WINDSTOPPER Explained
In brief: WINDSTOPPER is a Gore technology that makes a fabric totally windproof and highly breathable while staying water-resistant rather than fully waterproof. It is built for cold, blustery conditions where blocking wind-chill matters more than surviving sustained rain. Gore now markets it within its Gore-Tex Infinium family of products.
What WINDSTOPPER is for
WINDSTOPPER solves a different problem from a rain shell. Wind strips warmth from the body far faster than still air, so on cold, gusty days a totally windproof layer can feel dramatically warmer than a fabric that lets the breeze cut through. WINDSTOPPER is a Gore membrane engineered to be completely windproof and very breathable, so it traps your warmth without making you clammy during activity. It is the technology you want for cold-weather softshells, fleeces, hats, gloves and active layers.
Water-resistant, not waterproof
This is the crucial distinction. WINDSTOPPER is water-resistant: it will shrug off light showers and damp, but it is not designed or rated to keep you dry in sustained or heavy rain the way Gore-Tex is. The membrane prioritises blocking wind and venting sweat over guaranteeing total waterproofness. If your main enemy is rain, you want Gore-Tex; if your main enemy is wind-chill, WINDSTOPPER is the more comfortable, more breathable choice.
The Gore-Tex Infinium rebrand
In 2023 Gore folded WINDSTOPPER into its Gore-Tex Infinium line, the family it uses for products that deliver comfort and weather resistance without a full waterproof guarantee. So you may now see the same windproof-breathable technology presented under the Gore-Tex Infinium WINDSTOPPER banner. The naming changed; the core idea, total windproofing with high breathability and water resistance, did not.
How breathable it is
WINDSTOPPER is designed to be highly breathable, with very low air permeability on the wind side, around one cubic foot per minute, which is low enough to count as windproof while the membrane still passes moisture vapour well. The combination is what makes it comfortable for active cold-weather use: it stops the wind that would chill you, yet lets the sweat from exertion escape so you do not overheat and dampen your insulation.
Caring for WINDSTOPPER
WINDSTOPPER garments still benefit from a clean face fabric and a working water-repellent finish to keep their light water resistance and breathability up. Wash according to the care label, re-proof if the surface stops shedding light moisture, and reactivate the finish with gentle heat. Because these are often softshell and fleece-style pieces, follow the specific garment's instructions rather than treating them like a hardshell.
WINDSTOPPER at OD's Designer Clothing
WINDSTOPPER shines as a cold-day comfort layer rather than a storm shell. If you are unsure whether you need windproofing or full waterproofing, the team can help you separate the two so you do not buy a water-resistant softshell expecting it to survive a downpour, or a heavy rain shell when a breathable windproof would be far more comfortable.