Why choose a softshell jacket?
If you're like me — passionate about mountain hiking — you've certainly already faced the challenge of choosing the right clothing for a day out. When you're trying to optimise the weight you carry, your comfort and your safety in varying weather conditions, it's often a real headache and sometimes requires a good deal of careful thought.
Of course, we all know the famous three-layer rule. It remains and endures as the starting point for building your clothing kit. A first layer made up of a base layer that keeps you warm and wicks away perspiration; a second layer whose purpose is to retain heat and insulate against the cold… and finally the third layer, which should keep you reasonably warm but above all protect you from the elements, while being waterproof and windproof. But as technology evolves, there are now products that offer solutions for specific conditions and go slightly beyond this three-layer doctrine.
And in particular, I want to talk here about softshell jackets. In my view, they should be in every self-respecting hiker's wardrobe, as they offer unmatched comfort and extremely practical versatility.
Indeed, the softshell jacket is a garment that combines the second and third layers: a warm, breathable fleece (worn over another technical base layer of your choice) covered by a water-repellent fabric or membrane (water simply runs off it) and windproof layer. On top of all that, softshell jackets are made from materials that are very pleasant to wear, quite stretchy and very lightweight — and will therefore take up very little space in your pack. From a practical standpoint, these garments allow for a full range of movement and sit close enough to the body to support a dynamic, athletic posture.
In what conditions should you use your softshell jacket?
To answer this question, it's better to explain when NOT to use your softshell jacket! Quite simply, it is absolutely not designed for extreme conditions. If you're heading out in severe cold, with a high risk of heavy snowfall or heavy rain, leave it at home.
On the other hand, for a day out where the forecast looks a bit cold, with some wind, or even a light shower, the softshell jacket will be your ideal companion. It will keep out the cold while giving you excellent comfort, and its water-repellent properties will shield you from moisture. That said, it's essential to understand that a softshell jacket is rarely waterproof (even if more and more waterproof options are appearing in so-called "technical" ranges). Its water-repellent material will protect you from light, low-intensity showers but not from heavy snowfall or prolonged, driving rain. In those conditions, you really cannot do without a fully waterproof garment — unless you want to endure a truly unpleasant day out.
The softshell jacket is therefore ideally suited to situations where you have at least some grasp of the weather forecast (as any experienced hiker worth their salt does) and the outlook offers the prospect of a reasonable day.
For example, I remember a hiking day last year in the Vanoise massif where the forecast suggested cold conditions at altitude with a 30% chance of light showers. I went with a softshell jacket and it performed particularly well: not too warm in the more temperate zones, protecting me from the cold once I reached the higher sections, and keeping the moisture at bay through the two light showers we walked through (one lasting 20 minutes and another less intense but lasting 40 minutes). On the practical side, it proved extremely comfortable, allowing a great freedom of movement and without weighing too heavily.
As you'll have gathered, this type of garment is pretty useful for so-called "moderate" conditions. But in reality, over the course of a year, you encounter quite a few of these "moderate" days — neither too warm, too cold, nor excessively wet. So the investment in such a jacket pays for itself very quickly. All the more so since today you can find a wide range of softshell jackets at entirely reasonable and justified prices given the quality of the materials used.
The softshell jacket is therefore the ideal companion for a day out when you have full confidence in the weather forecast. For a multi-day expedition, however, it becomes difficult to rely on it as your sole outer layer. More often than not, you'll need to bring a garment for extreme cold and a fully waterproof jacket for heavy rain. But don't leave it out of your pack for that reason — there will always be a day or two where you can rely on it without a second thought.
There are other compelling arguments for buying a softshell jacket. First, the materials used often make it a visually appealing garment with a genuinely smart cut. Beyond that, the versatility of this type of garment also makes it a must-have for everyday urban use. A softshell jacket works perfectly for a leisure mountain bike ride, a cycling commute, or any kind of outdoor activity requiring effective protection against the cold. Personally, I have a softshell jacket I regularly wear for early-morning winter warm-up runs. It gives me something breathable, reasonably warm, and already capable of handling the odd light shower.
The softshell jacket is, when all is said and done, a safe bet. It offers unrivalled comfort and handles a wide range of weather conditions without much concern. So don't hesitate — head over to the Cimalp website where you'll find a great selection of softshell jackets that offer effective protection and guaranteed comfort during your favourite outdoor activity.
