What Is a Softshell Jacket? A Buyer's Guide

Every softshell we brand comes out of our custom jackets lineup, which sits inside the wider custom apparel catalog.

A softshell jacket is a flexible, breathable jacket made from a bonded stretch fabric that resists wind and light rain while letting body heat escape. It sits between a thin windbreaker and a heavy insulated coat, giving you weather protection and comfort in one lightweight layer. That balance is why softshells have become the default choice for branded staff jackets, corporate gifts, and active outdoor teams.

This guide explains what a softshell actually is, how the fabric works, how it compares to other jackets, and how to put your logo on one.

We embroider softshell jackets for teams across the US and worldwide, so the guidance here is grounded in what actually holds up on real orders. If you already know a softshell is what you want, you can design one with your logo in a few minutes, with no minimum order, or start from our custom embroidered jackets collection if an embroidered logo is what you're after.

What a Softshell Jacket Actually Is

A softshell is a jacket built from a bonded, stretchy fabric that combines a durable weather-resistant outer face with a soft, often fleece-backed inner layer. The name is a contrast with hardshell jackets, which are stiff, fully waterproof rain shells. A softshell trades full waterproofing for flexibility, breathability, and everyday comfort.

In practice, a softshell feels like a substantial, slightly stretchy jacket that moves with you. It blocks wind, sheds light rain, holds in a useful amount of warmth, and does not crinkle or trap sweat the way a plastic rain shell can. That combination is what makes it comfortable to wear all day, which is exactly what a uniform layer needs to do.

How Softshell Fabric Works

Softshell fabric is usually two or three layers bonded together: a tough outer face treated to repel water, sometimes a thin membrane in the middle, and a soft inner layer for warmth and comfort. Bonding the layers into one fabric is what gives a softshell its structure without the weight of a separate lining.

The outer face carries a durable water repellent finish, which makes rain bead up and roll off rather than soak in. Because the fabric is woven to breathe, water vapor from your body can escape, so you stay comfortable during activity instead of feeling clammy. That breathability is the trade-off for full waterproofing: a softshell handles wind and light rain well but is not built to keep you dry in a downpour. For most business and everyday use, that is the right compromise.

Softshell vs Hardshell vs Fleece

A softshell sits in the middle: warmer and more weather-resistant than a fleece, more breathable and comfortable than a waterproof hardshell. Knowing where each one wins makes the choice easy.

Many teams pair a softshell as the standard branded layer with a fleece for indoor warmth, both carrying the same logo. Our types of jackets guide walks through every style if you want the full picture before deciding.

Why Businesses Choose Them

Softshells are the most popular custom business jacket because they look professional, wear across three seasons, and take embroidery cleanly. A single softshell style can outfit a whole team through most of the year, which makes it efficient to buy and consistent to look at.

The structured fabric gives embroidery a firm, flat surface, so a stitched logo sits crisp and holds its shape wash after wash. The jacket reads as smart-casual rather than sporty or heavy, so it suits front-of-house staff, field teams, trade shows, and executive gifts alike. And because it is comfortable, people actually keep it on, which means your logo is visible far more than a jacket that lives on the back of a chair.

How to Customize One

The standard and best-looking way to customize a softshell is embroidery on the left chest, with an optional larger logo or text across the back. Embroidery suits the structured fabric, reads as premium, and lasts for years without cracking or fading.

A few practical notes: keep logo text above roughly a quarter inch of stitch height so small letters stay legible, use the left chest for the standard placement, and always approve a proof before production. We digitize your artwork into a clean stitch file at no charge and send a free digital proof of your exact jacket before we make anything. Many teams match their softshells to the rest of a branded kit, like their custom embroidered hats, so the whole program looks unified.

What Custom Softshell Jackets Cost

Custom embroidered softshell jackets at Arklavo start around $47.99 each, with the logo, digitizing, and a free proof included and no setup fees or minimum order. Quantity discounts apply automatically as an order grows, so a larger team run brings the per-piece cost down.

Because there is no minimum, you can order a single softshell with your logo to check the fit and stitch quality before committing to a team run. Compare every style in our custom jackets collection, or see our guide to best custom jacket companies for business (2026) if you're weighing other suppliers too. New customers can apply code FIRST15 for 15% off a first order, and orders over $150 ship free. Request a quote once you have your sizes and quantity.

How We Make Yours

Every softshell is embroidered, digitized, and checked by hand before it ships. I built Arklavo around one promise: real embroidery, no minimums, and a free proof before anything is made, so a team of five gets the same standard as a team of five hundred.

You upload your logo or send it to us, we turn it into a clean stitch file at no charge, and we send a digital proof of your exact jacket before we run the order. Once you approve it, we stitch, check each piece, and ship with tracking.

Because your logo stays on file, reorders for new hires are quick and carry no new fees. That is the whole reason teams switch to us from promo shops that set minimums and charge setup on every run.

Arklavo spokesperson.