FAQ's

How can I be sure I'm buying a genuine GORE-TEX® product?

No matter which manufacturer makes the product, our label with the GORE-TEX® trademark is usually sewn into an inside or outside seam. Some procurement organizations do not allow garments to be labelled. 

In newer products, a label might also be embroidered on the sleeve or chest of a garment, or you might find it on a small metal tag on the outside. Remember: If it doesn't say GORE-TEX®, it's not.

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Who can manufacture GORE-TEX® garments?

Only a limited number of garment manufacturers are licensed to use our fabric in accordance with our strict quality standards. We test every garment design before it is approved for production and sell GORE-TEX® fabric only for the production of approved designs.          GORE-TEX® fabric is available only to our licensed manufacturers, who create garments, footwear, and gloves to our exacting quality standards.

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What is GORE-TEX® fabric?

First introduced in 1978, GORE-TEX® fabric is created when we laminate our patented     GORE-TEX® membrane to high-performance textiles, which are then used by licensed garment manufacturers to make garments, gloves, and footwear.

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How does the GORE-TEX® membrane work?

The GORE-TEX® membrane has 1.4 billion pores per cm², and each pore is 20,000 times smaller than a water droplet. These tiny holes are too small for water and wind to pass through from the outside, which is how we can ensure you'll stay dry and warm in a garment made with GORE-TEX® fabric. But these same pores are large enough for moisture vapour to pass through, so your body's perspiration is able to escape and you don't get clammy and uncomfortable. That's what “waterproof/breathable” is all about.

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Will a GORE-TEX® garment keep me warm?

Yes. GORE-TEX® fabric is windproof, so it blocks cold air and wind that can disturb your body heat and cause windchill. However, GORE-TEX® fabric itself doesn't have any special insulating qualities, so in really cold conditions, wearing extra layers underneath your outerwear will ensure that you stay warm and comfortable.

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Do all GORE-TEX® fabrics offer the same quality?

ALL our GORE-TEX® fabrics are equally waterproof, windproof, and breathable. However, there are many different outer fabrics and fabric constructions available so that you can choose what'smost important to you: weight, texture, abrasion resistance, etc.

It really depends on you. The GORE-TEX® membrane won't deteriorate with time, and our garments are durably waterproof and breathable. Just use common sense and wear your garment for its intended use; i.e., don't wear a lightweight jacket in combination with a safety belt or a tool belt.

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Why do GORE-TEX® garments need seam tape?

When GORE-TEX® fabric is made into garments, seam tape is used to seal the edges of the cut fabrics and the tiny holes created by sewing. These holes may be small, but they can cause leaks. We specially manufacture our own GORE-SEAM® Tape and regulate the seam-taping process to ensure compatibility with our fabrics and the durability of the seam’s waterproofness.

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I've damaged my GORE-TEX® garment – what do I do?

To repair the waterproof integrity of your GORE-TEX® Technical Garment or GORE-TEX® Heat & Flame Garment, please contact your garment supplier or the person in your organization responsible for personal protective equipment.

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Will salt water damage my GORE-TEX® garment?

No. Salt water does not contaminate, alter, harm, or decrease the breathability of GORE-TEX® fabric in any way. Stains from dried salt water will wash off. Hosing the garment down at the end of the day will be sufficient to keep it clean.

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How can I restore the water repellency of GORE-TEX® products?

You can completely restore a GORE-TEX® product's durable water repellency by using a topical durable water repellency product for outdoor fabrics. The product should be intended for breathable garments. These special treatments help maintain and restore the durable water repellency on the outer shell fabric of the product so that it remains water and stain repellent. Anyone can properly maintain the durable water repellency on a GORE-TEX® product.

When water no longer beads on your GORE-TEX® garment's outer fabric, simply apply a topical durable water repellency treatment product according to its directions.

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Why do I need to use a water-repellent treatment on my GORE-TEX® garment?

The outermost layer of a GORE-TEX® garment is treated with an ultra-thin polymer coating known as durable water repellent. This coating causes water to bead up and roll off the outer layer of fabric, instead of being absorbed into this outer layer.

Regular wear and tear, plus exposure to dirt, detergents, and other impurities, causes failure of the durable water repellency. The effective life of the durable water repellency depends upon how you care for your garment and how rigorously it is used. The most effective way to maintain your GORE-TEX® garment's water and stain repellency is to clean it properly, including an occasional tumble dry.

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How often can I wash my GORE-TEX® garment?

Wash your garment as often as you need to. In fact, washing and tumble-drying will actually help restore the water repellency performance of a GORE-TEX® garment.

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Can GORE-TEX® fabric be dry-cleaned?

Dry cleaning does not harm the GORE-TEX® membrane, but it may damage other properties found in your garment. Make sure that the manufacturer's care instructions on your particular garment recommend dry cleaning.

If you choose professional dry cleaning, request clear, distilled solvent rinse.

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Do leather boots even need a GORE-TEX® liner?

Yes. No leather is inherently waterproof, and most "waterproof" footwear requires applications of special waxes or greases to stay that way. Not only is this inconvenient, but it severely compromises the breathability of the footwear. With GORE-TEX® Footwear, waterproofness and breathability are not in doubt.

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Is GORE-TEX® Footwear breathable?

Yes, absolutely — and that's an important point. Your feet stay drier from the inside out, because your perspiration evaporates out of the footwear; it does not stay inside to make your feet feel clammy and uncomfortable. Breathability is crucial for keeping your feet dry and warm, especially in colder weather.

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How can I be sure I'm buying genuine GORE-TEX® Footwear?

All GORE-TEX® Footwear carries our name as well as the manufacturer's brand. In the event that your procurement organization does not allow footwear to be labelled, speak with your purchasing officer. 

Remember: if it doesn't say GORE-TEX® fabric, it isn't.

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How do I clean GORE-TEX® Footwear with fabric uppers?

Clean with lukewarm water and allow to dry naturally. When dry, treat with water-repellent spray. Never use waterproofing oil or grease — they could impair your footwear's breathability.

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How do I clean suede leather GORE-TEX® Footwear?

Just brush off the loose dirt after it's dry and treat your footwear with commercial water-repellent spray. Never use waterproofing oil or grease — they could impair your footwear's breathability.

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When was CROSSTECH® fabric invented?

Initially, Gore produced its first waterproof, breathable moisture barrier, the GORE-TEX® moisture barrier, in 1979. Continued technical developments allowed Gore to introduce CROSSTECH® fabric in 1993. 

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How does CROSSTECH® fabric work?

To create CROSSTECH® fabrics, CROSSTECH™ membranes are laminated to textiles specially selected for their end-use application. The CROSSTECH® fabrics are then sewn or fabricated into finished end-items.

CROSSTECH® fabric is the component in your protective clothing that provides penetration resistance to blood, body fluids, and NFPA (US National Fire Protection Association) common fire ground chemicals. At the same time, it provides durability and superior waterproof, breathable performance that is unmatched by any other barrier product.

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Why should I be concerned about blood and body fluid exposures?

Blood and body fluids carry the risk of HIV (AIDS), HBV (Hepatitis B), and HCV (Hepatitis C) infections. Various publically available studies document the risk that emergency response workers face from exposure to these viruses. Recently, analysis by the UK Fire & Rescue Service has highlighted the risk from exposure to blood and body fluids as higher than that from heat and flame for their workers. This reflects the fact that the majority of incidents attended by UK emergency crews are related to rescue, such as road traffic accidents (approx 60%), as opposed to fires (5-10%).

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How are CROSSTECH® fabrics tested?

CROSSTECH® fabrics are tested in Gore's state of the art laboratories to insure they are fit for use in the application they are engineered for. CROSSTECH® fabrics are often component certified as meeting or exceeding industry standards (NFPA, for example). This component certification occurs in 3rd party testing facilities. Our fabrics are also tested in our customer's laboratories, and the garments, boots, and gloves our customers make with our fabrics are often certified to the appropriate industry standards.

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Why should I buy leather emergency response boots with CROSSTECH® footwear fabric?

For comfort, mobility, and superior penetration resistance. With the unpredictability of man-made and natural disasters, protection against liquids commonly encountered at emergency scenes is even more critical to your safety. Leather EMS, and Search and Rescue boots with CROSSTECH®fabric give you superior liquid penetration resistance to blood and body fluids as well as common accident scene chemicals.

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Why should I buy gloves with CROSSTECH® glove inserts?

The right glove barrier is important for thermal stability, abrasion resistance, and durable liquid-penetration resistance. CROSSTECH® glove inserts not only endure higher temperatures than other glove barrier products, they're also highly abrasion-resistant. They remain waterproof even after multiple abrasion cycles of liner against shell. Gloves with CROSSTECH® glove inserts perform five times better than competitive polyurethane-based products for durable waterproofness and abrasion resistance.

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What is the difference between CROSSTECH® moisture barriers and GORE-TEX® moisture barriers?

CROSSTECH® moisture barriers and GORE-TEX® moisture barriers are both manufactured only by W. L. Gore & Associates, Inc., a company with more than 25 years of experience in waterproof, breathable protection.  CROSSTECH® moisture barriers are sold globally and are appropriate when occupational risk assessments indicate the need for protection from blood and body fluids. GORE-TEX® moisture barriers provide the durable and breathable waterproofness, and they are sold globally except for North America where NFPA standards require that moisture barriers resist viral penetration. Consult with your garment manufacturer or Gore representative if you are unsure which barrier product is most appropriate for your application.

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What is WINDSTOPPER® fabric?

WINDSTOPPER® fabrics utilise an ultra-light inner membrane technology that combines durable total windproofness with maximum breathability. They are engineered for a wide range of activities and weather conditions, so that you can focus on your task without the distractions of feeling cold, damp, or overheated.

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Why is the windchill factor important when I'm outside?

When the wind blows through a garment that's not windproof, it destroys the warm layer of air next to your skin — your microclimate. You start to feel uncomfortable almost immediately. Just think about how many times you've retreated indoors when the windchill temperature was minus 10° C, even though the thermostat read 4° C. It's that windchill effect: it makes everything colder. With WINDSTOPPER® fabric, your clothing is totally windproof, so you can stay outdoors longer.

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What kinds of WINDSTOPPER® product choices are there?

WINDSTOPPER® products are worn across a wide range of weather conditions and activities to maximise performance.

There are three classes of WINDSTOPPER® products:

• WINDSTOPPER® Soft Shells combine the comfort of a soft midlayer and the water resistance of a shell in one garment and offer durable total windproofness with maximum breathability. WINDSTOPPER® Soft Shells are best utilised when comfort, durable optics, and water repellency are important.

 

• WINDSTOPPER® Technical Midlayers provide more warmth and comfort and less bulk than non-windproof textiles by combining durable total windproofness with maximum breathability. They are best used as a midlayer in cool and windy conditions.

 

• WINDSTOPPER® Functional Layers offer skin sensorial comfort with durable total windproofness and maximum breathability. They can be worn effectively next to the skin, or as part of a layering system.

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How does WINDSTOPPER® fleece compare to other windproof fleece?

Many other "windproof" fleece products get their windproofness from outer coatings that degrade over time and are significantly less breathable. Our ultra-light WINDSTOPPER™ membrane technology is built right into the fabric. It's totally windproof, extremely durable, and highly breathable.

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Can WINDSTOPPER® fabrics lose their windproofness?

No. Because our ultra-light WINDSTOPPER™ membrane technology is built right into the fabric, it retains its windproofness over use — even after 100 wash and dry cycles. Other windproof products, such as some microfibres, can lose windproofness after only one wash cycle.

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How is WINDSTOPPER® fabric different from GORE-TEX® fabric?

WINDSTOPPER® garments are totally windproof and offer maximum breathability. Some WINDSTOPPER® products, like WINDSTOPPER® Soft Shells and WINDSTOPPER® trousers are water resistant, but they are not waterproof.

GORE-TEX® garments are waterproof, breathable, and windproof.

Both fabrics are extremely durable.

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How can I restore the water repellency of WINDSTOPPER® Soft Shells and trousers?

You can totally restore the durable water repellency of WINDSTOPPER® Soft Shells and trousers by using a topical water-repellent product intended for breathable outdoor garments. These special treatments help maintain and restore the durable water repellency of the fabric’s outer so that it remains water and stain repellent.

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