Noah the Red from United States, VA Public Profile

I’d been hemming and hawing getting a softshell for almost a full year. It’s one of those pieces of gear that can technically be overlapped by other pieces, but it’s also so good at its role that its almost a required piece if you expect anything less than 100% perfect weather. The catch is there’s a wide variety of softshells that all perform and behave differently. One companies softshell might be closer to a ‘tough hoodie’ while a different company’s may be more akin to a hardshell lite. There are a lot of great comparison reviews out there, but there’s two jackets in particular that always end up towards the top of the list….the OR Ferrosi hoody and the Rab Torque. Both are very similar: They’re light with a slim but stretchy build. They both have relatively minimal, but very well concieved features. They both come in an array of colors. They’re both incredibly breathable while still being pretty weather proof without going full hardshell.They’re both backed by two absolutely bomber companies. They both cost around the same. I’d tried them both on at different points and they fit similarly and were roughly the same weight. Aside from a few differences in feature sets, they’re essentially the same. So why did I choose the Torque over the Ferrosi? Two reasons: 2-way zipper and forearm panels. I wanted a softshell I could wear comfortably in a harness and that wouldn’t start seeing early wear and tear on the elbows and arms.

Am I happy with my choice? Very happy. It’s in th