On our annual Europe trip, we expect to walk and walk and walk. Mostly on cobblestone streets. No matter the weather – rain, snow or wind. Traveling to Europe in November and December means this California family deals with unfamiliar conditions of snow and bitter cold wind and rain. (Yes, my 2 native Californian boys have been shielded from the harsh MN winters I grew up with!)
What can quickly make you miserable and ruin a beautiful winter wonderland? Wet, cold feet.
As you can see from the photos, keeping dry in rainstorms requires more than just an umbrella.
These photos were taken in Rome a few years ago and this particular day was filled with pouring rain and wind.
The streets were filled with puddles, and many people had wet jeans and feet from the slanted rain, biting wind, and the many unavoidable puddles.
I learned a lesson from that trip and this year I was determined to find shoes that kept my feet warm, dry and comfortable.
We already know comfort is key – and warm, dry feet are a comfort priority. So what else did I consider when choosing shoes for our 3 week trip through the varied climates of 8 countries? I needed a comfortable fit for miles and miles of walking, something dressy enough for restaurants and meetings, yet casual enough to play on the playgrounds with our son.
Arriving in Brussels in late November, the rain was falling – and quickly turned to snow. Rain plus snow? Slush! What footwear proved to be perfect for travel and these slushy conditions? GORE-TEX®!
As with everything I write about, I consult the experts. The GORE-TEX® brand has proven to be an expert in keeping us dry and comfortable when traveling. Whether whisking away perspiration and allowing our skin to “breathe” or by keeping the rain, snow, and wind on the outside of our shoes and garments, the GORETEX® brand is one to respect and appreciate!
We put these claims to test.
Through wind, rain, snow, and slush – we were ready to explore Europe regardless of what the weather had in store for us.
It was fantastic to enjoy the wintry sites (snow or rain) of Belgium, Germany, Austria, Italy, France, Spain, Portugal, and Morocco and not spend precious vacation time worrying about finding a place to warm our toes or dry out our socks.
Were we wearing big bulky waterproof snow boots?
Nope! Instead we were able to walk through the rain-soaked streets of Casablanca, Barcelona, and Munich in comfortable, fashionable, and dry footwear- protected from the elements by GORE-TEX®.
My husband wore comfortable, lightweight , dressy Ecco Berlin GORE-TEX® shoes.
My 4 year old was excited to wear his “worker boots” – the little Ecco Kids Ice Breaker Ascent boots with GORE-TEX®
and I was ready to explore new sites wearing my Ara boots also with GORE-TEX®.
We found footwear with GORE-TEX® fabric to be perfect for travel.
From outdoor sightseeing
to running and playing in the mud at the park
to indoor meetings at the Captain’s Bridge,
our feet were dry, comfie, and warm!
And did I really put the GORE-TEX® brand to work? Yes! I trudged purposely through the puddles and snow (next to my happy son) and was amazed at the end of the day when we had warm, dry feet!
In fact, I really never thought about my feet the whole day – and that is truly the sign of a comfortable shoe.
The GORE-TEX® brand has partnered with many different footwear brands to provide travelers the flexibility needed to not only ignore the elements, but also to dress appropriately for the situation. Rain boots were not on our packing list – and never will be because packing light is also a priority for us. Everything has to have multiple purpose and be lightweight to be included on our packing list. A 3 week trip means a variety of situations requiring a variety of footwear needs – from the plane to the ship, dinner meetings, and family play time in the cold, wind, rain, or snow – GORE-TEX® footwear covered us with solid protection.
The GORE-TEX® brand has a Guaranteed to Keep You Dry Promiseâ„¢. No matter if the GORE-TEX® fabric is part of my shoes or garments, if I am not completely satisfied with the waterproofness, windproofness, or breathability of the product, W.L. Gore & Associates will repair it, replace it, or even refund the purchase price! How’s that for a guarantee?
What about after years of traipsing across countries and a lifetime of washings? Yep – still guaranteed! GORE-TEX® fabrics are guaranteed for the life of the product.
So really – how does this GORE-TEX® fabric work so well? How is it possible to prevent the rain, snow, and wind from getting in – yet, allow the perspiration from my body out? Because let’s face it – sweaty feet and skin will also make me cold, clammy, and uncomfortable- something to be avoided.
To understand the possibility of this – it is essential to understand what allows the GORE-TEX® fabric to do it’s job as a barrier against the elements, yet a vent for perspiration. The pores in the membrane are so small that it is physically impossible for the elements to penetrate through them. Each of these microscopic pores are about 20,000 times smaller than a drop of water! 20,000 times smaller!! Nope – that water is NOT getting in.
On the opposite side, those tiny pores are about 700 times LARGER than a water vapor molecule – so sweat can escape out and my toes stay nice and dry. Think this is important? Have you ever worn something to keep warm and ended up sweating and wet inside the garment or shoe? The result is the same- uncomfortable and unhappy!
I remember snowmobiling and sledding in the frigid temperatures of those Minnesota winters as a kid. I was dressed warm against the outside cold, but sweating inside all those layers. Without the GORE-TEX® membrane, the moisture had nowhere to go. This moisture on my skin resulted in an uncomfortable cold – from the inside out!
The GORE-TEX® brand quality management is unique in their industry – and because of the design and manufacturing research their products are guaranteed to be the best.
How do they test the durability, waterproofness, breathability, and comfort?
Breathability Hiking
Breathability and Climate Comfort Tests (The Sweat Test)
Gore tests GORE-TEX® footwear for breathability and climate comfort. Artificial feet that sweat like real ones are put into the shoes, and then placed in a climatic chamber to measure water vapor escape and water retention levels at various temperatures.
The Walking Simulator
W.L. Gore places the shoes on flexible artificial feet equipped with sensors that take up to 300,000 steps in a water bath. If moisture enters the shoe, the machine stops and an LED indicates the location of the leak.
Mechanical Flexor
The Wicking Test
W.L. Gore tests everything from the shoe’s leather and foam to the stitching and laces to determine how much water they absorb. Materials used in the shaft must be water repellent or they could carry water to other parts of the shoe.
Want to know more? Check it out! http://www.gore-tex.com/remote/Satellite/content/product-testing-quality-testing
Who makes this GORE-TEX® fabric and why do they care so much? That would be Bill and Vieve Gore, who started W.L. Gore & Associates in the basement of their home in 1958, initially serving the electronics industry.
-It is now one of the 200 largest privately held U.S. companies, employing 8,000 associates worldwide- (*note they are not called employees).
-Worldwide, it has been known to be one of the best companies to work for multiple years in a row.
-Over 2,000 patents have been granted to Gore in a wide range of fields (electronics, medical devices, and polymer processing).
Why does this company continue to be so successful? Well, the main foundation to their products is one material – a versatile polymer called ePTFE (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene). This material has been engineered to perform a wide variety of functions – by people who are not viewed merely as employees, but as associates. The company is owned by these associates along with members of the Gore family. These associates have a vested interest in maintaining the quality of their products and do so by taking a long term view of business situations.
More than 25 Million medical implants have helped people live longer lives – and the continued Gore research helps millions more enjoy a better quality of life through a wide variety of products-such as waterproof shoes!
Yes, the $2 Billion company behind GORE-TEX® fabric is much bigger than these waterproof shoes.
But the waterproof shoes are taken seriously and this ongoing research to maintain the quality of all their products directly affected the quality of my travels and time with my family. From splashing through puddles in Casablanca to “making trails” with our shoes through the snow at the Christmas market in Munich – GORE-TEX® fabric expertly protected my family- directly increasing the quality and value of our travels.
Thanks to W.L. Gore & Associates for a valuable travel resource – your contribution to our packing list made all the difference!
Shoes protected by GORE-TEX® fabric are a 
Jet With Kids Approved! resource for traveling families!
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