A quick scoop for you exclusively here on OUTDOORSmagic. Gore has
a new £10 million footwear system which they say is both more
breathable and cooler than their previous waterproof / breathable
boot constructions. It'll be in the shops next year.
Sweaty when hot...
Waterproof / breathable membranes have always been problematical
in very hot conditions or during highly aerobic activities when the
foot is churning out a lot of sweat. Gore says that during activity
each foot can churn out a cup-full of fluid per day - apparently the
physiological reason is that damp, bare feet offer more friction than
dry bare feet, so there you go.
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A Gore-Tex bootie - the bit you
don't see that makes the
boot waterproof and breathable. This one's being
inflated
for test purposes
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The new XCR (Extended Comfort Range) membrane is the result of a
£10 million programme called Project Climate Control which has
looked at all the parts of a breathable / waterproof boot and
optimised each of them. For example, Gore has worked with tanneries
to produce leather which is both more breathable and still water
resistant or hydrophobic.
Which is great, but what you really want to know is 'what does it
do?'. Well, Gore claims that XCR footwear is significantly more
breathable than existing Gore footwear and also has a higher heat
conductivity, meaning it should be cooler in use. We could quote RET
values, but frankly they wouldn't tell you much except that the lab
tests show XCR works better.
Different Strokes
Gore is always a little cagey about any differences to the
membrane itself, but what we can tell you is that while current Gore
waterproof / breahable booties use a 'nonwoven' fibre-type layer
between the liner -which is what you see inside the boot - and the
membrane, the new construction does away with this and puts the
membrane right next to the lining.
The result is that the construction is less warm - 'greater
thermal conductivity' - and we suspect that putting the new membrane
closer to the foot itself will also help to up breathability.
XCR's ear-marked for warm conditions and high aerobic activities
like trail running, but before you rush out to the shops, the bad
news is that it's not around until early next year, 2003. The good
news is that we've got a pair of pre-production Berghaus trail shoes
using the new membrane and we'll be letting you know what we think as
soon as we've had the chance to try them in the blistering heat of
the Glossop summer.
Dry and not-sweaty? Watch this space.
Gore-Tex
web site
