UF PRO GORE-TEX Tactical Clothing.

GORE-TEX is a common name for clothing laminated with a GORE-TEX membrane. The laminates are 100-percent waterproof and boast one of the best breathability (moisture wicking) ratings on the market.

Yes. Clothing made of GORE-TEX is 100-percent waterproof. GORE-TEX laminates meet the international standard for waterproof, which specifies that textiles be able to resist a water-entry pressure of at least 8,000 mm.

No matter the type of tactical clothing you own, if it was made of GORE-TEX, you must adhere to the washing instructions sewn into it. Typically, these instructions specify you do the following before loading the garment into your washing machine:

1. Remove all pocket items (tissues, knives, etc.) and items attached by Velcro fasteners (patches, etc.).
2. Close or secure zippers, buttons, Velcro fasteners, snaps, and similar mechanisms (this helps prevent hard parts from damaging the fabric during the various wash cycles).
3. Turn the jacket inside out.

GORE-TEX fabrics usually are treated with a DWR coating. To preserve this coating (and the garment’s waterproof properties), you must be sure after washing to iron the garment with the appliance set only at a low temperature. Learn more about it here.

Yes. GORE-TEX waterproof laminates have excellent performance characteristics in the heaviest of downpours. GORE-TEX clothing remains waterproof and comes with a lifetime guarantee.

The membrane itself is made of ePTFE (expanded polytetrafluoroethylene). This membrane can be laminated with different layers (for example an abrasion-resistant outer shell and a soft inner lining) to produce a waterproof fabric.

GORE-TEX membrane material consists of micropores which serve to form a waterproof layer. These micropores are 20,000 times smaller than a water droplet. As a result, water from the outside cannot permeate through the membrane. However, these same micropores are 700 times larger than a molecule of water vapour, which means the moisture produced when you sweat is easily expelled through the membrane.

When clothing displays the GORE-TEX tag, it simply means the garment was fabricated using GORE-TEX membrane material. The name GORE-TEX also is commonly taken to mean that a garment is waterproof.

No. GORE-TEX clothing retains its waterproof properties for the lifetime of the garment and even comes with a written guarantee to that effect. However it can feel like your garment has lost its waterproofing when in actuality it hasn’t—the sensation of leaking is just that, a sensation, and it’s usually the result of improper care of the garment.