Soft Shells: The Real Story

"You bring your $250 stretchwoven jacket home, take it out on your first hike, and exclaim that it’s the best thing since peanut butter. A few months of heavy use go by and all of a sudden, you find yourself soaking wet in a light rain and those beads of water that were terrified of the fabric at the store are now ripping their way through the garment like an anopholene whore through open weave mesh. What the heck? However...if we had only 60 seconds to choose clothing for a hike or climb, we would likely choose a soft shell jacket and pants and build the rest of layers around that core. Read this informative article to find out why, and learn about the limitations - and more importantly - the benefits - of soft shell clothing."