Wind during hiking can be dangerous if you are not properly equipped. Indeed, the stronger it is, the more intense the perceived cold becomes. Even a slight breeze can lower the temperature significantly. Today, most hiking garments feature a windproof effect to maintain a good body temperature. We explain everything about windproof clothing for hiking in this article.
The protection of windproof clothing for hiking
For a fabric to have a windproof function, it must be made with a sufficiently tight weave or fitted with a special membrane. Today, most hiking garments feature highly effective membranes that provide good protection against the wind. In the three-layer system, it is the third layer that acts as a windproof barrier. It is therefore important to choose it carefully.
Several factors need to be considered when the wind is strong:
- It is important to protect your extremities, as these are the parts of the body that lose the most heat.
- A beanie or a warm cap protects your head well from the cold, but ideally you should have a windproof hood attached to your jacket. A three-point adjustable hood is recommended.
- Also remember to adjust your clothing at the sleeves and waist, so that wind cannot get in.
- Classic windproof jackets are very lightweight. They feature a 100% windproof membrane, offer excellent breathability, but are not often waterproof.
Explore all our men's windproof jackets and women's windproof jackets.
The choice of softshell clothing
Unlike a simple windproof jacket, the softshell jacket offers better air circulation and improved thermal regulation. The softshell is generally used as a second and third layer. It provides warmth, comfort, thermal insulation, water repellency, wind protection and excellent freedom of movement. softshell trousers share the same characteristics with very good resistance to wind and cold.
If you want a softshell jacket that is sufficiently windproof, your best option is a softshell with a membrane. You can find this, for example, in the Cimalp clothing range or in many brands featuring Windstopper® technology. This technology, developed by Gore-Tex®, combines breathability with a windproof effect. The Windstopper® membrane is integrated between the inner and outer layers of the fabric and offers a high level of resistance. If you are hiking in unstable conditions and may encounter rain as well as wind, a softshell is not necessarily the right jacket. It has a water-repellent treatment, but is not waterproof.
The choice of hardshell clothing
A windproof garment is generally hardshell. Jackets and trousers are waterproof and offer very good resistance against the elements (rain, snow, hail and wind). A protective jacket with a membrane is 100% windproof and 100% waterproof (it comes in either 2-layer, 2.5-layer or 3-layer construction).
The hardshell jacket is ideal in unstable weather. It is lightweight and compresses easily into a pack. It does not need to provide warmth as it is used as a third layer, on top of the insulating second layer. The hardshell is also breathable, but not as much as a softshell.
The choice of your windproof clothing also depends on their breathability. In addition to information on the membrane, you can refer to the RET indicator to measure the breathability of your garment. If you want a jacket that is both windproof and waterproof, its RET will generally be between 6 and 12. Below that, it will be more breathable but less waterproof; above, more waterproof and less breathable.
