Review and Experience Report of a Three-Layer GORE-TEX® Fabric Jacket

    Functionality Tests:

During outdoor activities, one may not necessarily encounter all types of harsh weather. To thoroughly test the product’s various capabilities, I also wore it on days when the weather was poor. Honestly, I was afraid I wouldn’t get to test it in extreme conditions within the one-month period. To be honest, wearing such an expensive piece of outdoor gear regularly would normally be quite wasteful.

    1.  Windproof (and Waterproof)

4On the25th of the month, it started to drizzle, so I decided to walk to work. I walked3kilometers in the rain for25minutes. For a jacket like the GORE-TEX®, this level of rainfall and duration was no challenge at all — I even found it a bit amusing. As expected, not a single drop of water penetrated the fabric.GORE-TEX®jacket.

When I got off work, the temperature dropped sharply and strong winds blew. My colleagues were shivering, but I remained completely comfortable — the windproof performance was undoubtedly excellent.

Finally, the weekend arrived, and I could go out.

The temperature that day was4—14℃. Wind force6. of level 7 or above, with even stronger gusts at the mountaintop. To visually demonstrate the wind in photos, I brought along a small flag.

. My hiking style emphasizes speed, and I always end up drenched in sweat climbing up. Upon reaching the mountain ridge at an altitude of650. meters, a sudden strong wind blew, but it didn’t penetrate my clothing at all, and there was no discomfort from sudden heat or cold.

    2.  . Breathability

. Most regular fabrics can easily achieve a single function, but combining breathability with waterproofing requires high-tech materials. For strenuous outdoor activities, clothing that offers both waterproofing and breathability is especially important.

. With zero elevation gain,1. over the course of7.5. kilometers of moderate-paced fast hiking, I was constantly wiping sweat from my face. The body was sweating heavily. Yet the clothing didn’t feel stuffy to wear. At the time, I hadn’t opened the underarm ventilation zippers. Upon inspecting the clothing, it was mostly dry, and I was very satisfied with its breathability.

    3.  . Abrasion resistance

. The backpack system causes wear on clothing, as does climbing over rocks and brushing against tree branches—all of which can affect waterproofing. Testing was carried out in these aspects.

. Over three mountain crossings carrying a load of12. kilograms each time, with durations of6.5—7. hours, there were no signs of abrasion at the contact points between the clothing and the backpack’s shoulder straps, chest straps, or waist belt.

. The mountains around Harbin are part of the Zhangguangcai Mountain Range, not particularly high, but dotted with rough, protruding rocky outcrops. Climbing such terrain causes significant wear on clothing. Mountain crossings also involve passing through shrubbery and enduring scratches from tree branches. Under these conditions, the clothing was tested and remained in perfect condition.

    4.  . Waterproofing

. Unfortunately, in the last3. outdoor activities, there were no rainy days, so testing could only be done at home. Using the high-pressure setting on a showerhead, I sprayed the jacket. To achieve a clear visual effect and observe whether any water seeped through, I wore a quick-drying shirt underneath the rain jacket. The test results were extremely satisfying.

.     Photo1: Before testing

.     Photo2: After testing. To compare dry and wet colors, the front of the quick-drying shirt was deliberately wetted.