Gore-Tex. To wear or not to wear?


Over the years, Gore-Tex has become a more popular option in motorcycle apparel. In the right environments. Gore-Tex can be a true and tried option for keeping yourself warm and dry. Although Gore-Tex is promoted as a all-season apparel, is Gore-Tex the right choice for riding the Americas?

Riding the Americas you will experience all types of environments. From the North slope of Alaska, to the tropics of Central America, and the high altitude mountains in South America. Gore-Tex Incorporated jackets and pants may sound like all-in-one solution. However, all in one solutions tend not to be the best solution. 

Gore-Tex was created in 1969 by accident using a material called polytetrafluoroethylene. It is a micro porous fabric that is 70% air. This allows moisture vapor to escape but does not allow moisture droplets to penetrate. 

Over time Gore-Tex became popular in commercial hiking gear, snowmobile riding gear, and eventually into motorcycle riding gear. 

Gore-Tex generally works best in cold environments. Perfect for skiing and mountaineering where it works well in cold, dry, snowy conditions  However and hot humid tropical environments Gore-Tex does not work very well.  So the question remains. Does Gore-Tex infused riding gear work best for every situation?  The answer is, that's depends. 

Gore-Tex waterproofing relies on its ability to breathe. If the Gore-Tex fabric is clogged by dirt and your shedded skin, the Gore-Tex fabric will not work. In order for Gore-Tex to work effectively, the material must be clean. Therein lies the problem with Gore-Tex infused motorcycle riding gear. This is why I will never buy Gore-Tex infused riding boots because it is impossible to clean them. 

At home if you are a daily Rider or a" weekend warrior" you have the convenience of cleaning your Gore-Tex riding suit at home using the recommended tech wash And waterproofing recommended by the manufacturer. However, as an adventure traveler, you will find it more difficult to properly clean Gore-Tex infused riding gear. It is not recommended to use any type of cleaning material that has chemicals such as brighteners as it will damage the fabric. 

From Mexico to South America The majority of people do not have warm or hot water connected to their washing machines. And rarely do you find a home with a dryer. Additionally, it is almost impossible to find the recommended tech wash to clean your riding gear. I recently had a traveler as a guest who had Gore-Tex infused riding gear. The waterproofing had failed because he was not able to properly clean his jacket and pants over the last few months. I was able to help him clean his gear using a bar of ivory soap shredded finely and then incorporated into a pot of warm water. We then washed the gear and rinsed it twice. And the key final stage was drying his gear in my dryer on low heat to fluff up the fibers in the material. This should last him a few months depending on the amount of dirt and sweat that he collects and is riding gear. However, who knows when he will be able to properly wash his gear again as he still has at least one year of riding to South America. Another issue is that we didn't have the DWR repellent to revive the waterproofing exterior. 

Cleaned, but not reconditioned 


When I lived in the Pacific Northwest Gore-Tex was a great option for commuting and weekend riding. However, when I rode the Americas, I elected to go with a layer-based riding system. I chose a riding suit that had a Gore-Tex zip in liner. However, I did not use the liner as my waterproof layer only as a warmth layer. The problem with Gore-Tex infused or Gore-Tex liners is that the rain will saturate the outer layer of your riding gear. Acting like a sponge. That sponge will in turn act act like air conditioning, drawing the heat from your body. Therefore, I used an outer rain jacket and rain pants. Anybody who knows anything about mountaineering or just enjoying a weekend out in the wild knows that layers work best for staying warm and keeping dry. The same principles apply for adventure traveling. Trust me there is nothing worse than climbing into your tent with a saturated motorcycle jacket by your side, especially when you have to put it on the next morning. With a simple rain jacket and rain pants, you can shake them dry and sleep comfortably knowing that your motorcycle, jacket and pants will be warm and dry for you. 

A basic rain suit (non-technical material)


There is another problem when it comes to Gore-Tex infused motorcycle gear. It's not a question of if but a question of when you are going to go down. When I was in New Mexico I had a front tire puncture and my bike and I slid across the road about 30 ft. Although I was unscathed, my jacket and pants received some damage. Damage that was able to be repaired by a local tailor. With Gore-Tex, a specialty shop is generally required for proper repair. Something that you will not find south of the border. If you go down wearing an outer shell rain jacket and pants, they can easily be replaced. 




So, it is my recommendation that for international travel avoid Gore-Tex infused riding gear. A layered system is best. I even purchased Gore-Tex socks as they also can be cleaned. 

Greg Hilchey. 

35 years riding experience 

Motorcycle safety instructor 

Adventure motorcycle instructor at PSSOR. 

Sources: 

https://www.gore-tex.com/support/care

https://www.gore-tex.com/support/care/dwr

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