Goretex is a patented material, and one of the first materials of its time to be flexible, breathable and waterproof all at the same time. Before that people were either waxing their canvas or wearing plastic ponchos. Our 3-Layer SR3 Fabric (made in Japan) is based off the same principle, creating a fabric that not only keeps the water out, but breathes enough to keep you dry on the inside as well. We'll explain how our shell is different than a poncho, what a 3-layer shell means, and how a fabric is tested for waterproofness. Full disclaimer, our shells are not made from Gore-tex material, just like the tissues you buy from the supermarket might not be Kleenex (a brand). So if you are looking for Gore-tex products specifically, you might try looking at some of our competitors like Arc'teryx or Rab. Other brands like Mountain Hardware an...