Had my Brasher Superlite GTX ladies boots for 18 months - used mainly for local walks and twice in Snowdonia. On the second walk these boots leaked like a sieve. They were bought online and the dealer has gone out of business, so I contacted Brasher.They say that the boots have a 12 month guarantee not 2 years! They did offer to inspect them if I paid postage to return them. Whilst these boots are very comfortable and suitable for the terrain on which I walk, the fact that they are not waterproof is extremely disappointing. I have no confidence in them. Brasher did respond promptly to my email and gave me a contact in their customer services. I will speak to them direct before incurring any further costs, as these boots were very expensive.
|
 |
Two questions really... what made you think there was a two year warranty on the boots in the first place? and are the boots lined in any way (goretex or similar) or are they unlined?
|
|
1. Read this in a product review
2. Boots have Gore Tex waterproof membrane 'guaranteed to keep you dry'
|
|
 Gore Tex waterproof membrane 'guaranteed to keep you dry' biggest load of marketing blx ever, wish someone would take them on that one.....
|
|
1. Read this in a product review 2. Boots have Gore Tex waterproof membrane 'guaranteed to keep you dry' Mmmm, suggest you do this. 1) forget about 1 2) give the boots a good clean with boot cleaner (nikwax or otherwise) and then proof the outside with aqueous wax. I have a pair of lightweights...had them for years and they are goretex lined...but unless I am careful about making sure the outside sheds water well, my feet get wet...
|
|
Yes, but hang on a sec. There's warranty on boots and there's warranty on Gore-Tex. 2 separate things AFAIK. Yes, these are not the most durable boots around but they should not leak after what sounds like not-very-heavy usage. At the very least Brasher should take a look at them: couldn't Blacks or another major Brasher stockist send them back to the company? From my experience of returns this is classic credit/replace material. Just make sure you clean them up a bit before you send them in. Dirty boots never get taken back. Health and safety regs, apparently.
|
|
 ..........So what are the tricks to ensure Gore live up to their 'guaranteed to keep you dry' warranty? I have a pair of 2 1/2 year old not too heavily used Asolo Fugitives. Upper and soles in good nick, regularly proofed - leak like a sieve when I have waterproof trousers on. Gore say "nothing to do with us go to Asolo", yet they are outside the Asolo warranty. Other boots I have had were only held together by the Gore Tex membrane and were still water tight. I'm prepared to buy a new pair of boots and move on, just would like to know what the 'guaranteed to keep you dry' warranty is intended to cover?
|
|
 it depends upon how high up the leg the goretex insert comes. often it is only "shoe" height. meindl make this clear in their destructions - or at least used to. a goretex lining may only keep your feet dry, just as they advertise, and not the boot dry. looking at the brashers i see they have stitching at the bottom of the tongue. may i recommend you save yourself the postage and hassle and buy some wax instead - the stuff in a tin/pot. smear this generously into and over the seams and melt with a hairdryer so it penetrates the stitch holes. leave 24 hours and repeat with less wax this time and a hair dryer. leave 24 hours. this will cure water getting in that way. give the boots a smearing of the wax too.
|
|
Yep, the membrane usually doesn't come up the full height of the boot. Which can mean, especially if there is a soft fabric ankle, that water pours off your waterproofs, onto the fabric and just wicks down inside. Or maybe the boots are low cut anyway, so without gaiters there's no way that water won't drain into them. So, you need to prove that it is the membrane that is leaking - one way would be to put the boots in a bowl of water and see what happens.
|
|
Yep, the membrane usually doesn't come up the full height of the boot. Which can mean, especially if there is a soft fabric ankle, that water pours off your waterproofs, onto the fabric and just wicks down inside. Or maybe the boots are low cut anyway, so without gaiters there's no way that water won't drain into them. So, you need to prove that it is the membrane that is leaking - one way would be to put the boots in a bowl of water and see what happens.
What he said. In answer to Neil, the fact that they are outside the Asolo warranty is irrelevant. From my understanding that warranty is intended to cover all boot defects excluding waterproofing, which is covered by the Gore warranty. However, if something does go wrong with the waterproofing, Asolo are the ones to deal with the problem despite it not being "their" warranty. Again, 2.5 years of not-heavy-usage is not when I would expect well-made boots to start leaking: this sounds like Asolo should have a look at them. I forget the name of their importer - they share it with Lowe Alpine - but it should not matter anyway. Bring the boots in to any Brighams store - we retail Asolo - and they'll be sent off for inspection.
|
|
slight rant here. "Guaranteed to keep you dry" does not mean that your Gore product WILL keep you dry. It means that if SHOULD keep you dry (condensation and such issues apart), and that if it leaks, something is likely wrong. Mechanical failure happens more often than you might think, and yes, I am sure that Far Eastern manufacture is part of this, although for much of the time it's just shitty build quality. But hey, if you bought TNF/Berghaus, you got what you deserved. If you have a GTX product that leaks, don't just moan about it, which is what everyone seems to do, be it on the internet or to my face. Get it fixed. These are major corporations with big reputations to maintain and they are normally more than happy to replace or credit, provided you haven't absolutely thrashed the product into the ground and it would be a miracle if it wasn't leaking.
|
|
but it will only keep you dry to the extent of coverage of the goretex. if the lining is shoe height then it wil keep your feet dry to the upper limit of the goretex sock inside. waterproof boots doesn't necessarily mean you can stand up to the top of the boot in water. looking as the brasher picture i am guessing that the goretex insert does not extend beyond the ankle cuff. non full leather goretex lined footwear needs looking after. it needs looking after so much it makes me wonder if it's worth it. people do not look after their footwear properly. i suspect that virtually no one even bothers to read to destructions. i admit that i don't. i only know about the meindl thing because i was idly reading the bumpf whilst awaiting the end of corrie one evening.
|
|
 I think you might have been unlucky with your boots. I had a pair from about 2001-2005. They took me over all sorts of ground and were generally very comfy (so long as I got the lacing right). Not once did they leak and I used mine to walk up a stream once. The only thing I hated on them was the midsole is made of crapite and just doesn't do the job. Walking on rocky terrain or roads caused me to have very sore soles of my feet. Replacing the insoles with something like superfeet helped, but was not a perfect fix. They took me through ML training too (though I got a lot of stick for having trainers rather than real boots). I confess I bottled it and used Meindl Lhotses for assessment (and was the only one with dry feet after the exped). Eventually the soles wore out and I was so unimpressed with the underfoot protection that I didn't bother to resole them. Still 100% waterproof, even though the leather was really scratched and scuffed (from scrambling use). All I ever did to mine was give them a clean and wax if I noticed the water soaking into the leather immediately as opposed to after a couple of hours of heavy rain.
|
|
I have returned my boots to Brasher for inspection. All credit to Brasher for their prompt responses to my email and telephone call. I now await their decision (told me to allow 5-7 days)They have also offered to reimburse my postage costs.
|
|
Brasher have returned my boots stating that they cannot find any fault with them. My companions and I must have imagined the water which I had to wring out of my socks. I was wearing gaiters, so that no rain would enter the boots from the top.It comes as no surprise that my last email to them has so far been ignored.I have asked how much of the boot is protected by the Goretex membrane, and under what conditions the boots were 'tested'. Whilst checking out the Goretex website, it is interesting to note that the brand Brasher does not appear in the footwear section - perhaps they know something I don't!
|
|
Brasher have contacted me and agreed to more detailed tests on my boots being conducted by Gore. As this may take several weeks, they are sending me some 'loan boots' and also a pair of their new walking socks. This is not what I was expecting - perhaps I have misjudged their customer service!
|
|
I think you may have been unlucky with this boot because I have used mine for years for every thing. Not looked after then very well and untill this winter they have remained waterproof. Only leaking when the leather has split where i havent looked after it... I need a new pair cause they are just so comfy, only problem dont like spending £120 on walking boots....
|
|
My wife and I each bought a pair of Supalite GTX boots approx 5 years ago. Mine have had good use; my wife's less. Recently the upper on her boot tore leaving a gaping hole and useless boots. I spoke with Brasher and paid postage to return the "broken" boots. Despite the age of the boots, the good condition showed the boots had not been abused, and Brasher replaced them at no extra cost with a brand new pair of Supalite II GTX boots.
That is fantastic customer service.
PS I think the boots are excellent :-)
|
|
My wife and I each bought a pair of Supalite GTX boots approx 5 years ago. Mine have had good use; my wife's less. Recently the upper on her boot tore leaving a gaping hole and useless boots. I spoke with Brasher and paid postage to return the "broken" boots. Despite the age of the boots, the good condition showed the boots had not been abused, and Brasher replaced them at no extra cost with a brand new pair of Supalite II GTX boots.
That is fantastic customer service.
PS My boots have been excellent :-)
|
|
I just has to return my new Supalite II GTX boots back to the shop because the sole of the left boot was glued on at an angel. So I do have doubts about their quality control!
|
|
