Text: Jon Carrington
Photo: Evelina Lind
GORE-TEX is basically a wind and water repellent membrane that allows humidity to be transported away from the body, without blocking it. This membrane can be found on a wide variety of specialist and functional garments, as well as everyday clothes with high levels of wind and water protection. The membrane is constructed with a high number of small pores whose diameter is smaller than drops of water in its liquid state, but wider than particles of water in its evaporated state, like in perspiration. This gives Gore-Tex fabrics their unique water-repellent yet breathable properties.
If you use your garment frequently or expose it to repeated mechanical wear, its water-repellent coating - also referred to as DWR (durable water repellent) - will eventually wear off. This means it will eventually need to be reapplied. Apply the spray coating in accordance with the manufacturer's instructions and activate by tumble drying the item for around 20 minutes. Dedicated waterproofing sprays can easily be found in sportswear shops or outerwear specialists.
If you notice that the protective and functional qualities of your GORE-TEX garment have diminished, try tumble-drying for around twenty minutes, as this will reset the fabric's water-repellent properties. If the garment has been exposed to considerable mechanical wear, the surface coating might need to be bolstered using a dedicated spray.
If you do not have access to a tumble-dryer, an iron used on a low heat temperature and without steam may provide similar results. Always use a protective piece of cloth between the iron and your GORE-TEX fabric, such as a clean cotton or linen tea towel.
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Care of Carl offers EU-wide delivery.
For destinations in Scandinavia, Germany, Austria, Switzerland, Netherlands, France and Spain we recommend using our local sites which can be found at the following addresses:
Sweden | careofcarl.se |
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Denmark: | careofcarl.dk |
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