots.
Given that waterproof hiking boots are also likely to cost a lot more and weigh more than non-waterproof varieties, therefore, the only reason to opt for a waterproof boot is if you plan on hiking in cooler conditions when suffering a dose of frozen feet is more likely than working up a sock-soaking sweat.
The Verdict: Do I Need Waterproof Hiking Boots?
Let’s get straight to the bottom line:
No matter your objectives and habits as a hiker or backpacker, when buying your hiking boots your aim should be to find a pair that are comfortable, well-fitting, and suitable for the conditions in which you will be doing your hiking.
Of this trio of must-have attributes, the one impacted most by your boots’ waterproofing or lack of waterproofing is their suitability for different conditions.
If you’re an all-weather warrior, then a full-grain leather boot or leather-synthetic hybrid with a waterproof membrane is probably the way to go. If, however, you are a fair-weather hiker, live in a warmer climate, and are happy to accept the odd soaking from unexpected showers, then a lighter pair of synthetic, non-waterproof boots will offer greater comfort, breathability, and save you some money to boot.