Choosing a hardshell jacket - these features are important

" There is no such thing as bad weather, just bad outdoor clothing " - every outdoor enthusiast has certainly heard this phrase many times when they have wandered through an outdoor shop or been out in nature with other hikers. This saying is usually used when a heavy downpour sets in and you find yourself in an extremely uncomfortable situation from one moment to the next. As trite as the saying may sound at first, there is still a lot of truth in it. A longer stay in nature in stormy conditions cannot always be interrupted and regardless of whether this solution presents itself or not - do you even want to cancel your long-awaited outdoor trip because of something as harmless as rain? A hardshell jacket can definitely be described as the heart of rain protection equipment. On your next tour, just let the rain be rain. With the right hardshell jacket, your venture will certainly not fall through. WOLFGANGS shows you what to look for when choosing a hardshell jacket.

The characteristics of a hardshell jacket

Not all jackets are created equal. During the first trip into nature, any biased “ non-outdoorser ” will quickly realise that a simple city jacket cannot even begin to fulfil the characteristics required for a trip into nature.

Hardshell jackets are specifically made for use in demanding, uncomfortable and challenging areas, as otherwise they would only last for a short period of time, or even not at all. The various properties of a hardshell jacket are essential for a pleasant and successful trip into nature and should be standard.

Let’s take a closer look and highlight the individual features:

• Lightness : Hardshell jackets weigh only a fraction of a conventional city jacket and are therefore incredibly important for uncomplicated transport. Unimportant applications that you would find on a city jacket are left out of a hardshell jacket, as they would only add unnecessary weight. You don't need extra pockets for keys, wallet, tablet, etc. - all of this is usually carried in a large backpack anyway, to ensure ergonomic and therefore back-friendly transport in the long term. Only light, but extremely stable material is used here. This lightness on your shoulders makes your stay in the field more comfortable and you can save your energy for the demanding ground conditions, climbs and other hurdles on the hiking trail. Always make sure that the jacket you want doesn't weigh too much.

• Robustness : You should also keep your eyes open when choosing the perfect hardshell jacket when it comes to robustness. Even if all the outdoor jackets on offer make a fairly reliable and stable impression at first glance, there are still significant differences that should always be taken into account. One extremely crucial point is the D value (denier), which is an indicator of whether or not a jacket is sufficiently stable for your intended tour. As a first guide, you can say that a higher denier value always goes hand in hand with better stability. For backpacks with a total weight of between 8 and 14 kg, it should be at least a 30 or 40 denier hardshell jacket. The choice of membrane also plays a major role. For example, if you are traveling with a heavy backpack, i.e. over 14 kg, then there is usually no way around a Goretex-Pro membrane. These jackets, which are made to withstand very high loads, also often have extra reinforcement in the shoulder area.

• Breathability: Your hardshell jacket should protect you from rain, among other things, so it only makes sense that you should also protect yourself from your body's own moisture at the same time. Sweat can become a real problem if you use the hardshell jacket for a long time. So always make sure that your hardshell jacket is breathable. As a rule of thumb, membrane jackets always have better breathability than PU-coated jackets. With additional features, such as underarm ventilation, you can ensure excellent air circulation . Make sure that the jacket has good values ​​in terms of vapor permeability. Regular washing with special detergent also ensures that the breathability is maintained for a long time.

• Pack size: Have you ever tried to stuff a city jacket into a backpack? You will quickly notice that half of the backpack's interior is just jacket. Lots of space for other important things in the backpack? Not at all! Always make sure that your new hardshell jacket has a good pack size. In most cases, the jackets can be stuffed into their own side pocket or into a stuff sack and then fit easily in the palm of your hand.

Choosing a hardshell jacket - the issue of water column ...

The topic of water column still causes a lot of headaches for many people, but it is not that difficult to keep a good overview of it. The water column describes nothing other than the resistance of the material to the water pressure acting on it.

In the laboratory, as the name suggests, a column filled with water is placed on the jacket. This column has various markings, similar to a ruler, which show how much water it is already filled with. If, for example, water penetrates through the jacket for the first time when the measured value is 10,000 mm, this is referred to as a 10,000 water column. This means that at a pressure of 10,000 mm per square meter, water would penetrate through the material for the very first time.

Depending on how heavy a backpack is, you have to adjust the pressure on the jacket accordingly. For longer tours lasting more than 6 hours, which are also to be undertaken with a backpack weighing 8-10kg or more, you should have at least a 20,000 water column in combination with a three-layer jacket. Any water column below this is recommended for day tours, as only light backpacks are used here and you are not exposed to the rain for long anyway.

Did you know ? In Germany, a water column of 1000 is officially considered waterproof!

How many layers should the jacket have?

Not only is the hardshell market divided into membrane jackets and PU jackets, there are also significant differences in the layers that you should definitely take into account when making your purchase.

Roughly speaking, you can use the following rule of thumb when searching:

• 2-layer jackets : The two-layer jackets are by far the heaviest jackets and are therefore designed either for pure urban use or for very light and undemanding outdoor experiences. These jackets usually have a poorer pack size and weight because it is known that these jackets are not made for tough use anyway. Underarm ventilation is also rare. However, the prices are quite low, so that newcomers in particular can quickly gain a foothold in the outdoor world and get a jacket from well-known manufacturers at a reasonable price.

• 2.5-layer jackets : The two-and-a-half-layer jackets are designed for backpacks under 8 kg. They are highly breathable, can usually be compressed into a small, easily stowed ball and therefore have a very low weight. They are perfect for easy but demanding hiking tours. The prices are a little higher here.

• 3-layer jackets : The three-layer jackets can definitely be described as the “Hardshell Champions League”. Tours with a backpack weight of 8 kg upwards are child's play, even over several months, thanks to the robust and abrasion-resistant construction. Even extremely heavy backpacks over 15 kg can be carried with many three-layer models without any signs of disintegration. On average, you have to expect a starting price of at least 200 - 300 euros, at least for offers from well-known manufacturers. Once you have invested that much, the jackets become a long-term and extremely reliable partner in the “fight” against rain and wind.