| Can Mother Nature ever stop your motorcycle? | | | | 3. The best of both worlds |
| Okay, it is highly inadvisable not to ride your chopper | | | | However, the pitfall of water-repellant and |
| through icy or snowy roads. However, many | | | | water-resistant motorcycle boots is that they do not |
| motorcycle enthusiasts are willing to soldier through | | | | provide the level of protection against moisture, |
| just about any other type of conditions: swirling | | | | which rugged motorcycling requires. The most |
| winds, heavy downpours, and muddy roads. It is thus | | | | effective method of truly waterproofing motorcycle |
| important always to have weatherproof boots, such | | | | boots is to begin with a membrane of material that is |
| as Harley Davidson boots, to keep your feet warm | | | | waterproof during typical contact with moisture. |
| and dry. However, finding truly waterproof boots will | | | | Next, at least one layer of water-resistant fabric |
| require some homework and legwork. | | | | should support the original membrane. Finally, |
| 1. Waterproof and breathable | | | | manufacturers should treat the layers of material, |
| Certain motorcycle boot manufacturers claim that | | | | with a water-repellant substance. |
| their boots are waterproof and breathable. At first, | | | | 4. Needing to exhale |
| this may seem like a contradiction. However, it is | | | | However, as previously mentioned, the most efficient |
| indeed possible for boots to keep all moisture on the | | | | waterproofing for boots not only keeps moisture |
| exterior of the booth, but not allow your foot inside, | | | | out, but also allows the boot to "breathe" (technically, |
| to breathe. The problem is that your feet could keep | | | | exhale). Gore-Tex® remains one of the most |
| moisture out, but also not allow interior moisture to | | | | common materials used for motorcycle boot liners. |
| escape. In wintertime, this could literally cause cold | | | | How does Gore-Tex® work? Each (1X1) piece of |
| feet. | | | | the material contains about nine BILLION (give or |
| 2. Water-repellant and water-resistant | | | | take a few) extremely tiny pores. These pores are |
| Other manufacturers claim that their boots are | | | | 20,000 times tinier than a droplet of water! However, |
| "water-repellant" or "water-resistant." First, | | | | they are also 700 times bigger than molecules of |
| "water-repellent" typically means that the | | | | water vapor. The result is that the boot obstructs |
| manufacturer has coated the exterior of the boot. | | | | exterior moisture, while allowing interior vapor to exit |
| This increases the boot's surface tension, thus, | | | | the interior of the boot. |
| causing droplets on the boots to bead up and then | | | | While selecting motorcycle boots, keep in mind that |
| spin off the outside of the boot. However, | | | | manufacturers also produce liners that consist of |
| water-repellent boots are essentially only effective in | | | | various imitation Gore-Tex® materials. These |
| light rainfalls. | | | | products may include "Tex" in their names, but may |
| Another water-fighting type of anti-water feature in | | | | be less effective than the original material. |
| motorcycle boots is the use of water-resistant fabric. | | | | When choosing motorcycle boots, you can choose |
| Manufacturers weave this type of material tightly, to | | | | from a variety of waterproof, water-repellant, and |
| prevent droplets from penetrating it. During typical | | | | water-resistant boots. Not all motorcycle boots are |
| exposure to rain, water-resistant fabric provides | | | | created equal, so it is important to know and to |
| more protection against moisture, than "standard" | | | | recognize the differences! |
| fabric does. | | | | |