The GO Outdoors Guide to GORE-TEX®
What Is GORE-TEX® Fabric?
GORE-TEX® products are well known for providing long-lasting, comfortable weather protection you can trust from your head down to your toes. But what exactly is the GORE-TEX® fabric? Is it a coating or an impregnation? An outer fabric or an inner textile lining? It's none of those but all of the following:
- It's a membrane
The GORE-TEX® membrane is at the heart of all GORE-TEX® products. Due to its microporous structure it has some amazing characteristics.
- It's a laminate
A GORE-TEX® laminate is created by bonding the GORE-TEX® membrane between high-performance lining and outer textiles.
- It's a product technology
GORE-TEX® product technologies offer unique solutions for specific activities and climate conditions to fit your individual needs.
- It's a promise
All products engineered with GORE-TEX® product technology carry the GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY™ promise.
How Does the GORE-TEX® Membrane Work?
At the heart of the GORE-TEX® fabric is an extremely thin membrane that's durably waterproof, windproof, and breathable. It has over 9 billion pores per square inch.
The microscopic pores on the membrane are 20,000 times smaller than a water droplet, which means water droplets can’t pass through. The pores are 700 times larger than a water vapour molecule which means perspiration passes right through. This is what makes the membrane breathable. The volume of air that passes through one square meter of fabric in one second (l/m²sec) is 5.0 or less, creating a truly windproof membrane.
GORE-TEX® Garments
GORE-TEX® Products - Everyday Versatility
Garments engineered with GORE-TEX® fabric are durably waterproof and windproof, combined with optimised breathability—enduring products that maximise protection and comfort for the wearer. Multiple fabrics and construction methods include insulated, non-insulated, 2-Layer and 3-Layer.
GORE-TEX® Products with 2 layer construction
Ideal for a wide range of outdoor activities, with this construction a GORE-TEX® membrane is bonded to the outer fabric only. The benefit: the separate lining inside improves wearing comfort and versatility. This construction can be combined with insulation, keeping the wearer dry and warm.
GORE-TEX® Products with 3 layer construction
Unlike the 2-layer construction, this construction bonds the GORE-TEX® membrane to both the outer fabric and the inner lining. The benefit: no movement between the layers, which means less wear and tear, and enhanced durability.
GORE-TEX® Products with Paclite® product technology
With an extremely lightweight and packable construction, garments with Paclite® product technology are the ideal solution for hiking, cycling and other sports where weight and space are critical. These garments keep you dry and cool during demanding activities and warm during cool down, even in windy, cold weather.
GORE-TEX® products with GORE® C-KNIT™ backer technology
Garments made with the new 3-layer GORE-TEX® products with GORE® C-KNIT™ backer technology are durably waterproof, breathable and windproof. The lightweight construction delivers improved comfort for outdoor enthusiasts who enjoy hiking, trekking, all mountain skiing/snowboarding and freeriding.
GORE-TEX® Active - Fast Pace, High Intensity
Garments engineered with GORE-TEX® Active fabrics are built for extreme breathability and are ideal for highly aerobic, done-in-a-day activities.
Construction
GORE-TEX® Active product technology combines a lighter, thinner GORE-TEX® membrane with a fine =40 denier performance textile to deliver an ultimate 3-layer solution. On the liner side, a proprietary lamination technology integrates the backer textile directly into the GORE-TEX® membrane. The streamlined laminate package and the optimised garment design exhibit utmost heat loss and moisture vapour transport properties, thus holding true to the GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY™ promise.
GORE-TEX® Pro - Engineered for the Extreme
Garments engineered with GORE-TEX® Pro fabrics are built for maximised ruggedness and are ideal for extreme and extended use.
Construction
GORE-TEX® Pro products for mountainsport activities exclusively utilise a revolutionary, patent pending, 100 % ePTFE-based multilayer membrane system with a unique microstructure. The membrane is durably bonded to both the outer material and a specially developed robust inner lining. Outer materials that meet strict performance criteria (denier =40) and the patented, thin, low denier Gore Micro Grid Backer technology which enhances breathability, reduces weight, internal abrasion and snag resistance are paired with a demanding garment design specification to ensure the high performance of 3-layer GORE-TEX® Pro products.
GORE-TEX® Pro garments feature the GORE Micro Grid backer technology. An innovative patent-pending internal backer fabric, this technology improves internal abrasion and snag resistance, enhances breathability and decreases weight. It also allows the garment to slide easily over mid-layers.
Extreme Wet Weather construction
Advanced garment design techniques are used to create garments that deliver superior protection against extreme and extended wet weather conditions.
GORE-TEX® Footwear
GORE-TEX® Extended Comfort Footwear
GORE-TEX® Extended Comfort Footwear is ideal for moderate and warmer conditions. Great for high-output activities and everyday use. The technology is perfect for constant changes between indoors and outdoors, standing and walking, working and leisure time.
GORE-TEX® Performance Comfort Footwear
GORE-TEX® Performance Comfort Footwear offers optimised climate comfort for moderate weather conditions and a wide range of outdoor activities.
GORE-TEX® Insulated Comfort Footwear
GORE-TEX® Insulated Comfort Footwear comes in a range of insulation options to keep feet dry and comfortably warm during cold conditions and winter outdoor activities.
GORE-TEX® footwear with SURROUND® Product Technology
When it's warm outside or during office hours inside, GORE-TEX® footwear with SURROUND® Product Technology provides optimum climate comfort in stylish designs.
GORE-TEX® footwear with SURROUND® Product Technology not only keeps your feet dry all around, it also allows them to stay nice and cool. The innovative sole structure on these shoes blends prominent functionality with contemporary design.
Shoes with SURROUND® Product Technology have a special GORE-TEX® laminate lining that is integrated into the shaft and surrounds the foot – from above as well as below. Together with the open sole construction, this creates an absolutely waterproof and all-around highly breathable shoe.
GORE-TEX® Gloves
Gloves engineered with GORE-TEX® inserts offer enduring weather protection and comfort with balanced heat transfer and optimum moisture management – even in harsh conditions. The result: your hands stay warmer when it's cold and drier when you perspire.
Care & Maintenance for GORE-TEX® products
GARMENTS
Before laundering your garment, zip the front closure, pockets and pit zips completely, and fasten all flaps and straps. Be sure to follow the garment manufacturer’s instructions to ensure high performance.
Wash
Machine wash on a warm cycle (105º F/40º C) using a small amount of liquid detergent. Rinse twice, minimise spinning to reduce creasing. Do not use powder detergents or any products that contain fabric softeners, conditioners, stain removers or bleach as they will affect garment performance. Do not wash with heavily soiled clothing.
Bleach
Do not use chlorine bleach.
Dry
Line dry your garment, or tumble dry it on a warm, gentle cycle. Once it is dry, tumble dry your garment for 20 minutes to reactivate the durable water-repellent (DWR) treatment on the outer fabric. IRON If unable to tumble dry, iron the dry garment on gentle setting (warm, no steam) by placing a towel or cloth between the garment and the iron. This will help reactivate DWR treatment on your garment’s outer fabric.
Dry Clean
Gore recommends home laundering. If professional dry cleaning is necessary, request that the cleaner use clear distilled hydrocarbon solvent for rinsing. After dry cleaning, the garment’s outer fabric will need a new water-repellent treatment. Follow your garment manufacturer’s instructions.
Water Repellent Finish
When the factory applied treatment can no longer be reactivated, apply a new water-repellent treatment (Such as Nikwax or Grangers botjh available at GO Outdoors) to the garment’s outer fabric.
FOOTWEAR
Wash
Clean the exterior with a cloth or brush and lukewarm water. The manufacturer may recommend leather treatment or preservation. Shake out sand, gravel and dirt from inside the footwear. Remove and shake out the foot bed if applicable.
Dry
Dry naturally at moderate temperatures. Avoid direct heat. Convection style boot dryers work well.
Water Repellent Finish
Follow the footwear manufacturer’s instructions for treating the external fabric and leather. These treatments will not affect the GORE-TEX® liner.
Stain Removal
Follow the footwear manufacturer’s instructions.
GLOVES
Wash
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions. Hand wash warm. Avoid using soap on leather areas of the shell. Squeeze water from fingertips to wrist. Do not twist.
Dry Clean
Follow the manufacturer’s instructions.
Iron
Steam iron warm, placing a towel or cloth between the garment and the iron. No need to iron the garment until it is completely dry.
Dry
Drip dry with the fingers facing upwards. Tumble drying on a low heat setting is acceptable unless manufacturer’s care instructions say otherwise.
Water Repellent Finish
Gore recommends applying a topical water repellency restorative for outdoor fabrics.