What Is Gore-Tex? Things You Never Know

You can find the Gore-Tex logo on many outdoor products because Gore-Tex is known for making the most windproof, waterproof, and breathable fabrics available. We all know that Gore-Tex keeps us dry, but do we know what Gore-Tex really is? We’ll give you an overview of the Gore-Tex fabric in this article. Please keep reading.

What Is Gore-Tex?

At its most basic, Gore-Tex is a membrane that blocks liquid water while allowing vapor to pass through. This means that Gore-Tex keeps you dry from both the rain that is falling and the sweat that you produce while exercising.

Teflon, also known as expanded polytetrafluoroethylene fiber, serves as the material for the membrane. This polymer is stretched to create a microporous material with more than 9 million pores per square inch.

To make the fabrics completely waterproof and windproof, this membrane is bonded to them in a number of different ways.

How Was Gore-Tex Created?

Bob Gore inadvertently stumbled upon this procedure in 1969. Gore frustratedly twisted one of the heated polytetrafluoroethylene rods while conducting an experiment with them. In the process, he found a brand-new variety of this polymer that is now referred to as ePTFE (extended polytetrafluoroethylene).

Bob Gore needed some time to acquire the required patents for his ground-breaking, recently discovered technology before launching the Gore-Tex brand in 1978.

Types Of Gore-Tex

As Gore-Tex technology advances, a wide variety of Gore-Tex fabrics are now available. Traditional Gore-Tex, Gore-Tex Active, and Gore-Tex Pro are the most widely used varieties.

Gore-Tex

Traditional Gore-Tex, as previously mentioned, is a versatile fabric that can be used for a variety of activities, from mountaineering to everyday wear.

Gore-Tex is a brand name that is renowned for its sturdiness, breathability, and windproof properties. In addition, depending on the application, Gore-Tex is known to come in two- or three-layer constructions.

Gore-Tex Active

Gore-Tex Active is a material that is intended for more active, stop-and-go activities, as the name implies. The sports of climbing and skiing are excellent examples of this type of activity.

With these kinds of activities, you need a jacket that offers protection while also allowing for good ventilation and movement. Lightweight and incredibly breathable, Gore-Tex Active has three layers for added protection.

Gore-Tex Pro

Engineered to be tough, resilient, and able to withstand prolonged use in harsh conditions, Gore-Tex Pro is designed for such use.

Gore-Tex Pro offers durable three-layer construction for maximum protection when you’re engaged in more strenuous activities that expose you to harsh conditions, like multi-day mountaineering, guiding, or freeriding.

How Does Gore-Tex Work?

Stretched PTFE fabric makes up Gore-Tex. Each of the millions of minuscule holes in this fabric, which are much too small to admit even the tiniest water droplet, measures less than a million square inch.

Although sweat is vaporized, it can still pass through Gore-Tex because water vapor has much smaller particles than liquid water, giving it impressive breathability.

Durable water repellent (DWR), a hazardous chemical spray that degrades over several years, must be applied frequently to Gore-Tex fabric in order for it to stay functional.

While DWR isn’t necessary to keep Gore-Tex waterproof, it does keep water off the fabric’s surface, promoting breathability.

Gore-Tex clothing is significantly more prone to overheating without DWR treatment. Additionally, since Gore-Tex clothing cannot be made seamless, the seams of items made with this fabric must be carefully taped in order for them to be approved by the W.L. Gore corporation.

What Is Gore-Tex Used For?

In order to create performance apparel and footwear, such as ski jackets, lightweight shells, gloves, and hiking boots, Gore-Tex is primarily used. Leading outdoor brands like The North Face, Patagonia, Nanamica, and Arc’teryx all use this technology to create the most lightweight and performance-driven fabrics they can for their outdoor products, making Gore-Tex almost synonymous with outdoor culture due to its performance in adverse weather conditions.

Jackets

Hiking jackets are the most obvious items that use Gore-Tex technology. When purchasing a waterproof jacket, be sure the fabric will keep out the elements while allowing perspiration to escape.

To assist you in doing this, a variety of technologies are available. However, one brand stands out in the market above all others: Gore-Tex.

For the majority of outdoor activities, Gore-Tex jackets offer the protection you need because they are guaranteed to be windproof, waterproof, and breathable. Any jacket you choose should take base layers into account for the best possible perspiration defense.

Walking And Hiking Boots

Outdoor boots are made especially breathable and waterproof thanks to Gore-Tex technology. So whether you’re walking through muddy, wet trails or your feet need to breathe on a hot summer day, Gore-Tex-lined boots are certain to keep you dry.

Gloves

Outdoor gloves are another item that benefits from Gore-Tex technology. Gore-Tex gloves are waterproof and breathable, so even in adverse conditions, your hands will remain dryer when you perspire and warmer when it’s cold.

Alternatives To Gore-Tex

Gore-Tex is currently the most well-known brand in the market for outerwear materials, a multi-billion dollar industry. However, Gore-Tex has its detractors. Other companies, such as:

• eVent – In addition, this brand makes use of a stretched Teflon membrane that is comparable to Gore-Tex without violating any patents.
• H2No – This is Patagonia‘s in-house brand that uses polyester and polyurethane laminates to mirror the effects of Gore-Tex.
• HyVent – A fabric made in-house by The North Face which also utilizes polyurethane.
• Waxed Cotton – The genuine heritage option can become waterlogged during intense outdoor activity but is still breathable, water resistant, repairable at home, and develops a lovely patina.