Best Softshell JacketsSpring skiing is almost here which means its time to ditch the puffy and switch to a light softshell Here are some of our favorites

Rab Exodus

Pro randonneacutee racer Jeannie Wall had a hand in designing the Exodus so itrsquos not surprising that itrsquos light minimalist and vented by generous pit zips Rab is based in England where it rains a lot so it knows how to make a weather-resistant shell but that durable construction also makes the Exodus rather stiff and scratchy

[$160 wwwrabukcom]

Stoic Welder Hi

Not to sound creepy but we canrsquot stop touching this jacket with its four-way-stretch Hiber softshell fabric and supersoft high-loft fleece lining Welded seams make it light and leakproof while mesh pit zips let fresh air in when you need it Because you donrsquot want to be sweaty when people start touching you [$299 httpwwwstoicgearcom]

Helly Hansen Verglas Hybrid

Combining the best features of hardshells and softshells the Verglas is thicker and more waterproof in the hood and shoulders to keep sleet and slush from soaking through and more breathable in the torso to ventilate your sweatier parts Unfortunately skiers who run hot will miss pit zips which the Verglas lacks

[$230 wwwhellyhansencom]

Spyder Arc

The water-resistant Arc is stylish but still practical It has a slim silhouette with a faux-fur hood thatrsquos soft and not obnoxious Itrsquos a little low on functionality There are no pit zips and no hem wrist or hood adjustments but itrsquoll look really really good at the bar

[$129 httpwwwspydercom]

Trew Gear Softshell Anorak

The Anorak from Hood River Oregonndashbased Trew Gear is as pared-down as it gets Trew didnrsquot even bother to throw in a whole zipper Made from Polartec Powershield itrsquos windproof waterproof and surprisingly warm for its weight We just wish Trewrsquod sprung for two pockets You canrsquot trust the open kangaroo-style pouch to hold anything valuable

[$160 trewgearcom]

Patagonia Slopestyle Hoody 20

Cut like the sweatshirt your little brother wears to gym class the 20 has a style that belies its function The outside is Deluge DWR-coated so itrsquoll shed snow and rain and the stretchy microfleece liner made from recycled polyester is wicking and warm so you can wear it for real athletic pursuits-Heather Hansman

[$129 patagoniacom]

Arcteryx Gamma MX

This hooded soft shell uses Polartec Power Shield and Schoeller fabric that gives you a stretchy comfortable fit that also offers superior breathability when you start to heat up [$379 arcteryxcom]

Columbia Upward Surge II

This minimalist soft shell gets the job done while youre out skiing corn on warm spring days and at only $83 its one helluva bargain [$83 columbiacom]

Flylow Higgins

The versatile Higgins jacket uses a three-layer soft hard-shell fabric with a traditional hard-shell lining to create a jacket thats both waterproof and breathable And the hood will fit over your helmet which is nice [$260 flylowgearcom]

Helly Hansen Ekolab Recycler

Made 100 percent from recycled plastic water bottles the Recycler features stretch fabric in the shoulder a helmet-friendly hood and two oversize chest pockets [$300 hellyhansencom]

Marmot ROM

ROM stands for range of motion meaning this is a comfortable giving soft shell It also uses breathable Gore Windstopper fabric to keep the wind out as you bootpack up a peak or cruise down some corn snow [$175 marmotcom]

Merrell Reliance Fade

Merrells Reliance Fade jacket is a waterproofbreathable shell with fully taped seams and mesh-lined pit-zips Plus it has a cool gradient print that disappears at a distance [$169 merrellcom]

Mountain Hardwear Mercurial

This superlight soft shell is ideal for spring backcountry tours Its wind-resistant extremely breathable and has a low-profile fit [$175 mountainhardwearcom]

Patagonia M10

Patagonias lightest three-layer shell the minimalist M10s waterproofbreathable ripstop nylon will keep you dry and comfortable And the fleece-lined collar and pit zips dont hurt [$399 patagoniacom]

Session Suburban Stripe

What looks like a plain old hoody is actually a technical soft shell thats great for spring park sessions [$140 sessionscom]

The North Face Tribrid

Named after the trio of fabrics used the Tribrid soft shell has super stretchy soft-shell material under the arms for maximum mobility And if you get caught in an unexpected spring storm its water-resistant and wind-resistant body will keep you warm [$149 thenorthfacecom]

Lock out the cold with our best picks of this seasons ski jacketshellip

1 Enforcer Jacket by Spyder pound36999 onebelowzerocom2 Stretch by Patagonia pound300 patagoniacom3 Constable Jacket by Canada Goose pound49999 onebelowzerocom4 Franklin by Craghoppers pound100 craghopperscom5 Shanklin by Henri Lloyd pound225 HenriLloydcom

Ski Jacket Outer Shells (the face fabric) vary but typically they can be made of

1 Pertex

2 Polartec

3 HyVent

4 Ared

5 Apex

6 HellyTechreg Performance Fabric

7 Omni-Shield Ilus Softshell

8 Marmot M1 Softshell

9 ClimaPRO 3L

10 OmniTECH

11 Goretex

12 Event

Adidas

Arcteryx

Armada

Columbia Sportswear

Core Concepts

Dakine

Dale of Norway

Dynafit

Adidas

Arcteryx

Armada

Columbia Sportswear

Core Concepts

Dakine

Dale of Norway

Dynafit

Eider

Helly Hansen

Holden

Icebreaker

Killy

Kjus

La Sportiva

Mammut

Millet

Oakley

Obermeyer

Outdoor Research

Patagonia

Powderhorn

Rab

Rossignol

Salomon

Scott Sports

Spyder

The North Face

Volkl