And as far as this is just marketing thats a load of BS. Ive lived in the elements my whole life and there are positives and negatives of both hard and soft shells. Consider this the people who poo poo the softs and claim its marketing:
What do you think humans were wearing before the invention of materials that allowed hard shells? Wool, leather, other various SOFT materials, if anything the marketing is in the hardshell. As long as the material keeps you warm and dries quickly thats all that matters. For me softs do that better than hard. My military 3 layer soft pant gets saturated on the first layer but thats where it stops, it keeps me warmer than a hard shell except in a down pour. Also there isnt that many insulated 3 layers. And if were talking weather protection then 3 layers are all that matter.
Only being out in the elements and putting your gear through the worst of the worst are you going to get the experience to what you prefer more. Some people dont mind the hardshell and will adjust their layering system with the elements. Thats would I did for a very long time and was very happy with it(Burton AK 3L). But that dosent mean there isnt a place for the soft shells. I would never want to take my hard shell on my bike commute i would get soaked with sweat with the vents open no less, and I dont bike in downpours. Your layering system only goes so far and I like having options. Get a hard shell and a soft and have the best of both worlds!
And as far as this is just marketing thats a load of BS.
For those of us wearing the stuff when it has a clear advantage over a hard shell, yes, there's far more to it than marketing.
But on the other hand, when you look at a product like "Goretex Soft Shell", which was Gore putting a fleecy backer on a hard shell, then it is, absolutely, marketing bullshit.
hahahaha Warhippo, well now you know, and knowing is half the battle!
Ive felt gore's soft shell and i think they just use softer fabric but essentially the same as the hard shell. And I dont feel like looking it up so ill take your word for it Peter. When your gore tex then your in a marketing war with event and scholler <---spelling? I gotta say though whats not marketing BS is scholler's C-Change. I wish I could demo something with it because it looks awesome.
Also there are fabrics no one knows about. These are the pants I got 3-layer soft shell with Elements fabric
and I didnt pay full price, not even close! I got mine for 70$!!! The only reason their so expensive is their fire resistant because of the Nomex. Made in the USA and field tested approved by the US military. The stitching is superb these are one burly pant made to be abused. And I abuse my gear. Win Win.
Everyone* has lived their whole lives in the elements (even if for most people those elements are sometimes enclosed by structures like houses or tents)
* except maybe astronauts are a slight exception in that they have to carry their own
New Youngest Brit Woman Everest Record Dubai-based 18-year-old Briton Leanna Shuttleworth breaks Bonita Norris record and completes the Seven Summits at the same time.
