All true. In the snowmelt conditions of Maine in early summer, the standing water is so high that water will enter the top of the boot. Some people carry a second set of shoes for water crossing. I only had flip flops (bad idea), and it was too dangerous to cross the rocky streams in those. That would almost certainly be a boot injury.

Whatever you plan to wear into the 100 Mile Wilderness, especially in the spring or early summer, expect them to get wet on the inside. Take many dry socks.

I know this is YEARS away, but if they are truly waterproof, they won’t get wet, hence the name waterproof. I can walk through water with my boots, and nothing gets wet. IF your feet are getting wet or the inside of the boot is getting wet, you do not have a waterproof boot!

A ground sheet is just what it says … a ground sheet. It protects from objects and moisture from the ground not above. Shouldn’t be outside the size of the tent if so you asking to funnel water from the sides straight in. I would also have to question the waterproof boots. Once those things are wet you have wet feet for 100 miles . I’ll stick with something that may let water in but will dry in time not sweat my feet to death.. Happy hiking

It can go both ways. Groundsheets serve two purposes. One is to protect the fabric from wear and tear as you turn all night, and the other is to protect from moisture, including rain and ground condensation. In a heavy downpour, it’s hard to stay dry no matter the setup you have. Whether you stay dry or get wet will mostly be determined by how well you picked your tent spot. If you have a heavy downpour or heavy runoff running side to side, staying dry will be tough. I find having the oversized footprint has worked good enough for me, but I’ve been flushed out of campgrounds before in heavy downpours.

Thanks for the tips, Earl!

Hi Marty, glad the list helps. I try to keep it updated. If anything seems outdated or missing, feel free to point it out.

Good call on trying to avoid the mosquitoes.