Editor’s note: Robert W. Gore, the creator of the game-changing waterproof-breathable fabric that is Gore-Tex, has passed away at the age of 83. Gore was president of W. L. Gore & Associates for almost 25 years and company chairman for 30 years, but his biggest mark on the outdoor industry dates back to 1969.
That year, at a lab in Delaware, Gore discovered that by yanking PTFE (a.k.a. polytetrafluoroethylene, a.k.a. DuPont’s Teflon), he could expand the polymer by 1,000 percent, creating ePTFE, a microporous structure that laid the groundwork for the birth of Gore-Tex technology seven years later.
The man and the company never looked back, as the fabric revolutionized an industry and is probably at work right now in your favorite snow jacket or hiking shoes. We at Gear Patrol mourn Gore’s death, celebrate his life and revisit this Gore-Tex Pro story from last year, a prime example of how the brand continues to innovate to this day.
Outdoor enthusiasts know Gore-Tex has long been the leader in foul-weather protection — and Gore-Tex Pro is the brand’s highest-performing fabric. Targeted at the extreme end user and the outdoor professional, garments with this ingredient offer unparalleled protection, durability and breathability. And next year the material is going to be even better.
We journeyed to Banff, Alberta, Canada for Gore-Tex’s global announcement of the next generation of Gore-Tex Pro fabric. Three new advancements will be rolled out in the fall of 2020 across Gore’s premium Pro line aimed at making their high-end Pro garments more durable, more breathable and more mobile. Gore-Tex has branded the three technologies most rugged, most breathable and stretch. The announcement marks a significant step forward for Gore-Tex, as the past six years have been relatively quiet on the innovation front for Gore outerwear, while competitors such as The North Face’s Futurelight took center stage.
Gore-Tex