Waterproof
design and construction:
Waterproof fabric by itself is not enough to guarantee you stay
dry. To ensure the performance of the finished garment, meticulous
construction, sealing of all exposed seams and weatherproof closures
are also necessary. Prior to testing in the Gore labs, the garments
are artificially aged to simulate wear and tear. Only then is the
garment tested for waterproofness.
Durably
waterproof: Most
waterproof, breathable fabrics can prevent some water entry when
new (initial waterproofness) but may lack durability. Fabrics used
to make waterproof, breathable outdoor outerwear must survive frequent
exposure to heat from tumble drying, use of dry cleaning chemicals,
stains, body oils, and detergent, as well as mechanical forces such
as flexing, abrasion and tearing. In addition, they must survive
exposure to environmental conditions such as precipitation, temperature
extremes, high humidity, and sunlight just to name a few.
Durably
waterproof seams: Gore
manufactures its own seam tape and thermoplastic seam tape adhesive.
The Gore-Seam® tape and the adhesive precisely match the GORE-TEX®
fabric to which they are applied. Gore-Seam® sealing machines are
leased rather than sold to Gore's licensed manufacturing partners.
This allows the machines to be upgraded quickly, insuring the seams
in GORE-TEX® outerwear are made with the most up-to-date seam-sealing
technology. Those who use other brands of waterproof, breathable
fabrics have no choice but to purchase their fabric from one supplier,
purchase their seam tape from another supplier, and purchase their
seam-sealing machines from yet another supplier. Only Gore will
match the seam tape, adhesive, and the seam-sealing machines to
the fabric type and weight. The result of all this attention to
detail is durably waterproof seams.
