The Goal of a Hard Shell? Keep the Outdoors, Out. Designed to be layered over warmer insulating layers like down and fleece the hard shell should shed rain, wind, and snow like a champ while staying light and small and breathable.
Baffled by baffles? Confused by shingles and layers? Here's your guide to the various construction techniques that keep down and synthetic insulation in the right places, and you warm in your sleeping bag.