Can chest wader boots constructed of Gore-Tex or other purportedly “breathable” waterproof fabrics diffuse moisture into water in which the wearer is submerged?
Environmental conditions: Sunny, Air temp. 95 F, water temp. 65 F, Relative humidity 50%, Air pressure 30.00 inHg.
If the wearer is engaged in strenuous activity and actively sweating, could sweat, or water vapor, diffuse through wader fabric into water?
I would imagine that with a micro-porous barrier like GoreTex that relies on the relative difference between the size of air (as a gas) and water molecules to allow the fabric to breathe “out” and still keep water (mainly as rain) from penetrating in, that the issue is really one of relative pressure between the two environments . I cannot imagine there is enough pressure between the GorTex garment and the body to force air out into the water as the pressure of the surrounding water pressing in (if submerged like a wader) is going to be much higher than standard atmospheric air pressure pressing out.
From what I know of it, no it wouldn’t work. In order for the water to difuse out you need air on the other side. Also gortex is a very thin piece of plastic, almost like a kitchen garbage bag (with micropores in it) so it wouldn’t hold up to the strains that waders require.
A bit more info- I own several pairs of wader boots, both permeable and non-permeable.
Considering the portions of my legs and lower body that are submerged, I have noticed very little difference in sweatiness between thin non-permeable waders and supposedly permeable waders.
Though I wear a wading belt, the waders are essentially open at the top and at atmospheric pressure. When pressed up against my sweaty skin due to the water pressure from immersion, the waders have very little interior surface area that is not in direct contact with condensation.
Outfitters such as Cabela’s, Orvis, etc. charge up to three times more for “breathable waders” and I would like to know if there is any way these boots could possibly diffuse sweat (or water vapor) into water itself, or if the benefit is strictly limited to walking around on land.
“Breathable” materials like Gore-Tex should not be used for any waterproof application. Given sufficient force, plain ol’ liquid water will penetrate it easily, especially if there is a wet surface on the inside (like, say, a sweaty fisherman). I say this as a very frustrated motorcyclist who used to ride in the rain, and who felt very let down by Gore-Tex.
Well, the story I’ve heard is that Gore-Tex is in fact completely water proof (assuming the seams are taped and all that jazz). However, if the fabric outside the membrane stops beading water and wets out, then the vapour will condense against it, making it seem as if the Gore-Tex is leaking. I suppose we could test this empircally by wearing white cotton under Gore-Tex and then putting food colouring in the shower, and seeing whether we got wet with colour-less sweat or colourful shower water… I’ll just take it on faith. This is why you want to avoid detergents when washing Gore-Tex, and probably road oils and grime would break down the surface water-beading in a hurry, too.
I’d imagine a wader underwater would be pretty thoroughly wetted out, so they would no longer be breathing at all.
Yes, Gore-Tex is, for the most part, completely waterproof in most clothing applications. It’s pretty hard to push water droplets through the membrane if it is intact. Properly designed garments will protect the GT membrane and it won’t tear or rip after many years of hard use.
People often assume their GT is leaking when in fact it has merely stopped breathing. The DWR coating on the outside of the garment is what makes water bead up. This is important because if the water creates a layer over the outside of the garment, it stops breathing and then your sweat will build up and make you wet. You can reapply the DWR coating, or reactivate it by applying heat (dryer or iron). This is needed after a lot of hard use on a regular basis.
It is very possible to make bad garments out of GT. Some don’t have good seams, or too many needle holes or badly placed seams.
And, in case it’s not obvious from what Telemark said, Gore-Tex (et al) won’t breathe at all if the outside of the fabric is underwater (though they’d still be waterproof).
So you could make waders out of Gore-Tex, but there’d be no benefit while you’re in the water. I suppose if you’re wearing chest waders and only in, say, knee-high water, then you would have a slightly less sweaty back, and uh, sit-upon area if the waders were Gore-Tex. But your feet and calves would be more or less the same as if you were wearing a non-breathable waterproof material.
Give me a freakin’ break. I do not sweat ice-cold water. Gore-Tex is NOT waterproof. If you wear a Gore-Tex rainsuit on a motorcycle, your butt WILL get wet. Now, it’s possible that wading does not generate the pressure necessary to drive water through the pores, but sitting defintely does.
Something else to add, if one side is fresh water and the other side is salt (from a salty fisherman) will water be pulled to the salty side?
Well, I have a hard time buying that, Nametag, since I have owned 3 sets of Gore-Tex boots, and I have stood in streams with all of them, to just below the top of the boot. I have stood there for several minutes, and not a drop of water has ever gotten inside the boot. I think your Gore-Tex suit has poor seams or has been washed and damaged.
Jman