OutDry vs Gore-Tex® Technology: Which One Is Better?

OutDry vs Gore-Tex Technology: Which One Is Better?

Searching and reading about fabric technologies can be quite a learning experience, as you not only know exactly what goes on when a certain jacket’s materials are listed, but you also know what to look for when shopping for jackets.

In some of our previous reviews and selections we have mentioned several fabric technologies, some of which are quite famous and most of those who spend lots of times outdoors already know about them.

Several weeks ago we did do a comparison review between Gore-Tex® and DryVent™, a fabric developed by The North Face.

As you already know by the title, today we will once again take a look at Gore-Tex® and see how it compares to another fabric technology, which is OutDry™.

Before we get any further, there is something that needs some clarifying. There are two OutDry results that come up if you were to look for it online. One is OutDry® and the other is OutDry Extreme by Columbia.

Everything will be explained below as to why that is and what you should know about each, so let’s get down to it.

Contents:

1. OutDry™ Extreme Technology

OutDry® is a patented construction process, which makes gloves, backpacks and footwear fully waterproof and breathable, without leaving any seams or gaps because the fabric layers are heat-bonded together. So it is not a fabric in itself, but a binding process that makes fabrics achieve maximum water-resistance.


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Without gaps between the impenetrable waterproof membrane and the fabric underneath, water cannot get trapped in-between these layers. Because of this, there is no chance of water leaking through the fabric after long exposures to rain. A very important feature is that breathability is not affected.

Why would that be an issue to begin with?

It’s all because waterproof fabrics are notorious for overheating and not being that great at wicking moisture away, especially those on the cheaper side. As such, if the price seems to good to be true while a jacket claims to be fully waterproof, it is almost guaranteed that breathability is going to become an issue very quickly.

Now, are OutDry® and Columbia in any way related?

Well, yes. OutDry and Columbia are partners, and they have worked together in developing different products by using this particular construction process. The results are Columbia’s waterproof gloves and footwear, and also OutDry Extreme, which is a fabric technology used in their waterproof jackets.

Read next: Columbia Omni-Tech™ vs Gore-Tex®: Which One is Better?

Introducing OutDry Extreme | Columbia Sportswear

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Another OutDry Extreme version has been developed by these two companies, which is the Eco version.

OutDry fabrics are quite interesting as they do not require the use of DWR coatings, which are rarely environmentally friendly and take many years to breakdown, while causing a lot of harm in the process.

You will see why we noted the lack of DWR usage when we compare how these two fabric technologies work.

Testing OutDry Extreme | Columbia Sportswear

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2. Gore-Tex® Technology

Gore-Tex® is a special fabric made of ePTFE, an extremely durable material, which is microporous and has a very low water-adsorption rate. The brand itself patented this material and developed it to what is now known as the Gore-Tex fabric.

Gore-Tex® Logo

Further reading: How Does Gore-Tex® Work? An In-Depth Look

Three Aspects of Gore-Tex®

Gore-Tex is not just as any other fabric and this not solely because it is made of ePTFE. There are three important aspects of Gore-Tex, it being a membrane, a laminate and a fabric technology, as we saw in the comparison we mentioned above.

Gore-Tex® Threefold Nature Illustration

Gore-Tex is a membrane because it is made of over 9 billion pores per square inch, which is what helps it remain breathable and capable of wicking moisture away from the body.

It is a laminate due to being bonded between the outer and inner linings, creating a single layer where all three elements work as one.

And lastly, it is a fabric technology because it fulfills different requirements for different products by utilizing its waterproof and highly breathable qualities.

Read also: 5 of the Best Gore-Tex® Alternatives Reviewed

What is GORE-TEX Product Technology

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3. Comparison: OutDry™ vs. Gore-Tex®

You know what both of these fabrics do and why they are so sought after, so it is finally time to look at how their qualities compare and ultimately, which one is better.

Waterproof Rating

Both Gore-Tex and OutDry Extreme are said to be fully waterproof, but do the numbers add up?

Fabrics with a water column of 10.000 mm and over are considered to be fully waterproof. But not all waterproof fabrics are made alike and not all withstand water pressure at the same level.

OutDry Extreme is said to have a rating of around 20.000 mm, which indeed means that it is fully waterproof.

Gore-Tex, on the other hand, starts at 28.000 mm and can even go above that for certain products, which makes it considerably more capable than OutDry Extreme to withstand heavy raining.

However, this is where the use of DWR coatings come into play. Read on!

GORE-TEX Products Test #1: Waterproofness

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Construction and Weather Performance

OutDry Extreme is a two-layer fabric, bound together by heat. Because it leaves no gaps in between and with the upper membrane being fully waterproof, there is no need for DWR treatments to protect the jacket against the rain.

Gore-Tex, however, relies on DWR treatments to minimize water contact that helps further waterproof the fabric.

If we are to look solely at water columns, then Gore-Tex has the advantage, but when it comes to comparing resistance to water overtime, then OutDry Extreme has the upper hand. Why is that?

DWR coatings tend to degrade overtime, which makes the jacket not only more vulnerable in bad weather, but prone to overheating as well, due to the clogging of pores from the water.

This is why DWR requires regular maintenance in order for the jacket to keep up its ability to protect against the weather.

DWR treatments also have an impact on the environment, as well as on the human body because of PFCs. This is why major sportswear brands are doing their best to use PFC-free products in waterproofing their jackets.

men jacket outdoors

Breathability

One of the most important qualities of a sports jacket, breathability must be taken into consideration in order to avoid overheating and excessive sweating.

In this regard, OutDry Extreme provides an adequate level of breathability, especially considering that it is a fully waterproof fabric. But, compared to Gore-Tex, OutDry Extreme is more prone to overheating and also tends to be a bit heavier.

However, keep in mind that jacket design is also important, as Columbia has tried to mitigate the overheating tendency of OutDry Extreme by adding pit zips on some designs, which help keep you cooler when outdoors.

OutDry vs Gore-Tex Performance Levels Table Illustration

Which One Is Better?

It is a matter of expectations and requirements. Both fabrics come with similar qualities, but Gore-Tex clearly has the upper hand in terms of both breathability and weather-resistance.

In long-term wear, it also fares quite well as the material is very durable. However, it requires regular maintenance in order to upkeep the breathability and quality of performance.

This is not an issue with OutDry Extreme, as it comes as a fully waterproof fabric and will remain so for as long you’ll use it. It is much more environmentally friendly, too, so it would be the better option in that regard.

Price-wise, neither falls under the “affordable” category as they range upwards of $200, with Gore-Tex being the more expensive of the two.

14 Comments

  1. I have a pair of Columbia trainers which have OutDry waterproofing. Why is it that last night whilst out cycling in the rain, both feet got wet?

    • Columbia makes the Mountain Masochist Outdry Extreme shoe that has an Outdry Extreme gaiter over the shoe to prevent water to soak in from the shoe opening

  2. Because your socks wicked the water into your shoe from all the splashing as you were cycling.

  3. Or it can be because not too good breathability and she mistook sweat for water.

  4. or the big hole where your foot goes in lets in water
    IME all waterproof cycling shoes leak at this point and you need to use an overshoe, gaiter or dry boot attachment to prevent this

  5. My Salomon shoes with Gore-Tex (both pairs, different types) do seem to leak in the rain. My Shimano MW81 cycling shoes with Gore-Tex don’t leak at all, even if you walk knee-deep in the snow and puddles of water through the forest. The difference is not in the membrane, maker, other fabrics or anything else, but in the sealing of the “big hole where your foot goes in”, as another commenter puts it. The Shimano ones have a neoprene seal. Also note that the membrane can be easily mechanically damaged, then it will literally leak.

    • gore-tex has lifetime guarantee and they genuinely stand behind it. if it leaks contact gore-tex and they will repair it or replace it.another reason to choose gore-tex. i own lots of gore-tex. no leaks and adequate breathability. breathability is a big reason that i choose goretex.

  6. I’ve had a Columbia Outdry jacket for about 3 years and I use if a couple of times a year in the Lake District in the UK. I’ve been quite disappointed with it, and I really wanted to like it as I loved all their marketing videos and the price wasn’t too bad.
    The reason why I’m unhappy with it is that there is a film of sweat on the inside after an hour or so hiking, not the great breathability that they promised.
    I’m looking at buying a 3-layer goretex one now if I can afford it.

  7. I have had a montrail outdry jacket for a couple of years. I use it most weeks in the winter. This particular jacket has an Omni-Wick lining inside to help it deal with any condensation, which probably makes quite a bit of difference to the performance. It is a very good jacket. I have had a lot of goretex jackets in the past and been disappointed due to issues with its performance as the face fabric starts to ‘wet out’. Goretex might be more breathable in theoretical conditions, but it relies heavily on the treatments on the outside of the fabric. I think on balance outdry has been better long term. It’s just a shame that they got rid of the Omni-Wick inside on the new featherweight jacket- I’m not so sure it’ll be quite as good, they appear to have got a bit obsessed with the notion of removing weight, which if it compromises performance seems a bit crazy. Plus their hoods are not great. Even with that, I really rate outdry!

  8. Last season I’ve been skiing with a outdry ex gold jacket, and I’m very happy with. Was warm and dry, and I felt lighter than ever.

  9. Hello, I went out and bought a Columbia Outdry jacket precisely after reading this article. And I found it to be very misleading. The main reason I chose Outdry over Goretex was the so-called durability since it doesn’t rely on coating for the waterproofing. Well that goes in theory… in reality the Outdry fabric is extremely fragile, I had wear marks already after just a few hikes! After some googling it turned out I was not the only one experiencing this. Basically the Outdry layer flakes off after some hikes wearing a backpack and you’re just left with an expensive non-water resistant jacket… So in the end I’d much prefer a fabric that relies on DWR for waterproofing that you could spray back on after some wear and tear compared to a technology where the fabric itself tears and there is no way to make it waterproof again except by buying a new one. It’s a pity cause I really wanted to like this jacket but in the end I sent it back and claimed my warranty. Just putting this here in case other people are tempted to buy an Outdry jacket after reading this article.

    • I bought an OutDry Reign in 2018, 4 years ago, a shell with pit zips. I live in Peak District UK, and use for hiking. It is genuinely brilliantly waterproof, water runs off so much so I had to wear waterproof shorts or I’d get wet. more waterproof than any gore Tex or event or Pertex, NeoShell I have had (I’ve had all varieties of all of them) which invariably leak. The OutDry needs no maintenance or DWR replenishment.. However, its coating has now started to peel off its officially called “hydrolysis” apparently , warranty is 2 years (but I’ve been offered 20% off). I’m probably going to get another OutDry, despite that, as all of my jackets cease to be waterproof after a few years, its just that the OutDry is visibly not waterproof so at least I know when I can no longer rely on it. That said, gore tex would replace it for lifetime, but I am so often let down by gore tex failing when needed.

    • Like the article said it’s a bonded material. It literally can’t flake off. There is nothing to flake off if it’s just one layer. You don’t have the same product.

  10. Thanks Lemmi. I am a backpacker and I wear a heavy backpack, so I would have the same problem with an Outdry. Thanks for reporting your experience and saving me from buying an Outdry which I was considering!

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