Softshell

Softshell is a term used in multiple disciplines to describe materials or organisms with a soft, pliable outer layer. In textiles and outdoor gear, softshell refers to a class of jackets, pants, and other garments designed for flexibility, breathability, and wind resistance, rather than heavy rain protection. In biology, softshell describes certain animals with a relatively flexible outer covering, such as softshell turtles and other soft-bodied or recently molted crustaceans.

Softshell fabrics are typically constructed to maximize stretch and breathability while offering some weather resistance. They often combine a woven or knitted outer layer with a stretchable inner lining and may include a lightweight water-repellent treatment or a laminate/membrane to improve wind resistance. Unlike hard shells, softshell fabrics are generally more breathable and comfortable in cool, dry, or mildly damp conditions, but they are not fully waterproof. They are used in outdoor jackets, shells, pants, and layering pieces. Care involves washing according to the manufacturer’s instructions and reproofing as needed to maintain water resistance, while avoiding fabric softeners that can reduce performance.

In zoology, softshells include turtles of the family Trionychidae, noted for their flattened, leathery carapace rather than a hard, scaly shell. They typically have long necks and snorkel-like snouts and are highly aquatic, inhabiting rivers, lakes, and wetlands across parts of North America, Africa, and Asia. Their shells are flexible, with reduced bony scutes, helping them maneuver in shallow waters. Diet usually consists of aquatic invertebrates and small fish, and reproduction involves laying eggs in nests on land.

In culinary contexts, soft-shell crabs refer to crustaceans that have recently molted and retain a pliable exoskeleton, making them delicate and popular in various regional cuisines.