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Hard shell is the "outdoor jacket" known to outdoor people. Most people may be unfamiliar with "soft shell". Today, let's introduce the differences between soft shell and hard shell jackets.
Hard Shell is also called "outdoor jacket", which is usually made of tough waterproof and breathable fabrics such as Gore-tex, eVent, etc. It is one of the most important equipment for mountaineering. With it, you can effectively resist the invasion of wind and rain during outdoor trips and stay dry even in harsh climates.
Advantages of Hard Shell
In addition to being wind and rain resistant, hard shell jackets (jackets) are usually very thin, lightweight, and small in storage volume. Even if it doesn't rain, hard shell jackets (jackets) can also have a good windproof effect.
Disadvantages of Hard Shell
Compared with soft shell jackets, hard shell jackets (jackets) are softer and more elastic.
Soft shell jackets are usually made of elastic fibers, which have the advantages of good elasticity, comfort and softness. Soft shell jackets also have a DWR water-repellent treatment coating and are slightly waterproof. In terms of the level of outdoor clothing, it is between down and hard shell, with warmth and a certain degree of wind and rain resistance.
Soft Shell Advantages
In terms of wearing experience, soft shell jackets are more comfortable to wear than hard shell jackets (jackets). When you are climbing (sweating a lot and walking fast), the soft shell fabric allows you to move more freely and quickly, and the breathability of soft shell jackets is basically better than that of hard shell jackets. In the case of not too bad weather, it is enough to put on a soft shell jacket from beginning to end during climbing!
Soft Shell Disadvantages
Most soft shell jackets have a water-repellent function, but if it rains heavily, the waterproof function is still worse than that of hard shell jackets.
Wearing time
It is one of the equipment that must be carried on multi-day mountaineering trips. The climate on the mountain changes a lot, and keeping the body dry is an important factor to avoid hypothermia. For a single-day outdoor trip, it is recommended to confirm the weather conditions before the trip. If there is a chance of rain, you must carry it to ensure safety. If you encounter a terrain that may not rain but will be windy, a hard shell jacket (jacket) can also be used as a windbreaker. But it should be noted that a hard shell jacket (jacket) cannot be used simply as a warm layer. Usually, in cold climates, it is recommended to add a warm layer (down jacket, warm fleece jacket, etc.) inside the hard shell.
Soft shell jackets have the advantages of being water-repellent, breathable, wind-resistant, comfortable and elastic. Generally speaking, in good weather, it is often used as the outermost layer during multi-day mountaineering trips or as a middle layer during static rest at high altitudes. However, if there are extreme weather conditions such as heavy rain, generally speaking, soft shell jackets are usually worn inside hard shell jackets (jackets). Soft shell jackets are usually divided into thick and thin. For summer mountaineering, you can choose a thin soft shell jacket, which has sun protection and windproof functions.
Comparison of soft shell jackets VS hard shell jackets
Hard shell jackets are better than soft shell jackets in terms of storage volume, weight, waterproofness, and wind resistance. Soft shell jackets are better than hard shell jackets in terms of breathability, elasticity, softness, comfort, warmth, and moisture permeability
