I find that an immensely shallow write up.

Yes, GT is not 100% waterproof. It's also not breathable like cotton or untreated polyester.

However, the right path IMO is to compare GT to the alternatives, and when you do this it is absolutely clear to me that it's better. More waterproof than very breathable fabrics, more breathable than very waterproof fabrics. The former get you (very) wet from the outside, the latter get you (very) wet from the inside; GT gets you a bit wet from both.

Nobody has made the "perfect" fabric for wet conditions because it likely cannot exist. The fact that GT is not this mythical "perfect" fabric does not, for me, detract very much from it being measurably and experientially superior to the alternatives.

Skurka is of course correct that it’s easy to overwhelm the Gore-Tex membrane when you are working hard and perspiring. But this is not exactly breaking news… there’s a reason pit zips and soft shells were invented. Making a big point of this, sort of feels like shooting fish in a barrel.

Unfortunately if you read his other writing about Gore-Tex (and waterproof breathable membranes in general), it is clear he does not understand how the technology actually works. He refers constantly to ambient humidity, which is irrelevant, and even gets some facts about humidity wrong.

I'm an avid hiker/backpacker/runner and tend to agree re Gore-Tex clothing, but I do like having it in footwear for hiking in wet areas. It very obviously doesn't breathe as well as advertised, and I'd never want to wear a GTX jacket or pants while working up a sweat, but on muddy 20+ mile hikes with friends whose breathable mesh trail runners got wet and stayed wet all day, my feet have always been in way better shape wearing GTX hiking shoes. For shorter, sweaty trail runs, though, I'd take the mesh over Gore-Tex all day.

I’m nowhere near as accomplished as skurka, but I have some back country experience and I agree with him completely.

Cheaper waterproof (not breathable) layers with ventilation (pit zips on jackets and full length zippers on pants) is the way to go. Paying premium for GORE-TEX has not been worth it in my experience.

Thanks. HN definitely needs more anti-astroturf action.