This is a cross post from this guide by Arc'teryx: https://outdoorcrunch.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/10/eng_arc´teryx_specs_clothes.pdf
Find more information about Arc'teryx's Gore-Tex Guide here: https://arcteryx.com/us/en/explore/gore-tex-guide/
GORE-TEX®
All GORE products reflect the new brand naming schema implemented by the company to identify their products. The changes in name do not necessarily mean a change in textile.
Prefixes are an Arc’teryx system to identify the face fabrics applied to GORE technologies. Each element describes a property that defines the nature of the fabric.
- N (nylon)
- p (plain weave)
- r (rip-stop)
- P (polyester)
- s (stretch)
- mr (mini-ripstop)
- ## (denier)
- f (faille)
- k (knit)
GORE-TEX® WITH PACLITE TECHNOLOGY
The lightest, most packable fabric from GORE-TEX®. Designed for those seeking emergency protection from inclement weather.
N70p GORE-TEX® 2L
100% nylon / 3.4oz/yd2 , 109g/m2 A tightly constructed plain weave nylon face with false twist textured warp and fill yarns. DWR finish.
N40p-X GORE-TEX® 2L
100% nylon / 2.5oz/yd2 , 109g/m2 A tightly constructed plain weave nylon face with false twist textured warp and fill yarns and a micro-grid woven backer. This fabric is lightweight, durable, and has excellent water repellency.
N150p-X GORE-TEX® FABRIC WITH 2L PACLITE PRODUCT TECHNOLOGY
100% nylon / 2.3oz/yd2 , 145g/m2 A durable plain weave nylon fabric with a flat filament warp and false twist fill. Light and packable yet highly abrasion resistant. DWR finish.
N40s GORE-TEX® FABRIC WITH 3L LO-LOFT SOFT SHELL CONSTRUCTION
53% nylon, 43% polyester, 4% elastane / 5.2oz/yd2 , 178g/m2 A durable, stretch plain weave face fabric with a lightly brushed polyester liner.
N40r GORE-TEX® FABRIC WITH 2L PACLITE PRODUCT TECHNOLOGY 2
layer fabric: 3.4oz/yd2 , 114g/m2 A lightweight nylon fabric with a mini ripstop construction for increased tear strength and durability. DWR finish.
N70p GORE-TEX® FABRIC WITH 3L LO-LOFT SOFT SHELL CONSTRUCTION 3
layer fabric: 5.1oz/yd2 , 174g/m2 Durable nylon plain weave outer face with a moisture wicking brushed-knit polyester liner. DWR finish.
N80p-X GORE-TEX® FABRIC WITH 3L LO-LOFT SOFT SHELL CONSTRUCTION 3
layer fabric: 5.7oz/yd2 , 193g/m2 Developed in conjunction with GORE®, a project five years in the making results in an exceptionally durable plain weave nylon face with high resistance to abrasion.
Dense construction minimizes the exposure of yarns to abrasive contact, reducing damage to filaments and maintaining surface integrity. Warm, moisture wicking polyester flannel backer. DWR finish.
P75d GORE-TEX® 2L
100% polyester / 5.4oz/yd2 , 183g/m2 A distinctively textured surface & soft cottony hand make this durable polyester face one of our most inviting and wearable textiles. DWR finish.
N40p GORE-TEX® FABRIC WITH 3L TRICOT TECHNOLOGY
100% nylon face / 2.2oz/yd2 , 126g/m2 A durable plain weave face fabric that uses a textured warp yarn and a false twist textured fill yarn, backed with a polyester knit fabric for comfort.
N42p GORE-TEX FABRIC WITH 3L TRICOT TECHNOLOGY
Face 100% Nylon / Backer 100% Polyester / 4.2oz/yd2 , 143g/m2 Nylon fabric utilizes two different textured Nylon yarns to create a durable face with a soft, quiet hand and a subtle surface luster. Polyester tricot backer, provides next to skin comfort.
N150p-X GORE-TEX FABRIC WITH 3L TRICOT TECHNOLOGY
100% nylon / 5.3oz/yd2 , 180g/m2 a durable plain weave nylon fabric with a flat filament warp and false twist fill. polyester tricot backer, provides next to skin comfort.
GORE-TEX® Pro
GORE-TEX® Pro garments provide the highest level of durable waterproof/breathable performance available. GORE® Micro Grid Woven Backer delivers garments that are consistently the lightest and most compact in the industry.
GORE-TEX® Pro has a sparsely woven nylon backer that is twice as durable as traditional tricot liners and allows moisture vapour to pass quickly through to the GORE-TEX® membrane.
N70p GORE-TEX® PRO 3L
100% nylon / 3.9oz/yd2 , 142g/m2 A light weight and soft feeling textile. The tightly woven construction features a plain weave with textured false twist fill yarns. Highly abrasion resistant for its weight and soft hand. Durable woven backer and DWR finish.
N40r-X GORE-TEX® PRO 3L
100% nylon / 4.2oz/yd2 , 140g/m2 Custom developed with W.L. Gore and exclusive to Arc’teryx, N40r-X features exceptional strength-to-weight ratio. Its carefully selected yarns and dense construction limit fibre breakage under abrasion providing long lasting snow and water shedding capabilities.
N40p-X GORE-TEX® PRO 3L
100% nylon / 3.2oz/yd2 , 109g/m2 A high tenacity nylon face fabric with a flat filament warp yarn and false twist textured fill yarn, backed with a microgrid woven backer. This fabric is lightweight, durable, and has excellent water repellency. DWR finish.
N80p-X GORE-TEX® PRO 3L
100% nylon / 4.4oz/yd2 , 150g/m2 Developed in conjunction with W.L. GORE, a project five years in the making results in an exceptionally durable plain weave nylon face with high resistance to abrasion.
Dense construction minimizes the exposure of yarns to abrasive contact, reducing damage to filaments and maintaining surface integrity. A durable micro-grid woven backer reduces weight and is also highly abrasion resistant. DWR finish.
N155p-X GORE-TEX® PRO 3L
100% nylon / 6.0oz/yd2 , 205g/m2 Exclusive to Arc’teryx and engineered for high impact and abrasion resistance, this fabric plies together multiple yarns in an Ottoman weave for maximum bulk, ruggedness and durability.
WINDSTOPPER®
N40p WINDSTOPPER® 2L
100% nylon face / 2.2oz/yd 2 , 75g/m 2 N40p face fabric bonded to WINDSTOPPER ® membrane used in insulated garment applications.
P50p WINDSTOPPER ® 2L
100% polyester / 2.4oz/yd 2 , 83g/m 2 A lightweight, plain weave textile with a smooth polyester outer face for moisture shedding, and a breathable WINDSTOPPER ® membrane for active use in windy conditions.
P50k WINDSTOPPER ® 3L
100% polyester / 6.5oz/yd 2 , 222g/m 2 Polyester knit face with 2 way stretch, paired with a soft knit backer for next-to-skin comfort.
N80p-X WINDSTOPPER ® 2L
100% nylon / 3.4oz/yd 2 , 114g/m 2 Uses the same exceptionally durable plain weave nylon face used in our N80p-X GORE-TEX ® Pro fabrics. Dense construction minimizes the exposure of yarns to abrasive contact, reducing damage to filaments and maintaining surface integrity. Highly resistant to abrasion, blocks wind. DWR finish.
N70p WINDSTOPPER ® 2L
100% nylon / 3oz/yd 2 , 101g/m 2 A 2-layer plain weave nylon with a textured face and a DWR finish.
N70p WINDSTOPPER ® 3L (HI-LOFT)
68% polyester, 34% nylon / 7.8oz/yd 2 , 267g/m 2 A plain weave nylon faced WINDSTOPPER ® textile with a micro check backer.
What does Arcteryx use?
I wanted to mention this specifically as we recently talk about jackets a lot.
Arc'teryx doesn't use Gore-tex Active shell anymore, the older versions weren't very durable and were phased out. Couldn't say if other companies are still using it.
The other major type of Gore membrane that Arc'teryx doesn't use is a true 2 layer. These are old style jackets that have a separate inner liner that's not laminated to the other two layers. You don't see these that often anymore, they're more reminiscent of the 90s style Gore jackets.
Overall, Pro 3L is the most technical and advanced Gore-tex membrane. The three layers of fabric include the inner liner, outer face fabric and sandwiched in between is the waterproof membrane with a trade secret construction. Pro 3L is going to be able to react the quickest to rapid changes in body temperature when performing high intensity activities, and be the most breathable overall.
One step "below" that is Gore C-knit. It's another 3 layer Gore-tex with the difference being the construction of the inner liner. It's much softer and less crinkly but not as breathable. However, for the vast majority of people, C-knit will be more than enough for all activities. And anecdotally it seems to last a bit longer than Pro 3L, but that's not an advertised feature or anything.
Then you have your Paclite. Paclite is sort of a 2.5 layer Gore-tex. It has the outer face fabric, the middle waterproof membrane (the same membrane as C-knit) but the inner liner is a spray on polyurethane coating. It's not very breathable and not that durable. Paclite jackets are best used as emergency shells, not primary shells.
The last odd one out is Gore Shakedry which is only used in the Norvan SL. It has a regular inner liner and membrane but there's a breathable polyurethane coating on the outside (another trade secret construction) instead of a face fabric. It makes the jacket crazy lightweight and breathable but not super durable.
Excellent read, and exactly what I was looking for. With all the information out there, it’s hard to decipher what is the “best” fabric for shells.
The only question is, does anyone sell just the Gore-tex pro 3L fabric by the yard? I can’t seem to find a supplier anywhere.
GORE-TEX has some very strict requirements when it comes to how a jacket is made and constructed. Brands that want to use GORE-TEX’s membrane have to follow those requirements and can’t deviate to much from it, if at all. A roll of 3L GORE-TEX Pro fabric doesn’t exist to be bought because GORE-TEX wants complete oversight in making sure everything is done correctly which is why they offer a lifetime warranty and will repair, replace or refund you if there are issues.
I saw there are a few different fabric numbers from arcteryx, can you decipher the differences.
N155p x goretex pro, N80p Goretex pro and N140d 3L goretex pro.
What does the d stand for? Is there a difference between goretex pro vs 3L gorerex pro?
I assumed goretex pro refers to it being 3L, this is how it’s written on product description.
“d” is for dipshit
Great article! Waiting to hear back from Arc’teryx because I can’t find it anywhere but you may know. Any ideas on the L&F in GORE–TEX L&F 3L 30d Nylon Plain Weave? It’s used in the LEAF Alpha LT line.
https://leaf.arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/alpha-lt-jacket-gen-2
At that price point and low denier, I’d expect it to be a Gore Pro derivative.