Gore Presents New, High Performance GORE-TEX® Active Shell Laminate

Extremely breathable and lightweight:

Gore presents its new, high performance GORE-TEX® Active Shell Laminate

(ELKTON, Md.)– October 27, 2010 – With the launch of its new GORE-TEX® Active Shell Laminate for autumn/winter 2011/2012 collections, W.L. Gore & Associates, leader in the market for high performance garments, continues to set new standards. Featuring a streamlined 3-layer construction, this new class of durably waterproof and windproof garment delivers extreme breathability and excellent next-to-skin comfort for all year round outdoor use.

All-weather, fast-forward athletes such as trail runners, mountain bikers and speed ascent fanatics can now complete their done-in-a-day activities in lightweight garments with advanced moisture management, without compromising on durable waterproof protection. The GORE-TEX® Active Shell laminate offerings are set to be extended further for the summer 2012 collections.

Growing trends toward speed and minimalism
Today, time is one of our most precious commodities. In an attempt to make the most effective use of their time, many outdoor enthusiasts have become more athletic and faster than ever before. Instead of hiking in the mountains, they run up mountains and along trails. Climbing has turned into speed climbing, mountaineering is done after work, haute route tours are done in four days rather than six.

As well as expecting more of themselves, these athletes also have increasingly high expectations of their clothing. There is a growing demand for extremely lightweight, minimalist outdoor apparel where every gram counts and where outstanding functionality is partnered by an attractive, sporty look. Gore has now brought a new, never before seen level of comfort and performance into the world of waterproof apparel.

Gore has succeeded in producing a good-looking product for outdoor fast forward athletes in which key functional features such as extreme breathability and light weight unite with the comfort of guaranteed durable waterproof protection. Athletes remain warm and dry – even when they get caught in unexpected rain or a sudden cold snap.

New and exclusive laminate technology
This has been made possible thanks to the new GORE-TEX® Active Shell laminates. They combine a lighter, thinner GORE-TEX® membrane with fine denier performance textiles to deliver the ultimate 3-layer solution for the active consumer. On the liner side, a completely new, never seen before lamination technology integrates the backer textile directly into the GORE-TEX® membrane, allowing for extreme breathability (RET<3) and excellent next to skin comfort. Sweat is very quickly conveyed away from the skin and transported out through the textile in the form of water vapor, while moisture produced by rain, snow and wind has no chance of penetrating. These outstanding moisture management capabilities ensure optimum body climate control for maximum sports performance.

Sophisticated design. Guaranteed quality.
Minimalist, compact design means maximum breathability and lighter weights: Gore works closely with the manufacturers’ designers to ensure that the intended lightweight and highly breathable garments (jackets, short-sleeved jackets and short-length trousers) are produced from the highly functional, durably waterproof GORE-TEX® Active Shell laminates without any superfluous features. By means of a most exceptional new product, an exclusive lamination technology and a comfort based approach to garment design, Gore is able to guarantee the outstanding performance of the end product.

For highly aerobic activities such as running, biking and training, there are polyester fabrics with knit surfaces (jacket weight < 300 grams), and for fast alpine ascent there are woven nylon shells (jacket weight < 400 grams). As with all garments engineered with durably waterproof and highly breathable GORE-TEX® laminates, only when the finished jackets have passed stringent internal tests and extensive field tests will Gore back them with its “GORE-TEX® GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRYâ„¢” quality promise.

“With our GORE-TEX® Active Shell laminate technology we have succeeded in bridging the gap between extreme breathability, lighter weight and optimum weatherproof protection. This is the first, totally waterproof garment that really does feel comfortable next to your skin during highly aerobic uphill activities,” says Martin Lankes, product manager at Gore and passionate alpine athlete.

Leading garment manufacturers in the outdoor and running/cycling segments
The following leading garment manufacturers have included GORE-TEX® Active Shell garments in their collections for winter 2011/2012:

Outdoor:
adidas, Arc’teryx, Berghaus, Haglöfs, Mammut, Millet, Montura, Mountain Equipment, Norröna, Peak Performance, Tilak, The North Face, Trangoworld.

Running/cycling:
adidas, Castelli, Löffler, Scott, Specialized, GORE BIKE WEAR, GORE RUNNING WEAR.

PR Contact:
Cynthia Amon
T: 410 506 2647
C: 443 553 0333
camon@wlgore.com