Wind Resistant
Fabric — one of 56 in the glossary
A fabric that slows air passing through it without stopping it completely. It is a matter of degree rather than a yes or no property: windproof implies a membrane or coating that blocks air entirely, while wind-resistant usually means a tightly woven face that cuts most of the wind while still letting the garment breathe.
Degree, not category
Air permeability is measured, usually as the volume of air passing through a given area at a given pressure. Lower is more wind-resistant.
A tightly woven microfibre or high-count shell can cut the great majority of wind with no coating at all, simply because the gaps between yarns are small.
Windproof, properly used, means a membrane or coating that stops air entirely. Most garments described as wind-resistant do not have one.
Why total windproofing is often wrong
A fabric that stops all air also slows moisture leaving, so a fully windproof shell traps sweat unless it is engineered to breathe or vented mechanically.
For active use — running, cycling, working outdoors — a wind-resistant fabric that lets some air through is often more comfortable than a windproof one.
This is the same trade-off that defines soft shells, which choose breathability and stretch over a sealed barrier.
What to check on a spec sheet
Whether the resistance comes from the weave or from a coating or membrane, because they age differently — a weave does not degrade, a coating hydrolyses over years.
Whether there is a durable water repellent finish as well, since wind and rain usually arrive together.
And for decoration, whether a membrane is present: embroidery perforates it, and heat can delaminate it.
Common questions
- What does wind resistant mean?
- That the fabric slows air passing through it without blocking it entirely. It is a matter of degree, measured as air permeability, rather than a yes or no property.
- What is the difference between wind resistant and windproof?
- Windproof implies a membrane or coating that stops air completely. Wind resistant usually means a tightly woven fabric that cuts most of the wind while still breathing.
- Is a windproof jacket always better?
- Not for active use. A fabric that blocks all air also slows sweat escaping, so a wind-resistant shell is often more comfortable when you are working hard.
See also
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