>>2679415Shellboots always work 100%. Shin-deep bogs, hip deep melting snow. Always dry. And river crossings suddenly are very easy because there is no padding that can soak up water.
Most of the time they are overkill, and boots with a good rubber rand and full leather outer + gore-tex inner + optional gaiters in shoulder seasons is all that is needed. On the rare occasion that the boot gets completely soaked you just use a plastic bag for 2 days until the boot is dry again. This happened exactly once over the last 1000 miles I did in Scandinavian bogs so it's not really a concern.
Once more this is proof enough for me that trailrunner wearing people mask their orthopedic issues by sneering enviously on bootchads.
And gore tex isn't a meme. It works much better for keeping your feet dry than synthetic or leather lining.
Leather lining is just more comfortable and takes a few days more to get completely soaked with sweat before you notice it's real downsides, i.e. feet never get warm again and are always wet, leather lining doesn't dry because the sweat penetrates the padding.
What doesn't work is boots that have no complete rubber rand or have synthetic parts on their outer material.
