4 ms·

I recently learned in order for a product to have the Gore-Tex label, not only do you have to license the process/formula from them, but you have to send engine

I recently learned in order for a product to have the Gore-Tex label, not only do you have to license the process/formula from them, but you have to send engineering samples to them and they perform their own independent testing before allowing you to actually sell the product. There’s no doubt part of the success is the chemistry of the product, but the required independent testing to very high standards also likely plays a large part in the quality of the final products.

starefossen 4y ago
From what I have herd (but I was unable to find any written source at this point) the sampling only applies to the Gore-Tex Pro Shell brand. Meaning that products needs to be sent in and certified by Gore before they can be sold under that name.
- gorbypark 4y ago
  I don’t have any sources to back this up, but I’ve heard that Gore Tex Pro is actually complete fabrics supplied by Gore. “Regular” Gore-Tex has the face and backing layers added by the manufacturer, where Gore Tex Pro comes with the face and backing layers. The Pro fabrics also require being sewn in a “Gore certified” factory. A lot of this is just rumours and hearsay picked up from living in a resort town, lots of discussions about Gore Tex!
  - ethbr0 4y ago
    The sampling for "regular" Gore-TEX (read: layers added by manufacturer) makes sense from a product standpoint. If your selling point is waterproofness, and waterproofness can be destroyed by bad assembly... assembly is directly linked to your perceived product value.
gorbypark 4y ago
Not only that, but Gore will honour their “guaranteed to keep you dry” warranty. I had a Gore-Tex jacket that the manufacturer refused to replace after it delaminated about 3 years after I bought it. One call to Gore and I got the purchase price of the jacket in a prepaid credit card sent to me after sending them the jacket.
- remarkEon 4y ago
  I’ve done the same thing with some hiking boots. They really take pride in that engineering it seems.
- johnwalkr 4y ago
  This is good to know. I bought knock-off goretex ski gear because I wanted a very specific style that only exists in a cheap brand (and I mean cheap, like $50 for jacket and pants). I was very surprised at its performance but I’ve only used it a few days so far, so no idea about the longevity.
  - unixhero 4y ago
    So you can get USD50 back? Worth the hassle?
    - throwoutway 4y ago
      The person said it was a knock off, so no
    - johnwalkr 4y ago
      No, I could have explained more clearly. I mean it’s good to know there is still value in the goretex brand (quality control, warranty) now that the patent is expired, when making the decision to buy goretex vs. a knockoff.
      - emit_time 4y ago
        What did you buy from where?
- sva_ 4y ago
  Hmm, my Nike goretex shoes already lost their waterproof properties after 1 year of moderate use. I didn't know I could solve this thru Gore. Edit: I checked and bought these shoes in April 2020. I guess I will try to contact them?! The product was "Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 36 Trail GTX Gore Tex". I wonder where I should contact them?
thebigman433 4y ago
> There’s no doubt part of the success is the chemistry of the product, but the required independent testing to very high standards also likely plays a large part in the quality of the final products. This is the main advantage to it imho. I hike all day in Northern CA for work, so good rain gear is needed. There are plenty of options without GORE-TEX that are satisfactorily rain proof, but the ones with GORE-TEX are almost always better quality and have a better warranty. The REI Rainer is a good example of something that is generally good enough at keeping water out, but its relatively poorly made compared to their XeroDry jacket that includes GORE-TEX. It just leads to the end product being higher quality.
antman 4y ago
Gore tex has been many many years around, hasnt its patent expired?
- ce4 4y ago
  You're free to buy other brands' membranes but if you want to use Gore-Tex then you'll have to sign that license agreement.

starefossen 4y ago

From what I have herd (but I was unable to find any written source at this point) the sampling only applies to the Gore-Tex Pro Shell brand. Meaning that products needs to be sent in and certified by Gore before they can be sold under that name.

gorbypark 4y ago
I don’t have any sources to back this up, but I’ve heard that Gore Tex Pro is actually complete fabrics supplied by Gore. “Regular” Gore-Tex has the face and backing layers added by the manufacturer, where Gore Tex Pro comes with the face and backing layers. The Pro fabrics also require being sewn in a “Gore certified” factory. A lot of this is just rumours and hearsay picked up from living in a resort town, lots of discussions about Gore Tex!
- ethbr0 4y ago
  The sampling for "regular" Gore-TEX (read: layers added by manufacturer) makes sense from a product standpoint. If your selling point is waterproofness, and waterproofness can be destroyed by bad assembly... assembly is directly linked to your perceived product value.

gorbypark 4y ago

Not only that, but Gore will honour their “guaranteed to keep you dry” warranty. I had a Gore-Tex jacket that the manufacturer refused to replace after it delaminated about 3 years after I bought it. One call to Gore and I got the purchase price of the jacket in a prepaid credit card sent to me after sending them the jacket.

remarkEon 4y ago
I’ve done the same thing with some hiking boots. They really take pride in that engineering it seems.
johnwalkr 4y ago
This is good to know. I bought knock-off goretex ski gear because I wanted a very specific style that only exists in a cheap brand (and I mean cheap, like $50 for jacket and pants). I was very surprised at its performance but I’ve only used it a few days so far, so no idea about the longevity.
- unixhero 4y ago
  So you can get USD50 back? Worth the hassle?
  - throwoutway 4y ago
    The person said it was a knock off, so no
  - johnwalkr 4y ago
    No, I could have explained more clearly. I mean it’s good to know there is still value in the goretex brand (quality control, warranty) now that the patent is expired, when making the decision to buy goretex vs. a knockoff.
    - emit_time 4y ago
      What did you buy from where?
sva_ 4y ago
Hmm, my Nike goretex shoes already lost their waterproof properties after 1 year of moderate use. I didn't know I could solve this thru Gore. Edit: I checked and bought these shoes in April 2020. I guess I will try to contact them?! The product was "Nike Air Zoom Pegasus 36 Trail GTX Gore Tex". I wonder where I should contact them?

thebigman433 4y ago

> There’s no doubt part of the success is the chemistry of the product, but the required independent testing to very high standards also likely plays a large part in the quality of the final products. This is the main advantage to it imho. I hike all day in Northern CA for work, so good rain gear is needed. There are plenty of options without GORE-TEX that are satisfactorily rain proof, but the ones with GORE-TEX are almost always better quality and have a better warranty. The REI Rainer is a good example of something that is generally good enough at keeping water out, but its relatively poorly made compared to their XeroDry jacket that includes GORE-TEX. It just leads to the end product being higher quality.

antman 4y ago

Gore tex has been many many years around, hasnt its patent expired?

ce4 4y ago
You're free to buy other brands' membranes but if you want to use Gore-Tex then you'll have to sign that license agreement.