W.L. Gore & Associates (Gore) launches a revolutionary product for high-aerobic end uses: new GORE-TEX® Active products with a permanent beading surface. The material is a radically new concept that delivers multiple benefits that Gore has never addressed in this manner before. The material’s permanent water beading surface eliminates the need for a face fabric, which makes it the lightest and most breathable GORE-TEX® product to date. Additionally, the user does not experience the chilling effect or long dry times which are typically associated with a wetted out face fabric. The new GORE-TEX® Active products are designed for street, trail and mountain running, as well as road cycling. Three specialised brands, Castelli, GORE BIKE WEAR® and GORE RUNNING WEAR®, as well as two outdoor partners, Arc’teryx and The North Face, will offer garments for runners and bikers in store as of December 2015.
Almost 40 years ago, Gore invented durable waterproof, windproof and breathable functional outerwear. The company is committed to finding the best product solutions, fit for their intended end use, without compromising on durable performance and high quality. Gore recently reviewed its approach to innovation management with the result of becoming more agile, efficient and faster when bringing products to market, and always remaining true to the commitment of providing the best product solutions that are fit for the intended end use. At Gore, improved agility and speed can also include a so-called ‘staged’ approach, which starts with a limited amount of Gore customers to introduce an innovative product technology. For the new GORE-TEX® Active products featuring a permanent beading surface, the company applied this staged approach for the first time with Arc’teryx, Castelli, GORE BIKE WEAR®, GORE RUNNING WEAR® and The North Face in EU and US.
GORE-TEX® Active with new permanent beading surface. This new product concept with a permanent beading surface on the outside is durably water and windproof due to the GORE-TEX® membrane. With no face textile applied to the outside, the garment’s weight can be significantly reduced. The product features a very lightweight Gore micro grid backer (patent pending) on the inside to keep weight low and wearing comfort high. In fact, being the lightest, most breathable GORE-TEX® product in the market, there is no chilling effect in the rain from a wetted out face fabric and short dry time. In addition, the garment has a low pack volume. The new GORE-TEX® Active products can be machine-washed and do not require tumble-drying or reactivation of a water repellency as the fabric has been eliminated.
Garments available starting December 2015. “We designed this product technology for light & fast users, such as road cycling, street running, trail and mountain running, as we received feedback from core users to further improve wearing comfort in high aerobic end-uses despite being durably waterproof,” said Johannes Ebert, product specialist at Gore. “We are convinced that these target consumers will benefit from this new product technology. The excellent balance of protection and comfort allows the user to leave the garment on, be it in rain or sunshine,” he continued.
Runners and cyclists can buy these new GORE-TEX® Active jackets with the permanent beading surface starting December 2015.
