There are many different products that claim to be waterproof and breathable and they are used in a variety of sporting apparel. However, Gore-Tex is by far the best waterproof breathable membrane. The beauty of Gore-Tex is that it repels water and stops it from coming into something like your hiking shoes, while at the same time it is breathable and expels perspiration from your shoes. This makes Gore-Tex an outstanding material to use in the production of multi-purpose hiking shoes and other apparel often favored by hikers.\r