We have now received our first pair of combat boots manufactured, by Meindl, using the new GORE-TEX EXTRAGUARD laminate, writes Bob Morrison.
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First launched a little under twelve months ago, timed to coincide with the Enforce Tac 2024 security and defence expo, GORE-TEX EXTRAGUARD is a lightweight man-made material conceived primarily for footwear uppers which W L Gore and Associates claim is permanently waterproof, breathable, and flame-retardant. Designed to replace suede leather, EXTRAGUARD is said to be 40% lighter than dry leather of the same thickness and Gore say the new three-layer laminate both remains light even when wet for long periods and dries considerably faster.
For the last week I have been occasionally wearing these interesting boots to get the feel for them and, once I’ve finished testing another pair of combat boots in warmer climes, I plan to devote my attention fully to trying them out in different environments. It’s about twelve years since I last tried out a pair of combat boots from Bavarian manufacturers Meindl, who were one of the companies chosen to fulfil the five-year 2012 UK MoD Brown Boot contract ~ see this link, and as I got on well with them back then I suspect their latest combat boots will turn out to be just as good. Therefore it is primarily that new EXTRAGUARD material that I am most interested in assessing.
So far these new boots have been comfortable, but I want to mess around in them under different conditions before bringing readers my considered opinion. Watch this Footwear section for more, a little further down the line.
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