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GORE-TEX® shoes have offered high wearing comfort in any weather and under all conditions for decades. Breathability and waterproofing are what make this possible. These properties are guaranteed by the unique GORE-TEX® membrane. Its microscopically small pores keep out rain and moisture from outside, while letting sweat and excess heat escape.
GORE-TEX® Extended Comfort
Shoes with GORE-TEX® Extended Comfort lining are the right choice for moderately warm to warm conditions, intensive use, and frequent switching between indoor and outdoor areas.
The GORE-TEX® laminate without a heat-insulating layer minimizes heat buildup in warm climates and under high physical exertion.
For this comfort, highly breathable GORE-TEX® material is combined with carefully selected lining and upper materials. This keeps your feet consistently dry and pleasantly tempered.
Benefits
The GORE-TEX® membrane contains up to 1.4 billion micropores per 1 cm2. This enormous number provides exceptional, one-way permeability. Each pore of the GORE-TEX® membrane is 20,000 times smaller than the smallest water droplet and 700 times larger than a water vapor molecule.
GORE-TEX® waterproofing
The waterproofing of GORE-TEX® is based on a unique membrane with microscopically small pores that are smaller than a water droplet but larger than a water vapor molecule. This lets the membrane keep out moisture from outside while allowing sweat to evaporate outward. Waterproofing is measured in millimeters of water column (typically 28,000 mm for GORE-TEX Active) and is often combined with a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) treatment.
GORE-TEX® breathability
The breathability of GORE-TEX® comes from the microscopically small pores of the membrane, which are 700 times larger than a water vapor molecule. This lets sweat escape from the shoe while moisture from outside stays out. Your feet stay dry and pleasantly tempered even under high physical exertion.
Quality
Thanks to uncompromising quality controls from the laminate through the prototype to the finished product, you can rely on the high quality of GORE-TEX® footwear.
All shoe components (leather, textiles, laces, foams …) and the entire construction are designed for maximum performance and are strictly tested at every stage of product development and manufacturing.
Durability tests
GORE-TEX® lining and upper materials must withstand up to four times more abrasion than the respective EN ISO standard requires.
Before use, all components are tested, including for moisture absorption and water vapor permeability.
Waterproofing tests
Shoes with GORE-TEX® lining must survive over 300,000 flex cycles (equivalent to 300 km of walking) while standing ankle-deep in water for 80 hours and being flexed about once per second. Not a single drop of water may enter during this test.
Breathability tests
The breathability of the shoes is crucial for a comfortable foot climate.
The GORE-TEX® materials used achieve breathability values up to six times higher than required by EN ISO 20345/47.
