Softshell
A softshell is a woven, stretchy, highly breathable outer layer that resists water rather than blocking it, usually with a brushed backing for a little warmth.
Softshells trade waterproofing for comfort and breathability. They are excellent in cool dry wind and they wet through in sustained rain, which is the whole basis of choosing between one and a hardshell.
What defines one
A woven face fabric with mechanical stretch, a DWR finish, and often a brushed or fleece backing. Some include a light membrane, which raises wind and water resistance and lowers breathability considerably. The two are marketed identically, so check whether a membrane is mentioned.
What it is good at
Cool, windy, dry or lightly showery conditions with you moving. It breathes fast enough not to soak your base layer, stretches so it does not restrict, and is quiet and comfortable in a way a hardshell is not. It also reads as a coat rather than as equipment.
Where it fails
Sustained rain. The failure is sharp rather than gradual: it handles water until it does not, then holds it, gets heavy and dries slowly. In a carry-on with limited drying space that is a bigger problem than it sounds.
It also packs poorly, which means on a warm afternoon it becomes luggage you carry in your hands.
Related terms
- Softshell vs hardshell for travel: the full comparison by trip type
- Rain jacket vs windbreaker: the neighbouring category
- DWR: what a softshell relies on for water resistance
- Glossary: all terms