Put to the test: Waterproofing
Ion-Mask technology helps keep your feet bone-dry in these boots, regardless of the conditions you're walking in.
What the packaging says:
“Ion-Mask technology works at a molecular level, binding invisibly to the surface of products, giving them an extraordinary ability to repel most liquids”.
What they are referring to is a thin layer that will keep your boots dry inside “without affecting the look and feel of the shoe”.
So what does it mean?
There are two ways to waterproof hiking boots: by lining the inside of the shoe with a waterproof membrane, or coating the exterior with a water-repellent such as dubbin. Both have drawbacks.
With interior waterproofing, your toes stay dry, but the boot exterior gets damp, making it heavier and causing it to age faster. An exterior coating blocks out water but it can discolour the leather, and needs to be reapplied often because it wears off.
With Ion-Mask technology, they put the boots in a vacuum chamber and expose it to a special gas that bonds with the leather fibres to form an invisible barrier. It was invented by the British military for garments that could repel a chemical attack.
The verdict:
I went hiking in a pair of Hi-Tec Altitude Ultra boots (currently the only Hi-Tec boots with Ion-Mask) and stood in a river for 5 minutes. Bone dry. I squelched around in some gooey mud, which simply washed off. I squirted tomato sauce on the one boot and red wine on the other. Both wiped off without leaving a trace.
The Ion-Mask does not scrape off when the boots get scuffed; it rather seems to protect the leather from abrasion. I’ve scuffed my test pair up nicely, and they’re still blocking water as nicely as they did on Day 1.
That said, I’m sure a very deep gash in the leather would affect the waterproofing. For normal wear and tear, however, they should serve you fine.
Price: R1 100 (men’s); R1 000 (women’s).
Contact: Hi-Tec; 011 516 5800; www.hi-tec.com
Mark says:
This one is of the more significant developments in outdoor gear. Expect to see more boots with Ion-Mask technology.
(Note: Prices accurate in November 2008)
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