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Check
out our soft
shell chart |
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Since soft shells
first hit the market, demand has grown dramatically. People
love them for their resistance to water, wind, and abrasion.
They are pliable and soft and frequently look more like street
clothes than awkward ski wear. And they come in a variety
of weights to cover any sport, season, or reason. As manufacturers
saw how well the new material was catching on, they began
creating pieces like the Cloudveil Prospector, a super-light,
unlined, uninsulated shell, awesome for aerobic activities,
and The
North Face Apex Bionic Jacket , a windrpoof garment with a
microfleece lining. Better still are the Ibex
Clive Jacket with a light Merino wool lining and Arc'Teryx
Stingray,
with Gore-Tex waterproof breathable soft shell exterior
and soft poly flannel lining. Whatever your needs, the
new soft shells can pretty much satisfy you. Read on to find
out why.
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Loosely defined, soft shell garments
are made from a 2- or 4-way stretch weave of nylon, poly
or both. They're water-, wind- and abrasion-resistant
and are designed to be highly breathable. They often fit
closer than a hard shell and frequently have at least a
lightly brushed polyester or fleece interior. As for style,
let's just say they look good! Once you find the one for
you, you'll probably never want to wear your hard shell again,
unless you're venturing into a torrential downpour of wet
snow. They really are good for 90% of all your outdoor activity
as most other websites and research will tell you. In many
outdoor situations, you only need a completely waterproof
shell in the most extreme conditions.
Because they're breathable, soft shells are awesome for aerobic activity, like
Nordic skiing, hiking, biking, spring skiing, snowshoeing, or wearing as a town
jacket. They're also great to use as a layer under a waterproof or windproof
shell. In fact, some of our staff wear a soft shell jacket and pack a lightweight
outer shell for full weatherproof protection when they go backcountry skiing.
The soft shell breathes better during the ascent and is lighter and less bulky
than a hard shell, which is stiffer and less compressible.
Good choices for a lighter soft shell that have a light microfleece interior
or practically no lining at all include: Cloudveil
Rayzar Jacket, Marmot
Approach Jacket, Arc'Teryx
Stingray Jacket, Patagonia
Figure 4 Jacket, Ibex Clive and Alyx Jackets
and The
North Face Apex Bionic Jacket. In pants, check out Mountain
Hardwear Synchro Bib, Cloudveil
Rayzar Pant, and Ibex
Alpstar ( a soft shell with a Merino wool lining) and Patagonia
Simple Guide Pant, which has year-round versatility.
If you want more warmth, don't be discouraged. Some garments are insulated and
some have a nice microfleece lining that, in combination with the other features
of a soft shell, will keep you comfortable on colder days. If you doubt a soft
shell's ability to keep you warm and dry, keep in mind that some hard shells
aren't lined, so you'll be layering under it. Also remember that some hard shells
aren't waterproof but only highly water-resistant. With soft shells, you'll find
they can be as water- and wind-re sistant
as a hard shell. And whether the soft shells have a brushed lining or actual
insulation, they are capable of offering the same technical features as hard
shells.
For more warmth during the cold snaps, check out the Cloudveil
RPK line and the Arc'Teryx
Stingray garments, both of which are made with
Gore-Tex's awesome Soft Shell fabric. We think these crossover well between light
proteciton and warmer protection when you're on the slopes because they're exceptionally
wind-resistant. Mountain Hardwear
Alchemy is also Gore-Tex Soft Shell and gives
a booster to the weather-proofness. The Marmot
Shot 9 Component Jacket is one of the few soft shell components we've seen,
and the guys love it. The removable sweater uses MarmaLoft synthetic insulation
to add or subtract from your warmth. And the ladies like Isis Prima Diva for weather-busting too.
Most web sites or retail staff will tell you soft shells are good for 90% of
your activities. We're no different. The soft shell is such a versatile material
that it can accommodate you in most outdoor conditions. We carry a large selection
of items with features that make you comfortable in the backcountry, on Nordic
skis, ice or rock climbing in colder weather, and more. Some of their diversity
is in features like articulated knees, softly brushed inner faces, and stretch.
Some of the fun is in their overall styling, more like your khakis or cargo pants
than a technical pant.
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By its very nature Gore-Tex Windstopper is
a bit stiff. When Windstopper is incorporated into a soft
shell, it makes that soft shell a bit stiffer and less breathable than
other soft shells. But it's still going to be more pliable and comfortable
than a hard shell. Leave the layers at home and wear it during spring
and summer when conditions are a bit less than friendly. Or head to the
slopes, backcountry, Nordic trail, or ice wall with fleece and wool beneath.
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Soft shells make leaps as the years go
by. In the beginning we didn't really see any that were waterproof.
But lately companies have begun using waterproof laminates
in the construction, making them somewhat waterproof, whether
all over or in key areas. The Mountain
Hardwear Synchro line uses MH's waterproof, breathable Conduit membrane.
And welded seams make this almost waterproof. For her, the
Isis Prima Diva uses two types of soft shell: a DWR-treated
breathable stretch on the back and underarms, as well as
a waterproof, breathable fabric on the shoulders, torso,
and hood, where water and snow pummel you the most.
Cloudveil uses Gore-Tex Soft Shell in its RPK
line this year. This innovative
soft shell offers ligthweight but very durable waterproof protection as well
as a nice brushed back for warmth. Arc'Teryx began using this fabric in its now
highly popular Stingray
garments.
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With more soft shells on the market, it can be
tough. Start by asking, "What will I use this for?" From
there, look at the style or cut. Soft shells tend to look
more casual, more street-oriented, a bit more fashionable
with a wear-around-town style, and some folks like them
for that purpose on top of their technical features. This
alone makes them highly versatile and more wearable than
a hard shell. Something like The
North Face Apex Bionic Jacket
is agreat all-around, everyday piece that will also work
well in the outdoors. Returning this winter to The Alpineer
is some clothing from Ibex, including the Alyx
Jacket for
her and the Clive Jacket for
him. This use a light Merino wool inside to give some warmth.
And practically all the soft shell pants for him
and her
can adapt to most seasons, for climbing, skiing in or out
of bounds, mountaineering, and more. For resort or backcountry skiing,
the lightweight Patagonia
Light Smoke has been very popular
with the ladies.
One thing we can say with confidence: if you want something waterproof that covers
you in 100% of your activities instead of 90%, consider a hard shell. If you're
heading down to Antarctica for a season, rely on a hard shell when you walk outside.
If you'll be attempting to summit Mt. Rainier, you'll probably want a hard shell.
Finally, if you can't yet bring yourself to cast away the traditional hard shell
as your technical jacket, then don't. The soft shell simply brings a new option
to market.
If you're still confused, give us a call at 800-847-0244 or drop us an email!
We're more than happy to help you out!
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Follow
these links to see the Alpineer's selection of soft shell product
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| Updated: October 15, 2007 |
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