Here's What You Need To Know About Next Year's Gore-Tex Products

By Max Ritter | Powder | February 21, 2025

Read the full article by Max Ritter (Powder)

"In many industries, a certain brand name more or less becomes synonymous with a type of product. Think of Kleenex, Band-Aid, Coke, or in the world of technical ski outerwear, Gore-Tex. Since 1976, the brand has been a leader in the textile industry, specializing in waterproof, breathable, and windproof fabrics that use a special membrane to keep liquid water and wind out, but let water vapor evaporate through. It’s what keeps us dry and protected from the elements when we're out having fun in the mountains. The material has even been used by NASA astronauts in space suits.

For 2025, Gore-Tex has introduced a host of changes in their product line, namely around eliminating the use of environmentally harmful PFAS chemicals in the membrane and Durable Water Repellent (DWR) treatment. The new ePE membrane Apparel manufacturers like The North Face, Rab, Arc’teryx, Backcountry, Mammut, and Mountain Hardwear, just to name a few, are taking advantage of these new fabrics to update their technical outerwear lines for next year.

Don't worry, despite what you might have heard, the material isn't getting less waterproof. In fact, the new PFAS-free versions of Gore-Tex are tested to the exact same standard as the outgoing version, and the new membrane is actually thinner and lighter than before."