True or false: Everything made by the GORE-TEX brand is waterproof.
That’s a softball question, you might scoff. It’s obviously true.
The answer? False. All products made with our technologies used to be waterproof. But the all-new range of GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ products includes high-performance jackets, footwear, and gloves made to keep you comfortable when waterproofness isn’t a priority.
We can hear the questions forming already. So here’s a quick Q&A that should set things straight (and maybe get you more than a little excited about what the future holds).
Why would a brand famous for its waterproof protection decide to offer non-waterproof products?
GORE-TEX products are the gold standard of durably waterproof, right? They are, indeed. And they always will be: our original GORE-TEX products are not going anywhere, and we’ll continue to innovate and evolve them.
So why would we introduce non-waterproof products? Well, the GORE-TEX brand’s mission has always been to support people’s passions. And we realized that although some people's passions drive them to climb ice waterfalls or walk to work (and back) every day of the year regardless of the weather, lots of you are looking for different ways to stay comfortable and protected. Our GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ products are designed to create even more comfort in even more moments in your life, from weekend explorations in the city to whole weeks spent hiking, walking, and getting lost around that favorite family cabin out in the woods.
So if GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ products aren’t waterproof, what are they?
They’re a whole lot of things. For example, GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ THERMIUM™ Footwear is insulated where your feet need it most, so they stay warm outdoors but keep comfortably cool indoors.
GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ STRETCH Gloves are windproof, breathable, and uniquely tactile, so you can easily use a touchscreen while you’re on a backcountry ski tour taking pictures of the snow covered mountains.
GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ garments even offer a unique outer surface that persistently repels water, so you can stay dry and comfortable even if you get caught in some light rain.*
(Want to know more about the kinds of benefits you get in GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ products? Head right here.)
Just think of it like this: GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ products are made for versatile comfort. That means they’re designed with the quality and performance of original GORE-TEX products range but prioritize your comfort over waterproof protection.
Does that mean GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ products are “athleisure”?
Not really. GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ products can look great. There are chic and sporty jackets with a unique look and feel; Oxford shoes and high-cut boots that can have a stylishly slim silhouette; 3D-formed gloves designed to fit snugly around your hands.
But as well as being designed to look as good as can be, these products are made to offer you an upgrade in terms of both comfort and performance.
So those jackets mean you can stay outdoors longer, even if the wind gets chilly or a light rain rolls in. Those boots offer thermal protection to stop your toes getting chilly. Those gloves are designed so you can take them off less, so you can get more done in your busy day.
Ok, but are GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ products only for urban activities?
Nope! As the product range evolves, you’ll see more and more designs for more and more situations. You’ll see the same principles of our innovative comfort science that go into, say, a date-night ready bomber jacket, utilized in the hybrid design of an ice-climbing jacket.
What it all boils down to is this: GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ products are here to better support more situations in your life—from trail runs to coffee runs. From mountaineering to walking your dog. Rain or shine, the GORE-TEX brand has now got you—fingers, toes, and everything in between—covered.
And what if I still want waterproof products?
Then you’ve nothing to worry about. The range of GORE-TEX INFINIUM™ products is an addition to what you’ve loved (and trusted) for decades. The range of original GORE-TEX products is still very much around, is still as durably waterproof, windproof and breathable as it ever was and carries our GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY™ promise—and always will do.
*Want to know more about the difference between waterproof and water-resistant? We got you.
