How to Take Care of Your GORE-TEX Gear – With GORE-TEX Brand Ambassador Max Palm

Freeskier Max Palm on how caring for his GORE-TEX Gear gives him the confidence to take on the challenging conditions.

In a relatively short space of time, Swedish freeskier Max Palm has shifted perceptions of what’s possible in the world of big mountain skiing. Carving out a reputation as a fearless innovator, Max has continuously pushed boundaries by executing tricks off cliffs that were once reserved for straight airs. In 2022, he cemented his place in history by landing the first-ever double backflip during his rookie season on the Freeride World Tour.

For Max, it seems not even the sky’s the limit. As someone who is used to pushing himself and his equipment to extremes, Max knows that keeping his GORE-TEX Gear in top condition is essential. Below he shares his recent experience skiing in one of the world’s most demanding environments, and offers some tips on how to effectively care for your gear so that it keeps you protected for longer in the outdoors.

“As an outdoor athlete and someone who is always on the go, I choose GORE-TEX Gear because I trust it to keep me dry and warm. When I know my gear is in good condition, it means I’m able to practice my sports at 100% every time. The most important thing for me is to always be dry and warm—because who likes to be cold and wet?

“I would say that is especially important when it’s cold and snowy outside. For me, GORE-TEX Gear really comes into its own when it’s snowing a lot. When I’m competing, I have to be able to ski all day. If I’m waiting to drop at the top of a line, it can sometimes be a really long wait if bad weather comes in. So making sure I’m ready for those kinds of conditions is really important.

Get into the habit

“I tend to clean my GORE-TEX Gear at least two to three times a season, usually when it starts to get really dirty and beaten up. Frequency is important, because if your gear gets too dirty or damaged, you can get to the point where the durable water repellency (DWR) stops working correctly. But luckily it’s easy to restore.

“Washing your gear more often is something everyone should get into the habit of doing. If you do that, and use a DWR spray to restore the water repellency layer whenever you need to, it will make your gear last so much longer. Every time you clean your gear, you’re essentially reactivating it.

“When I’m out in serious terrain, knowing that my gear is going to protect me allows me to focus on performing at a high level. It’s so important when you’re in the outdoors to not have to worry about whether your equipment will hold up under extreme conditions. It’s never good to be worrying about the element more than you need to.

Stay out all day

“My recent skiing trip to Japan was crazy. It snows so much there—like every day—so you need really good, high performing gear to be able to stay out the whole day. I didn’t always know how much I should be looking after my gear. But I remember one time feeling cold and almost soaked through because the DWR on my jacket had collapsed. So my best advice is to get into the habit of taking care of your gear so that it will always keep you dry and protected.”

For more wash and care tips visit the official GORE-TEX Brand wash & care instructions.