Making Boots Waterproof

[Pieface]

the one and only time i've ever seen trench foot was at glasto 97..

that was the year

And I did as much changing as I could and let them dry when I slept but it didn't help too much.

Smell wasn't too bad though so maybe I didn't get it bad - it was when I got home finally and they were clean and dry that I realised how fucked they were all swollen and red and hot.

 

[wiskey]

that was the year

And I did as much changing as I could and let them dry when I slept but it didn't help too much.

Smell wasn't too bad though so maybe I didn't get it bad - it was when I got home finally and they were clean and dry that I realised how fucked they were all swollen and red and hot.

i remember gaffertaping my waterproof trousers to the top of my boots and not removing it for three days but my feet were reasonably ok cos the boots allowed them to breathe.

the medical tent was full of people with foot problems. we got them to take their boots off and their skin was cracking to about an inch deep and leaving massive red sore lines. OUCH!!!

moral of this is waterproof your boots but make sure they allow your feet to breathe.

one man just sat and cried. i dont blame him.

people were saying though that the mud actually made it nice to walk because it was soft. i felt so sorry for them when they got back onto concrete

 

[fogbat]

Much as I love my para boots in festi situations, I do think that the dubbin encourages mud to stick to them, so they weigh a ton by Sunday, whereas it seems to just fall off wellies.

Obviously some sort of teflon spray needs to be layered on top of the dubbin

 

[Pieface]

people were saying though that the mud actually made it nice to walk because it was soft. i felt so sorry for them when they got back onto concrete

Did my back in pulling it out of it though when it started to dry. Was ridikkerous.

 

[wiskey]

Much as I love my para boots in festi situations, I do think that the dubbin encourages mud to stick to them, so they weigh a ton by Sunday, whereas it seems to just fall off wellies.

yeah but theres nothing quite as amusing as watching some munter at glasto find somewhere to perch (against a bin or so) and with a stick painstakingly scrape all the mud off thier boots.

only to put their foot back on the floor and be back to square 1

 

[wiskey]

Did my back in pulling it out of it though when it started to dry.

yeah tell me about it. i'm proper nervous of slipping badly at bd

i got my foot run over by a landie at glasto one year. fortunately i was on grass and it just pushed my foot DEEP into the mud. took newbie, myself and two nice passers by to pull it out again. i thought i was going to be stuck there forever

 

[Bob_the_lost]

Gortex boots: Work, but if you get water inside them then they take fucking ages to dry out, also they tend to suffer more from torn leather than normal boots. (2 year life expectancy for the most part)

Combat boots + Polish / dubbin: Bit of effort but the most economical.

Combat boots + Gortex liners: Work, but not all that comfortable.

Combat boots + sealskinz: My favourite option, socks with built in gortex lining. Expensive (£20 a pair) but worth every penny.

You will get wet feet, accept it. Pack talcum powder and spare pairs of socks, if you're well prepared pre talc the spare socks and seal in plastic bag (with more talc). Trying to dry your boots out before you put them back on again never works, your best hope is for the moisture to get to tolerable levels, don't forget your towel.

 

[Pieface]

Cor - you're like Ray Mears, Bob.

<baggies sox up>

 

[editor]

Here's how we used to do it in Ye Olde Festival Days:

Plastic bags inside super-leaky platform shoes/desert boots. Perfect!

(Note the posh kid to the left with the wellies)

 

[TopCat]

This thread is disgusting. I hoped the worst case scenario would be a bit of drunken vomiting not my feet falling off.

 

[Pieface]

I'm taking wellies AND boots.

And only one frock

 

[mr steev]

wellies only work if you have welly shaped legs, and i dont.

i hate that slapping sound they make as you walk and the fact that puddles eat them and you end up precariously balanced on one leg trying to dig your welly out whilst not falling over.

nah give me boots any day.

Too right!

I've just been into town to get some para-boots cos my old ones have disappeared. Went into an army surplus store... £45 for the cheapest crap ankle boots! The cheapest paras were £69 and most of them were over £100! Fuckin 'ell! I always thought army surplus was supposed to be cheap!
Popped into my local bikers' tatoo imporium on my way home and got a decent pair of German ones for £25... that's more like it

I am now all prepared... Devon here we come

 

[DrRingDing]

gortex boots and gortex gaitors are the only way for me.

my 5 year old boots have seen me up and down the himalayas and most gruelling of all glasto and have not let me down yet.

 

[TopCat]

I have porelle dry socks which will keep my feet warm and dry the whole time with no trench foot! Porelle are the couriers friend alright.

 

[wiskey]

i've just cleaned my boots my god, HOW much mud!

i've got a pair of high tek magnum patrols and they are fantastic

 

[Pieface]

this thread has got well spoddy

 

[Bob_the_lost]

I have porelle dry socks which will keep my feet warm and dry the whole time with no trench foot! Porelle are the couriers friend alright.

They're the older version of sealskinz if my reading is correct

Magnums are lovely comfy boots (high top trainers), but ime they're as waterproof as a collander.

 

[41132n]

Or get some neoprene boot liners...

Looky - http://www.surplusandadventure.com/shopscr1719.html

Nice website. Quite taken with the Jackel Ghillie Suit - Instant Dr Who monster !

 

[friedaweed]

TX10 polarproof
Powder form is best (not sure if they still do it).
Soak boots in disolved stuff overnight. Dry out,voila= lace up wellies

 

[Riff]

Hmmm what to do?

I have packed my Sealskinz, talc, socks and some gaiters, plus some sandals (I'm optimistic!)

BUT

I'n indecisive as to whether to take me Para Boots or 10-holer Docs? Which are more comfortable to wear all day?

I'm also deciding whether or not to swap the trainers in my bag for my (chunkier) walking shoes.

 

[moose]

I'n indecisive as to whether to take me Para Boots or 10-holer Docs? Which are more comfortable to wear all day?

You'll be on your arse every 2 minutes in Docs on mud, unless they've got commando pattern soles.

 

[Rohen]

Much as I love my motorcycle boots I would never tramp through mud in them even though they have goretex linings.

 

[Riff]

You'll be on your arse every 2 minutes in Docs on mud, unless they've got commando pattern soles.

Actually I've just checked my Docs and they've dried and cracked.

Para Boots it is then!

 

[moose]

The choice of genteel ladies everywhere

 

[wiskey]

Magnums are lovely comfy boots (high top trainers), but ime they're as waterproof as a collander.

they seem to do two sorts - those with 'breatheable' (read 'non waterproof') sides and those with solid leather sides. mine are solid and warm and dry.

 

[Bob_the_lost]

they seem to do two sorts - those with 'breatheable' (read 'non waterproof') sides and those with solid leather sides. mine are solid and warm and dry.

Nah, i've got a pair of all leather ones kicking about somewhere, still shite for waterproofing compared to my assault boots. They do have some expensive lines with gore-tex-alike but i've never seen them myself, i went for Pro boots instead (RIP)

 

[telbert]

FABSIL waterproofs ANY material including leather,cotton ,Nylon ,shirts trousers, jackets .
Absolutely anything. I've just done a jacket&a new pair of boots.
£6.99 for a 600ml aerosol can.
Its the bollocks(i've even done my Barbour jacket).

 

[Riff]

The choice of genteel ladies everywhere

 

[Stig]

Got my paraboots and dubbin combo all ready for the weekend. I'm wearing them round the office & warehouse all day today to check them for comfiness. Ok so far.

I'm quite tempted by some of the posh socks recommended on this thread, but it's a bit late for this weekend. I'll definitely be having a proper look round pootles army surplus link soon though.

 

[Jangla]

dubbin. Get from an outdoor shop.

http://www.dubbin.co.uk/

Yup - rub it in with your fingers so the warmth gets it nice and deep into the leather. Use a very thin layer, let it absorb into the leather overnight and then apply another thin layer. If you slap it on thick it'll crack and let the water in.