Those $150 'waterproof' hiking boots from REI soaked through after 3 months

Took them on a trail near Mount Rainier and my feet were wet within an hour - the warranty process was also a nightmare. Anyone else had bad luck with gear that everyone raves about?

3 comments

3 Comments

smith.anna1mo agoTop Commenter

Have you checked if it's actually the waterproof lining failing instead of just the outer fabric? A lot of those "waterproof" boots use a Gore-Tex or similar membrane that can break down if you sweat too much or if dirt gets in the way. My buddy had the same issue with a different brand and it turned out the seam tape inside just peeled off after a few hikes. He said the warranty people tried to blame his socks lol. Might be worth taking a hair dryer to the inside to see if the lining is separating from the outer shell, that's what fixed his issue after he reglued it himself.

tara_patel1mo ago

Hate when that happens, such a pain to deal with.

sarah_patel251mo ago

Did the hair dryer trick actually work for your buddy's boots or did it just make things worse temporarily?