The Backpacker Hall of Fame: Softshells
A look back at the softshells we've loved for years that are still at the top of their class.
Creative testers loved the DIY design of this jacket: Online, you choose from a slew of features, fabrics, and colors for a personalized piece. All feature Polartec Wind Pro, a highly breathable fleece ideal for high-output activities into the teens. $149; 15 oz. (w’s M); m’s S-XL, w’s XS-XL; wildthingsgear.com
It’s an alpine workhorse that proved breathable and wind- and weather-resistant. Stretchy Schoeller panels on the shoulders, neck, underarms, and face enhance mobility. $199; 1 lb. 2 oz.; m’s S-XXL, w’s XS-XL; outdoorresearch.com
Despite its barely-there feel, this Gore Windstopper Active Shell jacket earned testers’ trust on Ecuador’s high peaks, repelling icy gusts and wind-driven snow at 16,000 feet. $199; 11.6 oz.; m’s S-XXL, w’s XS-XL; mammut.ch
This winner of a 2013 Editors’ Choice Snow Award uses a proprietary nylon-spandex blend that relies on a dense weave instead of a pricey membrane to shed precip. The result: champagne performance on a beer budget. $200; 1 lb. (w’s M); m’s S-XL, w’s XS-XL; dynafit.com
This versatile midlayer has the chops to serve as outerwear, too, thanks to abrasion-resistant and wind- and water-repelling Polartec Hardface fabric and a built-in balaclava. $199; 14 oz.; m’s XS-XXL, w’s XS-XL; arcteryx.com