Technology Ask for the real thing


Many people use the term ‘windstopper’ to describe a variety of jackets, however, there is only one real WINDSTOPPER supplied by WL Gore & Associates. Galvin Green sets the record straight


the wind is blowing and you want to stay warm is a windstopper – right? Well, it’s not quite that simple. In recent years, the term


W


‘windstopper’ has come to be used to describe a variety of different jackets and fleeces worn by golfers to keep themselves warm in windy playing conditions. The term has become so


much of a generic expression that it really doesn’t do justice to perhaps the best item of clothing ever invented for golfers; especially those playing on the windswept courses of northern Europe. In fact, there is only one


garment that can accurately claim to be called a true WINDSTOPPER and it’s an extremely technical piece of kit that incorporates the most breathable windproof fabric known to man. The genuine article is a


registered brand


hat is a windstopper? A top you wear to play golf when


name and made from an ultra- light membrane fabric laminate supplied by the producer of the unrivalled waterproof Gore-Tex laminate: WL Gore & Associates.


History Launched by Gore in America back in 1991, WINDSTOPPER was seen as the ideal fabric laminate for garments used in sporting activity, because it combined a moisture-wicking membrane to evacuate body vapour from the skin with a protective layer against wind chill. In the testing conducted by Gore, the fabric proved to be 2.5 times warmer in winds of 32mph than other windproof products on the market. It meant that for the first


time, an athlete could perform to a high standard in chilly environments wearing fewer layers and carrying less bulk. Perhaps most golfers didn’t


see themselves as ‘athletes’ at the time, because the more conventional dress code of cotton shirt or roll-neck base layer backed up by a sturdy lambswool sweater and the


occasional rain jacket remained the order of the day. Fortunately, times have


changed and an increasing number of golfers appreciate the value of a single, lighter, efficient garment that does exactly what the name suggests. It is also extremely quiet,


doesn’t restrict the swing and looks notably fashionable.


Different versions After 20 years of continual product development, there are now dozens of versions of WINDSTOPPER technology in evidence across a wide range of sporting activity: from riders in the Tour de France and Olympic runners, to downhill and cross- country skiers. But one of the sports where


the technology has been applied to best effect is golf. Ten years after the initial


launch, a WINDSTOPPER Soft Shell version was introduced, enabling manufacturers to produce a single garment close to the skin that provides comfort within a completely windproof shell. A prime example of the


modern-day WINDSTOPPER Soft Shell garment is the new Bay full-zip jacket from the latest Galvin Green collection. The jacket can be worn


as the main top layer or under waterproofs, where it maintains the optimum performance temperature. There is also a


lightweight fabric version in


the form of the half-zip Bates WINDSTOPPER Soft Shell jacket, which is a third of the weight of an original model, while the Bolt short-sleeved, half-zip jacket and Boyd full-zip body warmer


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offer a comprehensive range of options in sizes from S-4XL. There is even a new pair of


Bastian trousers with a flexible waistband in the same fabric that are totally windproof and highly breathable.


Special characteristics “There are now three different types of WINDSTOPPER in the Galvin Green range and each has a special characteristic developed for the serious golfer to play at their best,” says chief designer, Mats Lundqvist. “Players don’t appreciate


the amount of moisture they generate during the average round; particularly if they expend more energy than usual in confronting a strong head wind off the tee. It can equate to 1.5 litres of water vapour needing to pass through a garment in condensed form, so it must be extremely breathable to cope with such a level of moisture vapour,” adds Lundqvist. In terms of protecting the


golfer from wind chill, the modern WINDSTOPPER is the equivalent of wearing five or six sweaters at the same time – so there is no danger of getting too cold. And wearing the short- sleeved Bolt won’t hurt your game either, as research has shown that the brain doesn’t pick up on the colder arms, only a drop in core body temperature which the garment is designed to protect against. “When you think how


much golf is played in windy conditions, it makes the need for a WINDSTOPPER even more obvious and the modern version can be worn all day, not just on the course,” says Lundqvist.


Pro Shop Europe September 2011


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