Mens Softshell Jacket – Fleece Lined Hooded Military Style Coat with Z

You set off in a fleece and a shell. An hour up the track you're too warm, so you stop, drop the rucksack, peel the shell off and stuff it somewhere. Twenty minutes later the wind comes across the top and you do the whole thing in reverse. By midday you've spent more time sorting layers than looking at anything.

This softshell is built so there's only one layer to sort.

Here's how it works.

The fleece is bonded inside the shell, through the body and both sleeves. That's your midlayer, already in the jacket, so the thing you'd normally be taking on and off stays at home. Zip pockets sit on both chest panels and both upper sleeves, with one more on the forearm. With a rucksack on, the hipbelt buries hand pockets and the chest strap cuts across you. These sit clear of both, so your phone and your permit stay reachable without taking the sack off.

The hood pulls in on two drawcords and holds its shape when you turn your head, rather than sliding across your face. The cuffs close on hook and loop tabs, so you can seal them over gloves on the tops or open them on the climb. And the back hem drops, which you notice the moment you sit down on wet ground.

The gear it replaces:

Separate fleece midlayer — another thing to carry and another stop to make
Unlined shell jacket — no warmth on its own, no use without the fleece
Chest pouch for small kit — unnecessary when the jacket already has the pockets

What's in it:

Fleece lined through body and sleeves. The midlayer is already in the jacket.
Chest and sleeve zip pockets. Clear of a rucksack's hipbelt and chest strap.
Forearm zip pocket. Reachable one-handed without changing your grip.
Twin drawcord hood. Holds position instead of sliding across your face.
Hook and loop cuff tabs. Seal over gloves or open on the climb.
Loop patch panels on both sleeves. Patches on without altering the jacket.

Specifications:

Product type: Hooded softshell jacket
Lining: Fleece through body and sleeves
Material: Polyester
Fabric construction: Woven
Closure: Full length front zip
Hood: Adjustable twin drawcord
Cuffs: Hook and loop tabs
Pockets: Chest, sleeve and forearm zip pockets
Fit: Regular

No second layer. No stopping to change. No sack off to reach your phone.