What is Gore-Tex? – everything you need to know about the membrane
Gore-Tex is an advanced membrane used in outdoor clothing and equipment. It is primarily known for its very good protection against rain and wind while simultaneously wicking moisture away from the body. This combination of features makes Gore-Tex considered an almost unrivaled material. It has gained iconic status in the world of sports, mountain expeditions, and outdoor activities.
Are you planning a trek or a climb, or are you just starting your adventure with mountain tourism? In this article, you will learn about the brief history of Gore-Tex, how it works, and its various types. Check what you should know before deciding on a jacket, shoes, or trousers with this technology.
The History of Gore-Tex – Technology That Changed the Outdoor World
The Gore-Tex membrane was actually created by accident. In 1969, Bob Gore, experimenting with polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) used for cable coverings, decided to heat the material and then stretch it rapidly. To his surprise, this process resulted in a new, extremely lightweight, and porous material. It turned out to be not only highly waterproof but also able to let water vapor through, allowing moisture to be wicked away from inside the clothing. Thus, ePTFE – expanded polytetrafluoroethylene – was born, becoming the basis of the innovative Gore-Tex membrane.
The Gore-Tex membrane quickly gained recognition among outdoor enthusiasts, especially mountaineers and trekking lovers. Soon after its development, it began to be used by manufacturers of technical clothing, who introduced it into jackets, trousers, and other apparel designed for use in extreme conditions. In 1978, the famous mountaineer Reinhold Messner took a tent equipped with the innovative Gore-Tex membrane on his historic expedition to Mount Everest. It was one of the first known uses of this technology in equipment used during high-altitude expeditions, which started its subsequent popularity in outdoor clothing.
The success of Gore-Tex was due not only to the innovative product but also to the skillful presentation of its unique properties. In the 70s, during demonstration shows, the membrane was placed over a pot of boiling water to show that it perfectly let water vapor through – symbolizing the material's ability to "breathe." Then the pot with hot water was turned upside down, and the same membrane was underneath – yet not a single drop seeped through it. This simple but effective experiment visually convinced that Gore-Tex is both waterproof and breathable.
What Exactly Is Gore-Tex?
Gore-Tex is a thin yet durable membrane made of expanded polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE), also known as Teflon. The structure of the membrane consists of billions of microscopic pores – each about 20 thousand times smaller than a drop of water, making the material effectively block liquid water. At the same time, the pores are about 700 times larger than water vapor molecules, allowing sweat and moisture to be released outside freely. This makes Gore-Tex provide water resistance, wind resistance, and breathability, translating into comfort when using clothing and footwear equipped with this membrane, even in challenging weather conditions.
It is important to remember that Gore-Tex is not the name of a particular jacket or shoe model but the name of the technology and material used by various manufacturers in many different products.
Main Features of Gore-Tex Membrane:
Waterproofing
The Gore-Tex membrane contains billions of microscopic pores, which are about 20,000 times smaller than a drop of water. Thanks to this, it effectively prevents water from entering the inside of clothing or footwear, even under high pressure during intense rainfall or snow.
Windproofing
The special construction of the membrane blocks the penetration of cold wind, protecting the body from cooling and maintaining a comfortable microclimate inside the clothing.
Breathability
The pores of the membrane are about 700 times larger than water vapor molecules, allowing efficient wicking of sweat and moisture outside, ensuring dryness and comfort even during intense physical exertion.
What Are the Types of Gore-Tex?
With clothing and footwear featuring the Gore-Tex membrane, we often deal not with the basic variant of this technology but with its specialized version tailored to specific applications. Manufacturers, in cooperation with W. L. Gore & Associates, use different variants of this membrane, which vary in technical properties, like breathability, durability, lightness, or the degree of water and wind protection.
Types of Gore-Tex in Clothing
Gore-Tex
The classic version of this membrane, most often used in urban and tourist clothing. It features very good waterproofing and breathability, making it the most versatile option – suitable for both everyday use and light outdoor activities.
Gore-Tex Active
A membrane designed for intense physical activity. Its main advantages are exceptionally low weight and maximum breathability. Clothing with Gore-Tex Active protects against unfavorable weather conditions such as rain, snow, or wind while remaining ultra-light. Ideal for mountain runners or cyclists.
Gore-Tex Pro
The most advanced version of the membrane, used in technical clothing intended for climbing, mountaineering, and high-altitude expeditions. Gore-Tex Pro is a three-layer construction that offers the highest resistance to mechanical damage – e.g., abrasions on rocks or ice – while maintaining high breathability.
Types of Gore-Tex in Footwear
Gore-Tex Insulated Comfort
A membrane with an additional insulating layer providing thermal comfort in low temperatures. Footwear with this technology is especially recommended for mountain and ice climbing, alpine sports, and all activities in winter conditions.
Gore-Tex Performance Comfort
A universal membrane intended for various outdoor activities. It provides an optimal balance between water resistance and breathability, making it a great choice year-round – for both tourism and everyday use.
Gore-Tex Extended Comfort
A membrane designed for maximum breathability in warm conditions. Ideal for summer, desert, and tactical footwear. Thanks to its single-layer construction, shoes are lighter, dry faster, and ensure high comfort even during intense physical effort in high temperatures.
Gore-Tex Thermium
An innovative membrane designed for extremely low temperatures – even down to -50°C. Unlike other membranes, Gore-Tex Thermium™ is placed between layers of the upper rather than as a lining, significantly improving thermal insulation properties and allowing warmth to be retained even in the most demanding conditions.
Gore-Tex Membrane Products in the Militaria.pl Offer
The Militaria.pl offer features a wide selection of products equipped with various types of Gore-Tex membranes, which provide excellent protection against wind, rain, and cold, while not limiting air flow and allowing the skin to breathe.
We offer high-quality trousers, jackets, shoes, and gloves, which are perfect for both intense mountain expeditions and daily outdoor activities. Our products come from renowned brands such as Salewa, Salomon, Lowa, Merrell, and many others.
