Gore-Tex Paclite Explained
In brief: Gore-Tex Paclite is a lightweight, packable version of Gore-Tex built for shells you can stuff in a bag and forget until the rain starts. It uses a two-and-a-half-layer construction, with a protective print on the inside of the membrane instead of a full lining, to cut weight and bulk while keeping the same waterproof-breathable membrane.
What Paclite is for
Gore-Tex Paclite is the answer to a specific problem: you want genuine Gore-Tex protection but you do not want to carry a heavy jacket on the off-chance it rains. Paclite shells are designed to pack down small and weigh little, so they live in a rucksack or a car as insurance rather than as your main coat. When the weather turns they deliver the same waterproof, windproof, breathable membrane as the rest of the Gore-Tex range.
The two-and-a-half-layer trick
Most of the weight saving comes from how Paclite is built. A standard three-layer waterproof has a face fabric, a membrane and a knitted or woven inner lining all bonded together. Paclite uses a two-and-a-half-layer construction: face fabric, membrane, and then a thin protective layer printed directly onto the inside of the membrane instead of a full third fabric layer. That printed half-layer protects the delicate membrane from skin oils and abrasion without the bulk and weight of a proper lining, which is where the half in two-and-a-half comes from.
The trade-off is feel and durability. Paclite is brilliant for packability and emergency cover, but a printed inner does not feel as soft against the skin as a lined three-layer shell, and it is not built for the relentless pack-and-harness abrasion that a heavy mountaineering jacket shrugs off. For its intended use, fast and light, that is the right compromise.
Where Paclite sits in the range
Think of the Gore-Tex family as a spectrum. At one end sits Gore-Tex Pro, heavy, tough and built for sustained abuse. At the other end sits Paclite, light, thin and built for minimal carry weight. Standard Gore-Tex sits in the middle as the everyday all-rounder. All three use the same core waterproof-breathable membrane; what changes is the construction wrapped around it and therefore the weight, durability and price.
Looking after a Paclite shell
Like any Gore-Tex garment, a Paclite shell relies on the outer DWR finish to keep the face fabric from wetting out. Because the jacket is thin and packs tight, it is easy to forget about until the next downpour, so it pays to wash and re-proof it periodically rather than leaving it crumpled in a bag for years. A clean, well-proofed Paclite breathes properly and beads water; a neglected one feels damp and clammy even though the membrane is still sound.
Gore-Tex Paclite at OD's Designer Clothing
Paclite suits anyone who wants reliable waterproofing without commitment to weight: commuters, travellers, and walkers who carry a shell just in case. If you are deciding between a packable Paclite and a fuller everyday Gore-Tex jacket, the team can help you weigh portability against the warmer, hard-wearing feel of a lined shell.