Frequently Asked Questions
Got a question about how GORE-TEX® fabrics are engineered? Wondering about the durability and performance of GORE-TEX® products, or how to clean and maintained your GORE-TEX® products? You'll find all this information and more right here. If not, contact us and we'll be happy to answer any of your questions.
General Questions
What is GORE-TEX® fabric?
First introduced in 1978, GORE-TEX® fabric is created when we laminate our GORE-TEX® membrane to high-performance textiles, which are then used by authorised manufacturers to make outerwear, accessories and footwear.
How can I be sure I'm buying a genuine GORE-TEX® product?
No matter which manufacturer makes the product, the GORE-TEX® label with the GORE-TEX® trademark is sewn into an inside or outside seam. You can't miss it. In newer products, it might also be embroidered on the sleeve or chest of a garment, or you might find it on a small metal tag on the outside. Remember: If it doesn't say GORE-TEX®, it's not.
Where can I get a GORE-TEX® product catalogue?
At Gore, we manufacture GORE-TEX® and WINDSTOPPER® fabrics — not the finished garments you find in retail stores. To see products made with Gore fabrics, you have several options: contact us to learn which of your favorite brands contain our fabrics; contact your favorite retailers to request their catalogues; or use our store finder to locate stores near you selling Gore products.
The Products section of this website also showcases a range of GORE-TEX® garments, footwear and accessories that are available in Australia and New Zealand. For further information please contact your local outdoor retailer.
Who can manufacture GORE-TEX® garments?
Only a limited number of specialist garment manufacturers are licensed to use GORE-TEX® fabric in accordance with our strict quality standards. We test every garment design before it is approved for production and sell GORE-TEX® fabric only for the production of approved designs. Plus we guarantee the performance of all finished GORE-TEX® garments, footwear and accessories — not just the fabric from which the finished product is made.
So if your garment says GORE-TEX® outerwear on the label, you know it carries the GORE-TEX® GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY® promise, no matter who manufactured it.
Where can I buy GORE-TEX® fabric?
GORE-TEX® fabric is available only to our licensed manufacturers, who create garments and footwear to our exact standards.
Product Performance
What's the life expectancy of a GORE-TEX® garment?
It really depends on how you care and maintain your garment. The GORE-TEX® membrane won't deteriorate with time, and our garments are guaranteed to be durably waterproof. It is important to wear your garment for its intended use; i.e, don't wear a lightweight cycling jacket on a backcountry camping trip. And obviously, a ski instructor who wears his or her garment every day will need to buy a new one sooner than a skier who takes his or her garment out twice a year will. If you maintain your garment properly, you can expect it to last.
Will a GORE-TEX® garment keep me warm?
Yes. GORE-TEX® fabric is windproof, so it protects your body’s natural microclimate by blocking cold air and wind that can disturb your body heat and cause windchill. However, GORE-TEX® fabric itself doesn't have any special insulating qualities, so in really cold conditions, wearing extra layers underneath your outerwear will ensure that you stay warm and comfortable.
Do all GORE-TEX® fabrics offer the same quality?
ALL GORE-TEX® fabrics are equally waterproof, windproof and breathable. However, there are many different outer fabrics and fabric constructions available so that you can choose what's most important to you: weight, texture, abrasion resistance, design and so on.
Why do GORE-TEX® garments need seam tape?
The holes made by needles when sewing seams in garments may be small, but they can cause leaks. That's why even the most waterproof, breathable, windproof fabric won't keep you dry and comfortable if the seams are not completely sealed.
For absolute weatherproofness, GORE-TEX® products rely on GORE-SEAM® TAPE and MICRO GORE-SEAM® TAPE technologies. These tapes completely seal every tiny hole created by sewing machine needles when GORE-TEX® fabric is made into garments, footwear or gloves.
What does the GORE-TEX® GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY® promise mean?
Just that: No liquid from the outside will get to you on the inside. Water from a driving rain you're caught in, a damp bench that you happen to sit on, or wet grass that you kneel in can't penetrate GORE-TEX® fabric. To be totally waterproof, a fabric must be able to withstand water entry in all active conditions.
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, or exposure to body oils or insect spray, GORE-TEX® fabric is durably waterproof and breathable under the harshest of conditions you may encounter.
How does the GORE-TEX® membrane work?
The GORE-TEX® membrane has 1.4 billion pores per square centimetre, 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. That's what 'waterproof/breathable' is all about.
Footwear
Do leather boots even need a GORE-TEX® liner?
Yes. No leather is inherently waterproof, and most 'waterproof' footwear requires applications of special waxes or greases to stay that way. Not only is this inconvenient, but it severely compromises the breathability of the footwear. And it's not guaranteed to keep you dry. With GORE-TEX® footwear, the waterproofness and breathability are never in doubt.
Is GORE-TEX® footwear breathable?
Yes, absolutely — and that's an important detail. Your feet stay drier from the inside out, because your perspiration is evaporating out of the footwear, not staying inside to make your feet feel clammy and uncomfortable. Especially in colder weather, breathability is crucial for keeping your feet dry and warm.
How can I be sure I'm buying genuine GORE-TEX® footwear?
Just look for our label on the footwear. All GORE-TEX® footwear carries the GORE-TEX® brand name as well as the manufacturer's brand. We even include a GORE-TEX® footwear booklet in the box. Remember: If it doesn't say GORE-TEX® footwear, it isn't.
Care
Will altering, embroidering or repairing my GORE-TEX® product cause it to leak?
Any form of alteration to your GORE-TEX® product, including major repairs, post-purchase logo embroidery, or fit alteration, should be conducted at a Gore-authorised facility. Otherwise, you could compromise the waterproofness of your garment, usually via small needle holes that have not been sealed. Before proceeding with any changes to your product, get in touch with an authorised Repair Centre or contact us for advice.
I've damaged my GORE-TEX® garment — what do I do?
When in the outdoors, minor punctures and tears can be fixed with a GORE-TEX® fabric Repair Kit that allows you to make instant repairs to preserve the waterproof integrity of your outerwear when you’re out in the field. GORE-TEX® fabric Repair Kits can be purchased from outdoor retailers. While patches will provide temporary protection from leakage, they are not recommended for permanent repairs. For permanent repairs of punctures and tears, contact a certified GORE-TEX® product Repair Centre.
Will salt water damage my GORE-TEX® garment?
No. Salt water does not contaminate, clog the pores of, decrease the breathability of, alter, or harm GORE-TEX® fabric in any way. So go ahead and enjoy that sailing or boating trip.
Why do I need to use a water-repellent treatment on my GORE-TEX® product?
The outermost fabric layer of a GORE-TEX® garments, 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 GORE-TEX® garment's water and stain repellency is to wash it, rinse it, and put it in your tumble dryer. Keep it clean!
How can I restore my garment's water repellency?
It is important to maintain durable water repellent (DWR) on your garments outer fabric to ensure that water beads up on your garment preventing 'wet out'. DWR deteriorates over time.
To Restore Durable Water Repellency, simply machine wash your garment, rinse it, and put it in the tumble dryer, being sure to follow the manufacturer’s instructions on the care label attached to the inside of your garment. The washing removes dirt and other contaminants and the heat from the dryer helps redistribute the DWR treatment on the fabric surface.
Once the garment has been cleaned and tumble dried, you can test the DWR’s performance by putting a few droplets of water on the outer fabric. If the water beads up and rolls off, you have effectively restored the DWR. If the water fails to bead up on the surface and appears to soak into the surface fabric, the DWR treatment on your garment has reached the end of its useful life. You can restore the garment’s DWR water repellency by applying a topical water repellency restorative (DWR treatment) for outdoor fabrics, available at your local outdoor retailer. We do not recommend wash-in treatments, as they can hinder your garment's breathability.
Can GORE-TEX® fabric be dry-cleaned?
Dry-cleaning does not harm the GORE-TEX® membrane. However, follow the manufacturer's care instructions on your particular garment to make sure they recommend dry cleaning for it. If you do get your garment professionally dry-cleaned, request clear, distilled solvent rinse and spray repellent.
How do I clean GORE-TEX® footwear with fabric uppers?
Clean with lukewarm water and allow to dry naturally. Then treat with water-repellent spray when dry. Never use waterproofing wax or grease — this may impair your footwear's breathability.
How do I clean suede leather GORE-TEX® footwear?
Just brush off the loose dirt after it's dry and treat your footwear with commercial water-repellent spray. Never use waterproofing wax or grease — they may impair your footwear's breathability.
How often can I wash my GORE-TEX® garment?
Wash your GORE-TEX® garment as often as you would wash a pair of jeans. Even though your jacket may not look soiled, dirt, perspiration, body oils, sunscreens and mosquito repellants can build up over time affecting the performance of your jacket. In fact, washing and tumble-drying will actually help restore the water-repellency performance of a GORE-TEX® garment. See our Care Centre for more information.
What's the best way to clean my GORE-TEX® garment?
There's no mystery here. Just put your GORE-TEX® garment in the washing machine in warm (104°F/40°C) water. Use powder or liquid detergent. We do NOT recommend using fabric softeners and chlorine bleach. Then tumble-dry on a normal warm setting and you're ready to go. It’s that simple. Be sure to read the manufacturer's care instructions located on inside your garment for specific instructions. See our Care Center for more information. |
