First, the difference between the soft shell and the hard shell of the jacket
The fit requirements of the soft shell jacket and the hard shell jacket are very different.
1. Different uses
The soft shell was originally used as rock climbing and ice climbing clothing, and was later used by other types of outdoor activities. Acceptable, which is characterized by softness and close-fitting, and the tops are mostly bomber jackets. Softshells are usually worn as two layers, regardless of the presence of mid-layer insulation.
The hard shell, also known as the jacket, is used as the outermost isolation layer and protective layer in outdoor activities to prevent the intrusion of harsh weather factors such as wind, rain and snow, while ensuring a relatively good Breathability.
2. Different properties
Soft shells are usually much softer than hard shells, and some fabrics also have some elasticity. Wind resistance is a must for all softshells, and some softshells are compounded with a fleece layer of a certain thickness for moderate warmth. There are also some soft shells that are laminated with a waterproof and breathable membrane in the fabric to become a waterproof soft shell, which can usually reach the level of protection against moderate rain. The soft shell also has a DWR water repellent treatment coating.
People who don’t know much about outdoor equipment basically have a misunderstanding. They think that the jacket (hard shell) itself will have a very good thermal insulation effect. This is a very serious fallacy. It is only a layer of chemical fiber ‘thin skin’ and does not have any thermal insulation. However, because the hard shell has good isolation and windproof performance, it can prevent or slow down the air flow between the hard shell and the body, and avoid the generation of air cooling effect.
Second, The fabric structure of the hard shell jacket
Due to the different needs of users and different use environments, the fabric structure of the hard shell can be subdivided into three-layer structure, two-layer structure, and two-layer structure Three types.
1. Three-layer structure fabric: The outer layer of nylon, the waterproof and breathable membrane and the inner layer of nylon protection are tightly pressed into a whole fabric. The advantage is that it is thicker and has good wear resistance and durability. The disadvantage is that the weight is larger, the hardness is higher, and the price is more expensive. Therefore, it is mostly used on top professional hard shells and is suitable for extreme environments.
2. Two-layer structure fabric: The nylon outer layer is tightly pressed together with the waterproof and breathable membrane, and the inner layer is equipped with a separate protective mesh lining. The two-layer structure fabric is relatively inexpensive, easy to process, and has good wearing touch and comfort. Disadvantages are wear resistance, poor durability, and unsatisfactory storage. The two-layer structure fabric is mostly used in non-extreme environments, hard shells positioned for outdoor leisure activities.
3. Two-layer semi-structured fabric: It is also composed of nylon outer layer and waterproof and breathable membrane tightly pressed together, and a very thin PU protective layer is sprayed on the inner side of the waterproof and breathable membrane. The advantages are that it is relatively soft and lightweight, the storage volume is small, and the thickness of the fabric is thinner, so the air permeability is better. However, the disadvantage is that the fabric is not wear-resistant and durable, especially the protection performance of the inner PU surface of the fabric is not good, and it is easy to be damaged under high-intensity use conditions. The representative fabric is GORE-TEX? paclite.
Each fabric structure has its own characteristics. When we choose the jacket fabric, we can choose it according to different requirements. It is best to prepare several jackets with different fabric structures for various needs.