Gore-Tex Infinium
Waterproof, water resistant, water repellent.
Synonyms? Different names to indicate the same thing?
In reality there are some differences. And being able to distinguish the various ways to keep water away from your clothes has become even more important today and can really make the difference.
Until recently, all Gore-Tex products had a guaranteed impermeability, but with the launch of the new Gore-Tex Infinium product line, things have changed. This collection has been designed for times where comfort and versatility have priority over water resistance.
But let’s get back to the starting point: what are the differences in the various types of protection against water? Knowing that can help you choose the clothes that best suit your needs.
When we talking about waterproofing, we mean the maximum protection against water or the best protection in absolute, guaranteed and reliable.
Gore-Tex can help you in every situation. A storm in the mountains, a sudden downpour in the city or an unpredictable weather. All the original Gore-Tex garments are “waterproof”. Whether it is an item from the Paclite line with its lightweight 2-layer design, which is ideal for business days, or a shoe from the Surround footwear line, designed to guarantee maximum breathability to the foot, with all the products from the classic Gore-Tex line you can be sure to stay dry.
The innovative technology behind these products has in fact been accomplished over decades of research and development since 1976. At the base of it there’s the famous Gore-Tex membrane.
This membrane has billions of pores per square inch, each of which is 20,000 times smaller than a single drop of water. This is why it is impossible for water to penetrate. In addition, these pores are 700 times larger than water vapor molecules (such as sweat) which, therefore, can easily escape. All this in favor of a breathability that offers maximum comfort for a longer time, in every situation.
The water resistance on the other hand, does not offer the same 100% impenetrable protection as a “waterproof” product, but in reality you don’t need such complete protection every day or for every activity.
The garments of the Gore-Tex Infinium line are “water resistant” and therefore offer protection and comfort in a variety of conditions and situations. They are ideal for running even when the wind rises, or in light rain conditions. Jackets with Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper technology, for example, as well as being totally windproof, are water resistant and therefore perfect for everyday wear. They therefore have the capacity to resist to water for a period of time that is more than sufficient to perform many activities, but not indefinitely.
The water repellency instead, can be considered as a complement of the two previous properties. All Gore-Tex jackets, for example, have a water-repellent outer surface. In addition to the integrated membrane that guarantees its impermeability, these jackets are in fact equipped with an outer layer that has undergone a treatment (DWR) that transforms water into drops that do not penetrate into the fabric. They therefore possess the ability to repel water by transforming it into drops that slip away, allowing the outer layers to remain dry. The water repellency of a garment, however, must be taken care of over time and to do this you need some precautions and a series of instructions for washing and for care of the products themselves.