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Whether you’re skiing in sunny or stormy conditions, here are our top picks for the most durable, protective, and comfortable ski jackets of 2023-2024 to keep you outside longer.
Whether at a ski area or out of bounds, you’ll need to be protected from a sphere of elements. That includes beaming sunshine, bitter wind, wet snowflakes, and slashing hail. Finding the best ski jacket will keep you warm, dry, and on the mountain longer.
To help you find the best fit and option for your needs, we created this guide with our favorite jackets for alpine skiing at the resort or heading into the backcountry. Many of these men’s and women’s ski jackets also work well for other winter activities from sledding to snowboarding or winter hikes. These top picks suit all types of skiers whether you’re new or experienced, be it ripping down corduroy at the resort or adventuring off-piste.
If you’d like to learn more about the details of ski jackets, jump down to our buyer’s guide, FAQ, and comparison chart lower on the page. Otherwise, scroll through our top picks below.
Editor’s Note: We updated our ski jackets buyer’s guide on October 12, 2023, adding five newly launched and tested products for men and women, including the Eddie Bauer Chair Six Jacket and the Patagonia SnowDrifter Jacket, which each won awards.
For the style-conscious and technical skier, the Stio Men’s Environ Jacket and Stio Women’s Environ Jacket ($465) are one of the best options with no compromise of protection in any weather.
The Environ is constructed from 100% recycled polyester, upping the product’s sustainability game for 2023-2024. The details of this jacket are all adjustable from the hemline to the cuffs and the easily removable hood. Stio calls this fully seam-sealed jacket a workhorse — and we agree.
Compared to previous iterations, Stio shortened the hemline of this layer. Admittedly, we prefer the previous cut for helping to keep out snow and up the warmth factor on the chairlift. We do appreciate the addition of another chest pocket on the new version for the guys — though we wish they’d add that to the women’s silhouette. The other pockets include two zippered hand pouches, an interior zippered security pocket, a zippered forearm sleeve pocket for a ski pass, and an internal mesh stash pocket.
What the jacket lacks in breathability, the design makes up for with generous, unlined pit zips to help you quickly cool off when crushing laps or inbounds hikes. Those zips are two-way, too. We love the soft, flexible feel that this textile maintains, despite being an incredibly waterproof and windproof option. You can tell that this jacket was conceived in the Tetons, where -20 degree Fahrenheit stormy mornings are a regular rotation.
Testers agreed that the revamped snow skirt sealed out powder even when face shots were on the menu. All of the zippers on this jacket were particularly smooth, and the silicone zipper pulls are easy to grab even with heavy mittens.
For resort and occasional backcountry skiing and riding, the Stio Men’s Environ Jacket and Stio Women’s Environ Jacket is a standout for burly, waterproof protection, and is a great choice for skiers who venture out no matter the conditions, from snowstorm to shine.
We’re impressed with the newly launched Eddie Bauer Chair Six Jacket for Men and Eddie Bauer Chair Six Jacket for Women ($249) for the kits’ versatility and stunning price. The jacket is a 3-layer design, offering protection from the elements while remaining flexible. This layer is extremely comfortable and allows for full range of motion without a loud swishing sound. While this jacket is built for the resort, it’s also entirely usable for the backcountry.
The Chair Six Jacket comes with Eddie Bauer’s Storm Repel DWR and proved to be waterproof throughout testing despite feeling soft and breathable. Every seam is taped and the jacket comes with a powder skirt that is not removable. The longevity of the waterproofness remains to be tested but initially, we were impressed.
Two underarm vents allow the wearer to shed excess heat and are fairly standard in size and placement. Unlike the Eddie Bauer Chair Six Shell Pants (men and women), these vents do not have a mesh lining and will allow snow to enter, in the event of a fall or accidentally leaving them open on a powder day.
Skiers will be happy to find a chest pocket, two hand pockets, and an arm pocket for storing necessities. With the exception of the arm pocket, all of the pockets are nylon-mesh lined. We would have preferred that they be sealed pockets to keep things from getting wet, but sealed pockets would add to the overall weight of the jacket. Inside is a mesh dump pocket.
Thanks to the lightweight construction of the jacket, it compressed easily and could be stuffed in a backpack when traveling uphill in the backcountry. The jacket is a shell without any insulation, meaning minimal bulk. Perfect for carrying up and wearing downhill.
The shape of the jacket is straight and offers a lot of room for layers. We would hesitate to call it baggy, but it wasn’t exactly form-fitting. Combined with the stretch of the fabric, this jacket allowed us to move freely without feeling like we were wearing a parachute.
Speaking of layers, Eddie Bauer also offers the Chair Six Hybrid Half Zip for Women and Chair Six Hybrid Half Zip for Men ($129), a midlayer designed to round out the whole kit. This insulated midlayer is a fleece-lined, breathable sweater that kept us warm on the chairlift. The hybrid piece contains 60g Polyfil insulation, strategically body-mapped over the shoulders, chest, and upper arms. This Half Zip kept us toasty on cold days without a sweaty back. The layer includes a zippered chest pocket and a kangaroo pouch, making it great for après or around town.
The Eddie Bauer Chair Six Jacket for Men and Eddie Bauer Chair Six Jacket for Women are a great pick for the budget-conscious skier looking for full features in a shell jacket that could be used for resort and a bit of backcountry. This jacket would also be a great option for someone looking for a backup or second set of ski outerwear.
The Rab Men’s Khroma Kinetic Waterproof Jacket and Rab Women’s Khroma Kinetic Waterproof Jacket ($400) are one of our favorite choices thanks to their versatile feature sets. For both guys and gals, this jacket is at home on or off-piste, and performs admirably during grueling tours or chilly days riding the lift.
Constructed from Rab’s proprietary Proflex material, the Khroma Kinetic balances breathability and weather resistance. The shell fabric has the stretchy, comfortable feel of a soft shell, while still being waterproof. A fluorocarbon-free DWR treatment keeps wet snow beading off the face fabric, preventing it from “wetting out.”
In terms of comfort, our testers love the stretch factor. A little stretch goes a long way, especially on cold days when we had to layer a fleece and a light puffy jacket underneath the shell. A large, two-way adjustable hood easily accommodates a ski helmet without restricting mobility, and we love the low-profile internal cord locks.
This jacket also has a few venting options for when it’s time to shed some heat on the skin track. We found that opening the rear arm vents and the chest pockets can create a nice draft.
When it comes to technical features, the Khroma Kinetic is better equipped for touring and mountaineering than powder days at the resort. It has two large chest pockets with plenty of room for bars, a GPS, and a cellphone, plus a tiny stash pocket for keys. A two-way zipper makes for easy access to a harness during mountaineering endeavors.
This jacket doesn’t have a powder skirt. If we wanted a jacket exclusively for resort skiing, we’d like it to be a bit longer, but it does have a small shoulder pocket for a ski pass.
Versatility always involves a little compromise, but for skiers hoping to get by with one jacket for the resort and the backcountry, the Rab Men’s Khroma Kinetic Waterproof Jacket and Rab Women’s Khroma Kinetic Waterproof Jacket are an excellent choice.
Have you ever skied with a down jacket on beneath a shell? Despite stinging cold conditions, the internal heat that builds up can be stifling, as most lack ventilation and underarm zippers. The fit can be cumbersome, too.
Our solution: the Sync Performance Men’s Stretch Puffy and Sync Performance Women’s Stretch Puffy ($349) with synthetic insulation. We’ve reached for this jacket countless times for nail-biting temperatures — between -10 and 10 degrees — while skiing the slopes at Crested Butte Mountain Resort and Telluride Ski Resort where the conditions can be variable and wild in Southwest Colorado.
Even with windchill, this jacket holds body heat yet is breathable when we hop into the trees or charge moguls and work up a sweat. This performance puffy is very stretchy (including the hood), pliable, and doesn’t feel fragile. We can reach down to adjust our boots or pick up a pole or put our arms overhead with no problem.
The shoulders feature additional fabric reinforcements, so skis can’t slice in when we’re carrying gear around. Built with tenacious fabric and water-resistant construction, the Sync Performance Men’s Stretch Puffy and Sync Performance Women’s Stretch Puffy are our number-one choice if we need extra warmth on a frigid day on the slopes.
The Patagonia Women’s SnowDrifter Jacket and Patagonia Men’s SnowDrifter Jacket ($449) was a resounding favorite from our testing panel: light enough to excel in the backcountry, yet sturdy enough to tackle resort riding. The SnowDrifter Jacket is a stylish, high-output layer that won’t hold you back from first chair to last, from alpine starts to backcountry summits. The ingredients are also among the healthiest, and most toxic-free for you and the environment.
Supporting completely uninhibited movement, the SnowDrifter Jacket incorporates a two-way stretch fabric throughout, which testers appreciated. Like other Patagonia outerwear, testers noted that this jacket ran a little large. Skiers debating between two sizes could likely size down.
Like the other options in Patagonia’s 2024 outerwear lineup, the SnowDrifter is an eco-friendly powerhouse with this one leading the benchmark. The former iteration of the SnowDrifter had 70% recycled fabric while this one is 100% recycled including the 50-denier polyester stretch plain weave and the polyester knit backer. What’s more, the entire manufacturing process is free of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) including the fabric, membrane, and DWR finish.
A proprietary textile — rather than say, one made by GORE-TEX — this jacket was heavily tested through Patagonia’s multiyear testing rounds for waterproofness plus durability and breathability, called the H2No Performance Standard. This one passed. The factory where this kit was manufactured is also Fair Trade Certified.
The waterproofness does reach 20K/20K, which is our baseline suggestion for use in a coastal snow climate including Pacific Northwest-based skiers. What we haven’t tested, yet, is if this lightweight friend would hold up through back-to-back heavy, wet snowstorms. The jacket feels so soft and light that some of our testers are skeptical of the long-term protection against moisture — but that could simply be perception. For most intermountain and drier continental snow climates, we’re confident the SnowDrifter would make for a great jacket-of-all-trades for the skier who samples both the resort and backcountry goods.
Both the Patagonia Women’s SnowDrifter Jacket and Patagonia Men’s SnowDrifter Jacket feature sharp colors — including some of our favorite combinations of the season — clean design lines, all the features you need and none that you don’t. The generous underarm vents help regulate heat in a pinch. That chin guard and hood provide great protection on stormy days. This jacket is one of our top choices for both human-powered and lift-accessed skiing.
To learn more, read our full GearJunkie reviews covering the lineup including the Patagonia SnowDrifter Men’s Jacket Review, Patagonia Men’s SnowDrifter Bibs Review, Patagonia Women’s SnowDrifter Bibs Review, and Patagonia Women’s SnowDrifter Jacket Review.
Keeping waste out of landfills while keeping us warm and stylish, the Picture Men’s Naikoon Jacket ($425) and Picture Women’s Haakon Jacket ($404) continue the company’s legacy of sustainably-produced, eco-friendly outerwear with unique colorblock style. We love the comfortable fit of this jacket and appreciate the ample pocket space, which helps us carry everything we need on warm or cold resort days.
This year, Picture debuted an in-house Circular polyester made from upcycled fabric. The textile is comprised of 60% factory scraps and 40% used jackets. The rollout will fully replace the brand’s bio-sourced polyester, because their research determined that upcycled textile offers a significant reduction in emissions and dependence on fossil fuels compared to bio-sourced polyester. Starting now, 80% of Picture’s 2023/2024 winter outerwear is made fully or with a portion of Circular polyester. For instance, the Picture Women’s Seen Jacket, which won an award in our Best Women’s Ski Jackets buyer’s guide, has 100% Circular Polyester in the fabric.
The Naikoon and Haakon have seemingly endless pockets to carry anything you might want to bring to the resort with you. The getup ranges from snacks to a cellphone and a ski pass or interior goggle storage (and even a leashed goggle cloth for cleaning the opticals). Testers noted that the hood fits comfortably over a helmet without inhibiting movement. The cinch adjusters up front helped to further seal out the elements.
For extra warmth and comfort, we appreciated the polyester-taffeta sleeve and hood liners, also made from fully recycled material. Wrist gaiters helped seal in the warmth and prevent snow from getting into our gloves. If you end up too hot on the slopes, long underarm zips help to quickly regulate temperature. We were able to head out on a day with below-zero windchill with nothing but a base layer underneath in this jacket and be completely protected. Overall, this was one of the coziest jackets we tested.
With an affordable price, fashionable look, and comfortable fit, the Picture Men’s Naikoon Jacket and Picture Women’s Haakon Jacket are the perfect opportunity for resort skiers in wintry climates — especially those who value eco-friendly production.
If you need a lightweight, breathable, windproof, and waterproof shell for backcountry adventure, here’s a superstar choice: the Outdoor Research Men’s Skytour AscentShell Jacket and Outdoor Research Women’s Skytour AscentShell Jacket ($399).
The design is 20% more lightweight than its predecessor, the Skyward. This hardy 40-by-60-denier nylon and spandex face fabric is a stalwart against harsh conditions and a loaded pack. The cut is roomy and long. We appreciate that the hood is wire-brimmed so it doesn’t collapse.
We love that the vents are super-tall — they stretch from the hem all the way past our armpit and up to the inside of the chest. So, we don’t need to stop to remove our pack and jacket on uphill climbs with these huge vents.
There are two lower hand pockets and two upper chest pockets on the exterior and internal mesh pockets for skins. The fabric is breathable and buttery soft. We reach for this jacket for backcountry skiing and snowmobiling.
While this is an excellent jacket for tours, you can also wear the Outdoor Research Men’s Skytour AscentShell Jacket and Outdoor Research Women’s Skytour AscentShell Jacket for inbounds days at the ski mountain.
Reimagined with a super-sustainable makeover for the 2023-2024 winter season, the Patagonia Men’s Untracked Jacket and Patagonia Women’s Untracked Jacket ($699) will keep you protected, stoked, and looking good through the fiercest of storms.
The Untracked has a relaxed but athletic fit and runs on the larger end of the true-to-size spectrum. To increase comfort and unencumbered movement, Patagonia integrated malleable flex panels strategically throughout the jacket including around the hood, to enable the wearer to quickly pull up the head shield and batten down the hatches for extra protection without unzipping.
We found this design detail enabled us to look around dynamically and ski well with the hood up and our ski helmet on, which isn’t the case for every jacket. We love this hood.
Another impressive aspect of this jacket is its sustainable and healthier construction, without sacrificing performance. After a multiyear project with GORE-TEX, Patagonia unveils a first-of-its-kind textile that’s completely void of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), from the fabric to the membrane and the DWR final dress. The jacket is made with 100% recycled fabric and 100% recycled flannel backer, which are stitched up in a Fair Trade certified factory.
We appreciated this jacket’s burly protection — especially on sub-zero resort days in Crested Butte, windy backcountry missions in Silverton, and ski mountaineering in Pemberton — though, the layup could use a bit more packability to be a dedicated backcountry jacket. Both the men’s and women’s versions weigh a smidge under 600 g (21 ounces). We like the comfortable, effective fit of the adjustable powder skirt for helping us stay dry on powder days, too.
While we enjoy the muted color schemes of the Untracked Jacket, the downfall is those colors don’t stand out as well in overcast conditions. For the passionate resort skier seeking out fresh tracks as the product name suggests, the Patagonia Men’s Untracked Jacket and Patagonia Women’s Untracked Jacket is a sustainable, durable, and sharp-looking grab for a do-it-all resort shell.
For more details on the fit, application, performance, and sustainability check out the full GearJunkie reviews of these kits including the Patagonia Women’s Untracked Jacket Review, Patagonia Men’s Untracked Jacket Review, Patagonia Men’s Untracked Bibs Review, and Patagonia Women’s Untracked Bibs Review.
Arc’teryx delivers these tough, flexible shell jackets for tackling big mountain ski lines at the resort or in the backcountry: the Arc’teryx Men’s Sabre Jacket ($750) and the Arc’teryx Women’s Sentinel Jacket ($700). This season, the women’s silhouette was updated with a roomier zone around the waist and chest to accommodate a variety of layering systems.
While both of these ski jackets are an investment, they continue to be at the top of our stack because they’re so functional, perform exceptionally well, withstand years of abuse, and look good. We can depend on them. These ski jackets are hands down some of our favorites ever made.
The designs feature a durable yet buttery 80-denier (70 in the Sentinel) nylon face fabric, so we don’t need to worry about exploring the glades or playing fetch with an excited pooch at the base. From blustery conditions to blower powder, the three-layer GORE-TEX fabric is waterproof, breathable, and blocks wind well.
And the seams are fully sealed to bar moisture. If you build heat on deep-snow laps, the underarm vents are a lifesaver, and the powder skirt helps keep base layers dry.
A soft flannel backer provides a bit of warmth for cooler days on the chair lift. The hood fits over a helmet. Both jackets feature two external hand pockets, one small sleeve pocket, one internal mesh pocket (a second mesh pocket was added to the men’s jacket this year), and one internal pocket with a zip closure.
If you’re looking for a comfortable, lightweight shell that stands season after season and manages variable conditions from spring sunshine to storms, the Arc’teryx Men’s Sabre Jacket and Arc’teryx Women’s Sentinel Jacket are a worthy choice.
If a toasty hug isn’t what you need, pull on the noninsulated Helly Hansen Men’s Odin Mountain Infinity 3-Layer Shell Jacket ($700). The jacket is also available for gals: the in a Helly Hansen Women’s Odin Mountain Infinity 3-Layer Shell Jacket with all the same high-end qualities. The Odin Infinity features the brand’s proprietary Lifa Infinity Pro textile.
The eco-friendly fabric is waterproof/breathable, wind-resistant, and hydrophobic, meaning it eliminates the need for a toxic DWR treatment — water repellency is inherent to the fabric.
We wore this shell while skinning in a wintry spring climate. There was usually cloud coverage mixed with spurts of sunshine. Temperatures ranged from 16 to 40 degrees, and gusts peaked around 30 mph.
Typically, we took continuous 1,000-foot ascents with the underarm vents open and never felt hot or clammy. This shell is breathable yet provides a solid barrier against wind and fairly wet, heavy snowfall.
To stash small goods, the shell has two exterior hand pockets and one chest pocket. Inside, there’s a mesh pocket and another tiny pocket with a zip closure. We mostly used the outermost big pockets during ski tours.
Another highlight is the laminated brim, which is shaped for a full-angle view.
One drawback: The powder skirt has a snap attachment point in the back that occasionally got stuck beneath our pack while skinning up. We could usually shift it out of the way. If this bothers you, the powder skirt is removable.
Ultimately, this eco-conscious shell is soft, quiet, and comfortable. The design is easy to move in while climbing and on the descent. For a long-term investment, consider the Helly Hansen Men’s Odin Mountain Infinity 3-Layer Shell Jacket and Helly Hansen Women’s Odin Mountain Infinity 3-Layer Shell Jacket.
Read our full GearJunkie review of the Helly Hansen Women’s Odin Mountain Infinity 3L Shell Jacket to learn more.
The Black Diamond Men’s Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell and Black Diamond Women’s Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell ($365) — which received a 2020 gold-level ISPO award — are stretchy and sturdy for backcountry and uphill use.
The breathable softshell material is treated with the brand’s proprietary waterproof/breathable and windproof solution in the chest, shoulders, and hood. There’s also a PFC-free DWR, which enhances durability.
One of the most innovative features of this jacket is a center-front dual zipper that opens to a mesh panel for ventilation while uphilling.
The two large chest pockets are harness-compatible and roomy enough for skins, and the hood fits over a helmet. The thumbhole wrist gaiter helps protect wrists from getting chilled.
Ultimately, the lightweight Black Diamond Men’s Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell and Black Diamond Women’s Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell are both a comfortable, stretchy, and very waterproof choice for skiers.
If you tend to get a bit chilled on the lift ride or your home mountain is frigid or gusty, push this insulated jacket to the top of your wish list. Launched in fall 2022 and back in the lineup — ready for a powder day, delivering excellent waterproofness — is the Patagonia Men’s Insulated Powder Town Jacket and Patagonia Women’s Insulated Powder Town Jacket ($399).
Patagonia nailed the comfort and fit of this design. Beyond that, the jacket is completely free of PFC chemicals, a multiyear development the brand is rolling out across every product in the All Mountain lineup.
The 75-denier shell, liner, and lower body of the jacket are all 100% recycled polyester blends. Even the insulation is 100% recycled polyester. The lining is Bluesign-approved while the product is Fair Trade Certified sewn. Inside, a taffeta liner is smooth without noise and ups the jacket’s class and quality.
We really appreciate the pockets on this jacket, which are ergonomic and functional. There’s a small pass pocket on the left forearm, a large left exterior chest pocket, a wide interior dump pocket with a zip closure, a wide-mouthed interior mesh pocket, and two softly lined hand pockets.
Patagonia is also launching the Warmth Index, a new metric that measures the warmth of each of the brand’s products. That way, skiers can compare jackets side by side for their own insulation needs. The Patagonia Men’s Insulated Powder Town Jacket and Patagonia Women’s Insulated Powder Town Jacket are the warmest all-mountain snow jackets that the brand makes.
The Powder Town is available in a noninsulated version, too — the Patagonia Women’s Powder Town Jacket and Patagonia Men’s Powder Town Jacket ($349).
Scroll right to view all of the columns: Price, Fit, Insulation, Shell, Waterproof Rating, Weight.
Our team has tested ski jackets and published ski jacket guides for men and women for many winter seasons. Those test runs include input from expert, lifelong, backcountry, and avalanche-certified skiers as well as average and beginner skiers.
To determine the best designs, our team wore these ski jackets in a spectrum of snowy environments including ski resorts, off-piste, while steering snowmobiles on backcountry tours, and in various weather conditions.
We’ve backcountry and alpine skied, snowmobiled, and skimo raced in Colorado’s Gunnison Valley, one of the coldest, snowiest destinations in the United States.
To point, GearJunkie Senior Editor Morgan Tilton specializes in the snowsports category and grew up in the remote mountains of Southwest Colorado, where she still lives and plays from the slopes to the backcountry on snowboard, skis, and snowmobile. She’s worn a ton of ski jackets over the past three decades and has been an outdoor gear journalist including covering snowsports for more than a decade. That includes reporting at nearly 16 outdoor industry trade shows for publications such as the Snow Show Daily.
She penned stories as the Snowboard Editor at Teton Gravity Research. While pursuing backcountry exploration, she’s earned a Wilderness First Responder certificate and three recreational avalanche training courses from the American Institute for Avalanche Research and Education. For two seasons to date, she’s managed the annual GearJunkie Ski and Snowboard Test at Crested Butte Mountain Resort. While she teams up with many gear testers, Tilton also field tests.
To date in 2023, Tilton has tested ski jackets on 59 days and throughout 177 hours of recreation at the resort and in the backcountry. Test rounds faced blizzards, sub-zero temps, harsh wind, heavy and wet snow, plenty of sweat, no blood, and ample sunshine. Though, that tally does exclude her daily shoveling responsibilities in Crested Butte, Colorado.
Gear tester and reviewer Albert Kim is based in Southern Utah. He formerly worked as a ski builder for Wagner Custom Skis in Telluride, Colorado. Despite the desert environment of Southern Utah, he regularly spends time skiing at Brian Head Resort and the surrounding backcountry reaching an elevation of 10,000 feet. Constantly changing conditions has Kim putting his outerwear through its paces, demanding top-tier protection and durability.
Throughout our field tests, we determined the best ski jackets based on a variety of metrics including performance, protection, quality, longevity, fit, functionality, features, size range, and value.
In addition to our personal experience, we also take into consideration the most novel, style-specific, popular, highly rated, and legacy products across a range of price points. These men’s and women’s ski jackets serve a range of athletes, applications, and budgets.
Ski jackets work well for a range of activities outside of laps at your local ski hill or in the backcountry. These winter jackets are so functional that they also work well for shoveling the driveway, walking the dog, snowmobiling, snowboarding, and more.
If you’re on the browse for a jacket that’s more specific to snowboarding, check out our Best Snowboard Jackets of 2023 guide. The main difference is the fit and style as well as brand alliance.
Some ski jackets offer no insulation, which is a versatile option to use across a variety of conditions. You can pull on this waterproof and breathable layer to stay dry and protected from the sun or snow burn if you slide out.
Designs without insulation typically have enough room to add a midlayer and base layer beneath for chilly or cold days. This type of jacket works well for warm spring turns at the resort or powder days when you typically accumulate heat carving turns.
To decide if a non-insulated jacket is right for you, consider the ambient temperatures where you usually ski if there is frequent windchill and your body temperature on the lift.
Other designs are insulated for warmth in cold or windy locations. You can wear an insulated jacket over a base layer without as much consideration for what midlayer to bring along.
Insulated ski jackets can be prime for freezing conditions, S-carves on groomers, and long lift rides with hair-raising gusts. They can also be a good idea for the backcountry to pull on at the top of sweaty climbs, which can often be wind-exposed. For some skiers, though, these jackets can pigeonhole them into donning too much warmth.
The type and warmth level of insulation varies across each jacket from flannel to down-filled panels or synthetic proprietary fabrics.
A two-layer jacket has a face fabric — such as polyester or nylon — connected to an inner liner that protects the fabric, is breathable, and adds comfort. These jackets usually feel less hefty than a three-layer jacket.
Some have an insulation layer, and the outermost surface is usually treated for waterproofness. The price is generally more moderate compared to three-layer jackets.
Dialing up the durability, a three-layer jacket is a waterproof/breathable membrane — often made by GORE-TEX — sandwiched between a tough face fabric and liner. Sometimes the outer fabric is treated for waterproofness. These jackets offer more protection for fierce weather conditions and are pricier.
Broadly, you’ll want to scrutinize how robust you need your jacket to be for the conditions you’ll ski in.
A waterproof jacket is ideal for skiing because weather can be flippant, and you don’t want to run the risk of getting wet from snow or rain. The top-tier standard for waterproofness is GORE-TEX, a membrane integrated into various jacket designs.
The material is waterproof, windproof, and breathable. Some brands have a proprietary version of waterproof/breathable fabrics.
Waterproofness is measured by the amount of water that can be placed atop a fabric before it leaks from 5,000 to 20,000 mm or greater. The latter end of the spectrum leads to a less breathable fabric.
The most waterproof jacket on our list is the Helly Hansen Odin Mountain Infinity Shell Jacket, which provides 30,000mm protection. Jackets at 10,000 mm are adequate for many skiers and riders, though it depends on the environment.
Face fabric treatments, which can be eco-friendly formulas or chemicals toxic to the environment, can also make a jacket waterproof. And some jackets have sealed seams to block moisture.
For high-output skiing on powder days, aim for a jacket with breathability of 10,000-15,000 g. Backcountry skiers and uphill athletes should look for even more breathability — 20,000 g or more.
The breathability of a ski jacket is in a constant balance or pull-game with the waterproofness. Generally, the more waterproof an outerlayer is, the more hard-press the fabric is to be dually breathable. On the far end of that spectrum, imagine your favorite workout t-shirt that you pull on for a hike or the gym: It’s not waterproof but allows your sweat to exit.
If you want a more breathable ski jacket, pay attention to that metric, as well as if there are underarm vents. Of course, you’ll also likely want a jacket that is not insulated if breathability is a priority.
Often ski jackets offer ventilation by way of underarm zippers, which help regulate body temperature. This feature is great for warm-blooded folks or those who ski in warm conditions and for powder days when your body works hard to make turns.
Some underarm zippers are longer than others. The most generous design in our guide is offered in the Outdoor Research Skytour AscentShell Jacket, which stretches from the hem past the entire armpit and to the underside of the arm.
One innovative ventilation design is in the Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell, which has a front-facing and closable mesh vent that parallels the front zipper. In terms of quality, YKK zippers are the toughest.
An ergonomic collar and hood are significant features for face, head, and neck protection against sun, snow, sleet, hail, wind, or rain. Pulling up a hood can help the body retain heat in chilly conditions.
Jacket collars vary in height and ideally have an interior chin guard that feels snug against the face — a key component on a gusty chair lift.
Hoods can be helmet-compatible, which is a priority if you need extra protection and warmth around your face and neck while riding a lift or skiing during a snowstorm. Some hoods are adjustable via elastic pulls. And others have an integrated visor so they don’t collapse beneath moisture. A handful of hoods are removable, while others are fixed.
Powder skirts can be a great addition to a jacket to prevent fluffy flakes from flying up and soaking your base layers or lower back. Some powder skirts are removable, and some have attachment points to connect to your ski pants.
Sleeve cuffs generally have a Velcro closure, though some designs have additional snaps that vary in width. Many cuffs have an inner wrist gaiter — a stretchy fabric for warmth that sometimes has thumbholes to help secure the fabric over the top of the hand.
Most ski jackets include two exterior hand pockets with zip closures, which can be low or placed higher for compatibility with a backpack belt or harness for ski mountaineering. Other exterior pockets can include small pouches on the arm or on the chest. Deep, wide, higher-placed exterior pockets can be nice for stowing a smartphone or notebook in the backcountry.
Interior pockets often have a zip closure, ports for headphones, or a mesh construction with an elastic band at the top. These can be great for chambering a credit card or ID.
Deep, wide interior pockets can be essential for holding backcountry skins, especially if the temperature is crisp and you need to prevent the glue from freezing over between uses. Occasionally, a pocket is insulated to help extend the battery life of your smartphone.
Examine what you’ll need to carry, the adequate pocket size, and if the pockets are located in the most comfortable place for you.
Generally, ski jacket designs land in two camps — trimmer with a more streamlined, athletic fit or roomier and boxier with a more relaxed silhouette. Both can be comfortable. If you’re wearing a backpack in the backcountry, it can be better to wear a well-fitted jacket so the fabric doesn’t get pinched up.
Size-wise, each manufacturer has its own size charts for male and female models. Be sure to take your personal measurements and match them up with the size charts, which can differ across brands.
A handful of companies deliver more size inclusivity with broader offerings in the men’s and women’s categories including Columbia, Obermeyer, and L.L.Bean.
Everyone’s body is unique, so check the exchange and return policy before you buy.
A jacket’s weight can become an important factor for backcountry skiers who often need to stash their jackets in a pack and can’t sacrifice space for bulk.
Similarly, some uphill athletes want to wear a jacket for weather protection but only need a light layer. And occasional resort skiers take laps with a backpack on and might need to store their jackets as the conditions warm.
The lightest jackets in our top picks are 450-550 g: the Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell, and Helly Hansen Odin Infinity 3L Shell Jacket. Heavier jackets are closer to 900-1,000 g.
Ultimately, you shouldn’t compromise a jacket’s safety or comfort features and adequate warmth to drop a little weight.
Ski jackets are specifically constructed to be waterproof/breathable and windproof to protect your health and safety while playing outside in the snow all day.
These designs are also comfortable and ergonomic for the sport’s big movements, like bending over to adjust boots and bindings, planting a pole, or shifting your shoulder orientation while riding moguls.
Overall, it’s a good idea to invest in a ski jacket that will help you stay warm and dry in the conditions where you most often ski.
Study the average temperatures and weather conditions where and when you most often ski. Choose a jacket that will keep you comfortable and dry in your given environment, according to how much body heat you’ll build up during your activity.
Backcountry-centric ski jackets are typically more substantial and slender with specific features for off-piste travel. They’re often more expensive.
If you want a ski jacket that works well for other heat-inducing applications, like shoveling the driveway, look for a noninsulated jacket. You can also choose a jacket that you can add layers beneath.
Alternatively, if you want a cozy jacket for cold-weather walks, low-output commutes, mellow groomer skiing in icebox conditions, or alpine skiing with cold lift rides, choose an insulated jacket.
You’ll also want to mull over your preferred features including adequate pockets and other garnishes like thumbholes in the wrist gaiters and a fixed or removable hood.
Usually, both athletic and relaxed ski jackets are a bit roomy so you can fit a base layer and midlayer beneath if needed.
Each manufacturer has its own size charts for male or female categories. Match up your personal measurements to the size charts and check the return or exchange policy before purchase.
Next to your skin, wear a long-sleeve synthetic base layer. On super-warm spring days, you might even be more comfortable in a synthetic T-shirt.
On colder days and with noninsulated jackets, skiers often opt to add a midlayer — usually a fleece jacket or synthetic jacket.
To learn more about fleece midlayers, read our Best Fleece Jackets for Women and Best Fleece Jackets for men and women guides.
Sure! If the day-to-day outdoor conditions where you live are a match for the jacket’s insulation, waterproofness, and breathability, you could be comfortable wearing that ski jacket as a daily winter driver.
However, a ski jacket can get dirty with time, so it might not be ideal for certain occasions or you might need to wash it more frequently. The wash instructions are unique for each jacket and are located on the interior label.
Also, you might not want to increase the jacket’s wear and tear through daily use. Often, skiers prefer to wear a different cozier, longer, more insulated, more fashion-forward, and quieter style of jacket for everyday use.
The warmest ski jacket is an insulated puffy jacket like the Sync Performance Stretch Puffy Jacket, which has a synthetic fill.
Ski jackets are a long-term investment and worth the money for the protection and comfort they provide in a winter environment.
The most economic options usually range from $200 to $300, and the average cost is $300 to $400. The most robust designs, which can be best for long days in variable conditions, can reach up to $750.
You don’t want a ski jacket to fit tight because skiing requires a lot of freedom of movement. Plus, it’s nice to have room for a comfortable, wicking synthetic long-sleeve beneath the jacket and a fleece midlayer if the temperatures are low or a micro-puffy if the temps plummet.
Hoods offer protection and warmth around your face, head, and neck for chair lift rides and skiing during a snow or wind storm. An ergonomic hood shields the elements, including sun, snow, sleet, hail, wind, and rain.
Pulling up a hood can help the body retain heat in chilly conditions. It’s important to look for a ski jacket with a helmet-compatible hood. Some hoods are removable while others are fixed.
A ski jacket can break down for a multitude of reasons, including exposure to sunshine, rain, and snow. The materials wear due to the rub points of a heavy pack, brushes against equipment, and even contact with human skin.
Frequency of use, the roughness of the activity, and overall user care are factors that can dissolve a jacket, too. If you use your ski jacket for everyday activity, anticipate the jacket will deteriorate faster. Be sure to follow the care instructions, which are unique for each jacket.
You can clean your ski jacket and then reapply the DWR coating to help extend the use.
With so many variables, you can’t predict the exact lifespan of each ski jacket. We typically find ourselves using our favorite well-constructed ski jackets for 5-6 years, but that number is often lower for backcountry gear.
If you ski inbounds a couple of weeks each season and take good care of your jacket, you can easily assume the product life will be longer — even a decade.
Searching for the best ski goggles or a pair of snow goggles for snowmobiling, snowshoeing, or exploring winter storms? We’ve got you covered with our vetted list.
Whether at the resort or in the backcountry, we found the best ski pants of 2023-2024 to fit every style, budget, and adventure.
Based among the awe-inspiring peaks of Crested Butte, Colorado, Morgan Tilton is a Senior Editor for GearJunkie honing the SnowSports Buyer’s Guides alongside warmer coverage. More broadly, she’s an adventure journalist specializing in outdoor industry news and adventure travel stories, which she’s produced for more than a decade and more than 80 publications to date. A recipient of 14 North American Travel Journalists Association awards, when she’s not recovering from high alpine or jungle expeditions she’s usually trail running, mountain biking, or splitboarding in Southwest Colorado, where she grew up and lives today. From resort to backcountry and human-powered to motorized travel, she loves sliding across snow.
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