First GORE-TEX police duty footwear with 360° breathability
At IWA Outdoor Classics in Nuremberg last week, W. L. Gore & Associates unveiled its GORE-TEX SURROUND product technology for the production of a new class of police duty footwear, offering 360° breathability in addition to durable waterproofness.
Moisture and warmth produced by the foot are not only conducted out of the shoe via the upper, but also via the sole. This results in the police officers’ feet staying dry and comfortable even at higher temperatures or during physically strenuous activities.
Gore’s footwear partners can now supply police duty footwear featuring the GORE-TEX SURROUND product technology and complying with the requirements of EN ISO 20347:2012 for occupational shoes. This footwear is characterised by a new class of climate comfort, extensive protective features, a light weight and an attractive design. In this regard it lives up to the increased expectations of police officers whose everyday, all-day work takes them indoors and outdoors, where they need to be able to rely on dependable and comfortable footwear across a wide range of activities and weather conditions. MONS Gear Box is still to test this technology. Stay tuned.
As about one third of the sweat produced by the human foot is produced on the sole of the foot, this offers a considerable advantage over the police duty footwear that was typically worn in the past and was not breathable under the sole of the foot. The special structure of the GORE-TEX SURROUND sole creates a significantly larger area through which moisture can be moved away from the foot, increasing the overall breathability of the safety shoe. Moisture and warmth produced by the foot can now also escape from the bottom of the shoe. Via a special GORE-TEX laminate in the sole area, they are directed into a ventilation grid from where they are conducted out of the shoe through side openings in the sole.
Tests conducted in the climate chamber have revealed that during periods of activity the relative humidity of the skin on the foot is lower and during periods of rest the speed at which moisture is moved away from the skin is significantly higher. Shoe styles engineered with GORE-TEX SURROUND product technology offer up to 25% more breathability than GORE-TEX Extended Comfort footwear, according to the company.
The durable waterproofness of the police uniform footwear is ensured by special GORE-TEX lining laminates that are integrated into the upper and sole of the shoe, surrounding the foot on all sides. They provide protection against exposure to water and other liquids while simultaneously preventing the penetration of commonly occurring chemicals, including diesel, AFFF fire-fighting foam (3%), sulphuric acid (37%) and caustic soda (30%), in accordance with ISO 13994/ ASTM F 903, method C1.
