Everything You Wanted to Know About
Gore-Tex® & Other
Waterproof-Breathables
What is Gore-Tex®?
Gore-Tex® is a patented name referring to the fabric made when the Gore-Tex® membrane is laminated to high-performance textiles, which are then used to make coats, accessories and footwear. Manufacturers (such as The North Face) must be authorized to use Gore-Tex® fabrics in their products, and when they do so they must meet specific standards set by Gore-Tex®.
How does it work?
The Gore-Tex® membrane has 9 billion pores per square inch, with each pore 20,000 times smaller than a water droplet. That's too small for water and wind to pass through, thus keeping you dry and warm. However, these same pores are large enough for moisture vapor to pass through, so your body's perspiration is able to escape, keeping you from getting clammy and uncomfortable. That's what "waterproof-breathable" is all about.
Is Gore-Tex® the only waterproof-breathable (WPB) fabric available?
No. Other outerwear manufacturers have developed similar WPB technologies and have given them different names. Sierra Designs created Genesis, Columbia offers Omni-Tech, and other companies have other names. Though they are all different, they do share the same basic concept of a membrane that allows moisture vapor to pass while barring water droplets. Other WPB products are less expensive than Gore-Tex® but with the same effect. By any name, WPB technology has been the most influential development to outerwear in the last few decades.
How warm will it keep me?
Although WPB can protect you from the elements that threaten your comfort (rain, snow, wind), the fabric itself is thin, and has no insulating qualitites. So in really cold conditions, you'll want to wear extra layers beneath your WPB garment. The good news, however, is that makes WPB equally functional in warm, wet weather – it will keep you dry without adding heat, making it ideal for spring and summer rainstorms.
Why does my WPB coat feel wet?
All WPB membranes are laminated to the back of a water-repellent outer fabric which serves as the outside of your coat. Regular wear and tear can cause the water-repellency of the outer fabric to fail, so that liquid may saturate that layer causing "wet out" – a condition which makes you feel damp, even though the moisture isn't actually passing through to the inside. The most effective way to maintain your garment's water repellency is to keep it clean, and wash it often.
How should I clean my WPB?
Easy. Just toss it in the washing machine in warm water with a powder or liquid detergent or a cleanser specially designed for WPB – we carry some. (No fabric softener or bleach.) Tumble dry on a normal setting and you're done. You can wash it as often as you need to; in fact, washing and tumble-drying actually restores the water-repellency of the outer fabric.
Who invented Gore-Tex®?
Gore-Tex® is actually named after the man who discovered and patented the technology – Bill Gore. Gore-Tex® fiber was first manufactured in 1972, and the first commercial order was received in 1976. In 1981, NASA's first space shuttle mission, shuttle Columbia, carried astronauts wearing spacesuits made of Gore-Tex®.
Are WPB garments guaranteed?
Yes. The performance of all WPB garments we carry is guaranteed for the life of the garment. The only exception is footwear, which is only guaranteed for one year.