Confused by the new Gore-Tex fabrics, here are a few questions answered.
We're just about to bring you first looks at a load of new
waterproof shell jackets for this winter, 2007, but one thing that's
caused some confusion on the OM forums is what's going on with
Gore-Tex this year.
We've already run a couple of articles covering the basics of the
new Performance Shell and Pro Shell materials which Gore has
introduced instead of the old Classic and XCR fabrics, but just to
clear up a few queries, here's how we understand the new fabrics and
some questions answered.
Bear in mind that Gore often isn't particularly open about the
technology behind its fabrics, but this is what we've gleaned from a
lot of digging.
Is
Pro Shell just XCR with a different name?
No, definitely not. Whereas XCR three-ply fabrics had a knitted
backer - the bit on the inside - new three-ply Pro Shell has a woven
backer that's thinner, lighter and more abrasion resistant, it's
visibly different and slides over inner and mid layers more easily
too.
No-one knows whether the membrane construction is the same as XCR
as WL Gore plays its cards close to its chest, but it probably has
some similarities. Bear in mind that Gore has lots of different
membranes and chooses which one to use so it's optimised to work with
the face fabric.
In the case of Pro Shell, as it's Gore top of the line fabric, the
face fabrics are carefully chosen for maximum performance.
Is Pro Shell lighter than XCR?
The answer to that is pretty much, yes. Because the woven backer
is lighter than the old knitted one, jackets made from Pro Shell seem
to be around 50-100 grammes lighter than jackets made from XCR.
What about two-layer Pro Shell how is it different from
two-layer Performance Shell?
As we understand it, two-layer Pro Shell is different from
two-layer Performance Shell, both because it uses a different, more
breathable membrane and because, as with three-layer Pro Shell, the
face fabric has been carefully chosen for technical use.
So what's Performance Shell then?
Performance Shell is the new name for Gore's all-round fabric
which was previously known as 'Classic Gore-Tex'. As we understand
it, it's basically the same fabric as Classic, but with a new name
that doesn't make it sound like a vintage car...
Three-ply Performance Shell uses a knitted backer rather than the
new woven backer you'll find on Pro Shell which is the easiest way to
tell the fabrics apart, that and the great big swing ticket saying
'Performance Shell'.
Is Performance Shell the old XCR?
No, as we understand it, Performance Shell is the old Classic
Gore-Tex, it's not the same as XCR. If you were looking at an XCR
jacket for technical mountain use last year, then this year's closest
equivalent is Pro Shell, which is designed for top-end mountain
use.
Why did Gore change all the names, it's a bit
confusing?
Apparently Gore was concerned that XCR had become a bit of a brand
in its own right and that the term 'Classic' made the normal Gore
fabric sound a bit outdated, plus with Pro Shell being a
fundamentally different fabric thanks to the backer, they decided to
rebrand the materials, so it's part marketing and part logic.
So which fabric do I need?
Pro Shell is a bit like XCR - though as we've said already, it's a
different fabric - in that it's aimed at top-end technical users. So
if you're after a serious mountaineering jacket, three-ply Pro Shell
is probably the way to go.
For general mountain and hill walking use, Performance Shell is
Gore's chosen fabric. You'll find most Gore-Tex climbing jackets this
winter use Pro Shell, with walking jackets tending to use Performance
Shell, though there is some overlap.
What about Windstopper, has that been rebranded too?
Yep, 'fraid so. There's now Windstopper Active Shell, which is
light, packable Windstopper fabric aimed at the likes of runners and
cyclists. The there's Windstopper Soft Shell, which has a polyester
fleece backer, a thin one, and a polyester face fabric. Finally
there's Windstopper Technical Fleece, which has a fleece outer and a
wicking polyester fleece inner. All of them with the windproof
Gore-Tex Windstopper membrane sandwiched in between... If you want to
know more, have a look at www.windstopper.co.uk.
That's pretty much it. We can't be absolutely 100 per-cent sure
that we're right, but that's how we understand it.
