{"id":2484,"count":84,"description":"In our 2017 test, the soft shells tested were:\r\n\r\nPatagonia Men\u2019s Kniferidge Jacket\r\nArc\u2019teryx Gamma LT Hoody\r\nMarmot Men\u2019s Zion Jacket\r\nOutdoor Research Men\u2019s Iceline\r\nMountain Hardwear Men\u2019s Dragon Hooded Jacket\r\n\r\nThe soft shell category isn\u2019t defined clearly. Original designs prioritized breathability and quick drying over weatherproofing, but currently, the category can span garments that functionally act as hard shells to single layer, highly breathable wind shells. The items chosen for this test were not primarily insulators, nor were they hard shells. Five jackets were called in, differing in materials with varying positions along the breathability\/weatherproofing spectrum. Compared to prior tests (where the jackets were truly just shells), the category has widened drastically in functionality. Some provide the same weather protection as classic hard shells, but offer more breathability, softer hand, and better drape. Others add warmth and can act as both the outer shell and a light insulating layer.","link":"https:\/\/gearinstitute.com\/hiking\/jackets\/softshell-jackets\/","name":"Softshell Jackets","slug":"softshell-jackets","taxonomy":"category","parent":2557,"meta":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<!-- This site is optimized with the Yoast SEO plugin v27.2 - https:\/\/yoast.com\/product\/yoast-seo-wordpress\/ -->\n<title>The Best Softshell Jackets | Reviews and Buying Advice | Gear Institute<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"Our experts extensively field-tested the best Softshell Jackets of the year and rated the best based on transparent, objective criteria. 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