Looking for sone cycling shoes to keep my feet dry, or at least warm. Lots of goretex options but what does the STW mind think about this stuff?
It doesn't degrade, can't be recycled and the waterproofing is some nasty fluorine-based compound.
Just get wet feet and stop being so precious?
Leather shoes?
Don't worry about it as by the time it's a problem I will be decomposing myself?
Gore-tex is a membrane. I'm not sure that the "waterproofing" of shoes includes a DWR treatment.
Gore-tex already has a PFC-free DWR treatment available.
How long before soles decompose, and aren't they usually made from oil?
Can you tell IDGAS?
I've got both Shimano Gortex shoes and their own Dryshield. I don't think any plastic based shoe is terribly re-cyclable. Don't forget shoes last a long time.
Your feet will definitely stay warm. Keeping water out - if you've got bib tights on, water will still wick down the fabric and into the shoe - you can reduce this by using a drysuit cuff (use the arm cuffs - cost about £6-8) - the cuffs work better on bear legs.
For piddling rain on my commute, waterproof over trousers are enough to divert water over the shoe cuff, leaving you with totally dry feet - essential TBH as damp shoes soon stink, especially when there is neoprene in the construction.
Waterproof boots have been a revelation to me, after years of overshoes. We did a two day 84 mile off road back packing ride in summer - it was wet (not much rain), but my feet stayed pretty dry and comfortable during the 8 hours we were riding each day - especially useful when walking through a bog with the bikes on our shoulders.
My northwave boots are about 10 years old. Combine any winter boot with gripgrab gaiters to make them actually waterproof.
Yes PTFE is persistent and bioacumulative, but:
1) It's not single use plastic, I suspect even with an effort to recycle I probably generate more plastic waste every day than my shoes contain PTFE.
2) It'll probably end up in an incinerator as most of the country has moved away from landfill for all but inert waste.
The manufacturing of PTFE/Goretex/teflon is a different matter.
On balance though I'd take the dry feet, especially given this forums general reluctance to view car driving as a problem that's individually accountable/actionable*, worrying about the membrane in my shoes is pissing in the wind.
*wa wa wa, special case, can't use public transport, I'm a cyclist to of course, don't you realize that fossil fuels carbon emissions are Shell/BP's fault not mine, I won't even use E10 because my car is special, etc etc etc, etc.
Stop being victim of the big corporations making you feel guilty for your insignificant consumer choices. There's multinationals exploiting tax loopholes and all sorts flying private jets round the world / shipping toxic sludge all over the place with little concern or consequences. Your purchase or not of a pair of shoes is inconsequential.
I agree with thisisnotaspoon. I think! 🙂
All my colleagues are driving to work in the rain, I'm riding in my 10 year old Goretex boots. Who is the most toxic?
Stop being victim of the big corporations making you feel guilty for your insignificant consumer choices. There’s multinationals exploiting tax loopholes and all sorts flying private jets round the world / shipping toxic sludge all over the place with little concern or consequences. Your purchase or not of a pair of shoes is inconsequential.
This. Sad but true. We're in a death spiral and your shoe choices can't save us.
Agreed with the comment above about waterproof boots (including waterproof socks in my case) being game changing for winter riding.
You won't regret Winter boots - you'll be buying another pair.
sharkattack
This. Sad but true. We’re in a death spiral and your shoe choices can’t save us.
Probably true but I don't want to be hearing about some cancer crisis or whatever in the future related to these "forever chemicals" and know that I was aware of it and carried on buying stuff with it. That said I know Goretex have a safer membrane in the works now, but I'm not sure there's a good alternative for the dwr layer yet. Last i read, that layer still contained PFAS.
if you’ve got bib tights on, water will still wick down the fabric and into the shoe – you can reduce this by using a drysuit cuff
Or by wearing the bottom of the tights (assuming they have the stirrup thing at the bottom) over the shoes.
This. Sad but true. We’re in a death spiral and your shoe choices can’t save us.
Yup
Perfect timing to link FortNines new video😊
If you're going to buy something unsustainable, go for quality so it lasts. My northwave boots are getting on for ten years old.
I've just bought another pair of goretex Reebok ridgerider trainers, do I regret it, nah, can't believe people worry about this crap.
Dunno about gortex but i wish nikwax would just go back to rotting the planet so my jackets can be better proofed like in the old days 😉