Testing Which Coat Is Best In Wyoming Wind?

When it gets cold in Wyoming, and worse yet, when it gets windy, it's important to pick out the right clothing. Some items look and feel warm until the cold wind cuts right through them.

In the video below, a young lady decides to try on a variety of jackets to see which one is effective in our harsh elements. It's not always the one you might think. The heaviest jackets are not always the most wind-resistant.

The most wind-resistant clothing uses tightly woven synthetic fabrics or membranes like Gore-Tex Infinium, Pertex, or Polartec Windbloc, often in hard shell jackets, which create an impenetrable barrier against wind, while softshells offer excellent breathability and wind resistance for active use, and dense nylon or polyester is common for lightweight windbreakers. For layering, merino wool traps heat effectively, but the key is an outer windproof shell.

The video was recorded at Moxie Manx vintage clothing in Sheridan, Wyoming

On a cold day, a heavy jacket with a good lining or maybe an outer windbreaker is ideal.

But, believe it or not, the heaviest jacket is not always the best.

In this video, her favorite jacket was a vintage fur coat. That makes sense. The individual fibers of the fur coat will stop the wind and trap the heat much better than a solid barrier.

The best cold-weather coat depends on the conditions, but down parkas offer superior warmth-to-weight for extreme cold, while wool or cashmere coats excel in dry, frigid conditions; for wet cold, look for synthetic insulation or waterproof shell parkas with hoods, prioritizing features like water resistance, good layering space, and a well-designed hood for overall protection.

But in Wyoming, it's not just cold. That dang wind adds a new element that strips the heat away from our bodies, making our climate harsher than winter in most states.