With brands from around the world creating cold weather clothing with all kinds of niche uses it can be a headache to figure out what type of jacket you need. Don’t worry, we got this, pour a cup of something warm and read on as we give you the walk through of what you should look for in your next technical jacket.

The term “technical jacket” is used to define an outer layer that is made with laboratory formulated material. No wool jackets or leather for keeping warm or helping against the wind. While polyester fabrics and windbreakers have been around for half a century they have recently become as diverse and varied as the outdoor activities that use them.

Before we dive headlong into this we should start by saying this article is focusing on hardshell type jackets, yes both technically parkas and soft shells fall under the “technical” name, but focusing on the hardshell which give you the greatest range of use and “bang for your buck” is what this article is about.

So, what makes a hardshell jacket and what makes a good one?

Hardshell jackets or just hardshells as we’ll call them from now on; are synthetic blend jackets designed to be waterproof, windproof, and rugged enough to use as a stand-alone outer layer but still roomy enough to have underlayers like a fleece or mid layer jacket should it be needed.

While there’s no reason you shouldn’t own a nice hardshell it is important that we talk about activities that you should own one for. If you enjoy cold/wet weather sports like snowboarding, climbing, hiking or snowmobiling the hardshell will keep you dry from any snow or wet weather that gets flung at you.

Hardshells, like any great piece of rain or wind gear, will have a hood and depending on your hobbies I suggest you look into how the hood is designed. Most hardshells will have hoods designed for use with helmets for skiing or climbing but it’s worth checking if your specific style works in tandem. Trying to strap a helmet on with a hood that isn’t cut for it can bring major discomfort on the trail.

One of the big things that separates a hardshell from rain gear is that the hardshell is multilayered for breathability where most rain jackets are thinner and just keep rain off. If you want to have emergency rain gear in your bag you don’t want a lot of weight or bulk, it makes sense but you also lose the insulative value from the thicker hardshell.
With the extra layers you will have some added rigidity and “crinkle”, in other terms you sacrifice some silence and flexibility. While there are jackets that are designed to be super lightweight or super packable the normal hardshell will still be a bit heavier and bulkier than a rain jacket.

Speaking of bulk; fabric, especially outdoor clothing, has a measurement of thickness called denier. The higher the denier or D value, the thicker the fabric. Most hardshells fall in the 30-80D range, 80D range jackets will be very rugged and pretty stiff.

Hardshell jackets are designed as an outer layer so they actually have pockets! Pockets for everything, phone, keys, sunglasses, Chapstick, gloves, and extra Chapstick because we thought we lost our other tube, can all be safely stored and easily accessed while wearing your hardshell but word to the wise try and keep the pocket use to a minimum or else you will end up hiking with your whole family’s Chapstick supply. All these pockets and zippers are laid out with a task in mind. You will notice the waist pockets are usually higher up than a traditional parka or coat. These rib pockets are so you can access them while using a frame pack or while wearing a climbing harness that would block your lower pockets. Depending on your needs and hobbies this is an important aspect that will steer you to a different style or even company.

One set of zippers you will see on many hardshell designs are “pit zips”. These underarm zippers are designed to vent heat that you build up while doing heavy activity. If you are using your hardshell in more temperate climates or doing some very active work these zippers will come in handy.

What are hardshells made of?

On the topic of companies and styles there’s a great pivot to our next point: What are hardshells made of? There are a few different options for outdoor clothing that checks all the boxes of being waterproof and breathable; but the most common is Gore-Tex.

Gore-Tex

Gore-Tex is perhaps the most well-known of all outdoor fabric brands. Produced first in 1969 Gore-Tex is a multi-layered polyester based fabric. Without getting overly technical Gore-Tex’s layers are porous enough to allow water vapor from sweat to pass out of the clothing but small enough that water droplets can’t penetrate in. This gives a waterproof aspect that keeps clothing lightweight and allows it to be made in nearly any pattern. Most major companies will have a jacket made from Gore-Tex. Gore-Tex also has product lines that range in durability, flexibility and price, just another reason why you will see it listed first here and just about everywhere else.

Proprietary Fabrics

Some other options for hardshells use excellent proprietary materials made by specific brands. They are similar to Gore-Tex and we feel are extremely reliable options to take a closer look at.

Marmot (the company not the rodent) has an in-house fabric option called EvoDry. Marmot uses a treatment that molecularly bonds to the fibers of their clothes to prevent leaks while still being breathable. Marmot also states that their EvoDry coating will last 5 times longer than the competition. If sustainability is a big factor in your purchases; EvoDry uses recycled polyester and a waterless treatment.

Rab, another premium outdoor clothing brand, makes several jackets using a specialized fabric known as Pertex Shield. Pertex Shield and Pertex Shield+ are super lightweight fabrics that have a water resistant outer layer with a breathable inner membrane. Pertex Shield+ goes a step farther and adds a layer of moisture wicking fabric to keep you cool and dry while on the trail. If your outdoor needs involve some serious sweating give the Shield+ a good hard look.

I’m certain we could write a book on the various companies and designs of technical jackets, but we’re not sure how many of you would read it! The best course of action is to take the knowledge seeds from here and compare the various types of hardshells on our site.

Technical jackets are a valuable piece of gear that all cold weather adventurers should have in their wardrobe, and now you’ve got the understanding of how to pick the one that’s right for you.

Stay dry and we’ll see you in the field.
If you have any questions about gear, email our team at gear@thealpinistas.com for specialized support.