Using a soft shell on backpacking trips
The fact is that the classic hiking clothing scheme is divided into the following three layers: the first (closest to the body - thermal underwear), the second ("fleece") and the third (storm jacket). The purpose is as follows. Thermal underwear provides comfort directly to the skin by maintaining a certain balance of fluid secreted by the body and the microclimate. The fleece is warm. And the storm jacket protects from external influences. For example, precipitation and wind. During the operation of all three layers, depending on the hiking conditions, the tourist, as necessary, can adjust something: remove the storm jacket or “fleece” and so on. It is clear that in this case we are talking more about a march than a bivouac. At a rest stop, everything may be slightly different.
As for the soft shell, I believed that it replaces the second and third layers. That is, a “fleece” and a storm jacket. By combining the qualities of both. And it is needed, firstly, for beauty, and, secondly, for conditions when a greater degree of mobility is needed. For example, you are actively climbing rocks, and a tight-fitting soft shell is better suited for such conditions.
But it turned out that this is not entirely true. The “bourgeoisie” have long been moving away from three-layer clothing. In their opinion, this is too cumbersome and is less configurable “according to the weather” than the next option.
Thermal underwear has not been canceled. But they wear a thin “fleece” under a softshell jacket. Thus, this jacket also combines part of the insulation. It can be removed and left in a light fleece. And in case of minor bad weather, remove the fleece and stay in something warmer than just a windbreaker.