Johannes Ebert, a GORE-TEX product specialist, has been testing the technology behind GORE-TEX SHAKEDRY™ jackets since the first prototypes in early 2015. We asked him to share some of his key experiences of the evolution of GORE-TEX SHAKEDRY™ technology.
2015
Understanding GORE-TEX SHAKEDRY™ Technology
It was a wet spring – a great season to spend many hours outside testing all kinds of prototypes. When we tested the first batch, we faced many challenges to deliver a uniform surface both outside and inside. We didn’t yet know how we would engineer each component to produce the perfect product. More and more I understood that GORE-TEX SHAKEDRY™ product technology is something very very unique. In my head, I compared GORE-TEX SHAKEDRY™ fabric against my experience in thousands of poor weather conditions for hours in the mountains. When I finally tested this technology in the mountains, it was a very cold day. 5°C in the valley, -1°C at the summit. Harsh winds and fresh snow in the upper part. A three hour run crossing a mountain with a hydro-pack on a steep ascent. What usually happens is that you quickly start sweating, you reach the summit and your sweat rate and body temperature goes down. Since you are losing power you feel cold; starting in your fingers, arms, leg and then in your core. Not on that day! During the traverse with a lower pulse, I realized that my shirt dried out while I was running in the rain and snow! I couldn’t recall any trip where this has happened before. It was then I realized that the minimum weight and maximum breathability could be a breakthrough, but it took us months to understand exactly what we needed to do to make this a success.2016
Developing the Detail
Once the body of the technology was determined, we then had to decide on the most suitable fabric. We chose a Microgrid version because of its superior ‘next to skin’ comfort and look, with very low weight and thickness. The use of this fabric enabled us to create a standard for running and cycling garments that could easily be packed away into a cycling shirt pocket! Garments weighing less than 100g were, in fact, possible – a value that has never been achieved before with a GORE-TEX garment!
2017
The Evolution Continues…
Once the snow arrived early in January, I was excited to test the new contents of my wardrobe in the colder weather conditions. In 3 months I made 45 ski touring trips, a number of biking and skiing family trips and did many, many runs. Through this, I fell in love specifically with one of our concept garments called ‘Lieblingsteil’. It suited my speed ski touring needs and my vision that the clothing should be adaptive to the outside, body temperatures and wind speed. In my experience, you speed up and feel hot in deep snow; you ski down at high speed and the wind and powder are flowing around your body. GORE-TEX SHAKEDRY™ garments did exactly that! They delivered warmth when you start at a temperature of -15°C at the car, breathability during the ascent when you warm up, protection against the wind at the ridge and summit, reliable protection against wet snow and drizzle during the ride down, and the ability to whip away water for the drive home.The Future of GORE-TEX SHAKEDRY™ product technology
Although we have developed good solutions for many outdoor explorers, we still feel that there is much more to do, to learn and to develop. Evolution of the technology won’t stop! The evolution of GORE-TEX SHAKEDRY™ product technology is a rigorous journey. We go to extreme lengths to ensure that GORE-TEX products will never let you down. Don’t risk going out without it - get yours here.
