Key takeaways
- Windstopper is a Gore membrane that makes a fabric totally windproof while staying breathable.
- It's commonly used in fleeces and soft layers for cold, windy conditions.
- It blocks wind chill (which adds warmth) and offers some water resistance, but isn't fully waterproof.
- It differs from waterproof Gore-Tex by prioritizing windproofing + breathability over waterproofing.
Gore brand (now often branded Gore-Tex Infinium Windstopper).
What Windstopper is
Windstopper is a brand of windproof, breathable membrane made by Gore — the same company behind Gore-Tex. Laminated into fabrics, often fleeces and soft layers, it makes them completely block wind while still letting sweat vapor escape and offering some water resistance.
How it works
Moving air strips heat fast (wind chill), so a totally windproof layer adds real warmth. Windstopper stops the wind while remaining breathable enough to wear during activity — the key difference from a waterproof membrane, which trades breathability for waterproofing.
On a cold, blustery ridge hike, a hiker wears a Windstopper fleece — the wind that would cut straight through a regular fleece is blocked, keeping them warm, while the fabric still breathes enough that they don’t overheat on the climbs.
Windstopper vs Gore-Tex
Gore-Tex is fully waterproof and windproof; Windstopper is fully windproof and more breathable but only water-resistant. Use Windstopper for cold, windy, dry-to-damp active days (it overlaps with a softshell‘s role); for sustained rain, switch to a waterproof shell. For wind alone at minimal weight, a simple windbreaker is lighter.
The bottom line
Windstopper is Gore's windproof-but-breathable membrane — it kills wind chill (adding real warmth) while letting sweat escape, making it excellent for active layers like fleeces in cold, windy conditions. The catch is it's only water-resistant, not waterproof: when sustained rain threatens, reach for fully waterproof Gore-Tex instead.
Frequently asked questions
What is Windstopper?
Windstopper is a brand of windproof, breathable membrane made by Gore (the company behind Gore-Tex). Laminated into fabrics — often fleeces and soft layers — it makes them completely block wind while still letting sweat vapor escape. It's designed to stop wind chill and add warmth without trapping moisture.
How is Windstopper different from Gore-Tex?
Gore-Tex is fully waterproof and windproof, prioritizing weather protection; Windstopper is fully windproof and breathable but only water-resistant, not waterproof. Windstopper trades waterproofing for greater breathability, making it better suited to active layers in cold, windy, dry-to-damp conditions rather than sustained rain.
When should you use Windstopper?
It's ideal when wind chill is the main enemy and you're active — cold, breezy hikes, ski tours, and aerobic cold-weather use — where a windproof but breathable layer (often a Windstopper fleece) keeps you warm without overheating. For sustained rain you'd still want a waterproof shell like Gore-Tex.
Sources
- Windstopper technology — Gore-Tex
- Layering & wind protection — The Mountaineers