waterproffing boots

Al wrote

Quoted message said:

I am quite happy to use Nikwax all over the leather but
the tongue is leather with a nylon (cordura? type) gusset.
I have not used any waterproofing on fabrics. Can anyone
offer a tried and tested method of proofing this nylon
gusset in the tongue?

An odd arrangement. Not wanting to be bleedin obvious but
waterproofing methods that work of leather would be
completely inappropriate for Cordura. If you are so
concerned that you feel the need to treat it before you go
then I suggest that you first treat the leather with your
proofer of choice and then use a spray treatment on the
gusset. By treating the leather first you will protect it
from any overspray from treating the gusset. Are you sure
that the gusset is not sympatex or goretex lined ? It would
seem a bit odd to provide a weatherproof leather
construction for the rest of the boot while rendering it
next to useless by fitting it with a permeable gusset.

Chris

Al said:

Hi All

I have just bought, after a very long and trying period of
time, a pair of Merrel summit II boots. I must say they
are the last manufacturer I would have considered, given
all the other well respected names, but the critical thing
is always going to be fit and they do!

They sort of have a plus point in that they are not
Goretex lined, which means maybe my feet will not get so
hot. I am quite happy to use Nikwax all over the leather
but the tongue is leather with a nylon (cordura? type)
gusset. I have not used any waterproofing on fabrics. Can
anyone offer a tried and tested method of proofing this
nylon gusset in the tongue? Any experience of Nikwax
fabric and leather treatment or should i just swamp it
with Nikwax traditional wax.

Ideally I need 12 days worth of proofing for a 150 mile
trek across Cheviots

Most full-leather hiking boots are not Gore-Tex lined. Such
lining is usually added to suede/fabric lightweight boots in
an attempt to make a lightweight waterproof boot. However,
my experience with KSB II's is that the proofing does not
last: I understand that the Gore-Tex liner tears due to
flexing at the boot upper-sole joint.

I don't get hot feet, so can't offer much advice - however I
suspect that a full leather boot will be less well
ventilated than a fabric-and-Gore-Tex boot. Have you tried
using wicking inner socks e.g. Coolmax?

I looked on the Merrell site, merrellboot.commerrellboot.comOpen ↗ ,
and found that the Summit II has what is described as a
"Leather/Ballisticore bellows tounge". Not finding anything
further on the site to tell me what Ballisticore is, I
approached the problem from another direction.

Using Merrell's search function, they are the one boot not
selected if you add "waterproof" to "Full and Top Grain
Leather" and "Vibram Sole". I would say that Merrell doesn't
rate your boots as waterproof.

I most certainly would not wear them for long walks in the
Cheviots, which can be very wet. On the other hand I am
utterly fascinated by how you can manage to construct a
route in the Cheviots that is 150 miles long and lasts for
12 days. The Cheviots I am familiar with comprise more-or-
less a single ridge along the eastern end of the Scottish
Border, about 25 miles from end to end. It would require
extreme dedication, bordering on masochism, to spend 12 days
in the Cheviots away from somewhere you could take off your
boots to dry and reproof them. Not to mention get a drink
and something to eat :-)=

[email hidden] said...

Quoted message said:

On the other hand I am utterly fascinated by how you can
manage to construct a route in the Cheviots that is 150
miles long and lasts for 12 days. The Cheviots I am
familiar with comprise more-or-less a single ridge along
the eastern end of the Scottish Border, about 25 miles
from end to end.

Perhaps the OP has haggis-like tendencies and walks in a
sort of perverted zigzag.

Say hello to Kate from me :-)
--
Fran If you need my email address please ask.

"Alan Dicey" <[email hidden]> wrote in message
"]news:[email hidden]...

Quoted message said:

I most certainly would not wear them for long walks in the
Cheviots, which can be very wet. On the other hand I am
utterly fascinated by how you can manage to construct a
route in the Cheviots that is 150 miles long and lasts for
12 days.

Thanks for your reply. Regarding your fascination for my
route, please understand the thrust of my post is, as the
header "almost" suggested, is about boots and not the route
itself. As such I didn't feel the need to descibe it in
detail, but simply gave an element of the route that most
people would recognise as a type of terrain I will be
crossing, that was most relevant to the conditions the boots
will receive.

Regards Alan

Fran said:

Perhaps the OP has haggis-like tendencies and walks in a
sort of perverted zigzag.

A Perverted Zigzag? What does one of those look like, then?

On second thoughts, I don't want to know...

Quoted message said:

Say hello to Kate from me :-)

Kate grins, then starts talking about baby-goat-meets (or
was it meats?) Alan backs away, with a glazed expression
(Everest!)

Al said:

Thanks for your reply. Regarding your fascination for my
route, please understand the thrust of my post is, as the
header "almost" suggested, is about boots and not the
route itself. As such I didn't feel the need to descibe it
in detail, but simply gave an element of the route that
most people would recognise as a type of terrain I will be
crossing, that was most relevant to the conditions the
boots will receive.

I must be having a bad day, I can't find an "almost"
anywhere in your post or header. However I get your gist -
it was metaphorical.

For 150 miles of Cheviot summit conditions, the type of
waterproofing you require is known as "waders" ;-)

[email hidden] said...

Quoted message said:

Quoted message said:

Say hello to Kate from me :-)

Kate grins, then starts talking about baby-goat-meets (or
was it meats?)

BabyGoatMoot. With an oo. You missed a cracking weekend
Alan: If I'd arrived half an hour earlier I'd have witnessed
the birth of a good quality kid; various kids including that
one were photographed and cooed over; barbecues were lit and
much food was cooked - yes, including goat sossies; Bill's
old canvas beastie stood up well to the beautiful west Wales
rain and was adored by the taller members of the family (two
teenagers); frisbees and kites, alas, stayed untouched in
the boot of the car; however Lego was played with by
younglings of all ages; drink was drunk; more food was
eaten; goats were milked; kids were fed; children and adults
were fed; more drink was drunk; unfortunately however the
only walking to happen was from the house to the tent field
and back again, via the barbecue... What exactly was your
(and Kate's) excuse again? :-)
--
Fran If you need my email address please ask.