Any experience with GoreTex warranty?

I don't know exactly how GoreTex operates now. Here is the way they used to operate. When a garment manufacturer signs the initital agreement with Gore, the manufacturer agrees to "stand behind" the warranty. So, it is only the manufacturer that deals with the customer, not Gore.

Now, if one manufacturer claims that 40% of all of their GoreTex garments of a certain batch are failing badly, they might argue that case with Gore, but that is not an issue for the customer.

I've owned various GoreTex garments over the last thirty-odd years. I've seen some that stayed good, and I've seen others that seemed to routinely go bad. Little by little I figured out how to keep mine staying good. Most of that involved keeping the garment very clean. I know how difficult that might be in an outdoor situation. Worse, if I got a bad stain on the outside surface, I might try to clean it off improperly, and that often gets the stain material diluted and dissolved into the GoreTex membrane. That is harder to get out. It used to be that dissolved contaminants in the membrane could be extracted with denatured alcohol, and then ordinary washings could extract the denatured alcohol. I don't know if that is the best practice with current GoreTex. Once you get all of the crap out and get it clean, that is 99% of the battle. OTOH, once the laminant starts to delaminate, then that is the beginning of the end.

By the same token, I have several pieces of gear that I sewed myself using GoreTex fabric. Interestingly, I have kept those much cleaner, and I have never had any waterproof failures with them. Think about it.

–B.G.–

Got my first piece of goretex in 1978. Still have an Early WInters bivy that works well from 1979. Truth is however, sooner or later most goretex seems to fail.

My one warranty issue was with a Western Mountain Goretex sleeping bag (circa 1992)… the goretex started delaminating in the hood from the nylon. WM replaced the bag with a WM bag of my choice, and of course, WM was reimbursed by Gore.

Goretex was never a great idea on down bags.

I had an Arcteryx Beta SL jacket back when they still made those in Canada. I hand washed it with appropriate Gore-Tex specific detergents. After one wash, the fabric began to delaminate from the bottom hem up and bubble elsewhere. I called Arcteryx customer support, sent them my garment, and they replaced it for free (less shipping charges).

I'd go ahead and contact Gore about it. The guarantee on their website claims to cover you regardless of the company that used their product.

I appreciate the replies everyone. My issue isn't so much with a "defect" in the material, as much as it is with just not being happy with it. TNF (and most manufactures from my experience) doesn't warranty against "satisfaction," though there is a warranty page on the GoreTex site that seems to imply they do, which is why I was inquiring warranty experience directly with Gore. I'm also a bit unhappy that TNF claims the discoloration on the jacket is due to "UV damage" when it's only in one specific spot, and they're unwilling to do anything about it.

I sent an email to Gore directly, hopefully I'll get a response soon. Thanks again.