New Gore windstopper functional trousers

Trial success for Gore's new 3-layer Windstopper functional trousers.

For over two decades W L Gore and Associates, pioneers of the GORE-TEX brand windproof, waterproof and breathable functional textiles, have been applying their unique knowledge of membrane and textile technologies to functional workwear trousers.

The range of applications for GORE-TEX overtrousers covers a broad spectrum of the construction industry, including utility services, road maintenance, railways, postal service, police and the military.

In fact, the first overtrousers in the world with a waterproof, windproof and breathable GORE-TEX membrane were purchased by the fire service in the USA in the late 1970's.

Until recently, the focus has revolved around developing trousers for outdoor workers exposed to the changing elements.

However, the development of new technology and materials has enabled Gore to improve on the wearer comfort of all round functional trousers that can be worn all day, both indoors and outdoors.

In order to offer the wearer reliable protection and lasting comfort, Gore identified three essential developmental aspects: Firstly, the trousers need to protect against external factors such as bad weather and, depending on the activity, potential dangers such as electricity and fire.

Secondly, they need to help the body to maintain its heat balance in whatever environment they are being worn.

Lastly and importantly, the development of new functional trousers must fit well and be comfortable to wear day-in, day-out.

The development of Windstopper 3-layer trousers.

The key component of every Gore functional textile for trousers is the wafer-thin membrane made of ePTFE (expanded polytetrafluorethylene).

Gore identified its Windstopper membrane as the possible solution to the development of functional workwear trousers.

The Windstopper membrane paste-dot bonded between the outer shell fabric and the inner lining makes the trousers completely windproof and highly breathable, which ensures that the wearer's legs are protected from the cold, while moisture is effectively drawn away if the body becomes overheated.

A skin-friendly inner lining further increases comfort and the treated shell fabric makes the trouser water-repellent.

The characteristics of this type of Windstopper trouser mean that it has numerous applications, especially in activities where people are working in varying climatic conditions, e.g moving between indoors and outdoors or making varying degrees of physical effort.

The Gore membrane, shell fabric and inner lining are constructed in a variety of ways to form a textile unit.

The components are selected to meet the precise specification for the requirements of the trousers, e.g tensile strength, flame resistance or resistance to soiling.

The result is an almost ideal combination of a windproof, highly breathable and pleasantly warm functional trouser with the cut and design of a conventional trouser.

To put this breakthrough in the development of functional workwear trousers to the test, last year Gore identified the ideal partner, Securitas, the Swiss security services provider.

On test with Securitas.

With over 8,000 employees, Securitas is one of the oldest security firms in Europe and in Switzerland is synonymous with security.

Securitas employees had already been wearing GORE-TEX weatherproof clothing for years, but the company was keen to experience the benefits of a more functional trouser design.

The test involved 54 employees in six different Securitas locations, spanning a range of Swiss climate zones.

The test period ran from October 2004 to July 2005.

The employees all wore the same style of trousers made with the 3-layer Windstopper laminate.

The workers were asked regularly for their views, and over 2,500 questionnaires were completed, providing a sound body of information from which to analyse the functionality of the new 3-layer Windstopper trousers.

The results were impressive with employees stating that the trousers lived up to expectations.

The trousers performed in cold and/or warm surroundings, and were rated by the testers as light, windproof, breathable, water-repellent, well-cut and skin-friendly.

The test thus clearly confirmed Gore's pre-defined development goal for the 3-layer Windstopper trousers - to combine the protection of a functional trouser for outdoor wear with the comfort of a trouser for indoor wear.

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