Back in the 90’s, most windbreakers were made of nylon material. These days, however, there are many different types of fabrics to choose from when purchasing a windbreaker or warm up suit. Depending on various factors, picking the right windbreaker fabric can be a very important decision, especially if you are going to have your windbreaker personalized. The different common windbreaker fabric types are nylon, micro polyester, polyester, and tricot.
Nylon is the old classic material which is very water and wind resistant. It also has a harder shell and makes a “swishy” noise when you walk in it. Now, while nylon became popular due to its great water and wind resistance, the noise it creates when people walk in it has drawn many consumers to choose other fabric types that are quieter.
Micro polyester is a softer, quieter fabric. It does not make that “swishy” noise when you walk around in it. It’s a lightweight, soft fabric, and windbreakers that are made out of it generally come with either a cotton or mesh lining. Micro polyester is also does a great job at being wind and water resistant, and is ideal for people that live in hotter geographical areas due to their light weight.
Polyester is similar to micro polyester in that it is a quieter fabric than nylon, but it is slightly heavier in weight. These warm ups also generally come with either a cotton or mesh lining, the cotton lining being the warmer of the two. This fabric is one that could be worn in most all weather types, being that it has a little bit of weight to it, and you can choose between different linings to determine how warm you want them to keep you.
Tricot is a heavyweight, brushed polyester material. It is very soft to the touch and even has a little bit of a shine to it. Being that it is the heaviest of the fabrics, warm ups that are made of tricot generally do not have lining included with them. These windbreakers are not very water resistant and tend to be less wind resistant than the other materials. These windbreakers would be best suited for those in colder climates, given the heavy weight of the material. They are very comfortable though because of their softness.
So, depending on certain factors, one warm up fabric will most likely be more suitable than another. With this information, it should make it much easier to determine which windbreaker fabric is right for you.
