Testing, testing and more testing. How our products become best in class.

WHY WE TEST: IT’S ALL ABOUT YOU

We ask you to put your trust in our products when it matters most. That could be when you’re embarking on a month-long ski-touring expedition in Alaska. Or when you’re picking up the kids, and the groceries, with the dog, when the car’s in the garage and the wind and rain have chosen just this moment to roll on in. 

We want to keep that trust and—most importantly—to keep you adventuring all around the world, in any weather, and in every season.

WHAT WE TEST: IT’S NOT ALL ABOUT US

Remember that the GORE-TEX brand makes product technologies that brand partners integrate into what they make. Whether it’s a freeriding jacket from your favorite Alpine brand made with GORE-TEX PRO product technology, or totally waterproof running shoes made with GORE-TEX Invisible Fit product technology, if it’s got our technology in it, that means we’ve tested it.

Think about that. It’s one thing for a company to guarantee what it makes. It is quite another for it to guarantee what others make. But that’s exactly what we do. Only when a product passes every single one of our tests is it cleared for production.

HOW WE TEST: THE WONDERFUL, AND THE WEIRD

When we test footwear that has to be durably waterproof, for example, one of the tests we do is called the centrifugal tester. Think of it as a rollercoaster for a shoe or boot. First, we pour water into where your foot would be.

Then a machine spins it very (very) fast to create huge pressure. If a single drop of water gets through—revealing even the tiniest leak—that footwear gets a fail and is sent back to the drawing board.

Gloves don’t get off any lighter. To test the excellent breathability of GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ gloves with stretch technology, we fill them with steam and carefully measure the amount that escapes. Then jackets get an entire room in our laboratory all to themselves: the Rain Room. This is a whole world’s worth of wet weather in one place. From gentle drizzles to driving horizontal storms, we can test that every jacket is as waterproof and protected as can be.

Check out the full range of our always rigorous, sometimes tortuous, tests right here.

WHO DOES THE TESTING: BEYOND THE LAB

It’s not just about lab tests, either. We know that there’s nothing like being out there in the elements to really test something. We have a global network of experts, athletes and ambassadors who test products for us in the harshest possible conditions. Given that we’re committed to helping you stay active whatever your passions, this feedback allows us to constantly evolve and improve the technologies we offer. Why not read about famous singer-songwriter Sigrid putting our technologies to the test in the beautiful Norwegian landscape, or Stefan Glowacz wearing our gear on extreme expeditions.  

SUMMARY

So next time you’re on the lookout for some new or replacement gear, remember how—and why—we have such strict testing methods. It’s because we want you to be able to choose something that’s an upgrade on your current gear. Something that will withstand your own tests: all the adventures you’ll be on supported by that product for years to come.