>>99302Leather will not withstand constant soaking, because it is dependent on a DWR surface treatment to keep dry. At some point it will soak through. Goretex does not breath as well and it's more expensive, but it is basically a breathable sack of plastic around your foot that is 100% impenetrable to water from the outside. The difference between the two is similar to that of a breathable rain jacket that does or does not have goretex.
It comes down to a few factors: how much your feet sweat, environment, budget, and whether the boot fits.
I have a pair of TPS520 and a pair of Fugitive GTX boots from Asolo. Both of mine are Goretex lined but that was more incidental than central to the fact that they fit very well and are highly durable. I have friends who have done just fine on two week trips without goretex, but we were also in high deserts and mountains which are very dry environments. Somewhere like the Adirondacks or Appalachia in the summer may make it a better idea to have goretex for when it rains.
