Is Alpaca Wool Windproof? (Nope, But it IS Wind-Resistant)

Come wind, rain, or shine… I am always wearing my alpaca woolen scarf. But when it comes to wind, we do really want to make sure we’re well-protected. How well does alpaca wool protect from wind? Is it windproof? 

Alpaca fiber itself is nearly windproof. However, knitted or woven alpaca wool garments are not truly windproof due to inherent gaps in their structure, allowing some airflow. Nonetheless, items made from alpaca wool offer significant wind resistance, providing excellent protection against the elements.

So, protection from rain, sun, cold, AND wind!? Let’s find out more! 

How Well Does Alpaca Wool Garments Protect From Wind? 

Alpaca fiber itself is highly wind-resistant, almost windproof, due to its hollow core and dense structure on the animal. However, finished alpaca wool garments (knitted or woven) are wind resistant, not entirely windproof. This is because the gaps in the fabric's construction, while small, still allow some wind to pass through.

The degree of wind resistance in a garment depends on the following: 

• Fabric construction: How tightly the alpaca fibers are knitted or woven significantly impacts wind resistance, as a denser weave or knit minimizes gaps where wind can penetrate.

• Yarn thickness: Using thicker yarns generally results in a more substantial and compact fabric, which inherently creates a denser barrier against wind compared to thinner, more open weaves.

• Fiber fineness: Finer alpaca fibers (lower micron count, e.g., "baby" or "royal" alpaca) allow for tighter spinning and weaving, contributing to a denser material with fewer microscopic gaps for wind to pass through.

• Garment design and fit: A snugger fit, especially at openings like the neck, wrists, and waist, prevents wind infiltration. Features like high collars, adjustable cuffs, and drawstrings enhance overall wind protection.

Despite not being fully windproof, alpaca wool excels at trapping warmth and is remarkably breathable, making it effective for comfort in windy conditions without causing overheating.

 

Is Alpaca Wool Windproof or Wind-Resistant?

For context: imagine an alpaca, grazing some of that grass, strolling the Andean highlands. And then the wind comes and never leaves. But neither does the alpaca, so it’s got to have a good reason to stay close to its natural habitat, even though it’s a bit windy. 

So… Does alpaca wool truly block the wind, or merely resist it? 

• Windproof: A fabric is considered windproof if it completely, or almost completely, blocks all airflow. This means no wind can penetrate the material, providing total protection from wind chill. Achieving this usually involves a very tight weave, a laminate, or a membrane (like GORE-TEX Windstopper).

• Wind-Resistant: A wind-resistant fabric significantly reduces wind penetration but still allows some airflow. It offers a good barrier against most breezes and moderate winds, cutting down on wind chill, but it won't provide absolute protection in very strong gusts. 

• NB: The tricky part of wind-resistant labels is that there is no official definition of how much wind is blocked for something to be wind-resistant. This means that companies have the freedom to decide what they call wind-resistant and what is not. 

Unlike the alpaca's naturally dense coat, alpaca wool garments, due to their knitted or woven structure, will always allow some wind to pass through, making them wind-resistant rather than truly windproof. 

TLDR: 

• Windproof = No wind gets through.

• Wind-Resistant = Some wind gets through, but most is blocked

• Alpaca wool = Some wind gets through = wind-resistant. 

Alpaca Fiber Vs. Knitted Garments

The alpaca fiber itself, in its natural state as dense fleece on the animal, is remarkably close to being windproof, meaning it allows minimal wind to come through. This quality is necessary for the alpaca's survival in the windy climates of the Andean highlands, effectively trapping warmth and protecting the animal's body.

But now, imagine making a sweater or scarf. You're taking those wonderful alpaca threads and either knitting them (making loops) or weaving them (interlacing them). Even when you do this really, really tightly, you can't make a perfectly solid, sealed sheet of fabric.

Alpaca fabrics can be incredibly dense, and they block most of the wind. That's why it's wind-resistant. It effectively cuts down on how much wind gets through. But because there are still those microscopic spaces, those tiny "gaps" that come with any woven or knitted structure, a tiny bit of wind can still sneak its way through. 

But, it's not a complete, impermeable wall like a plastic sheet or a specially laminated windproof jacket. That's the difference between being "wind-resistant" and truly "windproof."

Not Windproof, but Incredibly Breathable

Normally, another difference between windproof and wind-resistant, is that windproof fabrics lack breathability. As a general rule of thumb windproof-ness comes at the cost of breathability. 

But, here’s the cool part: alpaca wool is incredibly breathable! The special fiber guarantees that any alpaca woolen item will be breathable while still being highly wind resistant. 

The breathability of alpaca wool is thanks to the unique fiber structure: it has a hollow core (compare it to little airbag-like bags inside the fiber) that allows for effective moisture management, selective airflow, and retaining body heat. 

Here's how alpaca's hollow core aids breathability in wind-resistant fabric:

• Controlled airflow: While the garment blocks most wind, the hollow fibers and their microscopic spaces allow subtle movement of air and moisture vapor, not strong gusts.

• Efficient moisture wicking: The hollow core excels at absorbing sweat vapor from your skin and moving it to the fabric's surface for evaporation, preventing clamminess.

• Prevents overheating: By allowing excess heat and moisture to escape, the hollow fibers stop the "boil-in-the-bag" effect common with non-breathable wind protection, keeping you comfortable.

Essentially, the hollow core makes alpaca wool a "smart" fabric: it resists wind while letting your body breathe and manage moisture, ensuring comfort.

Testing Wind Resistance with the Breath Test

Unlike an alpaca living in the Andean highlands, you might want to wear a wind-resistant scarf or hat in a different home somewhere else in the world. You may not need windproof equipment, but might be looking for something that keeps out most of the cold on a windy day. 

I found this awesome wind-resistance trick on Outdoors.org that you can use to see whether or not something is wind resistant (enough). Your breath can simulate a fresh breeze. If you breathe out as hard as you can, you will breathe at a speed of 20 mph, similar to what a fresh breeze would be on the Beaufort scale: Force 5 / 19–24 mph / 30–39 km/h)

Now if you do this with the fabric against your mouth, and your hand on the other side you can feel with your hand how much breath (“wind”) comes through. It will give you a rough estimate of how wind resistant the fabric is. Lots of resistance means good wind resistance, whereas little resistance means poor wind resistance. 

The Results: 

• For a truly windproof fabric (unlikely with knit alpaca): You would feel virtually no air on your hand, even if you blow as hard as you can. It would be like blowing against a solid wall.

• For a highly wind-resistant alpaca fabric: You should feel very little air on your hand. You'll perceive a significant dampening of your breath. It might feel like a very weak, diffused puff, or just a slight coolness from the limited air that manages to get through. The harder it is for your breath to pass through, the more wind-resistant the fabric.

• For a less wind-resistant fabric: You would feel a noticeable amount of air on your hand. It would be clear that your breath is passing through easily, perhaps only slightly diffused.

Finding the Right Garments

The more compact and dense the fabric construction, the better the alpaca wool product will perform as a wind-resistant barrier. But also what you wear matters: 

Outerwear (Coats, Jackets, Capes, Ponchos)

Look for coats, jackets, and capes made from densely woven or fulled alpaca wool (like Melton). These constructions create a very tight barrier, significantly enhancing wind resistance. Suri alpaca fiber, with its straighter, silkier nature, is often preferred for woven goods.

• Why They Work: These items maximize the wind-blocking potential of the fiber's density and the fabric's structure, providing substantial protection as an outer layer.

Heavyweight Sweaters and Cardigans

Choose sweaters and cardigans made with thick, dense knits (e.g., chunky cables, tightly ribbed designs, or double-knit fabrics). These maximize the amount of fiber per square inch, reducing air permeability.

• Why They Work: While not fully windproof, these provide excellent warmth and significantly reduce wind chill, making them ideal as a warm mid-layer or a primary outer layer in milder, breezy conditions.

Scarves, Shawls, and Wraps (Especially Oversized)

Opt for thick, densely knitted or woven scarves and shawls. Oversized options are particularly effective as they can be wrapped multiple times, creating layered wind barriers around the neck, chest, and shoulders.

• Why They Work: These accessories provide crucial protection to exposed areas, allowing for adaptable layering against varying wind conditions.

Hats and Headbands (Dense Knits)

Select alpaca hats and headbands with tight, dense knits that fully cover the ears and forehead. Beanies or balaclavas made from dense alpaca wool are excellent.

• Why They Work: Given that significant heat loss occurs through the head, a wind-resistant alpaca hat is great for maintaining overall body warmth in windy environments.

Gloves and Mittens

Look for thick, densely knitted alpaca gloves or mittens.

• Why They Work: Protecting extremities from wind is crucial for comfort and preventing cold fingers, and alpaca's warmth and breathability are a great combination.

Ready to conquer any chill?

We know what we’re talking about and that’s exactly why we have our webshop filled with premium alpaca wool accessories.

From superwarm and oversized XL scarves for versatile warmth and wrap-around defense, to incredibly effective double-layered hats designed to keep you cozy even in the strongest winds.

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