Welcome to Ask a Gear Editor, our monthly column where we answer readers’ most puzzling gear questions. Have a burning question of your own? Become an Outside+ member to ask an Outside expert for ...

A quality soft shell is the best jacket for athletes who perform highly aerobic activities in variable conditions (basically, spring pretty much anywhere in the country). While this type of jacket won ...

Expensive. Can't use the hand pockets with a climbing harness. Like most durable water repellents, it uses carcinogenic perfluorocarbons in the waterproofing process. When it comes to outdoor ...

From storm-proof shells to ultra warm down layers, we tested the best new ski and snowboard jackets across resorts and ...

A softshell jacket you can put on and leave on is the king of outerwear. Top notch softshells make hardshells irrelevant. A softshell jacket you can put on and leave on is the king of outerwear. There ...

Our team recently revamped our lists of the best winter cycling jackets and the best waterproof cycling jackets; two very similar headlines but with very clear differences. As we explored the options, ...

What the heck is a softshell hiking jacket? It’s a rather elusive, nebulous clothing concept. You only have to visit the softshell section of brands’ websites for a taste of this uncertainty. Often ...

Bike expert Rob tests Castelli's newest softshell bike jacket, made to wow come 'Rain or Shine' as the moniker suggests.

When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Here’s how it works. As the seasons inexorably change for the worse (though secretly I actually really enjoy the onset ...