I've tried many different brands of waterproof lined boots and have found none of them last longer than a year before they leaked.
I have now gone back to real leather boots that last and last and never leak due to proper treatment with dubbin or the other waterproof treatments on the market. Apart from that there is also less swaeting with leather boots.
Bring out a leather boot without a lining and I'll try them.
I've obviously had more luck than you. I bought a pair of Gore tex lined Timberland boots in 1966 and they are still waterproof (That's really tempting fate). I've worn them in the Saudi desert (not a lot of chance to test the waterproofing) but over the past few years they have been used a lot ( two or three times a week) in N Wales throughout the year in all weathers. I'm still using them regularly but have 'retired' them from real mountain work as they are too flexible for rocky scrambling and the tread on the vibram soles is getting rather shallow. I last used them a couple of weeks ago when I walked through a stream which almost came over the top and over some very muddy ground but my feet (and socks) remained completely dry.
Initially I bought them because they were on offer- brand new gore-tex lined, vibram soled boots for £35- very comfortable and just the colour I wanted. At the time I really didn't expect that they'd still be going strong over 12 years later.
are they leather john? if so then they haven't leaked probably because they are properly made leather boots and nothing to do with the goretex. or perhaps the origianl goretex liner was a thick beast that is difficult to puncture unlike the modern ones.
They are suede, or at least that's what they look like. There are several fabric 'bits' which are often 'below the water line' so it must be the lining that keeps my feet dry. I do apologise for the 1966!!! I really meant 1996. It's still fairly early and I will claim 'a senior moment' over that one.
It's not that I'm a particular fan of lined boots, they were bought as a bargain and certainly don't owe me anything.
In the distant past, I recall buying a pair of leather boots for about £3 in 1960 and finally getting rid of them in the mid 80's when they did start to leak- probably because the screws holding the (nearly bald) vibrams on, rusted and allowed the soles the gain a degree of independence.
On the goretex front though, I have a pair of goretex lined trainers (again bought in a sale!!! about 3 years ago and a couple of days ago I waded through a stream which wasn't quite deep enough to come over the top, and my feet remained dry.
