Womens Platform Shoes

Peter Abatan posted:

If you are an experienced parent in the children's footwear department, you may have bought shoes that did not protect your child's feet from rain and surface water. There are 2 companies at the forefront of weatherproofing your child’s feet. One is called SympaTex® and the other Gore-Tex®, for parents that love outdoor activities will be familiar with these 2 brands. They are used in all applications from outdoor activity clothing to camping. So how do these technologies work?

Gore-Tex® Technology

Gore-Tex® is a fabric based material consisting of a thin membrane that is bonded to a fabric or leather. The membrane has billions of pores per square inch; this makes it impenetrable to liquid water while still allowing water vapour to the atmosphere. This makes Gore-Tex® breathable, waterproof, and windproof. The outer fabric is treated with water repellent and seams are sealed to prevent water leakage through pinholes caused during the sewing of the fabric. The membrane coating provides a protective layer and also prevents contamination (i.e. body oils) from wetting the laminate and passage of moisture through the membrane, this technology works in a similar way that the skin works, by allowing moisture (sweat) out and preventing water from getting in.

SympaTex® Technology

SympaTex® fabrics are branded waterproof and "breatheable" fabrics (leather or textile) made or licenced by SympaTex® Technologies GmbH. They all feature a waterproof, windproof and breatheable membrane, laminated to fabrics (leather or textile) either on its inner surface or sandwiched between two fabric layers (often marketed as "3 layer laminate"). The latter system offers greater durability, by better protecting the integrity of the SympaTex® layer from abrasion to both the outside and the inside of the garment or footwear. The SympaTex® membrane like Gore-Tex® does not allow water to get in from the outside, but water vapour molecules are transported through the membrane from the inside to the outside by way of an absorption & evaporation process. This moisture transfer through the membrane is what is referred to as "breatheability".

Gore-Tex® and SympaTex® Footwear Manufacturers

From the description of both membranes we all know that there is a going to be a premium over a pair of shoes that do not have it. On average expect to pay a £10 or $18 USD premium over a pair that does not have the membrane. However, you have the benefit that the shoes will keep water out but also allow moisture out. Another major benefit is the reduction in the possibility of a of foot infection, as most foot infection is caused by damp feet reacting with bacteria in the footwear. Ricosta is a leader in the manufacturer of children's shoes with weatherproof membranes and each season incorporates this technology in their shoes more than any other manufacturer, but there are also other players in the market that use both or either on of these weatherproof membranes. They are:-

Ricosta

SuperFit

Richter

Däumling

Noël

Mod8

Babybotte

Ecco

Clarks

Primigi

Both Gore-Tex® and SympaTex® Footwear keep feet dry and protected because they are durably waterproof and breathable, and are engineered to provide optimized climate comfort across a wide range of outdoor recreational activities.

Key advantages of Gore-Tex® and SympaTex® Footwear

Disperses liquid perspiration through the waterproof membrane to the outside.

Perfect comfort in any weather, in every season.

Optimal combination of breatheability and insulation

Feet stay warm and dry, never sweaty - even in extreme conditions

Durable waterproof protection stops moisture from seeping in.

Quality mark for premium and high quality footwear.

Finding Gore-Tex® and SympaTex® Footwear

When looking for children’s shoes that are weatherproof, asking for Gore-Tex® and SympaTex® Footwear will tell the retailer that as a parent you are knowledgeable and that you are looking for shoes that will protect your child’s feet from the elements. If buying online, just type “Gore-Tex” or “SympaTex” into the search box on the website, this should list all shoes that are available with this protective membrane.

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