??? I was wearing a microfleece layer under the softshell, not a fleece softshell. Is any windstopper jacket considered a "soft shell"? Are all soft shells ultimately some sort of fleece? I have a Marmot jacket that I would say is more of that Polartec Wind Stopper fabric stuff. I was under the impression that was a highly breathable material. I have a similar North Face product that doesn't do that but is a more casual cut that I really don't use for hiking except in summer months.
As hikerbrian noted, the term "softshell" covers a wide variety of products...
A wool shirt or sweater fit the definition long before the term was coined... If the wool contains more of its original oils, it will be more water resistant. A tight weave/knit will also be more wind resistant than a loose weave/knit. Wool wets slowly from external liquid water (eg mist or drizzle) and can absorb far more water than other fabrics before it feels wet. It also retains more insulation and cushioning than other fabrics when wet (which is why it is king for socks). Wool these days may be highly processed so what you are getting may not be obvious...
BTW, wool is a very interesting and unique fiber--it consists of a hydrophobic outside layer over a hydrophilic core.
The moisture was not on my skin. It was the inside of the softshell that was wet. My concern is that it will eventually soak into my mid and base layers and get me cold. The moisture was getting away from my skin through my base layer and the microfleece mid layer but it wasn't getting through the softshell to the outside. Am I misunderstanding what you're trying to say?
Your skin is essentially a wet warm object so the air in contact with it is very near to 100% humidity at the local skin temperature. (I'll assume that you are not sweating which would, of course, add warm liquid water to the scenario.) The air away from your body (assuming cool weather) is both cooler and contains less water.* So basically there is a temperature gradient between your skin and the ambient air and as the moisture diffuses out through your clothing, the temperature drops and the humidity increases until the moisture either exits your clothing or the humidity tries to exceed 100% at which point the excess will condense in your clothing.**
* The maximum amount of water that air can hold is much less in cooler temps and any excess water will condense out. Percent humidity is the percentage of the maximum for the current local temperature.
** This same mechanism deposits moisture in your sleeping bag unless you use a vapor barrier liner.
In practice, you just have to experiment and learn from experience how much and what kind of insulation works for you. BTW, vests (with or without a jacket) are a good way to add insulation to your core without increasing the insulation on your arms. I personally produce a lot of heat and sweat when hiking and often have to strip down to my baselayer on the warmer days (ie above 20-30F, particularly with sun and no wind). I also often carry both a fully-breathable fleece jacket and a wind-blocking fleece jacket. Both have similar insulation values, but I can often only wear the breathable fleece because I would sweat and moisture would collect in the wind-blocking fleece.
Doug
