In Vietnam we used jungle boots, leather bottoms, a thin sheet of steel in the soles, and canvass uppers. They got wet easy and drained easy. They dried out quickly. We took three light wool socks with us wherever we went and changed them when we got them wet. More modernly, I agree, mesh is probably better. I typically use leather only because you can seal them and waterproof them. I can't remember a time my jump boots ever got wet. I like Goretex, but it is not the right material in every situation. I also agree with gaiters. They didn't issue them when I was in, but many guys bought them if the commander let you wear them.
If you wear goretex, bring extra socks and bread sleeves or something like that. Wear the bread sleeves over the fresh socks. This will help a lot. But the shoes will still be squishy.. until you dry them out. Also don't put your shoes too close to a fire. It will negatively effect your shoes.
Greetings from Greece! I think the best for most conditions is a desert style boot. It doesn't have a membrane so it can dry out faster, it's made of leather and synthetic (cordura)mix so it is far more durable than a mesh boot, and it's water resistant enough (if treated with a waterproofing spray) so your feet don't get wet right away. My go to is the Salomon forces quest without the Gore tex.
Man I love all this hiking and backpacking topics that you cover on your channel. As a hiker-turned-tacticool-gun-guy (my newly coined term for myself) I have gone back and forth on different shoes so many times and I have a lot of shoes, it's very situation dependent. I even have a pare of mesh barefoot minimalist shoes, I really love these for hot summer days and dry conditions. Also, if I'm fording through a creek you're bound to get wet. A lot of the through hikers and section hikers prefer these because they are fast and light, if you KNOW you're going to be in deep water fast drying mesh shoes are absolutely the way to go. Winter time, fringe seasons, if it's like today where its just raining, cold, muddy, and I'm NOT stepping into deep water, then I'll take my goretex mid-height boots. These are sort of my go-to for everything else lately. Even in snow, they are usually pretty great. They will keep your feet dry as long as you don't go in more than a couple of inches of water! People don't realize water proof doesn't mean water proof if you're jumping into a lake lol!
Mesh, you need to be in very cold places to need gortex. Even in ohio winters I need to use shoes without gortex because my feet overheat and cause sweating making it even worse. Thats for me, some prefer it
Same with my experience. If you know for sure you will get water in your shoes then wear mesh. If you think you can avoid getting water in your shoes then wear goretex. And I need to replace my flip flops with Crocs.
I'm serving in a unit which is specialized in water environment, I usually wear Salomon speed cross when we do river crossings then when we get to the other side we usually change clothes and shoes so I run my Salomon jungle boots in mesh because working in this environment is always very tricky, you can fall in the water in every moment. It happened only once, I was wearing my LOWAs and I fell in the water, my feet were completely sooked and I took a week to get the boots dry, since then I couldn't use them anymore since they smell so bad,I think it created mold inside, I'm never using goretex anymore
A good compromise I've used throughout 4 seasons in Northern Michigan is breathable tactical boots that have leather lowers, drain vents and breathable cordura uppers. I waterproof the toe area with silicone or sno seal. I want waterproof toes but let the rest of the boot breath.
I'll preface this by saying I don't have any military experience, but I do consider myself to be a decent woodsman. Over the years I've come to the conclusion that if overnight temps are above 50F I wear mesh. If the temps will be below that I wear goretex. My goretex boots take forever to dry, but they are warm enough when on the move even if they're very damp.
I think mesh or quickly draining boots are the best answer in most climates. If you are concerned with having your foot immersed in water, consider having a pair of gortex socks/boot liners to wear over your regular socks. You get the benefits of goretex when you need it but you can remove them easily. Also, if you do end up with water over the top of you boot, it can drain out while your foot stays dry. They’re situational but a simple, lightweight piece of kit.
In the New England region in winter time we have alot of moisture still trapped on the ground in our winter times (until its steadily in the 0 or below for a few day) but i have run in with Gortex saving me about 75% of my days then im needing to change stocks. Balancing out the sweating of the feet and just getting soak from snow and puddles of water under all of it i find when out in the woods i usually always have some gaiter to help out. If im working im usually not prepared for that and have some cover from the elements via a building or truck. would love to see a winter feet video on staying dry if you have not already done one yet.
Personally, I've grown to dislike gortex in my boots immensely. I think they work, about a week, maybe 2, and then after the boot is broken in, pinholes open up in the membrane, and they stop working. I used to tuck my pants inside my boots as I learned to do as a young airman while TDY in central america. I've stopped doing that, and just wear gaitors ALL the time now for many reasons. One of which is for the simple fact that goretex in boots doesn't work. The boot lower, I just oil, and that keeps the water out for awhile. A combination of oiled leather, and gaitor.. mostly works, or at least, works better than goretex. What I wouldn't give for a purpose made hunting boot that doesn't have goretex in it.
Sealskinz socks is my next attempt to solve this dilemma. For boots and mesh. I used to be all about gortex but now I've gone back to leather. Alot better for regulating temperature.
What dries the xa forces very good is putting paper inside the shoes and change it every 30 minutes the paper will soak the water out of the shoes and dry them faster
Lalo amphibious boots are great for wet environment they have a drainage system built in Botach usually has sales where you can get these $359 boots for $40-80
Neither for me. Long ago I went full circle with boots and returned to proper, unlined full grain leather that I can grease properly and run felt insoles in. Here in North Central Alberta I haven't had a need for anything else.
I will take a quick drying shoe/boot (jungle/desert w/no isulation) over goretex in pretty much every scenario other than snow or proper cold. PS Crocs are the GOAT.
It's not so much really water or not but really is it cold. If it's hot wet like tropical rainforest then you want draining boots or mesh and maybe use waterproof socks under those, if it's cold wet like temperate rainforest then you want gortex and waterproof pretty much at all costs especially if it's real cold and sub zero with snow. If it's dry cold like I cold desert you can do either depending on the season, if it's hot and dry moreso then you can do either but really you want more venting.
In Vietnam we used jungle boots, leather bottoms, a thin sheet of steel in the soles, and canvass uppers. They got wet easy and drained easy. They dried out quickly. We took three light wool socks with us wherever we went and changed them when we got them wet. More modernly, I agree, mesh is probably better.
I typically use leather only because you can seal them and waterproof them. I can't remember a time my jump boots ever got wet.
I like Goretex, but it is not the right material in every situation.
I also agree with gaiters. They didn't issue them when I was in, but many guys bought them if the commander let you wear them.
If you wear goretex, bring extra socks and bread sleeves or something like that. Wear the bread sleeves over the fresh socks. This will help a lot. But the shoes will still be squishy.. until you dry them out. Also don't put your shoes too close to a fire. It will negatively effect your shoes.
Greetings from Greece! I think the best for most conditions is a desert style boot. It doesn't have a membrane so it can dry out faster, it's made of leather and synthetic (cordura)mix so it is far more durable than a mesh boot, and it's water resistant enough (if treated with a waterproofing spray) so your feet don't get wet right away. My go to is the Salomon forces quest without the Gore tex.
Man I love all this hiking and backpacking topics that you cover on your channel. As a hiker-turned-tacticool-gun-guy (my newly coined term for myself) I have gone back and forth on different shoes so many times and I have a lot of shoes, it's very situation dependent. I even have a pare of mesh barefoot minimalist shoes, I really love these for hot summer days and dry conditions. Also, if I'm fording through a creek you're bound to get wet. A lot of the through hikers and section hikers prefer these because they are fast and light, if you KNOW you're going to be in deep water fast drying mesh shoes are absolutely the way to go. Winter time, fringe seasons, if it's like today where its just raining, cold, muddy, and I'm NOT stepping into deep water, then I'll take my goretex mid-height boots. These are sort of my go-to for everything else lately. Even in snow, they are usually pretty great. They will keep your feet dry as long as you don't go in more than a couple of inches of water! People don't realize water proof doesn't mean water proof if you're jumping into a lake lol!
Mesh, you need to be in very cold places to need gortex. Even in ohio winters I need to use shoes without gortex because my feet overheat and cause sweating making it even worse. Thats for me, some prefer it
Same with my experience. If you know for sure you will get water in your shoes then wear mesh. If you think you can avoid getting water in your shoes then wear goretex. And I need to replace my flip flops with Crocs.
I'm serving in a unit which is specialized in water environment, I usually wear Salomon speed cross when we do river crossings then when we get to the other side we usually change clothes and shoes so I run my Salomon jungle boots in mesh because working in this environment is always very tricky, you can fall in the water in every moment. It happened only once, I was wearing my LOWAs and I fell in the water, my feet were completely sooked and I took a week to get the boots dry, since then I couldn't use them anymore since they smell so bad,I think it created mold inside, I'm never using goretex anymore
A good compromise I've used throughout 4 seasons in Northern Michigan is breathable tactical boots that have leather lowers, drain vents and breathable cordura uppers. I waterproof the toe area with silicone or sno seal. I want waterproof toes but let the rest of the boot breath.
I'll preface this by saying I don't have any military experience, but I do consider myself to be a decent woodsman. Over the years I've come to the conclusion that if overnight temps are above 50F I wear mesh. If the temps will be below that I wear goretex. My goretex boots take forever to dry, but they are warm enough when on the move even if they're very damp.
I love Lowa boots!! best pair ive ever had were British army issue desert elite boots with leather and mesh sides
In the winter gortex, summer mesh. Boots of choice Rocky's and Bates.
I think mesh or quickly draining boots are the best answer in most climates. If you are concerned with having your foot immersed in water, consider having a pair of gortex socks/boot liners to wear over your regular socks. You get the benefits of goretex when you need it but you can remove them easily. Also, if you do end up with water over the top of you boot, it can drain out while your foot stays dry. They’re situational but a simple, lightweight piece of kit.
Gortex coupled with a great pair of gaiters
In the New England region in winter time we have alot of moisture still trapped on the ground in our winter times (until its steadily in the 0 or below for a few day) but i have run in with Gortex saving me about 75% of my days then im needing to change stocks. Balancing out the sweating of the feet and just getting soak from snow and puddles of water under all of it i find when out in the woods i usually always have some gaiter to help out. If im working im usually not prepared for that and have some cover from the elements via a building or truck.
would love to see a winter feet video on staying dry if you have not already done one yet.
Keep up the great videos your a severely underrated channel I was just looking at buying new boots too great timing
Good points. I live in the PNW and have been looking for a good waterproof boot to traverse the terrain.
I’m constantly looking for the perfect boot
Personally, I've grown to dislike gortex in my boots immensely. I think they work, about a week, maybe 2, and then after the boot is broken in, pinholes open up in the membrane, and they stop working. I used to tuck my pants inside my boots as I learned to do as a young airman while TDY in central america. I've stopped doing that, and just wear gaitors ALL the time now for many reasons. One of which is for the simple fact that goretex in boots doesn't work. The boot lower, I just oil, and that keeps the water out for awhile. A combination of oiled leather, and gaitor.. mostly works, or at least, works better than goretex. What I wouldn't give for a purpose made hunting boot that doesn't have goretex in it.
Thoughts on waterproof socks?
Sealskinz socks is my next attempt to solve this dilemma.
For boots and mesh.
I used to be all about gortex but now I've gone back to leather.
Alot better for regulating temperature.
What dries the xa forces very good is putting paper inside the shoes and change it every 30 minutes the paper will soak the water out of the shoes and dry them faster
Lalo amphibious boots are great for wet environment they have a drainage system built in Botach usually has sales where you can get these $359 boots for $40-80
Neither for me.
Long ago I went full circle with boots and returned to proper, unlined full grain leather that I can grease properly and run felt insoles in.
Here in North Central Alberta I haven't had a need for anything else.
Thanks a lot. I have both types of Salomon.
I will take a quick drying shoe/boot (jungle/desert w/no isulation) over goretex in pretty much every scenario other than snow or proper cold.
PS Crocs are the GOAT.
Altama Maritimes for me but i live in a non snowing environment.
Got a Full Tang tactical chest rig. 👌
It's not so much really water or not but really is it cold. If it's hot wet like tropical rainforest then you want draining boots or mesh and maybe use waterproof socks under those, if it's cold wet like temperate rainforest then you want gortex and waterproof pretty much at all costs especially if it's real cold and sub zero with snow. If it's dry cold like I cold desert you can do either depending on the season, if it's hot and dry moreso then you can do either but really you want more venting.
Real man wear Cinderella's glass slippers stomping Through the Jungle
Try the new climasolomon shoes and let us know
What brand of pants are those?
Truespec expedition 24/7 pants.
amzn.to/40PzAoV
Who made that pant?
True spec Expedition Pants- amzn.to/3o4pu0E
thanks a lot
Crocs 🐊 for swamps 😉
Get a boot dryer save a lot of time and headaches
No more goretex shoes. Swet feet…way better leather treated boots