Imagine a lightweight, highly durable footwear upper material with very low water absorption. Meet EXTRAGUARD.
I first became aware of the EXTRAGUARD material at Enforce Tac and was pleasantly surprised to see a couple of boots featuring this new footwear technology from GORE-TEX Military Fabrics at AUSA. I immediately considered it for hot, wet aka jungle boots, but it looks like a couple of European brands are creating new temperate models.
EXTRAGUARD isn’t a membrane like you’d expect from WL Gore & Co. Instead, it’s a stand alone material that looks like leather. It is sealed with GORE Seam Tape and may be used in conjunction with a GORE-TEX lining (inner bootie construction) for additional environmental protection.
Its durability and low water absorption means it doesn’t wrinkle, crease, warp, or fade. It’s also 40% lighter than leather and has low conductive heat loss when wet. It also dries faster than leather and doesn’t look worn out once it’s dry.
