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.

Washing Your Gore-Tex or Softshell: Tips from Arc'teryx - Video

Want to increase the performance and longevity of your technical outwear? Arc'teryx's warrant rep says to wash your garments more, not less.

Getting rid of sweat and dirt (which inhibit maximum performance by the Gore-Tex membrane) and rejuvenating the water-repellant coating can restore your piece to peak effectiveness, and the process is simple.

Take a look:

[Note: make sure to double rinse the garment(s) to assure that all detergent residue is washed off]