GORE-TEX® Brand in partnership with HAIX are thrilled to accept the Extreme Weather PPE Innovation Award at the 2025 global PCIAW® ceremony. Our newly launched fire boots feature the innovative EXTRAGUARD Upper Technology, developed through extensive research, rigorous testing, and advanced production processes. Winning this award provides validation within the industry for our efforts in enhancing the safety and comfort of some of our most valued safety workers in Fire and Technical Rescue Services.
Historically, there has always been a trade-off between comfort and protection in the firefighting sector. Every piece of vital protective equipment adds more weight for workers to carry, potentially impeding successful rescues from building fires, floods, or car accidents. The challenge has been to provide PPE that is lightweight, waterproof, fireproof and comfortable. Innovations in this field that could produce lighter gear without fear of compromising protection are therefore highly desirable but have proved elusive.
Industry research reports show that the heavy weight of firefighters’ boots is particularly implicated in slips, trips and falls due to restricted mobility, especially under intense working conditions. NFPA statistics highlight the leading type of firefighter injury as sprains and strains, with fire boots being prone to gaining more weight in the extremely wet conditions of fires, floods, and accidents. Traditional boots absorb water and become heavier as the water repellent finish wears off.
Tests on traditional boots in the GORE-TEX® Brand labs indicated this to be up to several hundred grams per boot after one hour of water exposure. Not only do the boots become significantly heavier, but they also get wet and cold and require a long time to dry out again.
EXTRAGUARD Upper Technology in combination with GORE-TEX® CROSSTECH Product Technology achieves a balance between lightweight thermal protection and breathability while maintaining high-level defence against extreme elements and hazardous substances. These include resistance to heat and flame, commonly encountered chemicals, blood, and viral pathogens, sharp and falling objects and abrasion.
This robust upper material has been developed after extensive scientific research and consists of three layers. The first is a highly abrasion-resistant and flame-retardant protective layer. The second is a functional layer providing insulation and physical protection, while the third layer is an innovative low water absorption material. This 3-layer upper is sealed using GORE-SEAM® Tape and features a GORE-TEX CROSSTECH® lining.
All these features work together to produce a super-light, quick drying, easy to clean boot, which is 100% waterproof. The boots retain their lightness even under extreme wet conditions, reducing the strain on firefighters and increasing comfort. Importantly, extensive wearer trials have indicated that GORE-TEX® CROSSTECH® EXTRAGUARD fire boots are hugely favoured by firefighters.
The innovative upper material is 40% lighter than leather and is extremely robust and durable, thus prolonging product life. This is confirmed by a variety of tests conducted under laboratory and real-life conditions, both at boot and material level.
GORE-TEX® Products are always tested both in-house by our teams of experts and independently as well as being subject to extensive user trials, where feedback can lead to adaptations before the final product is launched. In this case, although the boots have been tailored specifically to firefighters, adapted versions are also available for use in other hazardous occupations such as the police and defence services.
Winning this award is a source of pride for the teams who worked tirelessly to develop these lightweight fire boots, most importantly because we believe this product will lead to safer working conditions for our valued fire-fighting services. We will continue to strive to be leaders in the field of protective PPE, through delivering our technical fabric research and innovation.
