How the Fabric of your Windsock can Impact Its Performance

Material of Windsocks

Windsocks can be made of several different types of materials. Each type allowing the windsock to perform in different ways.

Windsocks, like flags, take a lot of abuse in the elements. They are also made to keep worksite safe, so they need to be made of a material that is light enough to move in the breeze and durable enough to withstand the elements (waterproof, flame retardant, UV resistant etc..) If a windsock is made of too light a material then it would tear apart in heavy winds. If a windsock is made of too heavy a material, it would not rise in 3 knot winds and not fulfil its purpose of telling you accurate wind direction and windspeed.

There are a few main fabrics used to produce windsocks.

Windsocks can be made of a variety of materials. Nylon windsocks are the most common, so are knitted polyester, vinyl, and canvas. There are also lots of companies that use a mix of synthetic and natural fabrics to create windsocks as well.

Windsock Materials We Use

After years of testing, polyester has come out on top as our standard fabric of choice when is comes to windsocks. But be careful....not all polyester is created equal.

300D PU polyester- This is our standard fabric for our Orange Airport Windsocks and our Orange and White Airport Windsocks. The material properties are

• PU Polyurethane coated for
• UV resistance to fading
• Waterproofing
• Hi- Vis Fluorescent
• High Tensile strength
• Lightweight  for responsiveness (only 180 g/ sqm)

These properties make our polyester fabric the ideal choice for windsocks 

600D PU Polyester Fabric – This is our standard fabric for all custom and printed heavy duty windsocks. The main difference between the 600D and the 300D PU polyester is the fact that the 600D PU is much heavier. We chose the 600D PU material for our heavy duty custom windsocks as our custom printed windsock clients do not need to adhere to strict "responsiveness" of windsocks as much as the clients who buy the stock windsocks (generally airports, who need to abide by FAA specifications for Windcones which dictates responsiveness). Our custom printed clients are looking for the longest lasting windsock, period. And this is what we've created.  The material properties are

• PU Polyurethane coated for
• UV resistance to fading
• Waterproofing
• Very High Tensile strength
• Custom printable
• Heavy Duty for durability (311g/ sqm)

Knitted Polyester- We use this material for our lightweight windsocks that are often used for sports like golf, pickle ball and tennis. These windsocks are very light weight and can fly with a very small breeze and can be flown without the use of a frame. The material properties are

•  High Tensile strength
• Custom printable
• Lightweight for responsiveness (130g/ sqm)

Windsocks Materials We don't Use

Nylon Windsocks – nylon is a a common and acceptable choice of windsock material.  Nylon allows the the sun o shine through and thus creating a vivid and bright look however you should be careful to ensure the nylon is coated with UV resistant coating and ideally, PU Polyurethane coating . Nylon also an extremely lightweight material and is responsive to light winds, but may not not last as long as other materials. These are recommended for areas with lighter winds and a more stable, predictable climate.

Vinyl Windsocks – Vinyl fabric is known for its visibility. The material has s shiny and plasticky quality about it. Vinyl works well in heavy winds  and is visible from great distances easily.  This material is not as long-lasting as other options as it is susceptible to creasing and degradation. Also, heavy weighted materials can "beat" against themselves in the wind thus causing degradation. Again, sufficient UV protective coated must be ensured to prevent premature fading.  

Now you are armed with the knowledge you need to purchase a windsock made of a material that fits your needs in your area. Please feel free to comment below on your experiences and let us know what material you prefer and why. 

Contact us for a quote or for customer service at 1-833-786-1035 or info@custom-windsocks.com to speak to our customer service representative and rest assured that we will be able to help you.