Inside Gore-Tex: what does that label mean, anyway? (Riding Around).

Publication: Rider

Publication Date: 01-APR-03

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COPYRIGHT 2003 Ehlert Publishing Group

A lot of motorcycle riding gear and other outdoor apparel carries a Gore-Tex label or hang tag, including the Firstgear Eco Gore-Tex suit evaluated on page 99. But have you ever wondered what that label entails?

The folks at Gore-Tex recently invited us to their home office in suburban Maryland for a look-see. No, they don't have a big ranch where they raise cute, furry little baby Gores to adulthood, then skin them and tan the hides with a waterproof balm. There's actually a lot more involved in making Gore-Tex and incorporating it into garments than meets the eye.

Gore, or more correctly W.L. Gore & Associates Inc., is one of the 200 largest privately held businesses in America, with more than 6,000 employees, 45 plants and sales locations worldwide. Last year the technology company had sales of $1.35 billion. Gore-Tex products are only one slice of a very big pie. The company is also involved in electronics, defense, aviation and...

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