Thunderbolt Sportswear

We are an independent, family-owned company based in Oregon and launched in 2010. In 2008, we originated the concept of softshell jeans and registered the domain www.softshelljeans.com. For two years we worked with mad passion to develop these jeans as the best all-around pair of outdoor pants on the market. We are committed to USA production, and our jeans are designed and sewn in the state of Oregon.

Schoeller Textiles conforms to the bluesign® standard for environmentally friendly production. In fact, Schoeller was the first company to become a bluesign® 'System Partner'. Our softshell jeans are locally produced with an absolute minimum of packaging and are shipped using the lightest possible packaging weight.

Most of the cost comes from the Schoeller Dryskin softshell fabric which we import from Switzerland. Schoeller is one of a small handful of leading-edge outdoor fabric manufacturers and we believe Dryskin is the world's best-performing softshell fabric. In addition, our jeans are made in the USA. While this may seem like a luxury item to some people, these softshell jeans are serious gear. You should consider the full value you will get from this versatile and durable pair of jeans. They will become an indispensable part of your outdoor wardrobe and provide many years of useful service.

We offer our Softshell Jeans in men's sizing and they are based on a mens's standard fit. Some women are often comfortable wearing a men's standard fit jean, so we invite women to give them a try and send them back in 30 days for a full refund if you are not happy. If you don't know which men's size you wear, you can try on some popular-brand men's jeans in a standard or 'straight leg' fit. Our sizing should match pretty close.

We plan to offer additional jeans-related styles in the future. Currently we are very proud to offer our original classic style in 39 different waist/inseam sizes to meet our customer's needs. And to quote Henry Ford, you can have any color you want as long as it's black. We will definitely add more colors in the future, but black is a very popular color for outdoor pants so that's where we started.

Softshell is a broad term that is now used in many different ways in the outdoor clothing industry. We feel that a softshell fabric features a combination of comfort (the 'soft') and performance (the 'shell'). Comfort means highly breathable and stretchable. Performance means weather-resistant, durable and with moisture transport to help regulate body temperature and keep you dry during high exertion. Typical softshell materials may include polyester, nylon, and spandex. Remember that when it comes to softshell fabric, you get what you pay for. If you want to find out more about our softshell fabric - Schoeller Dryskin with Nanosphere™ DWR - you can visit our The Jeans page.

This is a technical term for fabrics with a DWR treatment. DWR stands for durable water repellent. This treatment prevents the fabric from getting saturated with water. With a good DWR treatment, water typically bead ups and runs right off the fabric. However, water can still seep through the fabric weave when under pressure such as with wind-driven rain or when bushwhacking through wet undergrowth. Even in this situation, a good softshell fabric will retain body warmth when wet and it will dry quickly. For mountaineering, winter skiing, and seriously stormy weather we still want our "hardshell" jackets and pants with Gore-Tex™ or other waterproof barrier membrane. However, there is an inescapable tradeoff between a fabric's being waterproof versus breathable. Waterproof barrier means membranes can be breathable to a certain extent but many people feel they trap moisture, especially during activities and exertion. Our water-resistant softshell works exceptionally well for a wide range of outdoor activities and conditions.

Our softshell jeans are perfect for Fall-Winter-Spring season and are comfortable on moderately warm summer days due to their high breathability. They are about as comfortable on a hot day as a pair of heavy denim jeans. If you get too hot in our jeans, it will be a good time to put on some shorts.

This is a great use for Thunderbolt Softshell Jeans. We would bring three more items: a lightweight base layer (long underwear), lightweight or featherweight rain pants, and lightweight running shorts. Using our softshell jeans as a mid-layer with this system, you would be prepared for all but the most extreme weather conditions. And you could still dress for dinner at the club!

We would love to hear from you! You can reach us via email or phone. Please review the Contact Us page for more information. Our Refunds and Exchanges page and our Shipping page clearly explain our policies. We strive to make it easy for you to purchase a pair of our jeans and to be satisfied with your purchase. Please feel free to contact us with any questions, and you can order online or you can phone your order if you prefer.