Jack Wolfskin Go Hike Softshell - Review 2023

Overview

Flattering outdoor gear is hard to find, and style can be a tough sell when there’s something reassuring about the tactile ruggedness of Gore-Tex. Thankfully while Jack Wolfskin may opt for “tightness over toughness” and “form over features” in this instance, the Go Hike Softshell is true to its name and is an adequate choice to bring along on your next foray down trail.

Without a doubt, the Go Hike is much lighter on considerations dedicated to outdoor use than what you would get from a “performance” jacket. With its feature set limited to a miserly pair of pockets, this jacket is more appropriate for the occasional dip into the mountains rather than a “do-all” piece of gear to stake your life and limb on.

But, as mentioned above, it’s warm and packable enough for any low stakes adventure you can dream of. During testing we experienced some serious rain, the like of which the Go Hike passed surprisingly well.

Weatherproofing

I don’t think I’ve ever tried a softshell jacket that has been able to completely withstand the rigors of a wet winter storm, but softshells as a whole have come quite a ways in the last decade or so.

The Go Hike employs the very popular three layer build that has nearly become standard in this category of jacket, and to great effect. Most softshells on the market have a similar design made up of either nylon or polyester, with a water-repellent treated outer shell, a layer of flexible insulation, and a plush inner liner. With it’s polyester construction and proprietary rip-resistant “Stormlock Fabric” water-resistant properties, you should expect some incursion of water in a deluge or gale force winds.

But on two occasions when we were subjected to thunderstorms the only significant amount of water that got in was at the shoulders where the backpack straps facilitated leakage.

In realistic hiking conditions like a cool fall morning with a biting and persistent breeze, or misty spring days with steady rain, the Go Hike makes a more comfortable alternative to bulky heardshells. Cold weather, however, highlights some of the drawbacks of the Go Hike’s trim appeal.

The amount of insulation within the jacket itself is necessarily limited- which on one hand lets it be breathable and impressively lightweight, while on the other making it less appropriate for late fall and winter. In regard to the fit, it’s nearly impossible to layer efficiently underneath the form-fitting fabric- ruling out anything more than a base layer for additional insulation.

That being said, it does open up the opportunity for additional layering on-top of the jacket, but more on that later.

Comfort and Breathability

As alluded to above, the Go Hike is a bit of a departure from the big and boxy builds we’ve come to expect from typical soft shell construction. In many ways, it’s closer in spirit to a windbreaker in both its limited bulk and low-profile fit. There’s a limit to how comfortable polyester can actually be, but definitely not disappointing in that regard. I wouldn’t call it a next to skin layer by any means, but it’s comfortable enough to be used with minimal coverage, a sheer t-shirt or a tank top will do.

As a result of the trim fit and low-heft, it’s notably stretchy and flexible. Movement isn’t at all impeded in common places like across the shoulders or when reaching up and across your back. The low loft and flexibility also lend themselves to high breathability. While not unique amongst softshells as a category, it notably outcompetes anything in the “true” softshell category that weighs more than it.

When you consider these two factors together, the Go Hike makes a very sensible midlayer and opens up the possibility for more technical applications to the casual, fashion conscious mountaineer.

Features

The Go Hike is light on features for a jacket as a whole, and this more than anything else really limits its utility in more serious sporting applications. The pockets are limited to two standard sized at the waistline and a hood. While it’s better to have these considerations than not, their usefulness is limited by a couple of factors.

To start, aside from being limited in number (we would love to see a zippered chest pocket), the pockets are located right where a hip belt, climbing harness, or waders would cut across the waist. In other jackets designed specifically for hiking or outdoor activities, pockets are usually located a little higher across the torso so they’re actually accessible regardless of the activity you’re pursuing. The hood, much in the same way, is great for keeping the rain off of you while jogging, but in no way is voluminous enough to accomodate a helmet.

In fact, the lack of features–the minimalism of the shell–proved really nice for jogging and trail running. The breathability proved equally nice.

Value and Other Models

The Go Hike isn’t considerably more affordable than many alternatives with similar weights and feature sets. There are plenty of alternatives out there that will give you more bang for your buck in terms of overall functionality, but at a certain point with this jacket, you’re weighing how it looks right alongside tech specs- easy to rationalize to the right person.

In sum it’s at the lower end of “high-quality” softshells price wise, several steps above generic jackets you can grab for a pittance from any large-scale retailer.

Jack Wolfskin knows their audience, and for a brand that aims almost exclusively at outdoorsy urbanites this jacket is reasonably priced for something that can work hard, and look good while doing it. Below we’ll cover some closely related alternatives to the Go Hike, but for a closer look at other options including softshells and more, venture toward our top waterproof jackets page.

Taking a look at the market at large, the most competitive models out there are built around specialized niches- the closest we’ve found to something like the Go Hike is the Arc’teryx Gamma LT Hoody. It’s nearly double the price, but balances a fashion forward focus with top tier technical design. If you like the aesthetic appeal of the Go Hike but don’t want to compromise on function, you can do no better.

Patagonia Galvanized is another hot name in the softshell racket for it’s boundary-blending totally waterproof approach to a flexible jacket. Though it’s less breathable than most of the other options out there, people in cold, wet environments who need something more flexible than a hardshell (think midwinter ski touring in the PNW) for high-output activities should give it a serious look.

Finally, as an alternative that leans into lightweight and packable properties of the Go Hike, Mountain Hardware’s Kor Preshell pushes the boundaries of what’s possible. Spiritually closer to a windbreaker than an actual jacket, this ultralight outer layer packs down to a fist-sized bundle with a carabiner loop for hands-free carrying. I’d recommend the Kor Preshell for anyone drawn to the Go Hike’s low profile, and are unconcerned with practicality outside of niche outdoor applications.

Bottom Line

The Go Hike Softshell is everything we’ve come to expect from Jack Wolfskin- sleek and metropolitan-minded while retaining more than a modicum of outdoor practicality. I’d recommend it primarily to people looking for a double duty outer layer for spring and fall.

With its relatively light weight and low-volume it could also make a decent midlayer for anyone who wants to stretch its usefulness a little beyond its intended purpose.

Some of the Divein team enjoyed it as a jogging shell, for its breathability and simplicity. That puts it solidly.