Windpants

Windpants are a sportswear variety of trousers (pants) intended for wearing without undergarments and for athletic and comfort purposes.

Design

Windpants, also known as "windbreakers", are light and serve to shield the wearer from cold wind rather than to insulate. Windpants are almost always made out of polyester or nylon. Some have polyester tricot. Most types of windpants have a cotton inner liner and no fly, because of this, undergarments are not required while wearing windpants. Due to natural friction against both itself and one's legs, windpants make "swishing" sounds during walking or running. Windpants often have zippers on each ankle, allowing athletes to unzip the end of each leg to pull the pants over their footwear. Some windpants have zippers that run the full length so the pants can be simply unzipped entirely; in this case, shorts are normally worn underneath. Windpants can also protect the wearer from elements such as mud and water; this gives them the nickname "Splash Pants". Windpants are also commonly worn while sick or travelling because they are so easy to move around in and are very comfortable.

Related

Fashion pants

Fashion pants typically refers to "fashion conscious" sportswear, such as the pants produced by Juicy Couture. The distinguishing characteristic is that fashion pants lack the elastic band at the ankles. These pants can just be called windpants, but "Fashion Pants" is their official name

Tearaway pants

Tearaway pants, also known as "breakaway pants", "rip-off pants" are another close relative to windpants. Tearaway pants are windpants with metal snaps running the length of both legs. Some tearaway pants have snaps on only part of the legs, but normally the snaps run the entire length. Some tearaway pants are reversible. Some do not have pockets but since shorts are usually worn underneath tearaway pants, many people open the top snaps to gain access to pockets in their shorts.

Sometimes, there are buttons above each set of snaps to add more closure. The buttons and snaps allow athletes to remove their tearaway pants in a timely manner to compete in some sports. Basketball and track and field are the two sports most commonly associated with tearaway pants and windpants.

Adidas is the largest manufacturer of tearaway pants, followed by Nike, Inc. Other manufacturers are Spalding, Russell Athletic, Teamwork Athletic Apparel, Wilson Sporting Goods, And 1, Reebok, Champion, Polo Ralph Lauren, Converse, Old Navy, Foot Locker, Tommy Hilfiger, Fila, and numerous other brands.

See also

*Sweatsuit
*Tracksuit