ventile, is it...

[petrochemicals]

when the surface of goretex becomes wet, it wicks through from the outside to the inside. I will agree it is water resistant but not waterproof.

The fact you have to retreat it , clean it, means its a failure risk, as well as a pain in the rarse, the fact it less breathable when wet and they put armpit vents in them, mean its a day walkers material.

Take a poncho and a breathable , like ventile

 

[andybysea]

that first line doesnt make sense petrochemical, the whole point of Goretex is to be a waterproof,why would it wick water through to the inside? ive worn goretex whilst wearing a rucksack in heavy rain and neither the main part of the jacket nor the parts under pressure from the rucksack have let rain through?Its design only to let water in vapour form through the pores eg your sweat, unless it was damaged in some way i dont understand your point?

 

[mrcharly]

when the surface of goretex becomes wet, it wicks through from the outside to the inside. I will agree it is water resistant but not waterproof.

Goretex membrane allows water vapour to move from a more humid, warmer side to a colder, less humid side. In the UK climate, goretex garments worn by a person will have the warmer side on the inside. If the outer fabric (which isn't goretex, it's just fabric) gets saturated, then the goretex membrane will stop passing through water vapour from the inside. You'll get wet from sweat just like with a non-breathable fabric.

It will never 'wick' water through.

 

[petrochemicals]

different experiences, like I say it does remain highly water resistant when the outer cloth becomes saturated.

N.B. I am on about 2nd generation goretex, breatheble when wet ! (same as event direct venting!)

www.gore-tex.co.uk/remote/Satellite...ogies#sec-outerwear-technologies--proProducts.

Baaaa Poncho

edit.

I think it has something th do with hydrostatic head rating, as I think all fabrics are tecnically not waterproof, to varying degrees. Although when treated water doesn't get a chance to wick, when untreated there is a reservoir of opportunity. I know its something to do with molecule sizes of vapour to liquid states, similar to graphene sheets being used as filter membranes for water and alcohol, and osmosis.

 

[mrcharly]

Goretex isn't a (woven) fabric. It's a membrane.

It's vapour pressure that makes goretex work.

 

[EdS]

you don't have to retreat gore-tex. Yes treating to make the surface bead improves it but...

Water in liquid phase do not pass through - that is why drysuits are made with a goretex membrane

Ponchos suck though - clammy on the inside, blown about in the the wind and wet from the knees down.

 

[Nonsuch]

I use a non bio to wash my Ventile and make sure that it is well rinsed - it is detergent residue (detergent being a "wetting agent" nothing more) that causes deterioration of Ventiles performance after washing.

Thanks John I will have to try that