ok, this keeps coming up guys so listen up.

Gore-Tex is is merely an inner layer of a garment. It is the thickness of tissue paper. It has NOTHING to do with warmth. All it does is keeps water from getting in BUT let's sweat escape. (Although, that DOES greatly assist keeping warm, GT has NO insulating properties)

Now, the garment you package it in is another story. Gore-tex garments can be any one of the many style jackets out there. It can be in a light, thin windbreaker (which makes for a garment that takes up 1/2 the space of frogg Toggs. i.e. The North Face "Venture"jacket mentioned above stows away in it's OWN LEFT POCKET) all the way to the other end of the spectrum with a 1 piece snowmobiling suit.

Should you buy a garment like the snow suit, you are not getting the same "stow-ability" but you ARE still getting the same characteristics that Gore-tex provides,.....waterproof and breathable.

My point is that a garment is not "stowable, lightweight, warm or windproof" because it has Gore-Tex. All this means is that it is waterproof and breathable.

What makes it the cats meow is that before, to be truly waterproof, you needed a PVC based garment. Rubber. Well, rubber makes you sweat and certainly doesn't allow the sweat to wick away from the body. Once you are wet inside, you mind as well be naked. In some cases, you'd be better off naked!

So #1. Gore-tex, when added as an inner layer to a garment, will provide you with the same 100% waterproofness of rubber but allows the moisture to exit. Everything the old stuff wasn't.

And #2. Gore-tex can be manufactured to come in the form of an ultra thin sheet type material. This allows it to be used in lightweight garments, keeping them lightweight. Thusly, of course, it can also be used in insulated garments also.

I hope this helps

Merci Beau Coup (Thank You Large)  

I love Gore-Tex stuff.  I was not convinced that this stuff worked but after years of abuse on several different products (shoes, coats, rain gear, gloves, etc.) I'm a believer.  It will keep you dry and it will keep the cold wind from getting in.  IMHO, if it keeps the cold wind from getting in, it will keep you warmer but as stated it has no heat retaining properties.  It is stowable.  I have a rain suit in my glove box that I keep in the small bags they came in.

Is it worth the money?> That's up to the user.  In my opinion, I would not buy it unless it was on sale.  It adds a couple of bucks to the bottomline of most products.  One more thing,  I will always buy Gore-Tex products instead of ones that claim to be waterproof, especially shoes.  Often waterproof means waterwicking and not watersealed, so read the tags that come with it carefully.  

Here is a link to their website.

http://www.gore-tex.com/remote/Satellite/home

Here is a shoe comparison that I had the experience of dealing with.  One is "waterproof" (my feet got wet) and one with Gore-Tex that kept my feet dry even when I was standing in some mud puddles for hours.

http://www.merrellboot.com/Product/NZGP/Mens-Active-Footwear/Winter/Mens/Radius-Mid-Waterproof.aspx?IgnorePDO=1

http://www.merrellboot.com/Product/NZSZZZZ/Mens-Active-Footwear/Hiking/21285/Mens/Sandstone/J86813/Chameleon-Wrap-Gore-Tex-XCR.aspx

I bought Gore Tex before Al Gore moved to Texas  :-/

Straight from GORE-TEX® .com

Our Technologies

How does it work?

Windproof

Shivering? It could be the windchill effect. This occurs when cold air penetrates your clothing, robbing heat from your body's sensitive microclimate. To keep you comfortable and protected in the windiest conditions, the GORE-TEX® membrane has been engineered to provide an impenetrable wind shield. Your product breathes, but wind stays out.  

Thanks Catt. don't know how I missed that, I was on that exact same page,lol.  

Fingers crossed that I don't get a nasty call today,lol :-[

I bought Gore Tex before Al Gore moved to Texas :-/

Diva, oops,  Avid,    We met him at the state line, we assisted him else where,     We have Bush, and certainly don't wont them to share any ideas, no telling where this country could have been lead if they shared ideas.

Matt

Thanks for Posting this LBH.  It is true.

Straight from GORE-TEX® .com

Our Technologies

How does it work?

Windproof

Shivering? It could be the windchill effect. This occurs when cold air penetrates your clothing, robbing heat from your body's sensitive microclimate. To keep you comfortable and protected in the windiest conditions, the GORE-TEX® membrane has been engineered to provide an impenetrable wind shield. Your product breathes, but wind stays out.

this is true.  Obviously,  came from their site.  But there isnt any real insulating effect there.  It keeps out the wind yes, but it doesnt hold in heat like thinsulate.  To a degree you could say yeah it insulates but if there is no wind and its cold out, it wont make a bit of difference.  Your cheeks will get cold quick.

Gore-tex is probably one of the most inovative fabrics out there.  It does what it was designed to do very well.  I've got a rain suit and an insulated hunting suit, and boots with it.  Great stuff for sure.

Thanks Russ!

Its basically Tyvex of clothing.  No insulating properties, but keeps you warm  and allow your body(home) to breath.  

Gore-Tex is excellent as a rain/snow/wind shield, but there are plenty of other systems out there that are just as good. The most important piece of clothing that you have is your base layer. If you aren't wearing a layer that wicks moisture away from the body, it does not matter what else you have on...it's nearly useless once your core is cold because of sweat.

Another good point.  Since the patent on GT expired, many forms of it have emerged.  Hyvent is one that comes to mind.

But when you look at a clothing line like The North Face line, they use some of these other forms in their lower priced garments.  The GT is in the high end stuff.  I have an email in to my rep as to whether it is a name brand recognition thing or is one supposedly better than the other.  (perhaps GT has more longevity?)

I'll let you know his reply.

If the boots or shoes don't have that little black and gold label, I don't buy it.