The GORE-TEX Brand has unveiled a concept study for the future of combat and safety footwear at Milipol 2025 in Paris.
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Press Release, Putzbrunn, November 2025: The GORE-TEX® Brand, a global leader in high-performance waterproof, windproof, and breathable fabric technologies has unveiled concept study for the future of combat and safety footwear.
The prototype highlights Gore’s commitment to ongoing research and development, exploring how innovative materials and construction methods can meet the demands of evolving mission profiles, harsher climates, and heightened comfort expectations. It exemplifies how performance, protection, and modern design can converge in a forward-thinking concept.
“Conventional tactical and combat boots made from leather are often heavy, uncomfortable and slow to dry when exposed to water or extreme climates. In contrast, our EXTRAGUARD Upper can help overcome limitations of traditional leather constructions, increasing comfort and protection,” says David Bastias, Strategic Marketing for Footwear at the GORE-TEX Brand. “Adding the EXTRAGUARD Upper Technology offers extremely low water uptake, rapid re-dry, and consistent weight under wet conditions while also delivering the robustness and element protection defence operations demand. This balance of comfort and durability marks a significant step forward in combat boot design for the benefit of the soldier or police, and also the footwear manufacturer.”
Advanced design for multi-terrain performance: At the heart of this vision lies the GORE-TEX EXTRAGUARD Product Technology. It was developed precisely with these needs in mind. Supplied in roll form, EXTRAGUARD Upper can be cut into larger pattern pieces, reducing the number of seams and the need for taping and improving waterproof protection. This enables new construction methods and design freedom to reduce pressure points in abrasion-prone areas such as the heel and shaft while enhancing durability. Inspired by sneaker design, the concept offers improved wearing comfort and a modern look, crucial for soldiers and service members who expect both performance and comfort in their footwear.
Sustainability and resource efficiency: These construction advantages also pave the way for more sustainable and efficient production methods. Supplied in roll form, the EXTRAGUARD Upper ensures consistent quality and reduces material waste. The constructions require fewer seams, so the overall amount of taping and sealing for water-proof construction and materials can be significantly reduced and simplifies manufacturing. At the same time, it enables a variety of design options such as PU casting, printing, debossing, welding, and stitch-free applications, providing footwear manufacturers with freedom in design and cost efficiencies.
“We are rethinking protection and performance for the modern soldier,” says Rainer Geiger, Application Engineer at the GORE-TEX Brand. “By combining maximum resilience with ultimate comfort and also embracing efficiency, we’re demonstrating the potential of GORE-TEX EXTRAGUARD Product Technology, and opening new pathways for brand partners to step into designing more innovative military and tactical footwear.”
Gore revolutionised the outerwear industry with waterproof, breathable GORE-TEX Fabric more than 40 years ago and remains a leading innovator of performance apparel. Gore fabrics products provide comfort and protection in challenging environments and in everyday life, enabling wearers to safely and confidently achieve and experience more. From hiking in downpours to military operations and fighting fires, Gore’s deep understanding of consumer and industry needs drives development of products with meaningful performance advantages.
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Editor’s Footnote: Yesterday the GORE-TEX Footwear team gave Joint-Forces an exclusive briefing on their Concept Footwear prototypes and allowed me to take them briefly off the Milipol stand and outside to grab some quick photos under natural light. Coincidentally, less than an hour earlier one of the main combat footwear manufacturers asked me, knowing how I had been among the earlier journalists to pick up on first the new lightweight boot construction and then the GORE-TEX Comfort laminate trends back in the days when I was editing COMBAT & SURVIVAL Magazine, what I thought the next major advance in the military boot field might be. Possibly we may be witnessing its birth here, though of course it will take a lot of input from WL Gore’s manufacturing industry partners to turn concept into reality.
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