How to Wash and Care for your Patagonia x GORE-TEX ePE Outerwear

The new generation of ePE waterproof outerwear from Patagonia and GORE-TEX represents a breakthrough in sustainability in adventure apparel. At Outside Sports we're stoked that our friends at Patagonia are leading the way - but of course that's what you'd expect of a company whose only shareholder is the planet.

However what we've found is that if you want to keep these garments performing in the way you expect you really do need to take care of them - maybe a bit more than you're used to. Don't worry, as you'll see it's not hard. But first a bit of background...

Water repellent shells don’t just keep you comfortable, in severe cold and wet weather they can keep you alive. That’s why so much effort has been devoted to producing high-performance waterproof outerwear for outdoor sports like skiing, mountain biking, flyfishing, climbing, and hiking.

But that vital wet weather performance has come at a cost. The ‘forever’ perflurinated chemicals (PFCs/PFAS) used in most durable water-repellent inner membranes and surface finishes are harmful to the environment we all love. Clearly that’s unsustainable and is why Patagonia and GORE-TEX have spent almost ten years working together on a new non-PFC weather protection known as ePE. 

Patagonia has incorporated GORE-TEX ePE membranes in key garments in its 2024 snow and alpine shell jackets and pants ranges - and in 2025 Patagonia will be fully ePE equipped across its entire range. 

Proper care of shells made without PFAS is vital to maintaining their performance. And contrary to what many people believe, regular washing and drying is an essential part of that. Dirt, body oil, sunscreen, smoke, and peanut butter 😁 can all degrade durable water repellent (DWR). 

That’s easy - if it looks dirty then it’s time to wash and dry your Patagonia ePE shell. If you see ‘wet out’ where the outer layer of the shell is saturated, it’s another sign it’s washing time. You’ll usually see wet-out in places that get the most friction, like cuffs or where your pack or harness straps sit.  

At Outside Sports we recommend Storm Wash-in and Proofer and Nikwax Tech Wash and Nikwax TX Direct Wash-in for washing, and replacing worn out DWR. Both of these product ranges are PFC free and biodegradable - and both can be bought in a pack of two complementary products, so you'll always have everything you need to care for your ePE outerwear ready to go.

And as you can see in the Storm and Nikwax product collections below, you can wash and proof your down jackets too.

If water still doesn’t bead up nicely on your shell after you’ve washed and dried it, then it’s time to re-waterproof.

Step 1. Wipe off any loose surface dirt with a soft microfibre cloth.

Step 2. Empty the pockets. Do up the main zip, but leave the pockets unzipped so the insides get a wash.

Step 3. Either use a front-loading washing machine or handwash your shell. Top loaders with agitators can cause damage, so if you have one of those it's better to either handwash or head to your local laundramat. 

Step 4. Add Storm or Nikwax wash, and if necessary re-proof with Storm or Nikwax waterproofing treatment.

Step 5. With just the shell by itself in the machine, select 'small load' on a warm temperature setting. Run through the rinse cycle twice to make absolutely sure no detergent remains in the fabric. 

Step 6. Drying. Reactivating the DWR requires heat and a tumble dryer is the best way to do it. Tumble on a low heat until your shell is completely dry. If you don’t have a dryer, you can use a clothes iron to reactivate the DWR. Let your shell air-dry fully, then set your iron to a low setting (below 110 degrees Celsius) with the steam turned off. Make sure to have a thin towel between your shell and the iron. 

As we know one of the best things you can do for the environment is buying a quality item and then doing all you can to make it last for as long as possible. If you follow these simple instructions for caring for your Patagonia x GORE-TEX ePE shell it will keep performing for you for many years to come.