Gore-Tex is a registered trademark of W.L. Gore & Associates best known for its use in relation to waterproof/breathable fabrics. Gore-Tex was co-invented by Wilbert L. Gore (1912-1986) and his son, Robert W. Gore. For its invention, Robert W. Gore was inducted into the National Inventors Hall of Fame in 2006.
Gore-Tex based fabric material is composed of a thin, porous fluoropolymer membrane with a urethane coating that is bonded to a fabric, usually nylon or polyester. The membrane has about 9 billion pores per square inch, each of which is approximately 20,000 times smaller than a water droplet, making it impenetrable to liquid water while still allowing the smaller sized water vapor to pass through. The result is a material that is somewhat breathable, water resistant, and also windproof. The outer fabric is treated with water repellent and seams are sealed to prevent water leakage through pinholes caused during the sewing of the fabric. The urethane coating provides a protective layer and also prevents contamination (i.e. body oils) from wetting the laminate and allowing wicking of moisture through the membrane.
source: Wikipedia11/02/2006 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goretex)
Now. From anything, anywhere and anybody (especially the gore-tex producers/sellers) I hear the same thing: gore-tex is a lightweight, breathable, rainproof fabric with lifetime guarantee and it is supposed to be a mind boggling spaceage superthing. BUT. My personal experience with gore-tex is not that great as everybody says it should be. Now I'm not trying to flame this product or the opinion of people who have great experience with it. I want to give my view on this and I truly wonder what your experiences and views are about goretex.
I've had a few gore-tex overpants, jackets, rucksack-covers and bivybags and I must say it's a very breathable fabric but it still leaks water. The overpants I understand. those where second hand army overpants. The same for my rucksack cover. For the moist inside of my bivybag after a nightssleep in heavy rain ( under a small leaking tarp though) is also an explenation; it could be my own condense. although I doubt that, but I have no proof. But, about 2 monts ago I bought a brandnew goretex Mammut jacket. it's a great thing and I love it. but still, after 15 minutes of rain. it got moist on the inside, and that I did not like.
So what I'm wondering now is: am i the only one with this experience regarding goretex, or are there more people who have had similar experiences? Or, am I maybe doing something completely wrong with this fabric and can you give me any tips on usage/maintenance. Or is it just that goretex isn't as great as they say...?
Gore-Tex based fabric material is composed of a thin, porous fluoropolymer membrane with a urethane coating that is bonded to a fabric, usually nylon or polyester. The membrane has about 9 billion pores per square inch, each of which is approximately 20,000 times smaller than a water droplet, making it impenetrable to liquid water while still allowing the smaller sized water vapor to pass through. The result is a material that is somewhat breathable, water resistant, and also windproof. The outer fabric is treated with water repellent and seams are sealed to prevent water leakage through pinholes caused during the sewing of the fabric. The urethane coating provides a protective layer and also prevents contamination (i.e. body oils) from wetting the laminate and allowing wicking of moisture through the membrane.
source: Wikipedia11/02/2006 (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Goretex)
Now. From anything, anywhere and anybody (especially the gore-tex producers/sellers) I hear the same thing: gore-tex is a lightweight, breathable, rainproof fabric with lifetime guarantee and it is supposed to be a mind boggling spaceage superthing. BUT. My personal experience with gore-tex is not that great as everybody says it should be. Now I'm not trying to flame this product or the opinion of people who have great experience with it. I want to give my view on this and I truly wonder what your experiences and views are about goretex.
I've had a few gore-tex overpants, jackets, rucksack-covers and bivybags and I must say it's a very breathable fabric but it still leaks water. The overpants I understand. those where second hand army overpants. The same for my rucksack cover. For the moist inside of my bivybag after a nightssleep in heavy rain ( under a small leaking tarp though) is also an explenation; it could be my own condense. although I doubt that, but I have no proof. But, about 2 monts ago I bought a brandnew goretex Mammut jacket. it's a great thing and I love it. but still, after 15 minutes of rain. it got moist on the inside, and that I did not like.
So what I'm wondering now is: am i the only one with this experience regarding goretex, or are there more people who have had similar experiences? Or, am I maybe doing something completely wrong with this fabric and can you give me any tips on usage/maintenance. Or is it just that goretex isn't as great as they say...?