Is Gore-Tex truly a scam as claimed in the video?

Question

The document presents the assertion that Gore-Tex is a fraud. Does this accusation have any validity?

Answer 1

According to the video, it is impossible to consider Gore-Tex as both waterproof and breathable at all times which means that it is a scam. The argument is illustrated by explaining the principles that govern the movement of moisture vapor through the clothing, which can be obstructed when the outer layer is wet or during high humidity. The term ‘scam’ is used when the marketing persuades clients to think that it performs better than typical under certain conditions. But is Gore-Tex a scam or not is a matter of one’s experience and expectation.

Comments

I've tried having this conversation with so many people but they are do deeply invested in the marketing bull crap to listen

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In my opinion it’s somewhat not a scam. If it’s dry outside you have a nice breathable jacket. If it than starts to rain, you don’t need to switch to a raincoat. It’s like 2 separate jackets in one. Just don’t expect it to be both at the same time

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It's true, I own quite a bit of goretex items...  I've always noticed the sweating when it's humid or raining makes it worse.  With the upper garments like raincoats especially and obviously. Thanks for the alternatives, going to read about that next.
However, I own boots and shoes made of goretex and they are almost indestructible.  It's good to have non goretex shoes too but from a standpoint of longevity they last years and years and I've used them in all sorts of environments.
I think goretex has it's place and I appreciate the information on it!

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I think in dry conditions, in the mountains, where wind is very common, Gore-Tex works. Otherwise no athlete would use it. It is not a bias, it just works. Also it does for daily use. I have an Arc'teryx shell, and it keeps me dry when it rains in the city. Yes, you may need to reapply the DWR once in a while, but it is not a big deal. It is a spray.

I don't use the shell often, because for light rain DWR is enough, you do not need Gore-Tex at all, so in 5 years I never had to reapply the DWR yet to my shell. I used the shell under heavy rain and snow, and it kept me warm and dry. That was in winter with multiple layers below, up to -10ºC.

In a rain forrest, there is nothing you can do. The humidity is so high that it is pointless using a rain jacket. It is ok to be soaked when there are 30ºC. But if you get soaked at -20ºC you die. So, it may not be the best product on the market anymore, but Gore-Tex is not a scam, not for winter shell jackets, at least.

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What an absolute eye opener!   Thank you for shedding light on the physics aspects of staying dry in the rain while also being physically active.    So, the truth is, a simple waterproof membrane will serve just as well in the majority of situations, unless you are just sitting still.     Thanks for sharing.    Good info.....Just subbed.

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I've been an all-weather hiker and motorcyclist for 40 years, and only bought a Gore-Tex labeled product once. It worked no more efficiently than my standard rain gear, cost me a fortune, and was an overall disappointment. Thanks for doing such an in-depth study on the non-effects of Gore's waterproof/breathable claims. You're doing a great public service by showing that one does not need to spend huge amounts of money on gear to achieve good results. Of course, that leaves more money for other new gear! :) Great content!

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This is very old news indeed. I worked for a climbing equipment manufacturer in the 1970's and we did extensive testing on Gortex in the field/mountains. It's not a scam, It's easy to see that any membrane that transmits vapour only works with a decent temperature gradient and if the humidity outside, as in a tropical rainforest, is very high too, no membranes will work effectively. Never use these garments in those conditions, but in the high mountains, in the cold they can work extremely well... very old news, Not a scam, that's click-bait...