Breathable, waterproof boots? Get Durbarry!

The brand Durbarry is synonymous with style, elegance and an air of the best of Irish country living – with stylish, functional and practical boots, coats and accessories for any occasion. Some of their best products however are their boots, which are breathable and waterproof all at once. These two elements combined are essential for any hardwearing, long lasting leather boot and Durbarry have perfected the process.

Leather that breathes

Boots that breathe are good for your feet – they allow air to circulate and any moisture will remove itself, drying naturally – this means that if you’re hiking or otherwise out all day in your boots, you won’t feel like you’re walking through a sodden puddle with every step. This breathable quality means that sweat and any impinging moisture will be wicked away, giving your feet the chance to breathe naturally and prevent the formation of rubbing blisters or other problems due to chafing or sticky socks. If you spend any time at all on your feet, you’ll know that the primary cause of blisters or other pressure sores is rubbing, and water only increases the feeling of friction inside your socks and shoes. The feeling of walking in cold, wet shoes is also unpleasant and is believed to be one of the reasons people get head colds after walking great distances (the combined issue of placing stress on your immune system by walking a great distance, possibly in the cold and keeping your extremities heated is often cited as a reason for head colds in hikers). So breathable boots are essential.

If you’re a horse rider, boots that are comfortable and breathe are also a must – the last thing you want is chafing when your boots rub or move uncomfortably, especially on longer rides, so breathable boots provide support for wearing them, even in warm weather.

Waterproof leather

It’s critical to understand though, that even if an item is breathable, that leather needs to be protected, or it will rot and degrade very quickly. Leather is a natural material, which means once cured and treated, it can only last for a certain length of time before the treatment fails and your boots become worn, or start to fall apart. So waterproofing them and renewing their waterproofing coating is an essential part of wearing them. There are treatments that you can use to ensure that they are kept pristine, but one of the most important things to understand about the treatments is they only work if applied regularly. Once leather is damaged by water, it’s very difficult to seal them again. So having waterproof boots that are cured and treated from the outset means they’ll last longer. Waterproofing also allows them to be cleaned easily.

Get stylish, elegant boots, coats and accessories from Durbarry – they’re designed to look good and function at their best, while offering great value for money.