Guarantee & Returns
Our guaranteed to keep you dry promise
When you purchase a new GORE-TEX product that carries the "GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY" promise, you, as the original owner, are eligible to a limited commercial guarantee from W. L. Gore & Associates at no additional costs, valid for the useful life of the product and subject to the terms/conditions below.
If you are not satisfied with the waterproofness, windproofness or breathability of your GORE-TEX product, we will repair it, replace it or refund your purchase price.
The decision to repair, replace, refund or reject is made at the reasonable discretion of Gore based upon an examination of the product’s useful life at the time of return. Leakage and performance issues caused by accident, misuse, normal wear and tear, or lack of proper care are excluded, but may be repaired at a reasonable price.
This limited commercial guarantee gives you specific legal rights, and you may also have other rights which vary from state to state. Please refer to the text and FAQs below for more information on the procedure to follow if you have a relevant product issue, the designation of products covered by this guarantee, the terms and conditions of the guarantee, the relationship of this commercial guarantee to the legal warranty, and the guarantor.
Misuse: Products used for a purpose far outside the intended end use (for example: using a light running jacket to go rock climbing).
Damage: Any damage that is incurred through end use that results in compromised waterproof performance or intended functionality (for example: holes, abrasion, burns, broken buttons, zippers, draw cords, hook-and-loop fasteners).
Lack of care: Products found to be failing due to a lack of care. Be sure to always follow our care instructions to ensure a longer product life and better performance.
Lack of DWR: Durable Water Repellent (DWR) is necessary for the product to perform as intended. It’s the responsibility of the consumer to ensure DWR is reapplied as needed throughout the useful life of that product. Water no longer beading up on an old or heavily worn garment, even after application of a new DWR treatment, is an indication that the garment has reached the end of its useful life.
End of useful life: Products damaged or worn beyond the possibility of repair or restoration to a fully functional waterproof, windproof and breathable condition.
Used purchases: Products purchased as used. This included most purchases made from auction and classifieds sites, thrift stores or private sellers.
Rental services: Products offered for rent. This includes products offered on online gear rental platforms, ski schools, guided outings or outdoor clubs.
Issued products: Products issued to the professional end-user by their employer e. g. military, law enforcement, fire & safety, industrial and corporate uses.
If you believe there's an issue with your product, there's a good chance we've addressed it in our FAQs below, so have a look there and see if you can find the knowledge you need.
For returns of products covered by our promise, please contact us first to discuss your situation and, if necessary, we can facilitate a return.
FAQs
No. The GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY promise is not intended to substitute or replace any legal warranty. In other words, our limited commercial guarantee does not affect in any way any remedies you may have under applicable law against the seller of the relevant textile goods. In addition, our guarantee is independent of any additional commercial warranty or commercial guarantee that may be provided by the seller or manufacturer of such goods.
No. Only the GORE-TEX PRODUCTS range that carry the black diamond hang-tag saying "GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY" are covered by our guarantee promise.
Look for the black diamond hang-tag saying "GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY". If you don’t have the hang-tag anymore and you are not sure, reach out to our Consumer Service and we will be happy to help you.
No: It applies to waterproofness, windproofness, and breathability for the useful life of the product. It only covers to the original owner of the item, and items that were purchased new.
We focus on products useful life rather than any fixed periods of time, as expected useful life can vastly differ depending on the product type and the end use for which it is designed. Any fixed guarantee period, though it may be easier to understand and execute, will not accommodate the wide array of products made with our technologies.
The length of time a product can reasonably deliver expected performance relative to its intended end use. The expected useful life of a product depends the type of product and its intended end use. For example, a pair of running shoes should not be expected to last as long as a mountaineering jacket. If you’re caring for your product regularly following the care instructions provided by GORE-TEX and the manufacturer, your product has the potential to perform longer. A product will be considered beyond useful life when its damaged or worn beyond the possibility of repair or restoration to a fully functional waterproof, windproof and breathable condition. Eventually all products wear out with time and end use.
Use your best judgment, consider the age of the product and the care you’ve given to it. If the product has not been regularly cared for and/or has worn soles, rips, tears, punctures, abrasions, it may be time to repair it or buy a new one. Components used in the products construction, such as glues and other adhesives, will eventually degrade with time and end use. If it looks worn out beyond repair, then it likely is. If you’re not sure, you can always contact one of our authorized repair centers to find out if your product can be repaired.
The limited commercial guarantee is valid in the country where you made the original purchase. If such original purchase was made in a member state of the European Union, the commercial guarantee is valid in all such member states. It is our policy to comply with applicable international trade laws, including relevant embargoes sanctions, targeted sanctions and other export control restrictions. If you and/or the destination of the original purchase are subject to comprehensive export control restrictions, we are relieved of any obligation under the limited commercial guarantee.
The limited guarantee is provided to the consumer free of charge. In case of a claim, you are responsible for sending your product to Gore for evaluation at your own expense. Gore will cover all subsequent costs related to your product claim.
While you can expect your product to perform for a very long time, components used in the products construction, such as glues and other adhesives, will eventually degrade. No product lasts forever - unfortunately.
Lack of care can often be the cause of a product no longer having useful life, so it’s important to routinely clean your item and always follow the care instructions. Basically, wash and dry your products regularly, repair them when they’re damaged using an authorized repair facility and reapply DWR when needed.
Part of caring for your product is maintaining the Durable Water Repellent (DWR). DWR is necessary for the product to perform as intended, but it’s not permanent. Regular wear and tear, plus exposure to dirt, detergents, insect repellent, and other impurities can shorten its lifespan. The good news is that following our care instructions can often solve this problem and when necessary, reapplying DWR is easy. However, an old or heavily worn garment may no longer bead water, even after proper care and a DWR treatment, indicating that the product has reached the end of useful life.
The decision whether a product has useful life at the time of return is made by Gore, based on an individual evaluation of the product, taking into account various factors such as the age of the product, intended end use, reported failure, proper care, and any unrepaired or unrepairable damage present.
No: Damage such as rips, tears, excessive abrasions and punctures are the responsibility of the end user to have repaired. Broken buttons, zippers, hook-and-loop fasteners and other defects related to manufacturing should be addressed at the point of purchase or to the item’s manufacturer. Damage can be understood as anything incurred through the product’s use that impairs its intended performance or functionality. If damage occurs please contact one of our recommended repair centers or contact us directly and one of our helpful consumer service advisors can assist you. GORE-TEX GURANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY products are an investment in waterproof, windproof, breathable comfort and it’s important to maintain that investment.
We are happy to look at any GORE-TEX garment that needs repair and evaluate if it can be fixed. Contact one of the authorized repair centers and you will have your garment repaired at a reasonable price.
You can temporarily fix minor punctures and tears with a GORE-TEX Fabric Repair Kit. These special adhesive patches allow you to make instant, however not permanent repairs in the field to preserve the waterproof integrity of your outerwear until you can get to an authorized repair center.
Any form of alteration to your GORE-TEX garment can compromise the waterproofness of your product. We suggest to avoiding this as much as possible. Logo embroidery requires seams sealing which can only be done at a GORE-TEX authorized facility. Otherwise, you might compromise the waterproof protection of your garment, usually via small needle holes that have not been seam sealed. If you need to change your garment in any way, please contact us.
This allows Gore to determine the price paid, date of purchase, original ownership and authenticity of your product. All must be considered when evaluating a returned items useful life and eligibility under our guarantee. Proof of purchase can be provided by showing a digital copy of your purchase receipt at the time of return.
Gore is committed to the idea of fairness in all of our internal and external dealings. It’s one of our core principals. While the decision to repair, replace or refund is one that is at the discretion of Gore, we will honor an amount equal to the price you paid for the product as indicated by a proof of purchase.
Our commitment to sustainability means we’ll always explore repair as a first option. If repair is not possible, we’ll replace it with the same or a similar product of equal value. In case we cannot find a replacement product within reasonable time and effort, we will refund your purchase price.
Once it has been established that a replacement is the best option for you, a conversation occurs between you and your GORE-TEX consumer service advisor to identify the best replacement products. We will gather the necessary information to help you make the right selection and ensure the replacement’s fitness for use. We seek to replace most of the items returned with the same product, or a similar one if availability is an issue. The advisor will provide replacement options for you based on what you have shared with us, the prescribed price and the end use.
With the purchase of a new GORE-TEX product, you made a significant investment in waterproof, windproof and breathable comfort. Our guarantee is intended to help you to protect your investment. If a product is purchased used, it will not be covered. This can include purchases made on platforms such as eBay, thrift stores or private sellers.
Products issued to the professional end-user by an employer are not covered by the guarantee. This includes most products for military, law enforcement, fire & safety, industrial and corporate uses.
Products that are used for rental services are not covered by the guarantee. This includes online gear rental platforms, ski schools, guided outings or outdoor clubs.
You are responsible for shipping your product to Gore for evaluation. If Gore determines that international shipping is required, Gore will provide you with a free shipping label or compensate you for your costs. Gore will also pay for return shipping.
If you have agreed to a replacement or refund, you cannot have your old product back. Based on the condition of your products, we will donate it to a good cause or dispose of it responsibly. In case your product is considered by Gore to be beyond useful life, we will return it to you or dispose of it at your discretion.
Damage to personal electronic devices or any other personal items caused by water entry into pockets/zippers is not covered by the GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY promise.
No, only products advertised with our GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY promise are covered. Garments and gloves previously included in the GORE‑TEX INFINIUM WINDSTOPPER® Products range are now named WINDSTOPPER® Products endorsed by GORE‑TEX LABS.
Due to legislative requirements, we need to identify the guarantor and its address for the European Union. However, please always use the return process described above and do not send products directly to one of our corporate addresses.
For the European Union, the guarantor is W. L. Gore & Associates GmbH, Hermann-Oberth-Str. 22, 85640 Putzbrunn, Germany. For the rest of the world, the return process will put you in contact with the appropriate guarantor company within our corporate group.