They don’t provide the glorious warmth that a down jacket does or the comfort of a fleece. They don’t repel wind and rain anywhere near as effectively as the average hardshell either. So, what are the reasons you need a softshell jacket?
The thing about a lot of quality outdoor gear is that it’s designed for pretty extreme conditions. You wouldn’t wear a down suit designed for summiting Everest for your local hill (unless you lived in Pheriche, Nepal, in which case Everest is your local hill). My point is, while a softshell jacket isn’t as warm as a puffer, it doesn’t need to be for most activities. Plus, while it’s not as effective a shield against torrential downpours as a waterproof jacket, torrential rain isn’t an everyday occurrence. A softshell is water-resistant and warm enough to cope with most adventures.
