Lightweight sports jacket: how to choose for running, cross-country skiing and hiking
A lightweight sports jacket for running, cross-country skiing, cycling and hiking: how to tell an ultralight, a softshell and an insulated jacket apart, what wind resistance means for a windbreaker, and when a lightweight jacket is no longer enough. The guide covers women’s and men’s models.
Short answer: A lightweight sports jacket is a thin, stretchy jacket for moving outdoors, which you choose by weather and sport: with no insulation for wind and showers (an ultralight jacket or a lightweight softshell), and with hollow-fibre insulation for cool days around freezing. Women’s and men’s NORDBLANC models are chosen using the same details. If you are looking for a windbreaker, check the wind resistance listed among the parameters of each model: on most it is ‘Regular’, on a few ‘High’.
Which lightweight sports jacket should you choose for your sport and the weather?
Three things decide: pace, weather and how long you are out. The faster you move, the less insulation you need and the more breathability matters. The table matches jacket types to situations according to the details on NORDBLANC products.
| Situation | Type of lightweight sports jacket | What to look for on the product |
|---|---|---|
| Running or cycling in dry weather and mild cold | ultralight jacket without insulation | activity running or cycling, reflective elements in the features |
| Showers and wet snow on the move | lightweight softshell | SOFTSHIELD® 10000, water column 10,000 mm |
| Cross-country skiing and winter running around freezing | insulated jacket with powerfleece or hollow-fibre insulation | warmth rating, activity cross-country skiing |
| Hiking in changeable weather | lightweight softshell, or an ultralight jacket with a layer underneath | activity hiking, drawstring hood |
| Long rain, frost, standing around outdoors | a lightweight sports jacket is not enough | see the section ‘When is a lightweight sports jacket not enough?’ |
The table is a rough guide; wind and humidity also play a part. You will find a selection in the collections women’s lightweight sports jackets and men’s lightweight sports jackets, and a wider range in the category lightweight sports jackets.
How do ultralight, softshell and insulated lightweight jackets differ?
One model can belong to several material groups, so the boundaries are fluid. A comparison based on the details on the products:
| Feature | Ultralight jacket | Lightweight softshell | Insulated sports jacket |
|---|---|---|---|
| Insulation | none | mostly none | hollow fibre, THERMOLITE® EcoMade T-DOWN on only a few models |
| Membrane and water column | mostly none, TERATEX® 8,000 mm on the odd model | SOFTSHIELD® 10,000 mm | mostly none, 10,000 or 15,000 mm on some |
| Waterproofness scale | most often Light rain | Waterproof | most often Light rain, Waterproof on some |
| Warmth rating (indicative scale) | not stated | mostly not stated | mostly down to 0 °C |
| Activities | hiking, cycling, mostly running | running, hiking, cross-country skiing, cycling | cross-country skiing, mostly running and hiking too |
- Ultralight jacket. It has no insulation, so you keep warm with the layer underneath. A water column is not stated on most models, and on the Waterproofness scale they most often have the lowest level, Light rain, meaning a short shower.
- Lightweight softshell. SOFTSHIELD® 10000 material has a water column of 10,000 mm and breathability of 10,000 g/m²/24 h. The figures refer to the fabric, not to the seams and zips. How to read them is explained in the guide Water column and breathability. You will find lightweight softshells in the collection Ultralight 3LL softshell as well.
- Insulated sports jacket. It has hollow-fibre insulation, and some models are made of the stretchy POWERFLEECE material. The warmth rating is mostly down to 0 °C, with only a few models down to −10 °C and the odd one down to −20 °C. The scale is for comparing NORDBLANC models with one another and is not a guaranteed temperature. A few models have THERMOLITE® EcoMade T-DOWN insulation, which according to the manufacturer, The LYCRA Company, is made from recycled PET bottles and keeps you warm even when damp. You will find the models in the collection Warm sports jackets.
Is a windbreaker the same as a lightweight sports jacket?
By a windbreaker people usually mean a lightweight jacket that stops the wind. At NORDBLANC, look for such a jacket among the lightweight sports jackets and judge it by the wind resistance listed, not by its name. It is not true that every lightweight jacket stops the wind equally well. If you are looking for a windbreaker, women’s or men’s, open the parameters on the product page:
- wind resistance is listed for almost every model, though for a few models the figure is missing;
- on most lightweight sports jackets it is ‘Regular’, on a few ‘High’;
- the ‘High’ level is listed only for insulated models with hollow-fibre insulation, not for ultralight jackets or for models made of POWERFLEECE material.
Anyone who wants the ‘High’ level must therefore choose one of the insulated jackets and check it on the specific model.
Which lightweight sports jacket is good for running?
For running, choose the thinnest jacket that does not restrict your movement and does not overheat you at pace. Running is listed among the activities on most NORDBLANC lightweight sports jackets. Look at three things:
- Insulation to suit the temperature. In dry weather and mild cold, an ultralight jacket or a lightweight softshell is enough. Keep an insulated jacket with a warmth rating down to 0 °C for cold days and a slower pace.
- Rain. In a shower, a lightweight softshell with a water column of 10,000 mm is safer than an ultralight jacket with the Light rain level.
- Visibility. Most models list reflective elements in the features, and you will appreciate them at dusk.
Which jacket for cross-country skiing?
For cross-country skiing, an insulated sports jacket or a lightweight softshell is suitable: for insulated jackets and lightweight softshells cross-country skiing is listed among the activities, but for ultralight jackets without softshell material it is not. Cross-country skiers generate a lot of heat, so it is more a matter of wicking away sweat than of insulation.
- Cold and a brisk pace. An insulated jacket with powerfleece is suitable. The warmth rating of most insulated jackets is down to 0 °C; for harder frost, add a layer underneath.
- Snowfall and thaw. A lightweight softshell with a water column of 10,000 mm protects against wet snow.
Layering and choosing by temperature are covered in the guide What to wear cross-country skiing. You will find more clothing in the collections women’s cross-country ski clothing and men’s cross-country ski clothing.
When is a lightweight sports jacket not enough?
- Long rain. Models without a membrane cope only with a short shower. A lightweight softshell copes with showers and wet snow, but only a few models in this category have taped seams and waterproof zips. For all-day rain, a jacket with a membrane and taped seams is safer. The difference is described in the guide Softshell or hardshell.
- Frost and standing around. An insulated lightweight jacket keeps you warm mostly down to 0 °C. If you will be standing outdoors for a long time, choose a winter jacket; the choice is described in the guide How to choose a winter jacket.
- Autumn and spring. When a lightweight jacket is enough and when to reach for a transitional one is covered in the guide Spring and autumn jacket.
- Warming only the torso. When your sleeves are too hot but your torso needs warmth, a lightweight sports gilet helps. When a gilet makes sense is shown in the guide Winter gilet.
Women’s and men’s lightweight sports jackets: how does the choice differ?
The materials and details are the same on women’s and men’s models; they differ in cut and sizes. Almost all have a Regular fit, meaning classic rather than close-fitting. According to NORDBLANC charts, men’s sizes are XXS–XXXL and women’s 34–48; check the sizes offered for a specific model on the product page. Try the jacket on with the layer you will wear underneath it, and in motion: arms up, bending forward. Compare your measurements with the size charts; the measuring procedure is summarised in the guide How to measure jacket and ski trouser size. You can try the jacket on in our stores.
What should you wear with a lightweight sports jacket?
You fine-tune the warmth with layers under the jacket. Cotton soaks up sweat and chills, so leave it out:
- A functional T-shirt or lightweight thermal underwear against the body. The differences between the ranges are compared in the guide How to choose a baselayer, and the lightweight ranges are in the collections women’s lightweight thermal underwear and men’s lightweight thermal underwear.
- Middle layer: a thin sweatshirt or gilet. NORDBLANC powerfleece sweatshirts are made of polyester with elastane.
- Socks. Functional sports socks are suitable for running and hiking; compression socks are described in the guide Compression socks for sport and hiking.
If you are looking for a gift for a cross-country skier or a skier, you will find ideas in the guide Gifts for skiers.
Frequently asked questions
Can a lightweight sports jacket be worn in town too?
Yes, as a light layer for spring and autumn. Everyday wear is listed among the activities mainly for insulated models, and for only some of the lightweight softshells. Choose by the weather, just as you would for sport: a lightweight softshell for rain, an insulated jacket for cold, dry days. For frost and standing around outdoors, a winter jacket is better.
Is a lightweight sports jacket suitable for cycling?
Yes, cycling is listed among the activities for almost all ultralight jackets and for the lightweight softshells, but for only some of the insulated models. There is more wind when you ride than when you walk, so check the wind resistance and the Waterproofness scale level. In showers, a softshell with a water column of 10,000 mm is safer.
How do you wash a lightweight sports jacket?
Follow the label in the jacket. In general, a low temperature, zips done up and no fabric conditioner, which clogs the surface of the fabric, all help. Dry the jacket hung up and away from the heating. For softshell and jackets with a membrane, reproof them after a time; the instructions are on the Product care page.
What is a hood that packs away into the collar for?
When you do not need it, it does not flap or get in the way, and in wind or rain you pull it out. Only a few lightweight sports jackets have such a hood, and an adjustable drawstring hood is listed in the features on some models. Check on the product page, in the Features section, whether the jacket has one.