Soft shell..or hard shell jacket..

GrilledSteezeSandwich · Aug 28, 2008

On the topic of jackets..do you usually wear a hard shell or soft shell jacket??? I've only worn a hard shell jacket before but I see soft shells getting alot more popular. Are they equally waterproof. What do you prefer?

drjeff · Aug 28, 2008

My "cold" weather coat is a hardshell, my warmer stuff is a softshell. The softshell being the newer addition to my outerwear. I'm really liking the softshell, great wind/water repellancy(I have a Mountain Hardware softshell), and I'm thinking that when it's time for a new cold weather jacket, that a softshell version will be what I'll look for.

More than anything though for me and outerwear, it's all about the more technical fabrics. The better the fabric, the more comfortable I am, and that's the most important thing to me.

cbcbd · Aug 28, 2008

For skiing I wear the hardshell. My softshell is sized to be pretty form fitting as I use it for climbing.

The term softshell encompasses so many things though - tightly knit fleeces to actually waterproof but not as stretchy garments.

Whatever it is, usually softshells are very water resistant, will move (flex) and breathe better, and tend to be more abrasion resistant - and those tend to be the selling points. It is a preference and I don't think for skiing you need one if you already have a hardshell. I usually wear my underlayer and the shell, that's it. If its warm I open up the pit zips or the chest zip a little. If its cold then I throw my mid-layer Primaloft jacket under it. Easy to adjust to temps... That might be harder to pull off if your shell is insulated and heavy.

GrilledSteezeSandwich · Aug 28, 2008

This is reminding me of my Taco thread..

http://forums.alpinezone.com/33675-taco-thread-poll-hard-shell-soft-shell.html?highlight=taco

Somebody please bump that for stoke!!

Moe Ghoul · Aug 28, 2008

Unless its under 15 degrees or killer wind chill, I softshell it.

gmcunni · Aug 28, 2008

i prefer my softshell if i can get away with it. will go as low as 20 degrees if it is sunny. I have one that isn't very waterproof but got my son a Northface softshell which stands up great in wetter conditions.

eastcoastpowderhound · Aug 28, 2008

Got both...use both...but on a wet snowy day its the hardshell for sure.

deadheadskier · Aug 28, 2008

Thought for a second we were talking about Lobsters :lol:

am I correct in assuming that soft shell means stuff like fleece? I'm a moron when it comes to gear lingo, which is kind of funny seeing how I've been skiing for 25 years

drjeff · Aug 28, 2008

deadheadskier said:
Thought for a second we were talking about Lobsters :lol:

am I correct in assuming that soft shell means stuff like fleece? I'm a moron when it comes to gear lingo, which is kind of funny seeing how I've been skiing for 25 years

Softshell can mean a fleece like outer layer, but more commonly as of late it's almost a neoprene like outer in it's texture and appearance.

riverc0il · Aug 28, 2008

Hard for cold skiing days. Soft for warmer days and turn earning.

darent · Aug 28, 2008

hard shell, except in spring I like a wind proof fleece.

Phillycore · Aug 28, 2008

Soft shell fo shizzle!!

but you already knew that.

Shroud · Aug 29, 2008

I can't really answer this question. It REALLY depends on the activity and weather involved.

Soft shell..or hard shell jacket..

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