In the ’90s, most windbreakers were made of nylon. These days, however, there are many different types of fabrics to choose from when shopping for a windbreaker or outerwear. Depending on various factors, choosing the right windbreaker fabric can be a very important decision, especially if you are going to customize your windbreaker. The different types of common windproof fabrics are nylon, micropolyester, polyester, and tricot.

Nylon is the old classic material that is highly resistant to water and wind. It also has a harder shell and makes a “silent” noise when you walk on it. Now, while nylon became popular due to its great resistance to water and wind, the noise it generates when people walk on it has led many consumers to choose other types of fabrics that are quieter.

Micropolyester is a softer and quieter fabric. It doesn’t make that “swishy” noise when you walk on it. It’s a light, soft fabric, and windbreakers made from it usually come with a cotton or mesh lining. Micro polyester also does a great job of being wind and water resistant, and is ideal for people who live in warmer geographic areas due to its light weight.

Polyester is similar to micro polyester in that it is a quieter fabric than nylon, but is slightly heavier. These warming items usually also come with a cotton or mesh lining, with the cotton lining being the warmer of the two. This fabric is one that can be worn in most types of weather, as it has a bit of a weight to it, and you can choose from different linings to determine how warm you want to be kept.

Tricot is a heavy brushed polyester material. It is very soft to the touch and even has a bit of a shine to it. Being the heaviest of fabrics, leg warmers that are made from tricot usually don’t have a lining included. These windbreakers are not very waterproof and tend to be less wind resistant than other materials. These windbreakers would be best suited for those in colder climates, given the heavy weight of the material. Although they are very comfortable because of their softness.

Therefore, depending on certain factors, one heating fabric will most likely be more suitable than another. With this information, it should be much easier to determine which windstopper fabric is right for you.