Softshell
Softshell
Many softshell jackets will offer a degree of waterproofing, with the added bonus of a stretchable fabric.
Fit is a significant concern for the more rigid layers of ‘hardshell’ jackets if, to quote Hilton-Foster, you’re to avoid feeling “trussed like a chicken” when worn over other layers. The ability of a softshell fabric to move with the rider is one of its many advantages.
To place it in the context of the two types of jacket previously described, the softshell jacket is likely to offer the water resistance of the race cape with the breathability of the showerproof jacket. Its breathability is gained from the weave, while waterproofing comes from a chemical coating, this time on the inside of the jacket.
Softshell jackets typically are bulky garments worn principally for insulation, but the one shown here, Pearl Izumi’s Elite Aerojacket, is an interesting exception.
A minimal garment in the style of the race cape, it has narrow cuffs and hem, and so is packable. “I’d happily ride in it as an extra layer against the wind, and if it rains, so be it,” says Hilton-Foster. “In warmer conditions, I’d take it with me in my back pocket, and pull it out if there’s a shower.”
We’re still some way then from the heavier garments that you’d reach for when it’s raining before you’ve even rolled the bike from garage, but at this stage we’ve covered three lightweight rain jackets, at three different price points: £40 for the showerproof jacket (Endura’s Pakajack), £70 for the race cape (Castelli’s Sotille) and £90 for the lightweight softshell (Pearl Izumi’s Elite Aerojacket).