Preventing water and letting sweat escape. We examine how it works!
- Gore-Tex sneakers are known for their "water repelling" and "sweat releasing" functionality. yoppi and seidai and do you know how the technology works?
Yoppi: I have had the opportunity to have Mr. Hirai explain the details of the Gore-Tex sneaker pop-up project at ATMOS, and I think I understand to some extent what is going on.
seidai: I have no idea. I know that they are waterproof, but I may have never thought about how they work.
- Mr. Hirai, may I ask you to explain?
Hirai: Understood. The most important feature of Gore-Tex sneakers is that they are both highly waterproof and breathable.
seidai: What is moisture permeability?
Hirai: It refers to the ability to allow perspiration to escape as water vapor. Breathability is a major factor in the comfort of GORE-TEX® sneakers.
seidai: That's why they are so dry and comfortable.
Hirai: Let's take a common waterproof shoe as an example. Take, for example, rubber boots. They are resistant to water, but they get stuffy if worn for long periods of time.
seidai: Yes, rubber boots do get steamy.
Hirai: Why do rubber boots get steamy? It is because they are not breathable. Gore-Tex sneakers, on the other hand, are not only waterproof but also breathable. Sweat is released as water vapor to the outside, so the inside of the shoe does not become stuffy, making them comfortable even after wearing them for a long time. They are also windproof, so they comfortably retain the body heat of your feet even on days when a cold wind blows.
seidai: I see. So that's how it is.
Hirai: Let me explain how Gore-Tex sneakers technically work. Take a look at this for a moment.
seidai: What is it?
Hirai: It is a thin film called Gore-Tex membrane. It is laminated to the lining fabric of Gore-Tex® sneakers.
seidai: It is quite thin and light.
Hirai: This membrane has numerous microscopic pores. The pores are 700 times the size of water vapor and 1/20,000th the size of a drop of water, allowing water vapor to pass through but not water. The membrane is laminated with a lining fabric, and a sock-like GORE-TEX® fabric is built into the sneaker to prevent water from entering from the outside.
seidai: So there is a secret inside that cannot be seen from the outside. I had no idea... I thought Gore-Tex was the outer material.
Yoppi: Not a few of our customers think so, too. I myself misunderstood it until Mr. Hirai explained it to me.
Hirai: Then, using a demonstration kit, explain the specific function of moisture permeability.
seidai: On the left, it says "Gore-Tex Fabrics" and on the right, "Vinyl Material".
Hirai: Pour hot water into each and you will immediately see the difference.
seidai: Hmm? Both are impervious to water, but the Gore-Tex Fabrics on the left is starting to fog up the cup.
Hirai: If it's getting cloudy, that means...what do you think it means?
seidai: Ah! Because water vapor is discharged through fine pores?
Hirai: That's right. Now that you have a visual understanding of the breathability of Gore-Tex® fabrics, let's take a look at how they work.
seidai: Yes, it was very easy to understand. It was very easy to understand.
Hirai: Then another. This time we have gloves. One is made of "Gore-Tex® fabric" and the other is made of "vinyl material. Could you try them on your left and right hands?
seidai: The vinyl fabric worn on the right hand gradually became stuffy and a bit uncomfortable. On the other hand, the Gore-Tex® fabric on my left hand stayed dry and I felt nothing.
Hirai: Right? Now you know what GORE-TEX® Fabrics breathability means.
seidai: I understand it well now! So this is the mechanism behind the comfort of Gore-Tex sneakers.
