MATERIAL

Soft shell jackets are typically designed to be more waterand wind-resistant than fleece, while being more comfortable and breathable than waterproof ‘hard’ shells jackets. Some materials have a wind- and water-resistant membrane sandwiched between the inner and outer layers of the fabric, to improve wind and water resistance, but this will be less breathable than an open weave construction which won’t be as wind- or water-resistant. So you need to balance the pros and cons of the material against your needs.