In my opinion, TNF doesn't make a bad shell. But some are better than others. There are 2 types of shells: hard and soft. Hard shells are all going to be about the same for warmth (none of them are lined), and will all be windproof and waterproof, so it just comes down to price. Pay for the features you want: more breathability, lots of pockets, core venting, etc. Soft shells can vary widely in what they are tailored to do. The big difference is that soft shells are stretchy, and move with you better, and generally breath better. The down side is that they aren't 100% waterproof, although most repel water pretty well and will do fine in snow, but not hard rain. Also, generally not as durable in that they might rip or tear easier than a hardshell if you catch a branch. They all block wind just fine. Some have light linings to them. The bottom line is that shells aren't so much for warmth as they are protection from the elements (wind, water), but at the same time adding any shell to this fleece (or on it's own) is going to make it warmer simply by keeping the elements out. Decide what you want most out of your shell, and go find it. TNF has a huge product line, you'll be sure to be able to find it.