Windshirts (aka Golf Tops) take the chill off. They are lightweight full athletic cut pullovers with a crew neck or V-neck opening and comfortable on land or in water. Ususally they have a knit trim, elastic knit bottom with side insert pockets. Some windshirts have a short front zipper.

Fabrics range from soft Nylon to microfiber polyester blends. Most windshirts are made of Nylon Taslan fabric. These pullovers may dry fast, but the knitted cuffs and collar may take a bit longer.

Windshirts are windproof, but not meant to be waterproof. No matter how great your waterproof jacket is, it will still have a saturation point, so if you really want to keep the sweat at bay on a windy day, you may want to think about windshirts, windproof tops, swishies, or whatever you want to call them.

Layers

A windshirt forms part of the good old fashioned layering system. It can be worn in lots of different weather conditions, over or under a range of different garments. On top of a thin wicking baselayer it provides a great deal of warmth by cutting out the wind. Because both layers are fast drying, a downpour or swim is not a problem because you will dry quickly afterwards.

Under a waterproof it stops condensation wetting your fav baselayer. They are great over thicker fleeces. With a good baselayer and a thick fleece and your windshirt, you will be pretty toasty in most conditions.

One more thing: they are cheaper than your hi-tech waterproof, when your wearing your competitively priced windshirt your saving your expensive waterproof.

Features

1. windproof (one of the reasons they are also known as windproof tops)
2. really lightweight, a lot more lightweight than a waterproof jacket
3. super breathable, much more so than the usual waterproofs
4. more comfortable both wet or dry
5. fast drying
6. pack away into something so small it takes several minutes of rucksack rummaging before they turn up
7. durable, no sensitive membranes or coatings that may need tender loving care
8. water resistant, not great in heavy rain but fine for the odd shower
9. a lightweight and comfortable choice to avoid sunburn

When I first tried on a windshirt I felt that it was a little tight fit on just around my torso towards my armpits. At first I thought I may need a larger size, but the rest of the garment was a good fit, especially in the sleeve and hem length.

I like the look and feel of a windshirt, accommodating for movement to fit the intended purpose for outdoor sports or as waterwear.

I have only worn the windshirt once in really windy conditions, which was for a brief walk around town. It happened to be a very windy day and I was only wearing a short sleeve polo shirt underneath. I noticed very little wind on my bare arms and fabric was very comfortable.

Later on it started to rain and I got soaked after a while. Because the windshirt cut the wind I still kept reasonably warm. This was quite a surprise to me as I expected that the windshirt was designed for much lighter conditions then those on that day.

Next day I wore my windshirt for swimming in a lake. I wore it again over a polo shirt and later on bare skin. In either case the fabric felt soft and comfortable without getting the the way.

Swimming in a windshirt was easy due to the slim fit and the correct length of the arms. The cuffs avoid too much water coming in. The sleeves don't billow up with each swimming stroke.

Lee Fang