Different types of hiking Jackets

Soft-shell Jackets

A soft shell jacket is stretchy and breathable shell that favours comfort and mobility over water resistance. It is designed to maintain a comfortable body temperature during high pace activity. These jackets often have soft inner lining or fleece for added warmth and comfort. Soft shell jacket often is being used as insulating mid layer for activities in cold weather conditions. These jackets usually have very minimal water resistance with only few models featuring waterproof technology. They are best for cool and dry weather conditions.

       Pros

• Stretchy
• Breathable
• Usually windproof

       Cons

• Not as waterproof as hard shell
• Rarely comes with hood
• Heavier than hard shell

Hard-shell Jackets

A hard shell jacket is a waterproof jacket that is designed to provide high waterproof protection against rain and snow. These jackets are very durable, often insulated and comes with a hood. Hardshell jackets are not stretchy, they are made from hard, strong fabric that can be noisy. Unlike soft shell jackets they favour protection against wet over comfort. Models without insulation offer excellent packability and light weight – a must on a backpacking trip in wet and miserable weather.

       Pros

• Excellent waterproof protection
• Durable fabric
• Lightweight

       Cons

• Poor stretchiness
• Noisy and hard fabric
• Expensive

Fleece Jackets

Despite fleece being made from recycled plastics, it is warm, breathable and super soft. Occasionally there can be other natural fibres incorporated into the fleece to create a certain texture and add vibrancy. Because of its breathability, excellent insulation, softness and moisture wicking ability fleece is a perfect mid layer solution when hiking in colder weather.

       Pros

• Very soft against skin
• Very breathable
• Moisture wicking
• Very warm
• Fast drying
• Inexpensive

       Cons

• Highly flammable
• Can’t be recycled
• Not durable

Insulated jackets

Insulated jackets consist of an outer layer that can be either a hard or soft shell and an insulating material. This can be either down insulation, synthetic or a combination of the two. These jackets may or may not be waterproof and people often prefer to carry a light waterproof jacket in their backpack just in case it rains or snows.

A down jacket is best for dry and cold weather due to its warmth to weight ratio, high breathability, and comfort. They are delicate and much harder to care for than jackets with synthetic insulation. Also down jacket will lose its insulating properties if it gets wet and it will take a very long time to dry.

A jacket with synthetic insulation is made using polyfibres, which is the man-made equivalent of natural down. Jackets with this insulation are more resistant against wet than down jackets and also dry faster. Synthetic insulation doesn’t retain body warmth as good as down does although the technology is becoming better and better with the years.

       Down Pros

• Superior warmth
• Lightweight
• Highly packable

       Down Cons

• Not good in wet
• Long drying
• Harder to care for

       Synthetic Pros

• Better in wet than Down
• Easier to care for
• Retains heat if wet
• Cheaper than Down

       Synthetic Cons

• Losing heat quicker than Down
• Heavier and bulkier than Down

Wind jackets

A wind jacket also known as a windbreaker, is light, thin, and usually, water resistant outer layer designed to protect against wind chill. It’s often confused with a rain jacket, but it serves a very different purpose. While a rain jacket is protecting well against the rain and somewhat against the wind, windbreakers, on the other hand, provide very little protection against the rain, but efficiently block out the wind.

Windbreaker Pros

• Lightweight
• Keeps out windchill efficiently
• Highly packable
• Usually water resistant

Windbreaker Cons

• Doesn’t insulate
• Not waterproof

Rain Jackets

Rain jackets or simply waterproof jackets have one main purpose – to keep you dry. They can be insulated or come without insulation for better packability and lighter weight. Waterproof jackets have fully sealed seams that keeps water droplets from sneaking in and best models also are highly breathable. Avoid confusing a water resistant jacket with a waterproof jacket as water resistant jacket will eventually become wet when exposed to rain for a prolonged time. You can learn more about waterproof ratings here.

PU coated waterproof jackets are best for everyday use and not so good for active use. This is due to the PU coating that is excellent at keeping the wet from getting in, it also restricts your excess body heat from getting out. This can result in sweating and ultimately becoming wet from your own sweat.

PU coated jacket Pros

• Good waterproofing
• Good value for money

PU coated jacket Cons

• Limited breathability
• Not good for active pace

Membrane or laminate waterproof jackets usually offer great breathability while being fully waterproof. These jackets have extra layers underneath the face fabric with pores large enough to help move moisture from your body to the outside of the jacket, but small enough so water molecules can’t sneak in. Jackets with membrane technology are great for every day as well as active use, depending on membrane technology. The best and most popular membrane or laminate brands are GORE-TEX, Polartec Neoshell, Pertex Shield and eVent. You can learn more about these brands here.

Membrane Pros

• Good to excellent breathability

Membrane Cons

• Expensive

Paramo Nikwax Analogy jackets are designed to mimic animal fur, pushing moisture away, protecting you from rain, condensation and perspiration, while maintaining your insulation. Jackets with Nikwax Analogy perform best when the wearer is moving and generating a good amount of body heat, therefore a good choice for active use.

Nikwax Analogy Pros

• Great for active use
• Comfortable
• Great breathability

Nikwax Analogy Cons

• Requires frequent Nikwax reproofing
• Can be heavier than other fabrics