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A composite material used to make knife handles and other products. G10 is manufactured by combining a fiberglass backing with super-durable resin. G10 handle scales are extremely strong, water-resistant and lightweight.
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A sturdy, tightly woven twill fabric made primarily from worsted wool, but also from cotton, rayon and polyester. Wool gabardine is widely recognized as the fabric of choice for year-round suits. Gabardine is recognized by its pronounced twill pattern on the face of the fabric and a smooth backing. Because it’s a sturdy and durable fabric, gabardine is also used to make pockets in men’s suits and trousers.
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An outerwear accessory designed to protect a person’s lower legs. Traditionally, gaiters are a separate piece of clothing worn over the pant leg and upper boot, which attaches to the laces and ends at the upper calf, just below the knee. Many modern ski pants now incorporate “built-in gaiters” underneath the pant cuffs. When worn hunting or bushwacking, gaiters protect from brambles and underbrush. In mountaineering, Nordic skiing and snowshoeing, gaiters prevent snow from entering the top of the boot.
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Obermeyer's 100% ripstop nylon fabric with HydroBlock® V waterproof breathable treatment and DuroGuard® Durable Water Repellency. Galaxy fabric offers two lines of defense against water penetration: A HydroBlock® treatment that renders fabric waterproof and breathable, and a DuroGuard® finish that causes water to bead on the outer surface of the Galaxy fabric and roll off.
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A process where color dyes are added after the garment is sewn, as opposed to dying individual fabric pieces prior to sewing. Clothing that has been garment dyed produces a soft texture and often a darker-colored stitching, both of which yield an agreeably “worn” look and feel. Another advantage to garment dying is the hot-wash process, which effectively preshrinks the fabric prior to use.
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A process that describes a constructed garment that is washed to soften the fabric and minimize shrinkage. Garment washing is an industrial process that removes the fabric’s original sizing. Garment washing can take many forms, including acid wash, caustic wash, enzyme wash, sand wash, stone wash and many more similarly named techniques that produce a soft, naturally worn look in the garment.
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A process where color dyes are added after the garment is sewn, as opposed to dying individual fabric pieces prior to sewing. Clothing that has been garment dyed produces a soft texture and often a darker-colored stitching, both of which yield an agreeably “worn” look and feel. Another advantage to garment dying is the hot-wash process, which effectively preshrinks the fabric prior to use.
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A standard or scale of measurement. In fabrics, gauge is a unit of measurement which applies to the number of stitches in one inch. (In knitting, gauge is a reference to the number of loops in 1½ inches.) As a general rule, the higher the gauge, the finer and lighter the weave or knit. Conversely, the lower the gauge, the bulkier the knit.
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The part of a glove extending beyond the wrist. Historically, gauntlets were an important piece of body armor, designed to protect the forearms in hand-to-hand combat. Today, glove gauntlets protect the forearm from cold, and from debris in extreme winter sports like ice climbing. In snow gear, gauntlets snug around your coat sleeve to keep out wind and snow.
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An overhead storage shelf used in tents. Gear lofts are typically made of lightweight mesh to minimize their impact on the overall weight of the tent. Gear lofts are a good place to stash damp items, particularly when the tent has a roof vent, so socks, hats and T-shirts that were used during the day can dry overnight and be ready to wear in the morning.
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A three-ply fabric construction developed by Sierra Designs. Genesis 30 laminates a waterproof breathable membrane to a micro-nylon shell, with a tricot lining face to aid in moisture management on the inside. All Genesis 30 garments from Sierra Designs feature a microporous coating and taped seams to make them fully waterproof.
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A system of webbing loops or rings used to secure shoe lacing. The term ghillie originated when it was used to describe a soft dance shoe with criss-cross lacing. Scottish ghillies, for example, are worn for traditional Highland dancing. Today, ghillies are a popular alternative to eyelets and are often seen on athletic shoes.
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A lightweight, yarn-dyed fabric with a checkered pattern, usually in a color combination of white and another color. Gingham is a medium-weight, plain-woven fabric made from cotton or cotton-blend yarns. Popular in Colonial America, the gingham check pattern worked its way into clothing for women and girls. Today, gingham is a popular choice for men’s summer-casual sport shirts.
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A Scottish tartan of mostly gray, blue, brown or greenish casts, in which a group of stripes run vertically and horizontally to form a box-like pattern. The interior of a Glen plaid box is usually some manifestation of houndstooth. Glen Plaid originated in Invernessshire, Scotland, and is also referred to as Glen check and Prince of Wales check, named for King Edward VII, who established Glen plaid as the ideal sporting fabric for the Highland Countryside.
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Women’s dress gloves come in different lengths or “buttons,” depending upon the occasion where you wear them. Short gloves (where the glove hemline extends approximately one to two inches above the wrist) is commonly referred to as a one-button glove. The hemlines of two- and four-button gloves fall somewhere between the wrist and the elbow. Elbow gloves end just below or above the elbow and are referred to as six-, eight- or ten-button gloves, depending on the length of your arm. Opera gloves are the most formal of all gloves, extending all the way up to the upper part of the bicep. Opera-length gloves are worn with sleeveless and strapless gowns and commonly extend 16 buttons from the wrist.
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Trademarked by the Kelty brand, a GoferHole is an opening on a backpack that is situated directly behind the head, providing easy access to the inside of the pack. A GoferHole can also be used as a port for a hydration tube or headphone cable.
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Named for its inventor, Goodyear welt construction is a method of indirectly attaching the upper of a shoe to its outsole. Not only does a Goodyear welt enhance a shoe’s durability, it’s also known to improve its breathability and strength. Although it takes longer to manufacture shoes using Goodyear welt method construction, the results produce final products that often outlast footwear with traditional welts.
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In footwear, a gore is an elastic gusset used to provide a snug fit; you’ll find it primarily in slip-on styles. In apparel, a gore is commonly a tapering and/or triangular piece of cloth; it is most commonly seen in skirts, where the tapering creates an A-line silhouette.
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A patented, waterproof breathable membrane consisting of two unique polymers. Gore-Tex® is W.L. Gore Associates’ most durable weather protection technology. Gore-Tex® features one polymer that is impervious to rain, snow and sleet, but allows perspiration vapor to pass through. The second Gore-Tex® polymer is breathable but blocks contaminants that could affect waterproofness.
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Developed for highly aerobic outdoor activities like hiking, backpacking and trail running, Gore-Tex® Active membrane technology offers extreme breathability with excellent waterproof and windproof protection. Gore-Tex® Active outerwear is also designed to be lighter than standard Gore-Tex® apparel.
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Waterproof, breathable fabric technology found in apparel used in extremely wet conditions. Gore-Tex® Immersion technology can be found in products such as paddle tops, dry tops and dry suits for cold-weather paddling as well as fishing waders. Gore-Tex® Immersion fabrics are tightly-woven and durable.
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Developed through collaboration between Arc'teryx and W.L. Gore & Associates, Gore-Tex® N80P-X is an extremely durable, waterproof breathable hard shell material used to create high-performance outerwear. Unlike most standard hard shells, Gore-Tex® N80P-X is made with a highly abrasion-resistant face fabric designed to resist fiber fraying and “wetting out.”
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A single-layer, lightweight fabric technology with better breathability than standard three-layer Gore-Tex®. Gore-Tex® Paclite® items weigh 15% less than equivalent three-layer Gore Tex® items, making Gore-Tex® Paclite® fabrics favored by outdoors enthusiasts who place a premium on lightweight performance and mobility.
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Developed to take on extreme conditions, Gore-Tex® Pro is an advanced, three-layer fabric technology made with the most durable, waterproof breathable and windproof materials available. Engineered to provide maximum weather protection and rugged performance in the toughest weather, Gore-Tex® Pro is built to exceed the demands of serious outdoor athletes, including mountain climbers, alpine guides and backcountry skiers.
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Designed to provide excellent freedom of movement, warmth and breathability, three-layer Gore-Tex® Soft Shell is created by bonding a waterproof breathable Gore-Tex® membrane to a high-performance soft shell with a moisture-wicking fleece lining. Gore-Tex® Soft Shell is ideal for cold, windy and snowy conditions.
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Lightweight and durable, Gore-Tex® Supplex® Taslite is a two-layer fabric designed for use in the wettest conditions. It consists of a layer of nylon material laminated to a waterproof breathable Gore-Tex® membrane. Gore-Tex® Supplex® Taslite can be found in kayaking and fishing gear, sock liners and military over-flight suits.
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A high- performance waterproof breathable technology. XCR® stands for Extended Comfort Range. Gore-Tex® XCR® is used to make products such as gloves and boots providing protection for wider range of temperatures and activity levels. Gore-Tex® XCR® is found in products that require improved breathability, such as gloves and shoes.
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A type of knife edge that is enhanced with small, oval-shaped indentations on one or both sides of the blade. When slicing fruits and vegetables, a granton edge allows slices to slide off the blade more easily. A granton edge is most commonly found on Santoku chef knives and other kitchen cutlery.
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A combination of Supplex® nylon and Lycra®. Gridworks features Lycra® to maximize freedom of motion and Supplex® to improve strength and durability. Gridworks fabric also wicks moisture away from the skin to keep you dry and comfortable.
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A gummy, friction- enhancing rubber yarn used to hold garments in place, gripper elastic is commonly found in the leg openings of cycling shorts, and on leg gaiters and powder skirts in ski wear. Gripper elastic may use silicone or rubber threads, and is also used in elastic waistbands.
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A surface technology that prevents slippage. GripTec® is used in sleeping bag pads to keep bags from sliding off the pads. GripTec® is also used in footwear to improve traction, and gloves to improve grip.
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A metal, plastic or rubber ring inserted into a hole in the fabric of a garment. Grommets can be used as reinforced eyelets to prevent tearing, or as underarm ventilation. Grommets can also be used decoratively.
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A tightly woven silk or rayon fabric with pronounced, narrow horizontal ribs. Grosgrain is an alternative to shinier satin for trimming formal evening clothes and can be found frequently on neckties, sport shirts and as trimming on hats. The term grosgrain originated in France in the Middle Ages.
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The top edge of a canoe or boat hull. The gunwale (pronounced “gunnel”) typically reinforced to enhance the structural integrity of the hull. A gunwale may be crafted of wood, aluminum, vinyl or another durable material.
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An insert of extra fabric in a garment that allows greater freedom of movement. Gussets found on the back of a shirt allow the arms to swing freely. Gussets are also placed in between the legs on pants and shorts. Gussets found on shoes are often made of elastic.
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A tool used to skin wild game. A gut hook is a curved, sharpened notch used to make pull cuts through skin. Some hunting knives may include a small gut hook built into the spine of the blade near the tip.
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One of several points inside and outside a tent where a line (a guy line or rope) can be attached and then secured to a stake or other anchor in order to increase a tent's structural rigidity and hold it in place.
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The guy rope is a tie-down rope, cable or webbing located on the weave of a tent, normally at the side pole. Guy ropes help keep the tent secure in high winds and also help prevent the tent fabric from sagging. Incorporating guy ropes makes for a more efficient, weather-resistant tent.