Goretex - the holy grail?

[Fowlersrs]

Opinions muchly needed folks, my current dainese textiles are getting a bit worse for wear after 3 seasons, 1 off and plenty of off-roading I'm thinking of residing them to just off-roading dirt duties.

Which leaves me looking at a new set for this year, now I've been happy with my dainese gear, in drizzle they don't let much water in, if it absolutely hoons down then obviously they give sooner or later.. But then I have my waterproofs for that.

So I'm looking at new stuff, Goretex seems to have come along way.. Does buying Goretex mean 100% waterproof? Is it worth the extra cost? I'm not a winter rider but I do ride an extended season hence my desire for textiles in general when travelling (I find them more comfy than my leathers)

Another range that has caught my eye is Furigan, they're jackets look good. I guess if buying non Goretex it's horses for courses really?

To Goretex or not to Goretex that is the question..

[Beehive Bedlam]

Rain suit.

[Fowlersrs]

[b422063]

When you're cold and wet in the depths of winter, how much would you be willing to pay to be dry at that moment in time.

That's the reason I always go for Goretex stuff myself. I know I'm mostly paying for a badge, but its never failed me; yet.

[esullivan]

I believe the patent that Gore-Tex had on the material has long expired, so other manufacturers make very similar material. Breathable, waterproof layers come from several manufacturers now, under brands like SympaTex and Hipora.

That said, what you get with the Gore-Tex brand is strict manufacturing requirements and the (lifetime?) guarantee. That's how the company sets itself apart from competitors -- by ensuring that the brand name only appears on garments that are very sturdy and well-made. That's what you are paying for.

My Rukka gear is the very low-end of the range and uses the Performance Shell instead of the Pro Shell of the high-end. (IIRC, the difference is that the waterproof layer is on the inside of my jacket and trousers, while the Pro Shell repels water at the surface.) In the hardest rain, riding all day (like a 12-hour day through Glenco we did last year), the jacket never lets in a drop.

They're not perfect, though. The trousers start letting in a tiny bit at the knees where the zipper creases. I can live with a bit of wet behind the knees during the worst of the weather. It's better than my last set (something from JTS, I think) that stopped being even remotely waterproof after a couple of months.
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Current: '14 VFR800X Test passed 31/10/12.
Previous: '12 NC700S, '11 CBF 125, '04 SH 125.

[Beehive Bedlam]

[Fowlersrs]

[mentalboy]

[esullivan]

[mentalboy]

[b422063]

Just for what it's worth, after 6 years of heavy use, my Hein Gericke Goretex stuff started to leak, so I washed them in the washing machine (like normal clothes, no special additives) and that fixed them and they're still waterproof to this day.

[Moo.]

Nothing is ever completely waterproof. But goretex is nearly there

I have a Klim badlands jacket picked up cheap on ebay. Has the goretex laminate..

I am well impressed! Nothing for water to soak into, just flys off. After a heavy downpour, cuppa tea in a cafe and its drip dried!

I also have a hein gericke goretex cruise jacket, was their flagship model years ago, bought at BMF for £20

The goretex is still waterproof, only problem is, when it gets wet, the fabric outside soaks it all up, and it gets heavy and takes ages to dry! Eventually, this soak outer channels the cold and although still dry, i get cold. Doesnt happen with the goretex laminate stuff! So would recommend.


If you're looking for a cheap option, i use army goretex overs when i'm in my cheap gear, works perfectly. I have a british army light jacket that has zippers on the arm pits, so even when its hot and raining, i can get airflow through, never get much water coming in from the pits
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A2 Passed 18/6/10

[darkhorizon]

damp
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2009 CBF600 - London hack - stolen then recovered - still going!
2006 CG125 - Was SORN'd, now back on road - sold Nov '16

[Joncrete Cungle]

I just stick a set of cheap army surplus gore tex pants and jacket over my textiles if it is wet. The gore tex stuff takes most of the brunt of any water, my iffy textiles keep me warm underneath and stop the odd bit of water that gets through the gap between the pants and jacket.

[gorillaonabik...]

Had real problems with cold while wearing Goretex. It's good but if it's properly freezing then no, it'll hurt.

Have a Hein Gericke Goretex underjacket thingy and it's lasted more than 10 years so can be pretty good.
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FZR400 (blown engine), ZXR750 (blown engine), ZX6R (accident), CBR600 which had engine issues after which I learned to change gear..., CBR900, CBR924 (stolen), CB600, CB1300 (everything blew up), BMW K1300GT (written off, hit from rear while stationary), Bandit 1250 for a couple of months, Triumph Sprint ST 1050 (nicked) and somewhere in there, I wrote off a Ducati 748 at Cadwell.

[ScaredyCat]

[drbaig]

Depends how long you want to stay waterproof. If you are riding all day in torrential rain then I think only the most expensive rukka gore-tex laminate stuff would keep you dry. But that is ludicrous price though 5 year warranty.

If it is up to an hour then the performance shell works very well IMO.

The way to keep the membrane working and keeping you waterproof is to wash it with nikwax or graingers or a similar product and reproof it to keep the DWR layer effective as that is the first layer of protection. When I see my gear starting to get wet on the outer layer I'll give it a wash and proof it.

I have noticed that as long as I maintain the DWR I don't get clammy and water just beads off. I even use nikwax to wash and proof hein gericke proprietary sheltex trousers that keep me dry as well.
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yzf 600r

[haroman666]

I wear a Lewis leather jacket and then I put an XL one of these over the top:

https://www.mountainwarehouse.com/mens/jackets/mens-waterproof-jackets/pakka-jacket-p8679.aspx?cl=BLACK

It's the dryest, warmest piece of clothing i've EVER worn. It's 2 years old and it doesn't leak in the slightest.

It's also an optional garment. Leave for work in the early hours when it's fucking freezing... Wear this jacket. Leave for home mid-afternoon when it's comfortable temperature... Pack this jacket into a tiny space and enjoy the breeze.

At £16, you may as well give it a go. It's fucking awesome.

(I don't work for mountain warehouse btw, so don't give me a spam rating!! I'm just really impressed by the jacket!)
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The mistresses: 2000 Honda CBR600f, 2000 Honda VTR1000

[talkToTheHat]

Not all goretex garments are made the same way, some are more suited to the application than others.

I think every time i have got wet in textiles it has been a failed membrane seam through age or water forced under my jacket by finding puddles were much deeper than expected.

Wet out is a recipe for being cold as hell though. Rare for me but I don't have long commutes at a fixed time.
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Bandit. does. everything.

[chickenstrip]

I get the feeling that Gore-Tex is pretty close to the "holy grail" for waterproof-ness, and it seems they insist on certain standards of construction from the manufacturers who use their product. I'm slowly changing to it as funds permit.

I think if I were riding every day in all weather, I'd also invest in Rukka gear. From all I've heard, it's one of the most effective brands out there, and you get very good back-up when things do fail. But that's an expense I don't really feel the need to stretch to, as my riding is mostly fair-weather these days, so couldn't really justify spending that much.

Some breathable materials do leave you feeling the cold (eVent is a bugger for that) but it's about suitable layering for the conditions if you are feeling that. I tend to use a light weight wind-proof top under the textiles, plus an insulating layer or two, as required. All thin layers so they don't leave me feeling like the Michelin man.
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[c-m]

No Gore-tex isn't the holy grail certainly not of bike wear anyway.

Like similar membrane fabrics it relies on the actual vapour pressure on the inside of the garment to be higher than that on the outside. A good deal higher to feel decent effect. In warm wet weather and also in wet windy conditions it actually draws moisture into the garment and towards the skin, as the external vapour pressure is higher on the outside of the garment then on the inside.

All depends on what you want from your gear.

[chickenstrip]

[barrkel]

[c-m]

One thing to point out, gore-tex stuff is guaranteed for life, but life doesn't mean life. It means the life they'd expect from the garment. That might range from a couple of years for gloves to 5 or more years for jackets etc..

Sidi guarantee their H2Out membrane for 10 years.

[SteveSmith]

I've seen many things (walking gear as well as biking) that claim to be as good as goretex. I haven't found one yet that actually is.

If you can afford it, buy goretex.

Steve.