a new article by an x gore emplyee

The following article was emailed to me Friday August 18 from a customer because of my love for Gore-Tex, HA!

The Limits of GORE-TEX Laminates--- published August15, 2017

For some people GORE-TEX® is like a magic word, and their expectations are accordingly high. But how does the material actually perform? Where and when is it the right choice? And last but not least – what are the limits of GORE-TEX®?

Wiggy- the material does not perform. The right choice is NOT to buy any product made with it. LIMITS; what does that mean? If it doesn’t work what more do you need to know.

We’d like to take a closer look here at these questions, and also investigate some alternatives to this technical textile.

It never rains, but it pours…?

Most of you who aren’t deterred by bad weather when it comes to outdoor activities will probably be familiar with the following scenario. Its early spring, or maybe autumn, and you’re out and about with a medium-sized rucksack.

The temperatures are friendly for the time of year, the sun is smiling down benignly – and then suddenly the weather changes, and it clouds over.

The clouds grow darker and darker, and you hope you won’t be caught by the impending rain.

But luck isn’t on your side today, and it’s just as you feared: there you are, stuck beneath heavy black rain clouds, and the first droplets are starting to fall. So what do you do?

Well, of course, you first try to find cover underneath a tree or some makeshift shelter – so that you can get out your Monsoon rainwear.

Then you wait a couple of minutes to see whether the rain doesn’t stop after all. But no. False hope. The rain not only continues, it gets heavier…

At first, it even feels refreshing. Particularly if your rain gear keeps the promises UF PRO® have always made.

Wiggy--- UF Pro makes Gore-Tex rainwear trade named “monsoon”.

The rain doesn’t penetrate your clothes – but nonetheless, after marching on for half an hour, you’re dripping wet. But not from the outside, not from the bad weather. It’s coming from the inside, from your own sweat.

Wiggy--- Yes from the inside because it doesn’t escape because it is Gore-Tex.

Because no matter how “breathable” the material supposedly is, a truly waterproof laminate like GORE-TEX® is a compact barrier.

Wiggy--- Very astute observation.

And it might be thin, allowing some sweat to pass through as steam – but “some” is about as much as it can manage. Ultimately, the fact is that you sweat far more when you exert yourself than the material can cope with transporting out.

Wiggy--- If any sweat gets out you will never know it!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Plus, one can safely assume that most physical exercise will produce more sweat than even the best GORE-TEX®, XCR or Special TEX membranes can let through. So basically you’re caught between the devil and the deep blue sea. You can choose between getting soaked by rain or by sweat.

Wiggy--- These materials let nothing out and he is correct that you are getting soaked.

Personally, I find the latter option preferable – because at least if you’re wearing GORE-TEX® rainwear, you’re protected from the wind which always makes you feel so much colder. Even if you’re soaked in sweat within half an hour. It’s having been in such situations – where wind protection is all I’ve had – that I’ve realized I’m not soaking wet from defective rain gear, but from sweat. Enough to make me feel like I’ve been standing below a waterfall. This misunderstanding leads me to my next point…

Wiggy---If there is wind it will press the garment against you and then you will get a chill which he recognizes but I do not think accepts.

GORE-TEX® at its best.

GORE-TEX® functions particularly well when you’re sitting in front of a campfire in the evening or during a long break – times when you’re relatively inactive and aren’t sweating.

Wiggy--- Sitting in front of the fire on a clear evening and yes not therefore sweating. And I guess you can say Gore-Tex is at its best in that situation.

If you’re wearing mid and base layers which distribute and transport moisture evenly you’ll soon get dry again, even in the rain. Assuming your rainwear is waterproof, of course.

Wiggy--- Unmitigated B/S. None of the base layers referred to transport anything!

Expectations and reality.

So the real problem is basically that you won’t always stay as dry with GORE-TEX® clothing as advertising might lead you to believe.

Wiggy--- The real problem is you will always stay wet with Gore-Tex and the advertising is therefore a lie.

So what are the alternatives?

Wiggy---Fishnet top and DUCKSBACK garment from Wiggy’s.

From Ventile to EtaProof.

Wiggy--- I know all about ventile cloth and have stopped making garments from it because it does not work! I do have about 100 yards in color purple and I think olive green if anyone wants to buy it. My cost with shipping from the UK was $40.00 per yard you can own some or all of it for $10.00 a yard. Would be great for shits and pants! I had to research EtaProof and it is exactly the same material; 100 percent long cotton fiber.

All’s well that ends well.

Thanks to old and new technology, we now have fabrics which provide adequate and customized protection in all kinds of weather conditions and situations – whether it’s a waterproof GORE-TEX® membrane that keeps you dry in an unexpected downpour, or a softshell material that keeps you warm when you’re out and about in cold temperatures, in combination with other water-repellent materials.

And we’ve also learned that it can make sense to take a backward look and revive tried and trusted materials – as reflected in EtaProof and its use in our new M1 Urban jacket.

Wiggy--- Tried and proven; yes Gore-Tex has been tried for 40 years and it has proven not to work, and cotton fabric whether it is ventile cloth or etaproof has demonstrated for almost 90 years it too does not work.

This article made possible in part by B5 Systems (@b5systems), a member of JTF Awesome.

B5 Systems – Stock up, check your cheek weld!

Syndicated here with the permission of UF PRO Gear.

About the author: As UF PRO describes it, Armin Wagner is the mastermind behind all UF PRO products. With over 25 years of experience in the textile industry for law enforcement and military units, and after working for some of the industry’s leading companies, like W.L. Gore, Second Chance and Armour Holdings, Armin finally landed at, as he describes it, his dream job, as the head of product development at UF PRO.

Wiggy--- This guy worked for Gore so he will not say that Gore-Tex is a lie. And now he works for the company that is marketing the etaproof garments. I do believe his knowledge of textiles in general leaves a great deal to be desired.  I do believe he does not have much knowledge of textiles as in nil!!!!! But we have freedom of speech so anyone can say whatever they want even though it is not true but is a lie as Gore and every other company selling the same product as Gore has said for all these years. When you read all of his observation as to how the Gore-Tex does not perform he still does not accept his own reality. So why should anyone listen to him.

I appreciate having received this article so I could present it for anyone who wants even more information as to why they should stay away from Gore-Tex like the plague.