To safely enjoy mountain activities in harsh environments such as mountaineering, climbing, and backcountry skiing, a durable outer layer that protects you from rain, wind, snow, and cold is essential. It is well known that GORE-TEX products are the pioneer and top brand of fabrics and materials that support these outer layers
The core material of GORE-TEX products is a fluorine-based resin film (membrane) called "ePTFE," which is made from the mineral "fluorite." It has countless tiny pores that allow water vapor to escape but keep out rainwater. All products with a black tag that says "GORE-TEX...," whether they're shoes or gloves, contain this membrane
As GORE-TEX products have evolved, they have come in a variety of variations to suit different applications. Among them, GORE-TEX PRO products are still the most durable and waterproof material in the world today.
For the Fall/Winter 2020 season, the technology was revamped for the first time in seven years
One day, I spoke remotely with someone from Gore about the characteristics and potential of this new material, so please take a look now!
table of contents
The new GORE-TEX PRO products have evolved in three ways:
Thank you for joining us today. First of all, what was the concept behind the new GORE-TEX PRO product project?
As you know, GORE-TEX PRO products are designed for outdoor specialists and enthusiasts who require the most durable and long-lasting protection of all GORE-TEX products. Research conducted with GORE-TEX athletes, mountain guides, and brand partners confirmed the superior performance of GORE-TEX PRO products, but also revealed that there are two groups of users: those who prioritize durability and those who prioritize breathability
With such feedback as a background, we considered the product until we were satisfied, and after extensive research and development, we have now come up with this renewal
-If you had to summarise the features of the new GORE-TEX PRO products, what would they be?
The new GORE-TEX PRO product technology has evolved in two major ways. The first is the introduction of three types of GORE-TEX PRO technology that provide durability, breathability, and stretch
First of all, the basic concept of GORE-TEX PRO remains unchanged: to maintain the highest level of durability and robustness to withstand harsh environments over long periods of time. At the same time, to meet increasingly diverse needs and applications, the new GORE-TEX PRO products now offer a choice of three different materials with different characteristics, as follows:
- [Extremely rugged] GORE-TEX PRO most rugged technology
- [Extremely excellent breathability] GORE-TEX PRO most breathable technology
- [Stretch] GORE-TEX PRO stretch technology
What are the characteristics of each of the three types?
First, GORE-TEX PRO most rugged technology , as the name suggests, is the most durable GORE-TEX fabric we offer in the outdoor sports category.
GORE-TEX PRO products are made to the strictest standards of our company, from the selection of materials and parts to the construction, cutting, and sewing of the garment. This technology in particular requires the use of a newly developed, stronger membrane and a thicker outer fabric of 70 to 200 denier. Naturally, it is suitable for more demanding activities where heavy wear is expected
-So the durability has been further improved. Next, please tell us about the "extremely excellent breathability."
Next, GORE-TEX PRO most breathable technology is a fabric that combines the high durability and excellent breathability of GORE-TEX PRO, providing comfort by increasing breathability in more harsh environments.
The secret lies in the fact that it is now possible to use a thinner 30 denier fabric, which has never been used in GORE-TEX PRO products before (of course, the same PRO-level durability standards as before are maintained). This means that the breathability at the actual usage level is greater than ever before, resulting in greater comfort
-I see. Finally, what about stretching?
Perhaps the most significant advancement in this renewal is the GORE-TEX PRO stretch technology , which uses a new and improved ePTFE membrane that allows for up to 20% more stretch while maintaining high breathability and durability.
Of course, there are already GORE-TEX fabrics available today that offer stretch, but the new GORE-TEX PRO Stretch technology offers a unique advantage by meeting the strict standards of GORE-TEX PRO products, including durability, while also providing stretch functionality
By combining them, we can meet a variety of uses and needs
GORE-TEX PRO stretch technology . I could stretch my arms and bend my upper body easily. By the way, is it possible to combine parts of these three types of GORE-TEX PRO products in one model to create a final product?
That's the key point of this update. Manufacturers and brands that actually design apparel can combine these three technologies to develop a single product. By providing more options, it's now possible to create clothing that is more specialized for each activity than ever before. I'm really looking forward to seeing what kind of products brands will come up with from this
GORE-TEX PRO: Steady progress towards true sustainability
- Could you tell us about another major renewal point, your efforts toward sustainability?
We have been working on sustainability for many years and are committed to improving the environmental impact of our products by applying Life Cycle Assessment (LCA), an international standard tool for quantitatively evaluating the environmental impact of products
With this latest renewal, we are continuing our efforts to improve the environmental impact of our products, even in the manufacturing process. While maintaining high performance, the new GORE-TEX PRO products have been able to reduce water consumption during dyeing by approximately 45% (stretch products excluded) by reviewing the dyeing method for the lining (Micro Grid Backer), in particular
We are also steadily working to improve our environmental footprint by using recycled nylon for the outer fabric, which offers sufficient performance, and by reducing water consumption through the dyeing method mentioned above
Summary and future prospects
Items incorporating the new GORE-TEX PRO technology will be released sequentially from fall 2020 by outdoor manufacturers including ARC'TERYX, Burton, DESCENTE ALLTERRAIN, Haglofs, Helly Hansen, MAMMUT, mont-bell, MONTURA, Mountain Hardwear, Patagonia, Phoenix, Rab, THE NORTH FACE, and others
As mentioned in the interview, what I'm most excited about with the new GORE-TEX PRO is that while it maintains its basic concept of high robustness and durability, it now offers a wider range of functions to choose from depending on the application and purpose. I'm sure I'm not the only one who has had the impression that, for better or worse, GORE-TEX PRO has tended to produce products with similar features from all manufacturers, perhaps due to the high demands on quality. However, with this renewal, a variety of never-before-seen "ultimate GORE-TEX jackets" may be born
For example, hard shells that are particularly durable in areas that are subject to heavy wear such as the shoulders, waist and sleeves; hard shells that are highly breathable in the back and underarms and have a bold stretch range of motion for excellent mobility; or "fast and light" hard shells that are the ultimate in lightness and breathability; etc. I can't stop imagining what concepts each manufacturer will use to update their existing products, or what new products they will introduce with entirely new concepts
Learn more about GORE-TEX PRO (GORE-TEX official website)
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