Shell
A shell is the outermost garment in a layering system, chosen to block wind and rain. It provides no insulation of its own.
That lack of insulation is the feature. Because a shell adds no warmth, it stacks over anything, which is what lets one jacket cover a wide temperature range from a small bag.
Hard, soft and wind
| Type | Waterproof | Breathability | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hardshell | Yes, with taped seams | Limited | Sustained rain, wind |
| Softshell | No, water resistant | High | Cool dry wind, high output |
| Windbreaker | No | Very high | Wind only, minimal weight |
Why it is the layer to spend on
It is the only layer that fails catastrophically. Being cold is uncomfortable; being soaked through in cold wind is a genuine problem. Everything else in a travel wardrobe can be replaced cheaply on the road, and a shell cannot.
Sizing
Size a shell to fit over your mid layer, not over a t-shirt. A shell that cannot accommodate a fleece stops working the moment the temperature drops, which is the one situation you bought it for. See sizing between two sizes.
Related terms
- Hardshell: the waterproof kind
- Softshell: the breathable kind
- The practical travel wardrobe: how the layers combine
- Glossary: all terms