No no no. Wash it lots, otherwise the waterproof/breathable membrane will lose its effectiveness. It's a common misconception that you shouldn't wash these outer layers when in fact you need to wash them often to get dirt as well as sweat and other oils out of the porous membrane.
The taped seams issue is something any manufacturer will sort out for you - all of these high-end outerwear brands realize that you're making an investment and they want to help it pay for you. Sounds like you've been unlucky but if tape is peeling that quickly, something is definitely wrong.
More here: [https://nsmb.com/articles/2-minute-expert-how-gore-tex-works/](https://nsmb.com/articles/2-minute-expert-how-gore-tex-works/)
March 10, 2022, 9:36 a.m. - Pete Roggeman
No no no. Wash it lots, otherwise the waterproof/breathable membrane will lose its effectiveness. It's a common misconception that you shouldn't wash these outer layers when in fact you need to wash them often to get dirt as well as sweat and other oils out of the porous membrane. The taped seams issue is something any manufacturer will sort out for you - all of these high-end outerwear brands realize that you're making an investment and they want to help it pay for you. Sounds like you've been unlucky but if tape is peeling that quickly, something is definitely wrong. More here: [https://nsmb.com/articles/2-minute-expert-how-gore-tex-works/](https://nsmb.com/articles/2-minute-expert-how-gore-tex-works/)