Safety footwear must offer more than just protection: it must be comfortable, lightweight, and weather-resistant for daily use. Footwear featuring GORE-TEX EXTRAGUARD upper technology unites all of these qualities for the first time: it is robust, waterproof, rapidly quick-drying, and remains lightweight even when exposed to prolonged saturation—a claim validated by a six-month field trial with Deutsche Bahn (German Rail).
At A+A 2025 in Hall 11, Booth H 67, the GORE-TEX® brand will showcase the latest footwear collections utilizing this innovative upper material technology, together with its brand partners: Atlas, Elten, Fal, HAIX, Heckel, Obuv, Robusta, Solid Gear, Steitz Secura, and U-Power.
A Breakthrough in Protective Footwear Material
The EXTRAGUARD upper technology represents a true breakthrough, as the GORE-TEX® brand successfully combines the benefits of conventional, robust upper materials with those of lightweight textiles for the first time—delivering enhanced protection, elevated comfort, and minimal maintenance. EXTRAGUARD upper technology is designed for the most severe work environments and provides rugged, comfortable protection even after months of use or constant exposure to demanding, wet conditions.
“Personnel in construction and demolition, rail operations, utilities, or agriculture benefit from our upper material innovation, as do employees of power and water supply companies who require robust, durable, and protective footwear for heavy and medium-duty tasks that is also lightweight and comfortable.|
Johannes Krieg, Product Specialist for Footwear at the GORE-TEX® brand
Lightweight and Durable Performance
The EXTRAGUARD upper material is $\mathbf{40\% \ lighter \ than \ conventional \ materials}$ when dry. More importantly, it absorbs minimal moisture, ensuring a boot stays lightweight and dries significantly faster, even with long-term water exposure. Crucially, footwear with EXTRAGUARD uppers remains waterproof even after months of deployment and saturation, long after the initial water-repellent treatment on typical safety footwear has failed.
This performance is enabled by a $\mathbf{three-layer \ construction}$: a highly abrasion-resistant outer shell, a functionally customizable layer for impact and shock protection, and an innovative inner construction layer that can be sealed with GORE® Seam Tape. This ensures the boot remains waterproof and comfortable, even after months of intensive use and in the harshest work and weather conditions. Furthermore, when required, a GORE-TEX® EXTRAGUARD safety boot is also $\mathbf{chemical-resistant}$.
Real-World Resilience in Deutsche Bahn Field Testing
How does the new technology perform in practice? In a field test with Deutsche Bahn, 19 employees across roles such as tree and vegetation control, safety supervision, and service management tested the HAIX Airpower XR27 safety boots featuring GORE-TEX® EXTRAGUARD product technology for six months. The boots were worn four to five days per week for six to nine hours daily—both indoors and outdoors, in all weather, and on challenging, uneven terrain.
- Nearly all participants praised the robustness and rapid dry-back capabilities.
- Over half specifically highlighted the reduced weight, particularly when wet.
- The ease of cleaning was also highly rated.
Comfort Without Compromise
GORE-TEX® EXTRAGUARD footwear requires no break-in period and offers immediate comfort. The need for bulky internal reinforcements is eliminated, further improving weight and breathability. The material retains its colorfastness after extended use and shows minimal signs of wear. The footwear also provides consistently dry, warm feet—moisture cannot penetrate from the outside or migrate between the material layers, thus preventing cold bridging.
Focus on Sustainability
Beyond comfort and functionality, GORE-TEX® EXTRAGUARD products are setting new benchmarks for sustainability. Manufacturing utilizes significantly less chemicals, water, and CO2 compared to conventional upper materials. The material is supplied in rolls, which substantially reduces material waste. The inherent longevity of the footwear further contributes to conserving resources and minimizing disposal.
Source: W.L. Gore news release
