Hi,
I’m looking to buy a soprano (preferably D) whistle that I can play with friends on the street.
It should be fairly loud, wind resistant, and, of course, well built and well tuned.
Preferably, it should also have a nice sound in the both the low and high range.
My budget is around $200, though I can go a bit over for a really good fit.
Thanks in advance!
Joel
Parks has several PVC/Polymer models and wil be your lowest cost for an excellent whistle. Well under your budget.
Tommy Dion makes really nice PVC/Polymer models for slightly more.
Milligan makes great whistles in both delrin or dymonwood in your price range
Busman makes incredible whistles in delrin or dymonwood for slightly more.
There are others but I’m not remembering them right now.
Actually, any whistle made can be played outside as long as it’s not raining. I imagine all of us play our instruments outside. Those listed above are synthetic so they would be more weather resistant. Wind resistance is difficult to measure since it doesn’t come up much. I’d guess the Parks would be good for this. The Wander Whistler has a website where he rates instruments for wind resistance. You might check there.
ecohawk
The Susato S-bore D is a fine outdoor whistle. Weatherproof, sturdy ABS plastic. Loud, outdoor sound. Tuneable, and in tune. Wind resistant - I tested it once by playing into a fan. Less temperature sensitive than metal, not prone to cracking like wood. $43 from the maker.
I will second MTGuru’s recommendation of a susato. since it is quite a bit cheaper than your too price, go mad and get the kildare model engraved with celtic knotwork and your name. 
I play a susato kildare in D out at our renaissance festival and it is the perfect outdoor whistle.
Eric
Lots of good suggestions to consider so far.
I’ve used a Kildare S-series D for the combat duty situations for many years. One characteristic, beyond what has been mentioned already, that makes it work for me is that I can rotate the head to keep the window out of the wind when necessary. (That’s also true of many whistles.) But I’ll third MTGuru’s suggestion of a Kildare S-series.
I have also been impressed with the newer Susato Oriole model whistle. I’ve got Orioles in a couple of keys now. They retain the good characteristics of the Kildare S-series whistles (volume, tone, tuning, weather resistance) but at a price of under $20 direct from the maker. While I have not used it in gale force winds yet, I expect it will be as equally useful as my trusty Kildares.
http://www.susato.com/konakart/Pennywhistles/Oriole/1_413_-1_11.do
The only part of these whistles that needs to be protected from hazards is the edge of the labium. It is thin and sharp and can be deformed with little force. I’ve nicked a couple but sometimes that just adds character to the tone of the whistle.
You can still buy a Busman or a Millligan with the money you save anyway.
Feadoggie
Why do I always forget Susato? I clearly need therapy 
. I think it’s because when I was doing my early research I kept reading about how loud they are and that made me a little shy about them. Of course since then I’ve bought some of the loudest whistles made and they are among my favorites. Sorry for the momentary digression. Definitely put this in the mix.
ecohawk
Definitely susato, no point wasting money on anything more expensive.
One winter’s afternoon a few years ago I went for a quick walk up the Cliffs of Moher. Michael Galvin, who is one of the people busking there often, was playing a Susato at the entrance of the Cliffs, just past the visitor centre. Walking southward along the cliff edge I could still hear him play and hear what tune he was playing well over a half a mile away). A gale from the north may have helped carry the sound though.
PM Sent.
Cayden
Susato is probably the answer, though in strong hot sun I found the black ones to have terrible tuning problems. White ones should be better.
Hmmm? I’ve never noticed any temperature issues with the black ones playing year round out of doors from Florida (and it does get hot there) to Maine. What exactly is the tuning problem you’ve had? Might it be a humidity issue? Inquiring minds want to know.
Susato presently offers the Kildares in both black and their reddish brown color. I think the ivory color is now reserved for laser engraved models which adds about $20 to the purchase price. I have not run across a new Kildare whistle in white for many years. Dublins are still available in ivory AFAIK. And the Oriole is a brownish color.
I just can’t think where the color would matter much in my experience.
Feadoggie
When the predator drone patrolling overhead zaps you with its anti-busking heat ray, the black ones will melt sooner, a few seconds before your hair catches fire.
Thank you, everyone, for your quick response and thorough explanations. This has been most helpful.
The votes for a Susato Kildare seem to echo unanimously!
Thanks again. What a great forum
The authorities are so much better funded on the west coast it would seem.
They have reason to be…
Best wishes.
Steve