I am planning on joining NOLS in Patagonia for some mountaineering. I was looking at the list of gear they expect you to bring. I found an interesting factoid about Gore-Tex in general (not specific to this jacket). Here it is:

"Note on Gore-Tex: Although a pair of Gore-Tex pants or bibs will fill the need for a waterproof and breathable layer, past students have found that in very wet environments, Gore-Tex does not perform and becomes soggy and heavy. Gore-Tex is acceptable, but students continually advise against it. A pair of Wind pants is usually more breathable than Gore-Tex shells, and a coated raincoat more waterproof. The combined weight of the two layers is often less than a single Gore-Tex layer. This applies for upper body shell layers as well."

Here is where I got this from: http://www.nols.edu/courses/pdf/patagonia/amt_el.pdf

Any comments on this? Anyone encounter this problem? I wonder if they specifically target Gore-Tex or membranes in general.

Tech Specs:

Material:

Gore-Tex Pro 

Waterproof Rating:

Guaranteed 

Breathable Rating:

Guaranteed 

Core Venting:

Underarm zips 

Pockets:

2 Hand, 1 internal 

Seam Taped:

Yes 

Powder Skirt:

No 

Hood:

Yes 

Zip-in Compatibility:

No 

Weight:

17.4oz (492g) 

Recommended Use:

Mountaineering, alpine climbing, backcountry skiing 

Manufacturer Warranty:

Lifetime