FAQs - Gore-tex
GORE-TEX®
What is GORE-TEX® fabric?
First introduced in 1978, GORE-TEX® fabric is created when we laminate our patented GORE-TEX® membrane to high performance textiles, which are then used by authorised garment manufacturers to make outerwear, accessories, and footwear.
HOW DOES THE GORE-TEX® MEMBRANE WORK?
The GORE-TEX® membrane has 9 billion pores per square inch, with each pore 20,000 times smaller than a water droplet. These tiny holes are too small for water and wind to pass through from the outside, which is how we can guarantee you'll stay dry and warm in a garment made with GORE-TEX® fabric. But these same pores are large enough for moisture vapor to pass through, so your body's perspiration is able to escape and you don't get clammy and uncomfortable.
HOW DURABLE IS GORE-TEX® FABRIC?
GORE-TEX® fabric will last for many years. It's incredibly durable, and unlike other "waterproof/breathable" fabrics that can lose waterproofness after repeated laundering, flexing, abrasion, exposure to body oils or insect spray, the waterproofness and breathability of GORE-TEX® fabric is guaranteed under any conditions you may encounter.
WHAT’S THE BEST WAY TO CLEAN MY GORE-TEX® GARMENT?
Just put your GORE-TEX® garment in the washing machine in warm (104° F/40° C) water. Use powder or liquid detergent, don't use fabric softener and chlorine bleach. Then tumble dry on a normal warm setting and you're ready to go. That's it. Be sure to read the care tag in your garment for specific instructions.
HOW OFTEN CAN I WASH MY GORE-TEX® GARMENT?
Wash your garment as often as you need to. In fact, washing and tumble drying will actually help restore the water repellency performance of a GORE-TEX® garment.
WHY DO I NEED TO USE A WATER REPELLENT TREATMENT ON MY GORE-TEX® PRODUCT?
Gore shell fabrics, the outermost fabric layer of a GORE-TEX® garment, are treated with an ultra thin polymer coating known as DWR, or durable water repellent. This coating causes water to bead up and roll off the outer layer of fabric, instead of being absorbed. Water repellent outer fabric provides additional insulation and prevents liquid from saturating your garment's outer fabric, a condition known as "wet out" that can make you feel damp and clammy. Your garment may even feel like it's leaking, although it's not. Regular wear and tear, plus exposure to dirt, detergents, and other impurities, causes DWR failure. The effective life of the DWR depends upon how you care for your garment and how rigorously it is used. The most effective way to maintain your garment's water and stain repellency is to wash, rinse, and put it in your dryer. Keep it clean! Be sure to read the care tag in your garment for specific instructions.
HOW CAN I RESTORE MY GARMENT'S WATER REPELLENCY?
You can totally restore the water repellency (DWR) by using a topical DWR treatment product for outdoor fabrics, available at outdoor retail stores. (Note: We do not recommend wash in treatments.) These special treatments help maintain and restore the DWR on the outer shell fabric of the product so that it remains water and stain repellent. Anyone can properly maintain the DWR. When water no longer beads on your garment's outer fabric, simply apply a topical DWR treatment product according to its directions.
IT FEELS AS IF THERE COULD BE SOME LEAKS IN MY GORE-TEX® GARMENT.
If the inside of your GORE-TEX® garment feels damp, a leak could be the problem, or it could be time to renew the durable water-repellent (DWR) waterproofing. As the waterproofing on the outer material starts to wear off with increasing garment age, leaks can develop, particularly in the shoulder and upper back areas. Even though the inside layer of GORE-TEX® remains watertight, liquid can then be sucked into the outside material, creating a feeling of dampness and causing a loss of heat. See the section on renewing the waterproofing.
WHY DO GORE-TEX® GARMENTS NEED SEAM TAPE?
Seam tape is used to seal the tiny holes created by sewing when GORE-TEX® fabric is made into garments. These holes may be small, but they can cause leaks. We specially manufacture our own GORE-SEAM® Tape and regulate the seam taping process to ensure compatibility with our fabrics and ensure the durability of seam waterproofness.
WHERE CAN I BUY GORE-TEX® FABRIC?
GORE-TEX® fabric is available only to our licensed manufacturers, who create garments and footwear to our exacting standards.
WHAT'S THE LIFE EXPECTANCY OF A GORE-TEX® GARMENT?
The GORE-TEX® membrane won't deteriorate with time, and our garments are guaranteed to be durably waterproof and breathable. Please use common sense and wear your garment for its intended use; i.e, don't wear a lightweight cycling jacket on a backcountry camping trip. If you maintain your garment properly, you can expect it to last.
HOW CAN I HAVE A REPAIR MADE TO MY GORE-TEX® GARMENT?
Go ahead admit it. You tested the limits of your GORE® Wear product. Our products get that a lot, especially from us and they almost always pass with flying colors. But every once in a while, a small tear or puncture does occur.
In such cases you can trust our repair service partner Rainy Pass Repair. GORE® Wear is offering a repair service in the United States for our GORE-TEX® products. We are partnering with Rainy Pass Repair, a GORE-TEX® Fabrics Repair Specialist for over 25 years. If you are looking for an estimated quotation for the repair of your GORE® Wear garment, please contact Rainy Pass Repair at:
Rainy Pass Repair 4415 Stone Way North Seattle, WA 98103-7422 888-747-7867 / 206-523-8135 www.rainypass.com