The Best Ski Jackets to Wear This Winter
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As with other pieces of ski gear, your jacket will dictate how much time you can spend on the mountain. Plus, everyone is different: Some backcountry skiers want a breathable, lightweight jacket for high-output treks, and others want something warm for a relaxed day at the resort. In short, buying a ski jacket requires some work.
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To make things easier, we tested and rounded up some of the best ski jackets to buy online — including picks for men and women — and put together some important tips for making your decision.
The Best Ski Jackets to Buy Right Now
Below are some of the best ski jackets worth picking up this winter, from premium options to affordable insulated jackets to versatile 3-in-1s. Besides testing ski jackets, our staff of product reviewers combed the web to see which jackets were most loved by customers and other experts. Then, we narrowed down our list to jackets that are in-stock (as of writing) at trusted retailers, so you can get a new jacket shipped in time for that upcoming trip.
Editor’s Pick: Arc’teryx Sabre
Runner-Up: The North Face ThermoBall Eco Snow Triclimate
Resort Skiing Pick: Helly Hansen Alpha 4.0
Budget Pick: Columbia Highland Summit Jacket
Backcountry Skiing Pick: Outdoor Research Skytour AscentShell
3-in-1: The North Face Clementine Triclimate Jacket
Premium Pick: Arc’teryx Macai Insulated
Durable Shell: Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell
For First-Timers: Moerdeng Waterproof Ski
Great Value: REI Co-op Powderbound Insulated
1. Arc’teryx Sabre
As far as shells go, Arc’teryx’s Sabre (and women’s Sentinel) is about as good as you can get. Its 80-denier Gore-Tex fabric is extremely durable and capable when it comes to blocking out the elements, but you also get well-placed armpit zippers for ventilation. Overall, it’s a fantastic pick — as long as you’re open to ponying up the cash for this jacket and buying a separate mid-layer.
Promising Customer Feedback: “This is an absolutely perfect outer shell layer in my mind. Its fit is comfortable, it’s breathable, and it’s exceptionally well-made.” – Dbuck
2. The North Face ThermoBall Eco Snow Triclimate
If you’re looking for a jacket that offers a bit more value and almost as much capability as the Arc’teryx, check out The North Face’s ThermoBall Eco Snow Triclimate jacket. The highly-rated 3-in-1 jacket includes a lightweight, waterproof shell that’s fully removable from a Thermoball synthetic liner. It’s a great package, and it’s relatively well-priced (though by no means cheap) at $400.
Promising Customer Feedback: “I really hate feeling bulky in my coat and this proved exceptional warmth without feeling like the Marshmello man.” – Bryant
3. Helly Hansen Alpha 4.0
Like several other experts, we found this Helly Hansen Alpha 4.0 jacket to be near-perfect in resort settings. The fit is extremely comfortable and the warmth is equally good thanks to Primaloft Black Eco synthetic insulation. But the warmth — and the waterproofing — aren’t over-the-top, which we think is ideal for the majority of downhill and park skiers.
Promising Customer Feedback: “Great jacket, fitted perfectly! Warm enough and is not bulky.” – Annie
4. Columbia Highland Summit
If you’re looking for a jacket that’s affordable but not cheap (there’s a big difference), check out this Highland Summit jacket from Columbia. It’s $200 and delivers ample insulation from everything short of seriously frigid storms. The jacket is also loaded with welcome features like pit zips, plenty of well-placed pockets, and a powder skirt. (If you want a truly cheap but still viable jacket for $50, scroll down further to the Moerdeng Waterproof Ski).
Promising Customer Feedback: “This is a replacement for a Columbia Jacket I’ve had for years. Love the upgrade. Light and warm.” – Anonymous
5. Outdoor Research Skytour AscentShell
With a roomier fit for more range of motion, a durable, stretchy fabric, and large vents to regulate body temperature, this shell from Outdoor Research is built for the backcountry. Aptly named the Skytour AscentShell, the jacket is exceptionally lightweight and also provides plenty of space to stash your phone, devices, and other backcountry gear. Reviewers are impressed by this abundance of pockets, as well as the jacket’s overall breathability during tough treks.
Promising Customer Feedback: “Been out in variable weather from 20 deg and snowing to 40 deg and light rain on the slopes, and it has kept me dry and comfortable the whole time. Love the pockets and features as well.” – Michael
6. The North Face Clementine Triclimate Jacket
Another excellent 3-in-1 jacket worth considering is this Clement Triclimate from The North Face. Probably the first thing you’ll notice is that the jacket boasts some throwback-inspired style that we’re big fans of right now. The outer layer is a breathable, waterproof shell, but the removable liner is also DWR (durable water repellent)-treated for even more weatherproofing. It’s another great pick for just about any resort skier, and it’s not too expensive either.
Promising Customer Feedback: “Got this for my boyfriend for Hanukkah and he is obsessed! He’s already worn some form of it to almost everything we’ve done and we haven’t even snowboarded yet!” – Caeleigh
7. Arc’teryx Macai Insulated
At the ultra-high-end of ski jackets is this Arc’teryx Macai. Yes, it’s very expensive ($1,100 for the men’s) but we think in this case you get what you pay for. The Gore-Tex 3-layer fabric offers top-notch waterproofing and breathability, and the Coreloft insulation does an amazing job of regulating body temperature instead of just warming you up. Overall, the jacket is as close to perfect as you’ll find, and it looks great to top it all off.
Promising Customer Feedback: “All in all, incredible. I have honestly tried to think of a negative. I can’t. This is a can’t-lose choice for warmth, comfort, durability, and style” – Loozer
8. Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell
Another shell we recommend to backcountry skiers is this Dawn Patrol Hybrid jacket from Black Diamond. It uses Black Diamond’s proprietary BD.dry membrane fabric, which does a great job of keeping water and wind out while regulating body temperature. You also get some nifty features designed for backcountry skiing like pockets for skins, Recco, and four-way stretch in targeted areas for more movement.
Promising Customer Feedback: “The perfect touring shell: Lightweight, form-fitting, and packable. Love the pit zips.” – Daniel
9. Moerdeng Waterproof Ski
If it’s your very first time skiing — or you’re just trying to spend the least amount of money possible — pick up this Moerdeng ski jacket from Amazon for just $49, as of writing. It’s warm and water-repellent, but you won’t get the lasting quality or performance of the above jackets. Still, reviewers are very happy: The jacket boasts a 4.6/5-star rating with more than 24,500 reviews.
Promising Customer Feedback: “Great quality, at an affordable price. Would definitely order again for the other colors.” – Louise
10. REI Co-op Powderbound Insulated
At $200, this insulated Powderbound jacket from REI Co-op strikes a great balance between performance and price. It’s very comfortable and perfectly suited for slightly warmer, relaxed resort days. You get welcome features like pit zips for ventilation and a powder skirt. Some users do note that the jacket is slightly larger, so you might want to try a size down if you’re unsure.
Promising Customer Feedback: “I rode 20-something times this year in Colorado in all kinds of conditions and was always comfortable. It held up really well, no tears or rips.” – Jacob
How We Chose the Best Ski Jackets
There are lots of technical features — and an overall balance between them — to consider when shopping for the best ski jackets. Below are some of the things we considered while testing and scouring the web; we recommend any prospective buyers get familiar with these terms as well to make the most educated purchase.
Insulation: Perhaps the most important thing for buyers to decide is how much insulation they want. At one end of the insulation spectrum are shells, which offer lightweight, breathable protection from wetness and snowburn. These are ideal for warmer climates or high-intensity days.
At the other end of the spectrum are insulated jackets, which provide warmth for leisurely runs, chilly lift rides, and freezing or stormy temperatures. The downside with insulated jackets is that you’re stuck with the warmth — if it warms up during the day, you might feel overheated. Also, some insulated jackets are warmer than others. Then, in the middle of the spectrum, there are 3-in-1 jackets. These feature a removable insulation piece/mid-layer, letting you choose how much warmth you want.
Waterproofing: Almost every ski jacket will be waterproof off the rack, but the lifespan of that waterproofing can vary depending on the quality of the jacket’s material and construction. Jackets with Gore-Tex membranes (or a proprietary equivalent) are considered the gold standard in the waterproofing department, but, generally, higher-quality jackets from big brands will offer more than enough waterproofing for most skiers.
Ventilation: While warmth and waterproofing are the first ski jacket jobs that come to mind, smart ventilation is crucial too. Temperatures can fluctuate drastically throughout the day, and you might want to use your jacket for more than one kind of skiing. Look for a jacket with plenty of zippered vents or breathable fabrics to help you regulate body your temperature.
Features/Pockets: Little details can make or break a ski jacket. We looked for jackets with clever features like well-placed pockets, powder skirts, pants attachments, and drawcord cinches.
Weight: No one wants to feel weighed down on the mountain. While the above features are paramount, the less weight in a ski jacket the better — no matter what kind of skiing you’re doing.
Customer reviews have been edited for length and clarity
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