Knowledgebase Page - Choosing a Softshell Jacket

Like just about everything for the outdoors there's a massive range of 'softshell' jackets to choose from - so how do you know which one is best for you - we'll try and help you here....

What is a Softshell Jacket?: To understand the purpose of the softshell jacket is useful to talk about the performance of 'hardshells' focusing on the potential problems with them, problems which boil down to breathability and stiffness. Creating a waterproof fabric is relatively easy but if the fabric doesn't breathe then you'll get just as wet from sweat build up as you would have done from rain if you hadn't worn it. So, any waterproof jacket (or 'hardshell') will normally have some level of breathability which lets out perspiration through the fabric without letting the rain through in the other direction. Breathability normally goes hand in hand with cost and with technical fabrics the performance of these garments is quite good - you stay dry.

However if you are active, even if you are only walking, a level of sweat can be produced that the fabric can't deal with - you get dampness on the inside of the jacket - even with highly expensive highly breathable jackets. The second problem with hardshells is that people don't like wearing them because the fabric is stiff and a bit uncomfortable.

Softshells were developed to address these issues. In the case of breathability it was possible to create a much more breathable fabric which wasn't quite waterproof - this seems logical - a garment that will let water through more easily sounds like it will let air pass through it more easily as well. And when you think about it, a lot of the time you put on your hardshell because its raining a little bit - or its just a shower. Under these conditions you can now put on a softshell garment rather than a hardshell - so you get protection from wind and showers but with a highly breathable jacket which means there's no build up of sweat and you stay dry and comfortable. Generally the fabrics that go into a softshell are indeed 'soft' - so the garment feels great to wear.