I have a Gore-Tex medical membrane soft patch closing up a rather large hole in the dura that encases my brain. Plenty of fluid and moisture there but little abrasion (fingers crossed). Thirteen years and still performing well.

Um no... you're wrong. When the outer layer gets saturated (which it will in any sustained period of heavy rain even when brand new) the membrane underneath still keeps the water out. It's the breathability that is then reduced when that happens, just open a pit zip to vent some air.

Imagine forgetting to mention that the DWR treatment can be reapplied at home with 15€ worth of chemicals. Funny how "the GORE-TEX basically becomes useless" actually means breathability is temporalily reduced (sometimes significantly) for as long as the outer layer is soaked, due to the existance of a continuous liquid water membrane in the outer fabric. This means that during a wet-out event, when the outer layer gets soaked, you're vulnerable not to the outside water, BUT YOUR OWN SWEAT. Once the outer layer dries up, the garment's breathability comes back to normal and there's always the option to reapply the DWR treatment at home, for cheap, whenever you feel like it. Frankly, this short is misleading, click-baity and a blatant insult to our collective intelligence as viewers. As one lady once put it: "DISGUSTING"

Been looking at buying a good waterproof, came across a company called Paramo. They don't use forever chemicals, their jackets can be sewn back together if they become damaged, and they mimic the natural ability of animal fur to draw moisture away from the skin!

This is a bad take. If the outside shell fabric isn't compromised then even if it wets out the Gore-Tex is still impermeable to water ingress if it's intact. But any membrane can be punctured and face the same problems. If the jacket wets out and loses its water repellency the Gore-Tex still does it's job of not letting rain in, it just breathes less well until the jacket dries a bit. Ignoring extreme outdoor cases, for city wear it will last for decades. I know because both of mine have lasted at least 15 years each.

This video does not make much sense. Don't throw your jacket in the trash when it doesn't bead off water anymore. When the water repellent treatment (DWR) of the face fabric wears out and the jacket doesn't bead off the water as good - the face fabric will wet out. This doesn't mean that the Gore-Tex membrane will let the water through. But it will sacrifice the breathability of the jacket, and you can get wet from the sweat. That's why there are special gear care products, for example from Nikwax, you can use to restore the DWR and keep your jacket at a 100% of it's performance. You have a point about Gore-Tex jackets wearing out, but it usually happens due to delamination of the membrane, or the seam tape glue giving up after years of use.

If you want to throw your goretex jackets away. Please send it to me and I can upcycle it. I’ve worked on 1980s Goretex jackets and they still function to this day.

Why my respectable KZfaqrs suddenly putting out such questionable videos that make me wanna question the rest of their content? Sir, if the outside layer is wet, and the Gore Tex is not broken, it doesn't suddenly become useless as it will still do its job and keep outside water away from the body. The abrasion issue is that if a hole forms from wear and tear, then water will pass through all the layers and get inside. So what if the outside gets wet because the water resistant layer wears away? That's not a failure on Gore Tex, the body is still dry inside if the membrane is fine. If you don't wanna walk around in a layer of wetness, wear something waterproof like a plastic poncho. This video comes off as so badly because of the oh no jacket is wet, Gore Tex useless, throw it away vibes. If the Gore Tex is keeping the body dry (ignoring the sweat issue) then that thin membrane is doing it's job. And someone is unhappy with 'waterproofness' of their jacket, then they should return it or try the manufacturer's warranty. Throwing the jacket away is so wasteful if no effort is made to remedy the problem. If there is a water leak due to a failure by Gore Tex, they have warranty program of which I have seen used to replace or repair various motorcycle gear over the years.

There’s nothing wrong with an environmentally questionable jacket/coat…so long as the environmental damage is offset by it being a durable product.

It’s just rain. You’re not made of sugar, you won’t melt.

some brands (like Harbour or Barbour i think?) use their own materials and also use Wax to make their jackets waterproof

Your analysis doesn't make any sense. You point out that Goretex doesn't handle abrasion well which is why it is usually sandwiched between other layers. Fine so far. The problem is when you say if the outer layer becomes saturated, the Goretex underneath becomes useless. Saturation does not equal abrasion. You are advising people to throw out an expensive piece of kit unnecessarily. Furthermore, even if the outer layer did become so worn that it was no longer protecting an underlayer of Gortex from abrasion, the outer layer could easily be patched. You may want to consult with more frugal people before you make another such didactic video.

Lots of smart people in this comment section

But can’t you just wash with Nikwax to restore the DWR coating?

💞 My Gore Tex jacket is 30 years old. Doesn't repel water as new, but still my go to rain jacket. I love my Gore Tex. 💞

The DWR can be reapplied, don't throw away your garment

I stopped buying clothes w/gortex few yrs ago after orig (non HWood) DuPont doc film.

Got an arcteryx beta and have used it in the city for 5 years now. It does t repel water like before despite using Granger's and nikwax to clean and then reproof it. Despite water not gliding off me like before, I'm still technically dry underneath my other layers which is still a win for me.

My last goretex jacket lasted me 7 years of very heavy use. I had to change it because all the fabric layers were basically separating from too much use. The jacket I bought after that one is five years old and still going strong as the layer materials have been greatly improved. You just wash and reapply the DWR coating and you're good to go.

I can confirm, the PTFE membrane in my North Face jacket began to fell apart after a year of wear. It's mostly because I picked the wrong size and the jacket was rubbin on my hips.

Judging from the number of "No, youre wrong!" you upset a lot of people who got roped into goretex and over paid for jackets and other items. haha

I have Gore tex leather Gloves and pants from Burton and it’s been about 12 years. Lasting me very well and still going strong. It’s worth the money that I’ll tell ya!💰

Could you define "can't wear out," becuase I don't think I know the word/phrase like you may.

another fun side note: Gore-Tex is made entirely of specially conditioned polytetrafluoroethylene (Teflon) (the most common forever chemical)

I really like Fjallraven’s waxed poly cotton system but I also don’t live in the rainiest place either. Then if I did, I would probably be into those impermeable Cain coats like Helly Hansen makes. Either way, I say meh to Gortex.

OH PLEASE SISTER this is so really

Dunno man, my parents have goretex coats older than i am that still work fine

I believe this video is only a half-truth. Overtime, the outer layer will get saturated but it doesn't mean it's still not waterproof. Goretex membrane will keep water out, caveat is not much breathability. You can use DWR or heat-treatment to restore your outer layer... Please don't throw away your jacket like he says 😅

Do you know that DWR coating is a sprayed on layer that you can buy in the supermarket?

The Columbia watertight 2 jacket has been waterproof for me.

I don't believe in waterproof shoes any longer. Every single pair of "waterproof shoes" I ever got (Goretex and others) lost its protection after a moderate shower. The most they can deal with is a drizzle.

Been using a 3 layer H2NO jacket in rain and snow for like six years.. didn’t even realize it wasn’t a gore tex ripoff til very recently. It works fine.. I always liked it cause I don’t sound like I’m wearing a trash bag. Knowing it’s better for the world is a huge plus.

Screw GoreTex, I'm trowing away 5 of my 10 jackets.

Incorrect!! Gore-tex is 100% (to industry definition) waterproof and breathable. The outer layer needs a wax or spray so the water beads off the outer layer and stops the outer layer becoming saturated which stops the gore-tex from breathing in the saturated area but the gore-tex is still waterproof. If the outer layer becomes saturated after many months of use, then all you have to do is reapply the wax and spray so the water beads off again.

Its interesting, because there are some othe alternatives like termore. Are they so toxic for nature and so fragile too?

Just reapply DWR, then it will be waterproof again

Well, it's not that drastic: there are enough products to put on a new water repellent coating onto the jacket.

So what DO we buy ?

or just wash your jacket? dwr can be replenished since we're talking pores here.

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abrasion ? aren't you self contradicting with your other fjalraven video ?

Ugh, sorry, but the jacket is still “useful” 🙄

Wow, this video is widely incorrect.

You are wrong

I have a pair of velvet-like dress shoes that have Gore-tex, from 30 years ago. I honestly don’t know what its supposed to do since I don’t wear them during wet weather, so it’s probably useless unless I get caught waiting for the bus in the afternoon. Still decent as shoes since I rarely wear them😉