Goretex as the inner tent

[Moondog55]

So here is a question; may be dumb but perhaps not.
Now have an excess of HD clothing WPB and I have a tent I am thinking about rebuilding for next winter.
Is clothing rated Goretex breathable enough to use as the inner in a large fixed camp winter tent?
Weight is similar to the heavy duty Japara we have and a lot cheaper
Also it is a lot stronger although that really isn't an issue as the poles/wands will always be the weak link

[wayno]

inners are usually highly breathable, if you cook in it you'll have condensation for africa, you'll need it well ventilated

[Moondog55]

True but also very large surface area to allow the moisture transmission.
About 12 m<2 and a large temperature differential
Now knowing is why I ask as I've never seen this discussed before; Goretex / ToddTex used in tents is a totally different product from what I've read

[wayno]

event membrane tents exist as single walled alpine tents. gore tex was tried in double layer tents as an outer but were dropped. i recall some issue around frosts causing problems, possibly with the polyeurethane as it sbsorbs moisture.
the moisture only moves through the layer when the moisture level outside isnt saturated, in damp conditions the breathability can decline greatly. you could still end up in a damp moisture retainer.

[Moondog55]

Well if the Goretex isn't suitable the other fabric will be
Tents and bivvy bags are different animals

[ribuck]

Goretex works well if you have a decent temperature differential to drive the moisture out. The differential between body temperature and the outdoors will work well, which is why Goretex bivvy bags are excellent, but the differential between a tent's air temperature and the outdoors is not enough.

In the early 1980s, when Goretex was new and exciting, there was a lot of experimentation with its use in tents. In practice, in order to keep condensation under control, you needed to burn a candle inside the tent to drive the moisture through the Goretex.

[wayno]

the temperature of the tent walls will have to be above dew point, only water vapour will move through WPB membranes, water condensate won't.

[Moondog55]

Yes but here I am talking about using it as the inner in a double skin tent, not as the skin in a single skin or as the fly
Ithought that may make a difference

[wayno]

Yes but here I am talking about using it as the inner in a double skin tent, not as the skin in a single skin or as the fly
Ithought that may make a difference

dew point is dew point and can happen anywhere, the dew point can be at the inner tent, it can be on or in your sleepinng bag.. if it were a good idea to use WPB membranes on inner tents then manufacturers would have done it by now

[Moondog55]

Then I make clothing or SB covers with it
At $2- a metre I could afford to experiment
Although you do need to remember that in fixed camps I hot-tent and use the woodstove for heating

[rcaffin]

Any membrane fabric as an inner tent will be a condensation trap. Goretex is little better than anything else - just far more $$ spent on glossy ads.
You need an UNcoated fabric for the inner.

Cheers
Roger

[Moondog55]

Thanx Roger for jumping in
It was a price driven question the fabric in question being so cheap.

[rcaffin]

It was a price driven question the fabric in question being so cheap.
Then you get out there on a cold night and have the condensation dripping on your face every night.
Sometimes, performance is more critical than price.
My 2c.

Cheers
Roger

[Moondog55]

It was a price driven question the fabric in question being so cheap.
Then you get out there on a cold night and have the condensation dripping on your face every night.
Sometimes, performance is more critical than price.
My 2c.

Cheers
Roger

Well that was what I was putting up with most of this winter, big single skin living area and coated with ice every morning until I fired up the pot belly
I'll use something else more breathable and also lighter in weight