The GORE-TEX 'Guaranteed to Keep You Dry' Promise: Who's Eligible, What's Excluded and How to Claim

The "GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY" promise is a limited commercial guarantee offered by W. L. Gore & Associates on certain GORE-TEX products. It applies when you buy a new GORE-TEX product carrying that promise, and it entitles the original owner, at no additional cost, to a remedy if the product's waterproofness, windproofness or breathability disappoints. Gore states that it will repair, replace or refund the purchase price in that case.

The exact scope matters, because the promise is not a lifetime guarantee: Gore's FAQ addresses the question directly and answers "No", stating that the guarantee "applies to waterproofness, windproofness, and breathability for the useful life of the product". The decision to repair, replace, refund or reject is made at Gore's reasonable discretion after examining the product's useful life at the time of return.

Who qualifies and which products are covered

Two conditions define eligibility, and both come from Gore's FAQ:
- Original owner: the guarantee runs to the person who purchased the new product.
- Black diamond hang-tag: only products in the GORE-TEX Products range that carry the black diamond hang-tag reading "GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY" are covered; not every GORE-TEX-branded item is.
- Windstopper excluded: WINDSTOPPER Products by GORE-TEX LABS (previously GORE-TEX INFINIUM WINDSTOPPER Products) are not covered; only products advertised with the promise are.
- Missing tag: if the hang-tag is gone and you are unsure, Gore directs you to its Consumer Service for help.

What the useful-life limit means

Gore is explicit that the guarantee "applies to waterproofness, windproofness, and breathability for the useful life of the product" — it is not a lifetime guarantee. Useful life is judged by Gore on an individual evaluation of the returned product, taking into account factors such as its age, intended end use, the reported failure, proper care, and any unrepaired or unrepairable damage present. Gore's FAQ also indicates that a product may be judged to have reached the end of useful life.

What is not covered

The FAQ lists a set of exclusions and limitations worth knowing before you file a claim:
- Damage: rips, tears, excessive abrasions and punctures are described as the end user's responsibility, as are leakage and performance issues from accident, misuse, normal wear and tear, or lack of proper care — though Gore says such items may be repaired at a reasonable price.
- Personal items: water damage to personal electronic devices or other personal items caused by water entering pockets or zippers is not covered.
- Returned goods: if you accept a replacement or refund, you cannot have your old product back; Gore donates it or disposes of it responsibly — except where Gore judges the product to be beyond useful life, in which case it says it will return it to you or dispose of it at your discretion.

For damaged garments, Gore points to its authorized repair centers, which will evaluate and repair a GORE-TEX garment at a reasonable price, and to a GORE-TEX Fabric Repair Kit of adhesive patches for temporary, not permanent, field repairs of minor punctures and tears.

Claiming: proof of purchase, shipping and the EU guarantor

Gore requires proof of purchase for a claim. On logistics, the FAQ says that if international shipping is required, Gore will provide a free shipping label or compensate you for your costs, and that Gore also pays for return shipping. Gore also notes that returned products go through tests that help identify a failure in waterproofness, windproofness or breathability.

For readers in the EU, Gore names the guarantor as W. L. Gore & Associates GmbH, Hermann-Oberth-Str. 22, 85640 Putzbrunn, Germany — but the FAQ says to always use the described return process rather than sending products to a corporate address. For the rest of the world, the return process connects you with the appropriate guarantor company within Gore's corporate group.

How this guarantee relates to your legal rights

Gore states in its FAQ that the promise does not substitute or replace any legal warranty and does not affect remedies you may have under applicable law against the seller of the goods; it is also independent of any additional commercial warranty from the seller or manufacturer. That is Gore's own framing of the relationship — for how your statutory consumer rights apply in a specific case, the relevant consumer authority or the seller is the place to ask, not this guarantee.

How to check the terms yourself

Before relying on the promise, check the current version of Gore's Guarantee & Returns FAQ on gore-tex.com for your region (the site has separate North America and Europe pages), confirm the black diamond hang-tag on your product, and keep your proof of purchase. Terms, exclusions and shipping arrangements are what the page said when read and can change; when in doubt about eligibility, contact Gore's Consumer Service as the FAQ directs.