So What Is Gore-Tex?
GORE-TEX is the most recognised name in waterproof outerwear, and also the most misunderstood. People know it's "the good stuff" without knowing why — or why a GORE-TEX jacket costs three times what a coated jacket does. This is the deep dive: what the membrane actually is, how it works, why it outperforms everything cheaper, and how to look after it so it keeps performing for a decade instead of a season.
What GORE-TEX Actually Is
GORE-TEX is not a coating. That's the first thing to understand. A cheap "waterproof" jacket has a polyurethane coating painted onto the inside of the fabric — it works for a while, then cracks, peels and wets out. GORE-TEX is a separate membrane: a thin sheet of expanded PTFE (the same base material as Teflon) bonded between the outer face fabric and the inner lining. It's the engine of the jacket, sitting where you can't see it.
That membrane is what you're paying for. The fabric on the outside and the lining on the inside are just there to protect it and make it wearable.
How the Membrane Works
The expanded PTFE membrane is covered in microscopic pores — billions of them per square inch. The clever part is the size of those pores:
- Each pore is roughly 20,000 times smaller than a water droplet — so rain and melting snow physically cannot pass through from the outside. That's the waterproofing.
- Each pore is also roughly 700 times larger than a water vapour molecule — so the sweat your body produces as warm vapour can escape outward. That's the breathability.
This is why GORE-TEX keeps you dry from both directions. A fully waterproof plastic poncho keeps rain out but traps your sweat, so you end up wet from the inside. GORE-TEX blocks liquid water while letting vapour out — you stay dry in a downpour and you don't boil hiking to the lift.
The DWR Layer — and Why "Wetting Out" Happens
On top of the face fabric sits a DWR (Durable Water Repellent) treatment. This makes water bead and roll off the outer surface. The DWR is not what makes the jacket waterproof — the membrane does that — but it's critical to how the jacket performs.
When the DWR wears off (and it does, with use and washing), the face fabric soaks up water instead of shedding it. The jacket looks and feels wet and clammy, and breathability drops sharply because vapour can't escape through a saturated outer layer. This is called wetting out. The membrane is still waterproof — you're not getting rained on through it — but the jacket stops breathing and feels like it's failed. Nine times out of ten, a jacket that "stopped being waterproof" has simply lost its DWR and needs reproofing, not replacing.
GORE-TEX vs GORE-TEX Pro vs Everything Else
Standard GORE-TEX
The benchmark for resort riding. Fully waterproof, highly breathable, durable. This is what most quality snow jackets and pants use, and for the vast majority of riders it's all you'll ever need.
GORE-TEX Pro
The top tier — built for people who are out in the worst conditions all day, every day. More durable, more breathable, multi-layer construction designed for backcountry touring, guiding and serious alpine use. If you're earning your turns or riding in genuinely harsh conditions for hours, Pro is worth it. For lift-served resort days, standard GORE-TEX is plenty.
In-house membranes
Many brands run their own membrane technology that performs genuinely well — these are not the same as a cheap coating, and several rival GORE-TEX at a lower price. We stock outerwear across both. The point of difference with GORE-TEX is the Guaranteed To Keep You Dry promise — Gore tests and certifies every garment, and the warranty is backed accordingly.
Why It's Worth the Money
A GORE-TEX shell costs more up front. Here's what you actually buy with that premium:
- It lasts. A well-cared-for GORE-TEX jacket performs for ten-plus seasons. A coated jacket is often done in two or three as the coating breaks down.
- It performs when it matters. Australian snow is wet and heavy. On a warm, dumping Buller or Hotham day, a coated jacket wets out fast and you ride cold and damp. The membrane doesn't care how wet the day is.
- It's guaranteed. The Guaranteed To Keep You Dry warranty means Gore stands behind the garment for its functional lifetime.
This is the definition of buy once, buy right. Cost-per-season, a quality GORE-TEX shell is cheaper than replacing a coated jacket every couple of years — and you're dry the whole time.
How to Care for GORE-TEX (So It Keeps Working)
This is the part most people get wrong, and it's why jackets "fail" early. GORE-TEX needs maintenance — neglect it and the DWR dies.
- Wash it more than you think. Dirt, body oils and sunscreen clog the membrane and kill breathability. Wash with a technical cleaner (Nikwax Tech Wash), not regular detergent — detergent leaves a residue that attracts water.
- Never use fabric softener. It coats the membrane and ruins both waterproofing and breathability.
- Tumble dry low, or warm iron. Heat reactivates the DWR. A warm tumble dry after washing restores water repellency that's gone dormant.
- Reproof when water stops beading. When the outer face wets out instead of beading, apply a wash-in or spray-on DWR (Nikwax TX.Direct). This restores the repellency and brings the jacket back to life — no need to replace it.
Look after it and a GORE-TEX shell outlasts several cheap jackets. That's the whole point of spending the money once.
Shop: Men's GORE-TEX Jackets · All GORE-TEX Outerwear · All Outerwear · Cleaning & Reproofing
Related guides: Waterproof & Breathability Ratings Explained · Snowboard Outerwear Buying Guide