Hardshell jackets are light outerwear and waterproof jackets used as windproof and rainproof shells in the rain, usually worn over a pile fleece serving as an internal padding. The membrane used for hardshells repels water and wind; it’s traditionally made of highly technical materials, as evidenced by GORE-TEX®, a breathable and yet waterproof fabric used by the best outdoor brands including Arc’teryx, Patagonia, Goldwin. Read more…
Every outdoor brand offers a massive lineup of waterproof light jackets to go hiking without getting wet. The list of brands manufacturing GORE-TEX® hardshell jackets is pretty long, as it ranges from real outdoor giants such as Patagonia and Arc’teryx, to relatively new brands including Goldwin and emerging hiking-inspired high-end projects. Instead, The North Face has developed and patented its own membrane. Known as FutureLight™, this breakthrough material exploits the nano-spinning technology to repel water and let air pass through. Mainly thanks to the brand’s very own technology, North Face jackets result even more lightweight that traditional outerwear, without compromising on key functionalities like water resistance and ease of movement. The nano-spinning technology of FutureLight™ repels water while letting air pass through, allowing designers to shift elasticity, weight and breathability of each garment. Top-selling hardshell jackets include Arc’teryx Alpha, Beta and Arc’teryx Atom jackets, three variants of a highly technical jacket combining urban design with solid outdoor functionalities. Other standout shell jackets include Patagonia three-layered Torrentshell, Nike ACG Storm-FIT, Goldwin highly functional ski jackets and more.