Since 1959, the material has gone through many iterations and applications, resulting in a selection of finely-tuned technologies, each with its own use case. Today, there are multiple versions of the Gore-Tex membrane. Other brands have created their own membranes, like The North Face's FutureLight, but as of now, none have the name recognition or reputation of Gore-Tex. You can find Gore-Tex on jackets, pants, boots, gloves and more - essentially, any product that can be worn in the outdoors and needs water and wind protection. This laminate is licensed by brands, but before a brand can bring a product to market using the material, Gore-Tex itself tests the product in question to make sure it lives up to the standards the company sets. Once the membrane is created, it's bonded to outer textiles and linings, which creates the Gore-Tex laminate. Anyone who has worn a waterproof and wind-proof jacket without the tech will be familiar with the clammy and slick feeling of trapped sweat that can't escape. The breathability of Gore-Tex is what makes it so unique. Human sweat is small enough that when we start to perspire, the water vapor can move through the membrane, maintaining breathability and comfort. So how does a membrane with billions upon billions of tiny pores maintain breathability? Each of the pores is 700 times bigger than a water vapor molecule, which is about 0.27 of a nanometer across. The three tenants of Gore-Tex are that is it is wind-proof, waterproof and breathable. The same principle applies to the wind-proofing properties of the fabric - the wind can't get through the permeable membrane. The volume and size of the pores is the secret to Gore-Tex's waterproofing abilities: water is too large to permeate the membrane. There are nine billion pores on every square inch of the Gore-Tex membrane, and each of these pores is 20,000 times smaller than a water droplet. Seven years later, Gore-Tex came on to the market. The stretching had created a microporous material with a unique set of characteristics. The Nucleo still feels like a lightweight hiker which is impressive considering that it’s a high cut supportive boot.Ten years later, in 1969, their son Bob made the discovery that led to the Gore-Tex membrane: he stretched the PTFE rapidly, which resulted in expanded PTFE (e-PTFE for short). The North Face Ultra Fastpack II and the Lowa Levante are both about 5 ounces lighter, but they sacrifice a lot to achieve that weight. The Nucleo is middle of the pack in terms of actual weight compared to the other boots tested. On the other hand, this could prove to be a disadvantage if you’re primarily hiking in cooler conditions or navigating icy stream crossings (purely for heat loss, not because of any water ingress). It also uses a Gore-Tex Surround lining that is fully waterproof and breathable, so it is great for hiking in warmer temperatures. However, since it doesn’t use any mesh and has a high cut, it provides a lot of protection from rocks and debris entering the boot. After a few uses the boots did show more signs of wear, mostly due to their color which displays scuffs more prominently than a darker colored boot. In terms of durability the Nucleo is full nubuck leather which is highly resistant to abrasion and much more durable than the more commonly seen combination of mesh and synthetic uppers. It also uses a so-called Impact Brake System on the outside heel to cushion impact when hiking down steep hills. It provides great traction on wet, slippery surfaces or when scrambling over rocky terrain due to its aggressive tread and sticky Vibram rubber. The Nucleo features a Vibram Nano sole which grips well in many conditions. The only downside is that the boot does feel a bit warm in hotter conditions. The Nucleo is a high-cut boot that sits above the ankle to provide support without ever feeling restrictive thanks to its flexible leather material. It uses compression molded EVA and TPU inserts that do a great job of providing the needed stability, even on tricky terrain like steep and rocky trails. Overall the Nucleo provides a lot of support and stability and is only beat by the Oboz Sawtooth. La Sportiva got around this problem by using Nano Cells, a polyurethane, fine mesh material, which allows air to circulate under the foot. Another common complaint among waterproof hiking boots is their lack of breathability. It is made of full nubuck leather, which provides immediate comfort right out of the box. It is by far the most comfortable of the boots tested due to the padding all around the ankle and tongue. While the Nucleo is an all-around impressive boot, comfort is one category where it really shines.
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