Meet Nick, a GORE-TEX® Brand Tech Rep
Few people put outdoor gear through its paces quite like Nick Stenger. A multiple-time ultramarathon winner, running coach, Seattle Marathon ambassador, and GORE-TEX® Brand Tech Rep, Nick spends his days helping athletes, retailers, and outdoor enthusiasts better understand what makes great gear perform.
When people hear that I am a "tech rep," they often aren't quite sure what that means.
The very straight-forward answer is that I train retail teams, sales associates and people who use GORE-TEX® Products about the technology behind them.
But the way I really like to describe is that I help people find their passion for the outdoors.
It might sound like a stretch at first, but every training session and every conversation is an opportunity to share information that can make someone's next hike, run, or adventure a little better. That's what makes the job rewarding, and it's why no two days ever look the same.
Part Teacher, Part Road Warrior
There’s no real “typical” day, which is part of what keeps it interesting.
A lot of my time is spent in stores. I run clinics with retail teams, train sales associates, or stop by to set up future sessions. Some visits are quick. Others turn into deeper conversations depending on who’s there and what they want to learn.
Somewhere in between, I'll usually have a few virtual meetings. Then there are events, where I'm behind a table talking with people about GORE-TEX® Product Technologies, answering questions, and getting products into people's hands.
No matter what the day looks like, it all comes back to one thing: making the technical performance of GORE-TEX® Products easy to understand. If I can't explain it clearly, how can I expect retail associates to explain it to their customers?
Why Simplicity Wins
For me, being technical is not about sounding technical. It’s about being understood. And my rule is simple: keep it simple.
I’ve been told I have the gift of gab, which is a nice way of saying I can talk your ear off. But even in my tangents, I always come back to the core question of: why does the GORE-TEX® Product matter to the person I’m talking to?
If I can answer that, I’m doing my job. And sometimes, the best explanation isn’t words at all.
My favorite education tool is the immersion demo. I’ll have someone put their hand into a glove that has GORE TEX® Product technology inside and then dip it into water. When they pull their hand out, they usually expect it to be wet. They’ll even shake it a little, bracing for it. And then they realize their hand is completely dry.
That reaction never gets old. It’s one of those moments where you don’t have to explain anything; they’ve felt it for themselves.
Seeing is believing. Watch GORE-TEX® Brand Training Associate, Marshall Balick, demonstrate the immersion test and explain why it remains one of the most effective ways to bring GORE-TEX® Product Technology to life.
Putting GORE-TEX® Invisible Fit Footwear to the Test
The GORE TEX® Brand Kahtoola Uphill race in Flagstaff, Arizona was a great example of how my work connects with the outdoor community.
It was my first time there, and as someone who’s getting more serious about running, it was exciting. People call Flagstaff a hub for distance running, and after being there, I get it. The community, the terrain, the energy – it’s a special place. It was also a real opportunity for me to personally put a GORE-TEX® Product to the test.
I spent time wearing the Oboz Katabatic Storm GTX®, which features GORE-TEX® Invisible Fit Footwear Product Technology, and it made an impression right away. It feels like a premium shoe. The outsole is strong, the upper feels solid, and the lacing system is easy to work with.
It's the kind of shoe I know I can rely on in challenging conditions, and that firsthand experience helps me teach retail teams about Invisible Fit technology.
One of the really unique aspects of Invisible Fit is how the waterproof membrane is built into the shoe. It’s directly bonded to the upper, which means you don’t sacrifice room in the toe box, so your toes can naturally splay when you run. The result is a waterproof shoe with the same unrestricted fit and feel that you get from the non-GORE-TEX® Shoe.
Having worked in running stores, I know how important fit is. People notice right away if something feels off.
Think of GORE-TEX® Brand protection like four-wheel drive. You might not need it every day, but when the weather turns, you’re sure glad you have it. It’s there when you need it, without getting in the way when you don’t.
The Real Value of Great Gear
If there’s one thing I’d want people to understand, it’s this: if you like being outside, GORE TEX® Products helps you do that better.
Running in the mountains or camping out sounds so romantic, but what doesn’t get publicized is the sacrifices you have to make for that adventure to be possible. Maybe that’s sleeping in the cold or carrying a heavy pack - things don’t always go as planned.
For me, GORE TEX® Products are something I trust when conditions get tough. It’s one less variable to worry about. And that lets me focus on why I’m out there in the first place.
