GORE-TEX® Pro Clothing

The right choice for long-term, extreme use: GORE-TEX Pro

For over 50 years, GORE-TEX® has been synonymous with durable water-resistant and windproof materials used in high-quality functional clothing. Numerous top athletes and expeditions around the world rely on the particularly durable GORE-TEX® Pro laminate, which is designed for the most demanding conditions and extreme use.

The designation ‘Pro’ is not an arbitrary product name: at Gore, ‘Pro’ stands for the testing and quality standards that a technology must meet in order to earn this label. GORE-TEX® Pro laminates are tested using the most rigorous methods. This means that only certain materials can be used in production in order to pass the tests in the laboratory and in practice. The focus of product development on the subsequent area of use is clear: ambitious mountaineering and alpine climbing, ice climbing, tough trekking tours and expeditions.

The evolution of GORE-TEX® Pro clothing

Since the first presentation of this top product class in 2006, Gore has continuously improved its GORE-TEX® Pro technology. 19 years later, in autumn 2025, the next generation will be launched. GORE-TEX® Pro technology remains the benchmark for the most durable functional clothing, tested under the toughest conditions. The newly used stretched polyethylene (ePE) membrane enables a lighter laminate with proven protection and a reduced carbon footprint according to Higg MSI.

The new generation is in no way inferior to the proven products in terms of performance. The new PFAS-free water and dirt-repellent coating of the outer fabric makes a small difference. These require a little more care: wash more often, re-coat more often. You can find out how to do this on the GORE-TEX® website.

Typical uses for GORE-TEX® Pro products

GORE-TEX® Pro is always the right choice whenever things get really tough. The durable outer fabrics of the laminate can withstand even the most vigorous contact with rocks, constant rubbing from backpack straps or masses of ice and snow. Whether for rock climbing, expeditions or extreme winter use, jackets and trousers made from GORE-TEX® Pro are durable, windproof and waterproof.

The technology behind GORE-TEX® Pro

GORE-TEX® Pro is always a three-layer laminate consisting of an outer fabric, a membrane and an inner lining. These layers are firmly laminated together. As with all GORE-TEX® technologies, the centrepiece of GORE-TEX® Pro is the microporous membrane, which is permeated by countless tiny pores. Around 1.4 billion micro-pores per square centimetre ensure its functionality. This is because the pores are thousands of times smaller than water droplets, but hundreds of times larger than water vapour molecules. This ensures that liquid water is permanently repelled from the outside, even under high pressure, while vapour-form sweat can be wicked away from the body.

In order to meet the test standards, only outer textiles made of polyamide with a yarn thickness of 40 to 200 denier are used in the ‘Pro’. Gore uses the newly developed and highly abrasion-resistant Micro Grid Backer as the inner lining. It contributes to the stability of the overall laminate, ensures efficient moisture distribution inside and thus contributes to breathability. In addition, the textile glides easily over layers of clothing underneath, ensuring comfort, mobility and a pleasant feel.