One of the things that I found irksome about the low whistle was the way it could falter in the wind. I tried my flute outside t’other day and it seemed more robust. Is this just wishful thinking, or is outdoor flue playing more practical than outdoor low whistle playing?
Of course the low whistle does have the advantage that you can turn the window ‘downwards’ to give it some shelter…
FWIW, my experience busking is that flute suffers less from the wind than whistles.
I concur. Technique might have some bearing, depending.
You blow across the hole to create the sound with a flute, but the wind across the hole/blade of a whistle takes the sound away, so yes, flutes are better outdoors.
Another thing, you often see marching flute players, but have you ever seen whistle players marching outdoors 
but have you ever seen whistle players marching outdoors
Yes, I am afraid it does happen. And not just during the madness of the Dingle Wren on St Stephen’s Day.
This is a lovely one from 1959 Donegal, all Clarke whistles:
Generally, it’s the person downwind of the flatulist who tends to suffer.
Learn something new every day! 
I’d never heard of outdoor whistle playing, but the pictures can’t lie, thanks for posting them… 
So my suspicions were possibly right… thanks. That is an added benefit to flutes for me.
I like those pictures of marching whistle bands - they must sound awesome. Also the high whistles may suffer less from wind than low whistles?
Sometimes I get a twinge of envy for those living in an area with a strong musical culture. It must add a lot to the enjoyment of life.
Keep safe everyone
I love this question. I thought more wise guys would be answering.
For me it depends on what I’ve been eating.
Or drinking however many pints of Guinness.
In my experience, the higher registers of the whistle are less susceptible to wind damage than lower octaves. I don’t know the physics for sure, but I suspect it’s that wind screws up the airflow over the fipple. Higher notes requiring more air means that the airflow is more forceful, making it harder for the wind to screw it up. Harder-blowing whistles and higher whistles have the same benefits over lower or lighter-blowing whistles. The Chieftain Thunderbird D I had, for example, was much better in the wind than my Killarney.
That’s a completely anecdotal theory, though, so I’m sure someone else has a more concrete explanation.
Bill Ochs on a tin whistle marching band…in Harlem!
https://forums.chiffandfipple.com/t/tin-whistles-in-schools-school-tin-whistle-bands/72594/1
I’ve endured (as opposed to enjoyed) playing outdoors if there is anything more than a slight breeze. I think that the flute is more susceptible to disruption because the embouchure air stream is unprotected if there is other wind turbulence to contend with. The effect isn’t a constant - just random deflation of the sound like one of those bad-embouchure-days.
Definitely the 180deg rotation of the whistle head downwards trick helps, but it is one of those “really if you have to” things. There’s no avoiding it - by design they aren’t great instruments outdoors in windy conditions. High-D better than Low-D better than Flute IMHO. But, once we’re in that zone, why bother. Only exception - graveside slow air - gotta make the best of what the conditions dish up.
I find a good belch while playing flute can lower pitch more than half a step…it’s rather impressive. I tend not to play my flute in such a way that I’m testing other forms of personal wind no matter what I eat (although it can provide a percussive emphasis if done correctly).