Hardshell or Softshell? Get Arc'teryx's Take In Under A Minute - Video

Softshells are no longer a novelty, but the niche they fill in the technical outerwear arena can still be confusing for a lot of folks. This is especially true for anyone trying to maximize their outdoor gear purchases without sacrificing performance, and getting informed advice is crucial.

In the 60-second video below, Arc'teryx ski mountaineering athlete Greg Hill takes a look at a softshell and a hardshell and gives the quick lowdown on optimal scenarios for each. Hill makes his point nicely and concisely by contrasting two of Arc'teryx's strongest offerings: the Gamma MX Softshell, a great piece for high output activities that we took a look at a few months ago, and the Stingray Hardshell, a bombproof jacket designed to stand up to run after run in even the nastiest mountain weather.

Do you have a specific hardshell or softshell that you swear by? We'd love to hear about it, drop us a comment.