Softshell Jacket

The layer between a fleece and a hard shell

A softshell jacket is a woven outer face bonded to a soft backing, in a single fabric that stretches with the body. It blocks wind, sheds light rain and insulates a little, which places it squarely between a jumper and a rigid waterproof. The small selection here leans towards walking: hooded women's cuts, fleece lined versions with a water repellent face, a battery heated model and plain all weather shells.

What is a softshell made of?

Two or three layers laminated together. The outer face is a tightly woven stretch fabric treated so water beads up on it, and the inner face is a brushed fleece or a grid that holds warm air against the skin, the same material used on its own across the fleece jacket range. Some designs add a membrane between the two for more weather resistance and less breathability. Because the layers are bonded rather than worn separately, the jacket moves as one piece and does not ride up under a pack strap.

Is a softshell waterproof?

No, and treating it as one is the usual disappointment. The face fabric holds off drizzle and spray for a while, then wets out along the shoulders and forearms where friction and gravity concentrate. What it gains is breathability, carrying on venting sweat while a sealed jacket would be running with condensation inside. For sustained rain, something from the waterproof jacket range carried in a pack is the sensible companion rather than a replacement.

When is it the right layer to reach for?

Cold dry days, windy days, and anything involving steady effort. Wind is what strips warmth out of a fleece, and this construction fixes that without adding the clamminess of a coated shell. On a still cold day with no wind and no rain, a plain fleece is warmer for the weight it costs. In a gale without rain, a light windproof jacket packs down far smaller.

What is worth comparing between models?

• Backing: a thick fleece backing is warmer and bulkier, while a thin grid backing breathes better and layers under a coat.
• Hood: a hood cut to clear a helmet is unnecessary in town and welcome on a hill, so match it to where the jacket will be worn.
• Cuffs and hem: hook and loop cuff tabs and a hem drawcord are what stop wind entering at the edges of the garment.
• Pocket height: hand pockets set high stay usable under a rucksack hip belt, while low pockets are blocked by one.
• Heated panels: battery powered elements add warmth on demand, and the battery, its pocket and its weight all become part of the jacket.

How should one be washed?

More often than instinct suggests. Dirt and body oil ground into the face fabric are what kill the water repellency, so a gentle cycle with a technical cleaner does more good than leaving the jacket alone for a season. Skip fabric conditioner entirely, rinse twice, and dry away from direct heat. When water stops beading on a jacket that is genuinely clean, a spray on repellent restores it.