Written by Thepphong Chaiyaratthi on August 4, 2020
Compiled by Ranakrit Sriphumma on September 1, 2020.
In the Tactical and Outdoor product sector,
The waterproof and breathable properties of the product are important.
Because the activities that the wearer will have to face are diverse.
Depending on the environment and situation that you will encounter
It might be wet, it might be dry, it might be hot, it might be cold.
Therefore, the product has the properties of being waterproof and breathable.
It will help make the activities easier to carry out.
and provides great convenience to users
Products in the Tactical and Outdoor categories
Therefore, there are often advertisements and inventions of technologies that can make it waterproof.
and provide good ventilation to the product
Which is the technology that we often see products often put into products.
It is Gore-Tex technology, but we will see that some products, even if they are the same model,
But one piece has a Gore-Tex label attached to the product, and the other piece does not have a label attached.
For example, the Salomon XA Forces shoes come in both GTX and non-GTX versions.
So why is it like that?
So today we're going to get to know Gore-Tex technology.
And let's analyze whether the products have Gore-Tex or not.
Which one will meet your needs better?
What is Gore-Tex?
Gore-Tex technology was first invented by Bob Gore.
In 1969 in the United States
Which happened by chance when Bob experimented.
Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or “Teflon”
Heated and stretched at high speed, the structure of PTFE changes.
GORE-TEX technology uses a unique fabric structure.
It acts as a link between high-performance lining and highly durable fabric.
The first layer of fabric is coated with a highly durable water-repellent polymer.
(Durable Water Repellent)
Which will act as a water filter and in the second layer there is a GORE-TEX MEMBRANE.
In 1 square inch of GORE-TEX MEMBRANE, there are 9 billion holes.
And each channel is 20,000 times smaller than a drop of water.
Making it impossible for water to pass through the GORE-TEX MEMBRANE.
While each channel on the GORE-TEX MEMBRANE material
It is smaller than a water droplet, but the hole mentioned is still larger.
700 times more water vapor molecules, which is a property
That makes the GORE-TEX fabric still able to wick away sweat.
Leaving your body so you can stay dry
So, should the products I buy have Gore-Tex or not?
To be honest, it depends on the user's choice.
Because each user has different preferences and needs.
But the features are different between products with and without GORE-TEX.
Here are some things to consider when choosing to buy based on the Salomon XA Forces shoes:
Shoes with GORE-TEX are more waterproof than shoes without them.
Of course, because GORE-TEX technology is designed
To make the product used waterproof.
Therefore, shoes with GORE-TEX are better at preventing water from entering.
Shoes with GORE-TEX tend to be slightly heavier.
Because the shoes will have more material added to them.
Adding weight to the Salomon XA FORCES MID EN shoe
It will weigh in at 435 grams, while the Salomon XA FORCES MID GTX EN
It weighs 475 grams, an increase of 40 grams on each side.
So if the wearer wants a shoe that is flexible and lightweight,
You have to choose a pair of shoes without GORE-TEX because the shoes are lighter.
Shoes with GORE-TEX are not as breathable as shoes without them.
Because it uses GORE-TEX technology, which is advertised to have holes smaller than water drops.
To prevent water from entering and there is a small but still big enough gap.
To be able to drain sweat from the feet.
It turns out that it slows down the evaporation of sweat and reduces air circulation.
This makes shoes with GORE-TEX extremely waterproof but not as breathable.
Therefore, in the end, it depends on the wearer.
What kind of activities or environments do you have to face every day?
To be able to choose shoes that meet your needs
If you have sweaty feet and don't want your shoes to smell bad
Or have activities that require frequent exposure to water
Then you have to choose Salomon XA FORCES MID EN which has better ventilation.
Even though the shoes can get wet, they also dry quickly, and do not allow water to pool inside the shoes.
But if you are someone who wants to keep your feet dry,
Faced with water only occasionally, one must choose
Salomon XA FORCES MID GTX EN
With GORE-TEX technology to ensure water doesn't enter the shoes.