IGX

I've once had a Gore-tex rain shell for a really long time. I've had it so long I literally wore some holes through it. Almost 2 years ago, Teva was testing the new eVent fabric in a new jacket design. Testers were able to buy pre-production units really cheap, so I picked one up, and tested it. I found it to be an excellent rain jacket. It also seemed a little "cooler" than the gore-tex one, like it was not quite as wind proof as the Gore-tex one, and a slight breeze could get through.

I wore down the heel of my last pair of backpacking boots, Asolo Fugitive GTX, which have Gore-Tex to be waterproof, and after sending them to a cobbler, it was not possible to have them re-soled. So I ended up replacing them with a pair of Kayland Zephyr, which use eVent to waterproof. While I really liked the Asolo boots, how comfortable they were, yet also sturdy, these Kayland boots are better (for the same prices). The eVent in the Kayland's is definitely more breathable than the Gore-Tex in the Asolo's. The Vibram sole is sturdy, and the boots are very stable on slippery rocks.

Not many places carry the Kayland boots, I had to get them through Zappos, but that worked out real well also.

Anyway, two thumbs up for eVent over Gore-Tex and also for the Kayland Zephyr boots.

Gore-Tex sucks, unless you are simply standing in water.

They keep the product around due to name recognition.

E-vent and most newer breathable / "water proof" materials are much better. Almost everyone is better going with a "water resistant" material unless you plan on spending a lot of time in pouring rain or standing water.