gortex 100% waterproof (no way)

[bones]

just wandering if anyone else was fooled by the the adds claiming gortex is water proof. i sat in the marsh more than once in venice, la where it can rain all day sometimes and within 30 minutes i am soaking wet. tried some of the waterprofing spray etc. but it still did not help much. never heard much complaining except from me and my hunting buddies. am i missing something or did i get hooked like everyone else.

Bones from FL dreaming of la marsh.

[Jefferson]

Try running your coat through the washing machine and dryer. This effort paid off for me . . . waterproof again just like new. I even remembered to take the shells out of the pockets before putting the coat in the machine!

I also hunt in the Venice area and know how difficult a place it can be to hunt. I am sore today from dragging a full pirouge across a mud flat.

[CaptnT]

There is an interesting thread concerning this very thing at another duckin' website:
http://www.arkansaswaterfowler.com/cgi-local/ultimatebb.cgi?ubb=get_topic&f=1&t=004586

Just be warned those Arkies are a little "FOWL-mouthed"

[GulfCoast]

I have several items of the stuff from hunting and boy scouts. I have never had a problem with any gore tex leaking. Even walking around outside during hurricane georges. Sounds like your seams are not sealed.

My problem with gore tex is that it does not "breathe" nearly like they claim it does. The very first generation gore tex was waterproof, and very breathable. But the oil in your skin made it deteriorate. So, when they fixed that problem, the newer stuff did not breathe as well. Plus, the concept of it "breathing" relies on itty bitty tiny holes. Now, since you have to GLUE the gore tex to the other fabric to make the garmet, what happens to all the itty bitty holes for the water vapour to pass through??? Can you say clogged with glue??? I thought that you could.

Open up your coat and put your lips on the inside of the back, and try to blow hot air from your gut through the coat onto a mirror. If the mirror fogs, your GT is "breathing" and letting the water vapour in your breath out. If not, you got marketing BS. Plus, even if it was not glued, it does not work in high humidity, since the water vapour will not diffuse through the membrane from a lower humidity to a higher humidity.

For more than you ever wanted to know on this subject, consult any good backpacking book or website.

Gulf(I have been spammed by GT marketing)Coast

[Junior P]

I work in the textile industry and it is hard to get any fabric "100%" waterproof. Most are water resistant, but with enough water it will come through. Rubber is one of the few truly waterproof materials. However, I saw at a trade show this summer some fleece that was for the most part 100% waterproof. It was made by Rivers West and is featured in some adds in the North American Sportsman Magazine. I am not sure if they have it in camo beacause it is inteded mainly for skiers, boaters, etc... However they have some colors such as moss, pine, timber, etc... that would work in hunting schemes. Their sort of expensive but it is really good quality goods. You can see their web site at www.riverswest.com.

[Blackduck]

The same material that is used by Gortex to make you jacket is used for arterial bypass grafts. For damn sure that stuff is waterproof. Sounds like GC is right about your seams. There always could be a bad apple in every bunch and maybe you gear is surrounded by bad voodoo.

[bones]

Catnt, thanks for the reference to the ark web site, those guys no what i mean. Gulfcoast,glad your not having problems with your but mine is a a browing wader jacket and my brother has a columbia, both leaked the first year. did not completely penetrate but where we had heavy contact points like elbows, seat of pants and shoulders we got soaked. sealer is temporary help but after another long rainy day we were soaked again. just think its not right to claim 100% waterproof and breathable when it is simply not true. hay jethro, are the ducks still using the lower river near pas-a-loutre. tough, nasty hunting but worth it if it doesn't kill ya. p.s. somebody needs to havest some of those nutira.

chief, get in this blind.

[GulfCoast]

Either Columbia or Browning should replace the jackets, no questions asked. At least columbia did for a friend of mine.

[bones]

gulfcoast, your friend must have had the same problem. i like my jacket but would like it even better if it did not leak. we solved the problem by wearing our slicker rain suits over the jacket, sounds kind of crazy but when the rain quits and turns cold the same day at least we a wearing dry jackets. jethro, have you hunted the delta management area, i did not see much there and can't figure out why.

chief, get in this blind

[Redhead]

I Had a columbia Widgeon Parka that started leaking after my wife washed years of hard work out of It. Sent it back to Columbia and got a brand new one!! no leaks yet but I haven't even worn it lately with this balmy weather! BUY A Columbia !!

WWWW.Columbia.com [img]images/smiles/icon_smile.gif[/img]

[landscaper]

I've got a Columbia parka and a pair of Browning bibs. Different only by brand as far as I can tell. I wouldn't suggest you try this, but, I was once in a have-to situation and waded in them. I tucked the bibs into my boots and tied them as tight as I could stand it, sinched my belt around my coat and into the water I went. Problably waded for five or ten minute averageing waste deep and stayed perfectly dry!

Have stood for hours in ankle deep water in my Rocky boots and they have NEVER leaked.

I think Gortex is true to its claim of 100% water proof-ness but like anything else, you may occassionally come across a dud.

[sondance]

[ January 14, 2002: Message edited by: sondance ]

[mississippi_duc_htr]

Well my opinion on gortex is the gloves they make are the best thing to come along since the shotgun was invented..... I have though heard the same thing you fellas have said about the jackets though but the gloves are like mastercard I dont leave home duckhunting without them......mike [img]images/smiles/icon_wink.gif[/img]

[Hung Up]

Got some new Whitewater bibs and a jacket this year. Spent an booty load of money on this stuff. It too is made up of gore-tex that is supposedly breathable. I've spent more hours in the woods this year than in previous seasons, but I don't feel like after only one season my new stuff should be showing signs of deterioration.
Personally, I would like to see them toss out the "breathability" in this new material b/c it really doesn't make a skit to me whether it breathes or not, simply take if off when you get hot! Anyway, water is working it's way through, and it damned sure isn't in the seams either. AIN'T FOUND ANYTHING WARMER HOWEVER, SO I AM GONNA STICK IT OUT.

[Hung Up]

Landscraper, I also have stood in shin deep water with my gore tex rockies and never took on a peep of water, but that isn't the case with my bibs. I guess its a case of apples and oranges, or boots and bibs. Something is definitely different!