the proof keeps piling up

MORE PROOF OF WHAT DOES NOT EXIST

The following was written in the late 1970’s by a very intelligent man who was in the employ of the Marathon Rubber Products Company. Unfortunately I do not have his name. The following information comes from a fax that I received at the time it was written.

Marathon vs ‘Breathable Fabrics

• 1) A basic law of physics states that heated air has a greater affinity or holding capacity for moisture or humidity. Since your body temperature inside clothing heats up when you’re active, air temperature inside next to the skin can often rise easily above 100 degrees. Rarely when it rains, if ever, is the temperature outside above 100 degrees. Therefore, if anything, a “breathable” fabric will actually allow more moisture to gather inside the rain garment! The exact opposite of what is claimed!

Isn’t it interesting to find out the reason people who wear garments made with materials that have been laminated to films such as goretex complain about being wet inside of their garment regardless of the brand of waterproof breathable that they are made of. Isn’t it interesting to find out why all of these garments made with these materials must be re-water repellent treated after a rain storm or two? These same results would occur if you are wearing the same exact garment that has been made with a non-waterproof breathable fabric.

• 2) One product in particular [they are referring to goretex] has been advertised to the sporting goods industry as breathable, yet it is also advertised to a different market as a joint sealant impervious to liquids and gases. Marathon sells both sporting goods, as well as heavy industrial markets, and so we discovered this unusual marketing technique. Which story is correct?

Actually several years ago a customer told me he worked for gore in the industrial area selling this sealant and questioned them as to how it could do both. As I recall he left the company but I do not know if he had a problem with the contradiction. It could have been.

When you wrap Teflon tape around pipe joints when doing plumbing you are essentially using the same material that gore laminates to nylon.

Reality as I see it is that each and every retail store that offers for sale any product that is advertised as waterproof and breathable is ripping off their customers.

I have written twice to the board of directors at rei and the second e mail contained item one of this article. Who knows if they will ever respond to me.

It is possible that rei as well as ll brean, dicks, basspro cabelas, and all of the other retailers who sell these bogus products may be visited by potential customers asking for proof or even customers who have bought these garments wanting to return them.

Stranger things have happened. I do wonder if anyone from these companies will ever confront gore if they start getting a significant number of returns. That is what should happen and then if no one bought the new stuff the retailers might just wake up.