We’ve spent the past four years evaluating ski jackets. Here are our top picks. Photo: Tim Manning//The Inertia
Ski jackets are a surprisingly technical piece of gear, needing to balance weather-ready protection, without sacrificing breathability, be light enough not to weigh you down while maintaining durability, and for a product that generally runs around $400-600, they sure as heck better have a full suite of pockets and features to boot.
In this review, the question we sought to answer was: If you were to own one ski jacket for the rest of your life (or at least the next few years), to be used in mid-winter powder, spring slush, sitting on the chairlift, puffing up the skin track, and everything in between, which one would rise to the top? To answer that question, we tested the most highly rated ski jackets from the top manufacturers in the business – at the resort, in the backcountry, and at the après-scene – and have come up with this list of the best ski jackets for 2025.
Our top-pick overall ski jacket for resort-focused shredding is the Trew Gear Cosmic Primo, and our top-pick backcountry jacket is the Mountain Hardwear High Exposure.
Navigate To: Comparison Table | How We Tested | Buyer’s Guide
Related: The Best Ski Bibs | The Best Women’s Ski Jackets | The Best Snowboard Jackets
The Best Ski Jackets of 2025
Best All-Around Shell Ski Jacket: Trew Gear Cosmic Primo
Best All-Around Insulated Ski Jacket: Helly Hansen Alpha 4.0
Best Backcountry Ski Jacket: Mountain Hardwear High Exposure
Best Value Ski Jacket: 686 Smarty 3-in-1 Form Jacket
Best Premium Ski Jacket: Norrona Lofoten GORE-TEX Pro
Best All-Around Shell Ski Jacket
Trew Gear Cosmic Primo ($480)
Style: All-around/freeride
Weight: 737 g (1 lb 10 oz)
Fit: On the wider/boxier side, as most Trew gear runs, size down if between sizes
Notable Features: Deep and plentiful pockets, removable powder skirt
Pros: Durable, versatile, and stylish with tons of pockets and a wide array of colors at a great price
Cons: A bit heavy for dedicated backcountry use
The Cosmic Primo jacket from Trew is a worthy piece of gear with 3L construction, oodles of pockets (five roomy outer pockets and two massive internal dump pockets), and fabric that is super durable but not stiff and fairly breathable. That’s a hard balance to get right, and while the material isn’t the stretchiest (it does have some stretch), the roomy fit makes for completely unrestricted motion and easy layering. It’s hard to believe that it clocks in at under $500. The range of color options are also a definite plus, as are the top-tier Trew bibs that are available in matching colorways.
For backcountry, while it’s not the stretchiness you’ll find in a dedicated touring shell, with large pit zips and a weight that isn’t too off the charts, this shell can do some time out of bounds as well. For dedicated backcountry enthusiasts, there are better jackets (like the Rab Khroma Kinetic, below), but for hitting the resort, you’ll be hard-pressed to find a shell as well-equipped as this one. The only downside for resort shredders that we experienced is the lack of wrist gaiters, which are great for keeping snow out of your sleeves in deeper powder. You can find that feature on the Strafe Nomad, Norrona Lofoten Pro, most Helly Hansen Jackets, and the Mammut Haldigrat, below.
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Photo: Ken Cox//The Inertia
Best Insulated Ski Jacket
Helly Hansen Alpha 4.0 ($475)
Style: All-around
Weight: 1120g (2 lbs 7.5 oz)
Fit: Trim
Notable Features: Wrist gaiters, removable hood, mesh-lined vents, LifePocket for phone
Pros: Great features, balanced insulation
Cons: Not a shell, so runs heavier/warmer, fairly trim fit
In the Alpha 4.0 jacket, legacy ski brand Helly Hansen really shows it has what it takes to stay relevant in today’s quickly evolving world of snowsports. With a slew of integrated features to keep up with the best of the best including some well-tuned and versatile insulation, all belied by the mid-tier price point, the Alpha 4.0 is a dream for the casual resort shredder, as well as those who demand top-tier features but prefer to keep things simple by opting for an insulated ski jacket rather than a shell.
Starting from the outside in, the shell of the jacket is durable, flexible, and exceedingly weatherproof. The insulation is fairly low-profile, so doesn’t restrict movement or provide so much warmth that the jacket can’t be worn in milder temperatures. However, where this jacket really shines is in the features. Five easy-to-access pockets adorn the exterior of the jacket, including an insulated LifePocket for your phone and a drop-in pocket on the inside. Mesh underarm vents let you open the jacket up while keeping out snow, and work with vents built into the insulation on the back of the jacket to circulate air. Wrist gaiters keep snow out of your sleeves, and the hood is removable.
The few downsides to this jacket have to do with the fit and the fact that, as an insulated ski jacket, the Alpha 4.0 has reduced versatility for warm weather or backcountry skiing. The thin insulation isn’t the type to overheat you under normal skiing conditions, but on truly hot spring ski days, you’ll be looking for something lighter. Fit-wise, the jacket runs fairly trim and doesn’t have the longest hem, catering more to the European ski aesthetic than the U.S. one. Another great insulated jacket is the REI Powderbound Insulated, which is a steal at just $230 but lacks the features, styling, and balanced insulation of the Helly Hansen Alpha 4.0. For those looking for a top-tier and versatile insulated jacket at a super reasonable price, look no further.
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Photo: Ken Cox//The Inertia
Best Backcountry Ski Jacket
Mountain Hardwear High Exposure Jacket ($650)
Style: Backcountry
Weight: 442 g (15.6 oz)
Fit: Average, plenty of room to layer up underneath
Notable Features: large vents, thumb loops
Pros: Super lightweight and packable with storm-ready protection
Cons: Thinner material, runs a bit cold
For the 2024/25 season, Mountain Hardwear has given its lightweight High Exposure Jacket a serious facelift. Now made with PFAS-free GORE-TEX ePE, a change that many outerwear companies are making this year due to changing regulations, the jacket has also gained four pockets (two internal and two external), completely disproving our main complaint with the previous version (not enough pockets). A pro or a con depending on how you look at it, the very large underarm vents open directly into the two internal drop-in pockets, letting you access what you’ve got stashed inside without taking the jacket off.
Made from GORE-TEX C-Knit material, the jacket is insanely lightweight (the lightest on this list), super breathable, moves with you fairly well, and somehow still repels weather with ease. It is quite breathable, so you’ll want to layer up for resort riding, but no doubt, this jacket is a piece of gear to get stoked on.
As for drawbacks, pockets used to be an issue, but that’s no longer the case. However, the lightweight material (30 Denier weave) is still fairly thin, so we wouldn’t recommend it for 100% resort use. For that, we’d likely point you towards a jacket like the Flylow Quantum Pro or Trew Gear Cosmic Primo with much burlier face fabrics. That said, it’s not the thinnest on this list (that would be the Khroma Kinetic with 20D fabric), and after a couple of seasons in this jacket, it has yet to let us down. Finally, there is no powder skirt. All that said, you really can’t beat this jacket for lightweight, storm-ready protection for the backcountry.
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Photo: Nick Bruckbauer//The Inertia
Best Value Ski Jacket
686 Smarty 3-in-1 ($300)
Style: All-around
Weight: 2100 g (4 lbs 10.1 oz)
Fit: Boxy
Notable Features: Thumb loops, lots of pockets, removable inner liner jacket
Pros: Great price, protective, warm, and stylish with great features.
Cons: 3-in-1 design can feel bulky, breathability takes a hit
3-in-1 designs occupy an interesting place in the world of ski jackets. Catering more to the budget-conscious buyer, you do end up paying a bit more than your typical “budget” ski jacket, but in doing so you get a thin puffy and an uninsulated shell which combine to create an insulated ski jacket. However, they’re hard to get right as the multiple layers can sometimes feel bulky, or interfere with each other in annoying ways. All that said, it’s impossible to deny the value that you’re getting with a 3-in-1 design.
Out of all of the 3-in-1 jackets we’ve tested, the 686 Smarty 3-in-1 Form Jacket stands out, both in bang-for-buck value and with smart features that demonstrate the thoughtful design behind the jacket. At just $300, it’s a total steal.
Let’s start with the liner jacket. Unlike most 3-in-1 jackets, the 686 liner has interior drop-in pockets, a huge boon as it gives you drop-in options when the liner is zipped into the jacket. The shell is also loaded with features such as a dedicated extra lens pocket, well-designed cuffs with thumb loops to keep the sleeves from hiking up, and more. The material is burly and durable-feeling without being stiff, with solid 20k waterproofing. Styling is solid, with a bit of a boxier, looser fit and great color options.
Breathability is where this jacket takes a bit of a hit, with smaller mesh-lined underarm vents that, like all 3-in-1 jackets we’ve tested, only go through the shell, not the liner.
Briefly, here’s why we chose it above other options 3-in-1 options. Patagonia’s Powder Town 3-in-1 is pricey for a 3-in-1 at $500, and we didn’t feel like it was a significant upgrade for the price. The North Face’s Thermoball Eco Snow Triclimate is a super close runner-up with better breathability and style, but costs $100 more and misses out on some of the features of the 686 design. Columbia’s Whirlibird IV Interchange costs a mere $230 but lacks the styling and features that the 686 Smarty tacks on.
Read our full review of the 686 Smarty 3-in-1 Form Jacket here.
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Photo: Steve Andrews//The Inertia
Best Premium Ski Jacket
Norrona Lofoten GORE-TEX Pro ($799)
Style: All-around
Weight: 698 g (1 lb 8.6 oz)
Fit: Average
Notable Features: Wrist gaiters, front vent/pass-through, attached goggle wipe, removable powder skirt
Pros: Awesome set of features, great fit, top-tier storm-proofing, lightweight and packable
Cons: Expensive, thinner material is a negative in terms of durability, currently not available in black, no hand pockets
If you have yet to hear about Norrona, listen up. A longstanding outdoors brand from Norway with strong roots in mountaineering and freeride skiing, its ski gear has recently caught on here in the U.S. thanks to its uncompromising quality and high-end design.
The Norrona Lofoten GORE-TEX Pro is the brand’s pinnacle ski jacket. It combines innovative features with top-tier materials and fairly neutral styling that will please anyone from freeriders to the all-mountain/”resort-casual” crowd. If your wallet can handle the price point this jacket is a quiver-killer, capable of everything from lapping the resort to multi-day backcountry expeditions.
Features is an area where this jacket stands head-and-shoulders above the competition. Massive underarm vents let you dump heat quickly, and they’re helped by a mesh-covered vent in the front chest area. Two small velcro patches keep the mesh closed, but allow the wearer to fully open that chest vent and access interior pockets without undoing the main zipper, a notable extra. Comfortable wrist gaiters are another plus, as well as a slight drop-tail hem and a removable powder skirt. That said, for resort skiers who like to stuff their pockets full, it’s worth noting that the jacket only has three exterior pockets – two chest pockets and one pass-pocket on the sleeve – as well as two internal pockets, which may be a deal-breaker for some.
Materials-wise, the 70D 3L GORE-TEX Pro fabric provides a smart balance between storm-ready protection and lightweight packability. It’s one of the most protective shells we’ve encountered in our ski jacket testing but does so without the thicker, somewhat bulky fabric we’ve encountered in jackets like the Trew Cosmic Primo or Flylow Quantum Pro. While that’s a plus for packability and feels nice when worn, it does give us some pause when it comes to durability.
So far, the jacket has stood up to the rigors of our testing, but the thinner material feels more prone to tears than the jackets mentioned above. In comparison to the material used in the Arc’teryx Sabre SV further down this list, which clocks in a bit lighter while making use of 100D GORE-TEX Pro fabric, the Sabre SV feels much more durable, but the fabric is stiffer and a bit crinkly, which might not be everyone’s favorite. All that said, for the ultimate in all-mountain versatility with a great fit, technical fabric, and some awesome features, Norrona’s Lofoten jacket proves to be well worth the high price tag.
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Photo: Ken Cox//The Inertia
Other Ski Jackets We Love
Runner-Up Best All-Around
Flylow Quantum Pro ($430)
Style: All-around/freeride
Weight: 657 g (1 lb 7.2 oz)
Fit: Roomy
Notable Features: Zippered drop-in pockets
Pros: Great set of pockets and features, lightweight but durable and storm-ready
Cons: Stiffer material
Last season we tried two jackets from Flylow. The first was the Lab Coat, which is an awesome jacket, but skimps on pocket space, and didn’t make the cut for this review. Flylow quickly sent us another jacket to try out, the Quantum Pro, and in testing we found everything that we were missing with the Lab Coat, namely plenty of storage space, making this jacket a winner for on and off-piste activities.
Other than being a fairly lightweight, very durable jacket, with a solid, roomy fit that had plenty of room for layering, the standout features of the Quantum Pro are its cleverly designed pockets. Two interior stretch dump pockets are basically an industry standard at this point, but Flylow did something a little differently with the Quantum Pro, having the interior dump pockets integrated into the lining of the jacket, with wide zippered openings at the top. The pockets aren’t stretchy like the classic dump pocket, but the wide opening is plenty big enough to shove a pair of gloves or mittens into and the top zipper means you can secure whatever you want to keep inside so it doesn’t fall out when you take a tumble.
The only downsides to this jacket are fairly nit-picky. Flylow’s in-house waterproofing is awesome, but it just isn’t GORE-TEX. Also, in prioritizing both low weight and durability, the jacket’s shell material has a stiffer feel to it, especially on the shoulders where an even more durable material is used. It’s not a glaring issue, but it is one that we noticed in relation to more mobile jackets like the Trew Cosmic Primo, above. The Primo material that Trew uses is just as durable but moves better and weighs a bit more. It’s up to you whether you prioritize a bit lower weight with the Quantum Pro or a bit more pliable material with the Cosmic Primo.
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Runner-Up Best Backcountry Ski Jacket
Rab Khroma Kinetic ($385)
Style: Backcountry
Weight: 538 g (1 lb 3 oz)
Fit: Slimmer fit with some room to layer underneath
Notable Features: Alternative venting system
Pros: Top-tier breathability, very lightweight and mobile material
Cons: Not many pockets, lightweight/breathable material isn’t our first choice for resort skiing
The Rab Khroma Kinetic jacket perfectly strikes the delicate balance necessary for a backcountry-ready ski jacket. This stretchy hardshell is breathable, comfortable, and somehow still weather-ready, fully capable of blocking snow, rain, and some wind. The “breathable” aspect of the jacket does allow more wind in than most would want in a resort-skiing jacket (there also is no powder skirt), but for backcountry pursuits, this jacket is a definite winner.
One key feature of this jacket is the unique venting system that makes use of a mesh lining on the inside of the two front pockets to allow air to enter the front of the jacket and escape through the back of the jacket with ventilation zips on the back of the arms, rather than the traditional pit-zips. We are big fans of this feature, finding that it does a great job of evacuating heat while you move.
The only downside to this feature is storage, as you have to leave those front pockets open for the venting to take effect, but there is a pocket within that larger pocket (that zips) to provide secure storage for a phone or a couple of smaller items. In the interest of weight, the jacket does not have hand pockets, either. For resort skiing, the jacket has decent durability, but is not as good as one might find in a jacket like the Trew Cosmic Primo or Flylow Quantum Pro. The breathability is worth noting here as well, as, for colder resort days, you’ll want to layer up more than you normally would underneath this jacket. If you’re interested in a similarly breathable, but more robust backcountry jacket, check out the OR Skytour Ascentshell, below. Try the Mountain Hardwear High Exposure for a similarly lightweight design with more pockets and traditional underarm vents.
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Runner-Up Best Value Ski Jacket
REI Co-Op First Chair GTX ($320)
Style: All-around
Weight: 785 g (1 lb 11.7 oz)
Fit: A bit on the wider side, REI offers this jacket in the widest array of sizes we’ve seen
Notable Features: Gore-Tex material, lots of pockets
Pros: Great price and features with a clean look and sustainable chops
Cons: 2L construction means reduced breathability and a bit of added bulk
The REI First Chair GTX surprised us – for a fully-featured and GORE-TEX-ed jacket made of recycled material, a price tag of $320 is pretty wild. Sure, the First Chair sports a 2L construction rather than a 3L like most other jackets on this list (see the buyer’s guide below for more info on that), but for those skiing in bounds, the breathability of a 3L won’t be as necessary as it is for hard chargers or backcountry skiers ready to drop the cash to get the best of the best for their ski kit. What is important for value-oriented resort skiing is pockets, durability, and waterproofing. Pockets-wise, the First Chair is equipped with a slew of exterior pockets and two interior pockets (one dump pocket and one media pocket). When it comes to durability and waterproofing, the GORE-TEX shell provides both in spades.
We found the First Chair jacket to be exceedingly comfortable, with a bit of a looser fit to layer up underneath and a durable but flexible exterior. Styling wasn’t our absolute favorite, with a bit of a boxy-looking fit compared to more “freeride-inspired” ski jackets in this review like the Strafe Nomad, but it does come in some fun colors for the 2025 season. Finally, the 2L construction is a bit bulkier than a 3L shell, but again, for value-oriented resort skiing that’s not too much of a concern, and the internal lining provides a bit of added comfort on warmer spring ski days when you aren’t wearing a midlayer underneath.
Runner-Up Best Premium Ski Jacket
Arc’teryx Sabre SV ($900)
Style: All-around/freeride
Best Use: Resort and backcountry
Weight: 595 g (1 lb 5 oz)
Fit: Quite oversized with a baggy fit and long hem
Notable Features: GORE-TEX Pro Most Rugged shell material, longer cut hem
Pros: Bombproof, lightweight, and surprisingly breathable
Cons: The most expensive jacket on this list, material is fairly stiff, especially before it wears in a bit
The Arc’teryx Sabre SV is a bombproof shell that uses GORE-TEX Pro Most Rugged material for a super-durable, while at the same time lightweight and breathable shell.
To say that Arc’teryx has a stranglehold on the North American ski market is an understatement. While this review is based on our experiences with the ski jackets we’ve chosen to include, we’re also constantly taking stock of the rad-looking kits we see in the lift line, and the past couple of years have seen a lot of Arc’teryx out there. From the classic all-around Beta shell to the ski-specific Sabre series, Arc’teryx rules many an American ski resort. And with good reason. Their materials and design process is top-tier, the fairly minimalist, overall Arc’teryx aesthetic fits into a variety of looks (resort-casual, freeride, etc.), and comes with a limited lifetime warranty (meaning Arc’teryx will fix anything that breaks).
The Sabre SV fits into the same minimalist Arc’teryx aesthetic, but unlike most other pieces from the brand, which tend to fit slimmer (Arc’teryx describes the fit of the regular Sabre jacket as “clean but not restrictive,” and we’d agree), it has a very baggy fit, bordering on oversized, with a wider torso and significantly longer hem.
The material is about as light and bombproof as they come, and decidedly breathable for a hardshell. It forgoes the light flannel backer of the regular Sabre jacket which helps breathability. Other differences between these two jackets are the burlier shell material of the SV (100 Denier vs. 80) and the SV’s baggier fit.
The biggest downsides to the jacket are the price, and what I would call the classic conundrum of ski jackets. You know the saying: “Choose two: fast, cheap, or good”? For waterproof ski outerwear, the analogy would be: “Choose two: durable, lightweight, or stretchy/flexible.” In going for lightweight and durable, the material of the Sabre SV is a bit stiff and crinkly, at least until it wears in a bit more. If you’re someone who doesn’t like to hear their ski jacket when they move, a jacket like the Trew Cosmic Primo might be a better choice for you. Another top-tier shell jacket we’ve tested is the Norrona Lofoten, which provides more features, and less durable, but also less crinkly material.
Check Price on EvoRunner-Up Best “Insulated”
Patagonia Storm Shift ($499)
Style: All-around/freeride
Weight: 817 g (1 lb 12.8 oz)
Fit: Average, somewhat trim
Notable Features: Fleece lining, 2L GORE-TEX ePe shell
Pros: GORE-TEX protection, Patagonia sustainability, a bit of extra warmth, and a great price
Cons: 2L design with fleece lining runs warm and a bit heavy, reducing the jacket’s versatility for touring
Patagonia’s Storm Shift jacket packs a punch, with a GORE-TEX ePe waterproof membrane, thin fleece lining for added warmth, a durable outer shell, all of the features you’d expect from a ski jacket in terms of pockets and venting, and a sustainable design with mostly recycled materials, all for a reasonable price of $500.
This season, Patagonia completely revamped its ski and snowboard outerwear line with an increased focus on sustainability. The Powder Town collection sits at the bottom, with 2L construction and Patagonia’s H2No waterproofing. In the “mid-tier” lies the SnowDrifter jacket, a stretchy and versatile 3L shell with H2No, the super-lightweight, backcountry-intended Stormstride jacket (also with H2No), and the Storm Shift with GORE-TEX ePe. At the top of the line sits the Untracked Jacket (check it out further down this list), a tough and versatile 3L GORE-TEX ePe shell. Throughout the line, you’ll find a hefty dose of recycled materials and unpretentious, durable designs that thrive in a wide variety of conditions.
The Storm Shift uses a 2L construction to provide the protection of GORE-TEX without the higher price point that jackets with such technology usually command. You are paying a bit more for the sustainability of this jacket, but if you want that and GORE-TEX, $500 should feel like a steal.
In testing, we were quite impressed with the durability of the shell, which is burly, but not crinkly, similar to the Untracked jacket from Patagonia. Unfortunately, due to the weight and warmth that comes with a fleece lining, along with the bulk and decreased breathability of a 2L design, this wouldn’t be our first choice for ski touring, but the extra warmth was very nice on storm skiing days at the resort. If you want Patagonia’s sustainability for backcountry recreation, we’d point you towards the SnowDrifter for a bit more versatile and durable design, the Stormstride for ultra-lightweight but still waterproof protection, and the Untracked for top-tier GORE-TEX waterproofing and bombproof durability in a 3L design.
In comparison to other jackets with thin fleece linings for comfort such as the Arc’teryx Sabre and The North Face’s Summit Verbier, the Storm Shift has one of the more pronounced/warmest fleece linings that we’ve seen in a ski jacket without it being considered a truly “insulated” design. The Storm Shift also comes in an insulated version with synthetic insulation and a baffled interior that forgoes the zig-zag fleece lining of the “uninsulated” version. Finally, as with any Patagonia product, it’s worth noting the brand’s Ironclad guarantee, where they’ll fix your stuff, basically no matter what.
Check Price on EvoLightweight All-Around Ski Jacket
Strafe Outerwear Nomad Jacket ($680)
Style: Hybrid
Weight: 625 g (1 lb 6 oz)
Fit: Looser/freeride
Notable Features: Wrist gaiters, internal pocket organization, removable powder skirt
Pros: Fully-featured but backcountry-ready jacket, lightweight
Cons: Material is not quite as durable as more resort-oriented jackets
Strafe Outerwear, a smaller ski brand founded in 2011 in Aspen, Colorado has been somewhat off the radar of the general ski market, but it certainly deserves a moment in the spotlight. Strafe’s Nomad Jacket is one of our favorites that we tested the past two seasons, combining super lightweight and breathable materials with complete weatherproofing and a full set of features including seven roomy pockets, wrist gaiters, and tons of adjustability such as a three-way adjustable hood, underarm vents, a removable powder skirt, and hem adjustment.
That full set of features is a surprising combo paired with the very breathable and lightweight eVent material the jacket is constructed of – in our experience, that level of backcountry-ready material in a jacket tends to signal the sacrifice of other features in the name of weight-savings, making this jacket a fairly unique combo. The result is a super capable ski jacket that can take on the backcountry with ease, but won’t hold you back on the resort (or force you to wear a backpack) in doing so.
The breathable fabric does mean you’ll likely want to layer up a bit more underneath on stormy, lift-assisted days. It’s also not quite as durable-feeling as some of the burlier resort shells on this list (though we have yet to encounter any issues), but the versatility the jacket provides as a result of the lightweight material is pretty incredible. If you are looking for a jacket that is breathable and lightweight enough for dedicated backcountry use but doesn’t skimp on features as a result like the Rab Khroma Kinetic, look no further.
Check Price on StrafeVersatile and Durable Hybrid Shell
Black Diamond Recon Stretch ($450)
Style: All-around
Weight: 769 g (1 lb 11 oz)
Fit: Average – room to layer but also a clean, trim fit
Notable Features: Stretchy, hardshell material
Pros: Stretchy, yet bomber hardshell material, great fit
Cons: A bit heavy overall
Black Diamond’s Recon Stretch Jacket does very little wrong. It has a solid set of pockets and stretchy and breathable material, and to cap it all off, it’s very durable. The fit is on-point, and the stretchy material moves with you rather than restricting movement like some stiffer materials on this list. As a shell, and a stretchier/more breathable one at that, it loses a few points on warmth, so for resort skiing, you may end up going with a slightly warmer mid/baselayer for storm skiing days. And Black Diamond’s BD.dry waterproofing doesn’t have the same proven track record as GORE-TEX, but so far, so good.
For a 50/50 resort/backcountry shell, you can’t go wrong with this one. Those who spend more time in the backcountry than on the resort might find themselves a bit disappointed by the weight. As such, they would likely find a more backcountry-specific shell like the Rab Khroma Kinetic, Mountain Hardwear High Exposure, or OR Skytour to be better options. But for resort riding durability that can also take on the backcountry, this jacket is a top-tier pick. It was a tough choice between this one and the Flylow Quantum Pro for Runner-Up Best All-Around. We ended up choosing the Quantum Pro due to its lighter weight and roomier fit, but you can’t go wrong with either one.
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Great Value Backcountry Ski Jacket
OR Skytour Ascentshell Jacket ($430)
Style: Backcountry
Weight: 627 g (1 lb 6 oz)
Fit: Average, a little boxier, room to layer
Notable Features: Lots of pockets for a backcountry design
Pros: Super breathable and comfortable backcountry shell jacket, great price
Cons: Wind protection takes a hit with the breathability
OR’s Skytour Ascentshell was tough not to place in a top spot for backcountry ski jackets. There really is not a lot wrong with this jacket, other than the fact that it runs a little cold, and is not as light as some other options we reviewed. This jacket repels rain and snow with ease and does a solid job of cutting the wind, but runs a little colder than a true hardshell in windy conditions thanks to the more breathable material.
That said, when it comes to backcountry outerwear, breathability has to be a main consideration if you don’t want to be miserable for 90 percent of the time you’re out there, and while it wasn’t as breathable as our runner-up, the Rab Khroma Kinetic, we definitely appreciated the level up in breathability that we experienced here. What this jacket does have over lighter-weight backcountry ski jackets is a bit of added durability and a full set of pockets for storing all of your gear. With a super competitive price point, it’s hard to believe this jacket is as awesome as it is.
Sustainable GORE-TEX
Patagonia Untracked ($700)
Style: All-around
Weight: 620 g (1lb 6 oz)
Fit: Average
Notable Features: Media pocket can be accessed from inside or outside the jacket
Pros: Patagonia sustainability with the proven protection of GORE-TEX
Cons: Limited color selection, pricey
GORE-TEX is the industry standard for a reason. Their waterproof/breathable membrane is hard to beat, having had a patent-fueled head start on the competition. However, due to the PFAS used in its waterproofing materials, GORE-TEX has historically not done so well in sustainability. For a while now, Patagonia has stuck to its own waterproofing materials for most of its products for that reason. But behind the scenes, Patagonia and Gore were working on a waterproof membrane free of PFAS – GORE-TEX ePE.
Last season, Patagonia revealed the Untracked Jacket and Bibs, a supremely well-balanced shell kit made with 3L PFC-free and 100% recycled GORE-TEX ePE material with a light flannel backing. As far as we can tell no compromises on performance are made with the introduction of recycled and more sustainable materials into the GORE-TEX formula. The jacket material is durable but not too stiff, moving exceedingly well with both up and downhill movement. It also clocks in on the lighter end of the spectrum, about the same weight as the OR Skytour, above, at 620 grams.
A fairly full set of features includes two exterior handwarmer pockets, a pass pocket, one internal drop-in pocket, and one chest pocket that has a pass-through zipper to access a media pocket on the inside. Unfortunately, since the media pocket has its zippered opening on the top of the pocket, the pass-through is really only usable with the media pocket and doesn’t function to access pockets on other parts of your layers. Other than that small nit-pick, the only downside to the jacket is the price – sustainable GORE-TEX doesn’t come cheap. Factoring in that aspect, this jacket lives up to the price, but it wasn’t a top pick in this highly competitive field of ski jackets with more affordable options like the Trew Gear Cosmic Primo or Flylow Quantum Pro offering similar performance for close to $250 less.
As with any Patagonia product, it’s an oversight not to mention their dedication to making gear last. Plenty of other brands have warranties, some as good as Patagonia’s, but their Ironclad Guarantee is the o.g. “we’ll fix your gear no matter what happens” promise.
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Fully-Featured Freeride
Mammut Haldigrat Jacket ($625)
Style: Hybrid
Weight: 651 g (1 lb 7 oz)
Fit: Roomy freeride fit
Notable Features: Wrist gaiters, lightweight material
Pros: Durable but lightweight and comfortable, great features such as wrist gaiters
Cons: Not the warmest
Mammut’s Haldigrat Jacket came into this review swinging with a lightweight and breathable 3L shell, complete with a full feature set, including wrist gaiters, a favorite feature of ours that helps create a better seal between cuff and glove.
Besides the wrist gaiters, the jacket is surprisingly durable given its lightweight construction and being quite flexible (not stiff like some other “lightweight but durable” options). Pocket space is more than sufficient, with two deep chest pockets, two hand pockets, and two internal pockets (one drop-in and one zippered). The shell material is quite breathable, but storm-ready while retaining easy movement and low weight.
It’s not the warmest, or the most durable jacket on this list, but it strikes an incredible balance between those two aspects, easy movement, and low weight, making this jacket another awesome hybrid shell with a bit more emphasis on backcountry performance over resort readiness. In comparison to others on this list, it’s the most similar to the Strafe Outerwear Nomad jacket, which similarly strikes a lightweight balance with full features and easy movement. We preferred the Nomad over the Haldigrat due to a few minor points (the Nomad’s wrist gaiters have thumb holes to help keep the cuff protected during movement, and we loved the Nomad’s internal pocket organization), but you can’t go wrong with either one.
Helly Hansen Sogn Tinden Jacket ($475)
Style: All-around/freeride
Best Use: Resort and light backcountry use
Weight: 1000 g (2 lb 3.2 oz)
Fit: Loose but not baggy
Notable Features: Ventilation zips offer exterior access to interior pockets, very comfortable wrist gaiters, Life Pocket+ for phone
Pros: Burly but mobile shell, great feature set
Cons: Too heavy for dedicated backcountry use, available colors aren’t our favorites
The Sogn Tinden jacket from Helly Hansen is a versatile workhorse and a jacket that, in testing, really surprised us – we found ourselves reaching for it time and time again throughout the season.
Helly Hansen has earned its spot as “ol’ reliable” in ski outerwear. Founded in 1877 in Norway making waterproof gear for sailors, the brand has kept pace with the ever-evolving world of snow sports without losing its edge. While it may not offer all of the techy awesomeness that is par for the course with brands like Norrona, Rab, or Arc’teryx, what the brand does offer is high-performing resort-oriented features, durable designs, and a wide range of price points from budget, insulated pieces to top-tier backcountry-oriented gear.
The fit of the Sogn Tinden is loose but not overly baggy, with a style that works for both freeride outfits and a more resort-casual aesthetic. We’re also big fans of the material – burly but pliable, similar to the material of the Trew Cosmic Primo. Not the lightest or most packable for those who mostly tour, but quite breathable. Wrist gaiters are a feature that is catching on, and Helly Hansen has the design of its wrist gaiters on lock – we love how soft and comfortable the wrist gaiters are on this jacket and the Alpha 4.0, the most comfortable that we’ve tested this season.
Venting is one aspect of the jacket that some will like and others may not. Instead of the traditional underarm vents, the jacket has diagonal slash vents on the ribs. In testing, we found this style to ventilate just as well as underarm vents, though they are a bit less protective in inclement weather, and are more prone to letting snow inside. Not overly so, but worth keeping in mind. What we love about those vents, however, is that they let you access the interior drop-in pockets without unzipping the front zip of the jacket. Finally, the colors on offer aren’t our favorites, but the jacket does come in a classic black, which is what we opted for.
Check Price on Helly Hansen
The Arc’teryx Rush Jacket has a clean, trim design. Photo: Ryan Salm//The Inertia
Honorable Mentions
Unfortunately, there are just too many awesome ski jackets on the market for us to include them all here, and we had to make some pretty tough decisions in coming up with the above list of our top picks.
First off, we’d like to mention the backcountry-oriented Arc’teryx Rush Jacket. As we’ve tested more easy-moving and breathable options this year, we had to cut this one from the list, but it certainly gets a nod for its combination of durable materials and low weight, though breathability and features (like pockets) take a hit.
Helly Hansen’s Elevation Infinity 3.0 is another jacket we’ve enjoyed with a freeride fit and style, wrist gaiters, and a no-DWR-necessary waterproofing. We found this new technology to be a great choice for those who don’t want to bother with re-upping their DWR periodically, but performance-wise we found the material’s water repellency didn’t repel water for as long as a true DWR.
The Environ Jacket from Stio is another one we’ve enjoyed with durable materials and a removable hood. It’s basically the shell version of the Helly Hansen Alpha 4.0 which got a top-tier spot from us this year.
Finally, we’d like to address the question of the Best Budget Ski Jacket. First off, some ski season buying advice: Everything will be cheaper at the end of the season, and there are certainly some deals to be scored in early fall as well. With that in mind, what is the best budget ski jacket? Whatever has got the hottest sale going. Consignment and thrift stores can also be a great option. However, if it’s mid-season and you’re looking to buy a brand new ski jacket at a budget price, we’d recommend either our Best Value pick the 686 Smarty 3-in-1 Form Jacket (which gives you a shell and a liner jacket in one) our Runner-Up Best Value the REI Co-op First Tracks, or the Powderbound Insulated ($230) also from REI.
Resort shredding in the Helly Hansen Alpha 4.0. Photo: Tim Manning//The Inertia
Best Ski Jackets Comparison Table
| Jacket | Price | Style | Weight | Material/Waterproofing | Fit |
| Trew Gear Cosmic Primo | $480 | All-around/ freeride | 737 g (1 lb 10 oz) |
3L PNW Primo Fabric | Boxy |
| Helly Hansen Alpha 4.0 | $475 | All-around | 1120 g (2 lbs 7.5 oz) | 2L Helly Tech Pro | Trim |
| Mountain Hardwear High Exposure | $650 | Backcountry | 442 g (15.6 oz) | 3L GORE-TEX C-Knit | Boxy |
| 686 Smarty 3-in-1 Form Jacket | $300 | All-around | 2100 g (4 lbs 10.1 oz) | 2L infiDRY | Boxy |
| Norrona Lofoten GORE-TEX Pro | $799 | All-around | 698 g (1 lb 8.6 oz) | 3L GORE-TEX Pro | Average |
| Flylow Quantum Pro | $430 | All-around/ freeride | 656 g (1 lb 7 oz) | 3L Intuitive | Average-boxy |
| Rab Khroma Kinetic | $385 | Backcountry | 538 g (1 lb 3 oz) |
3L PFC-Free DWR | Average |
| REI First Chair GTX | $320 | All-around | 785 g (1 lb 11.7 oz) | 2L GORE-TEX | Average |
| Arc’teryx Sabre SV | $900 | All-around/ freeride | 595 g (1 lb 5 oz) | 3L GORE-TEX Pro Most Rugged | Baggy |
| Patagonia Storm Shift | $500 | All-around/ freeride | 817 g (1 lb 12.8 oz) | 2L GORE-TEX | Average |
| Strafe Outerwear Nomad Jacket | $680 | Hybrid | 625 g (1 lb 6 oz) | 3L eVent | Roomy/freeride |
| Black Diamond Recon Stretch | $450 | All-around/ hybrid | 769 g (1 lb 11 oz) |
3L BD.dry | Average |
| OR Skytour Ascentshell Jacket | $430 | Backcountry/ hybrid | 627 g (1 lb 6 oz) |
3L AscentShell fabric | Average-boxy |
| Patagonia Untracked | $700 | All-around | 620 g (1lb 6 oz) | 3L recycled GORE-TEX | Average |
| Mammut Haldigrat | $625 | Hybrid | 651 g (1 lb 7 oz) | 3L DRYtechnology Pro | Average-slim |
| Helly Hansen Sogn Tinden | $475 | All-around/ freeride | 1000 g (2 lb 3.2 oz) | 3L Helly Tech Pro | Loose |
A good all-around shell jacket should take you from the backcountry to the resort, storm skiing, bluebird days, and everything in between. Photo: Nick Bruckbauer//The Inertia
How We Tested The Best Ski Jackets
We rated each jacket on its durability, comfort, features, and breathability/ventilation. Style, as it always is in skiing, was, of course, a consideration, but since that differs from person to person, we left that rating out of the overall score and instead have done our best to point out options we found to be particularly steezy. For consistency, we mostly tested 3L shell jackets, focusing on all-mountain, do-anything durability and features.
Our lead tester for this review is Will Sileo, a certified powder hound who spends his winters based in North Lake Tahoe. With powder as the priority, you can usually find him on the resort as the snow is falling, and out in the backcountry when the snowpack settles. With mixed resort/backcountry use, and the variable conditions that Tahoe is known for, Sileo has the right testing conditions to determine the best all-around ski jackets on the market.
Testing the Strafe Outerwear Nomad Jacket and Bibs. Photo: Ella Boyd//The Inertia
We first published this article in March of 2023, after a very cold and snowy winter in the American West, which proved to be the perfect arena to put the best ski jackets of 2022/2023 to the test. And that’s exactly what we did, in bounds and out, on groomers, skin tracks, boot packs, and powder fields, in the middle of winter and up until it got too warm to ski in a jacket, we tested more than 20 different ski jackets from the top manufacturers in the industry, and not all of them made the cut.
In 2023/24, we added six new jackets, including the Flylow Quantum Pro which overtook the Mammut Haldigrat for best crossover resort/backcountry jacket, as well as jackets from up-and-coming brands like Stio and Strafe, and new-this-season products. In the fall of 2024/25, we added more comparison information to help you choose the right jacket for your needs, and in our mid-late season update in March of 2025, we added six more new jackets based on continued testing, and updated our photos after a recent testing trip to Palisades Tahoe.
Want to learn more about what to look for in a ski jacket? Read on. Photo: Tim Manning//The Inertia
Best Ski Jackets Buyer’s Guide
Features to Look For
Pockets
When it comes to ski outerwear, pockets matter. Maybe they matter more to some people than others, but even those who ski with a backpack will want to keep some small items closer at hand. In our jacket pockets, you’ll usually find some lip balm, a voile strap, a ski pass, my phone, a Swiss Army knife, and maybe an energy bar or two. As such, solid exterior pockets, often either on the chest or at the hip, are a necessity. Some jackets like the Flylow Quantum Pro place those hip pockets higher up, so they’re still accessible with a backpack on.
Interior dump pockets are a fairly essential feature. Photo: Nick Bruckbauer//The Inertia
we’re also huge suckers for interior drop pockets. These big mesh squares inside a jacket let you store skins and keep them warm for backcountry expeditions, dry out a pair of foggy goggles, or stash gloves when walking around the lodge. One interior drop pocket should be a ski jacket essential, and two are preferred.
An innovative front vent on the Norrona Lofoten Pro uses velcro to stay shut and can be opened up to access interior pockets – like those on your bibs. Photo: Tim Manning//The Inertia
Another awesome pocket feature that not a single jacket on this list has is a “pass-through” pocket. Back in the day, lead tester Will Sileo used to have a Tenacity Pro jacket from Mountain Hardwear. His favorite feature on it was that one of the two chest pockets wasn’t a pocket at all but opened up to the inside, letting him access whatever would be in the interior drop pockets, or the chest pockets of a pair of bibs, without unzipping the front jacket zipper. That jacket is now about a decade old and has been discontinued, and the feature isn’t one often seen in ski jackets, but it’s making a comeback. One jacket on this list with that feature is the Norrona Lofoten Pro.
Internal pocket organization is a super useful feature and helps keep your phone and other items from banging around while you ski. Photo: Nick Bruckbauer//The Inertia
Some jackets on this list like the Strafe Nomad also feature internal pocket organization — pockets inside of pockets to help keep things organized and secure. Sound overkill? Actually, it’s super useful, letting you keep smaller items from jostling around while you ski without needing to make the pockets smaller.
A helmet-compatible hood is essential for storm skiing days. Photo: Tim Manning//The Inertia
Hood
Hoods are another feature that can be done wrong but also can be done very, very well. Look for the keyword “helmet-compatible hood” when purchasing, meaning the hood is big enough to accommodate your noggin with a helmet on. However, those helmet-compatible hoods are often a bit roomy when used without a helmet unless it’s got a decent bit of adjustability (the keyword to look for is “two-way” adjustability) to cinch down to the size of your head. Keep an eye out for those buzzwords. Some jackets like the Stio Environ and Helly Hansen Alpha 4.0 let you remove the hood for bluebird days.
Big pit vents let you evacuate hot air quickly on warm days. Photo: Tim Manning//The Inertia
Ventilation
If you’re looking for one jacket to wear in all conditions, there will come a time when you’ll need some ventilation, whether that’s puffing up the skin track or spring skiing. Even the most breathable ski jacket, if made of hardshell waterproof material, won’t be able to keep up with the human body’s needs at peak output. Pit zips are the most common form of jacket ventilation and are a pretty good compromise between letting air out and (hopefully) not letting snow in. Rab’s Khroma Kinetic has a different ventilation style with front and back vents that help move air through the jacket while you’re moving, but sacrifice pocket space in doing so.
The vents on the Mountain Hardwear High Exposure Jacket open up into the interior pockets – a pro or a con, depending on how you look at it. Photo: Nick Bruckbauer//The Inertia
Other Features
There are a ton of other features that go into the making of the best ski jackets. One of them is the snow skirt. For those who wear bibs, this is a bit of a “who cares?” feature, so if you’re a bibber and a weight-saver, it might be worth looking for a jacket with a removable snow skirt like the Trew Gear Cosmic Primo.
Removable snow skirts are nice, but hardly necessary. Photo: Tim Manning//The Inertia
Our favorite new feature that’s just gaining traction and popping up on a few jackets are wrist gaiters, a small, thin cuff with thumb holes that goes under your gloves and keeps out the snow. They’re incredibly effective for under and over-the-sleeve styles of mittens and gloves and keep your jacket sleeves from hitching up. They’re a standout feature on the Mammut Haldigrat, most Helly Hansen jackets, the Norrona Lofoten Pro, and the Strafe Nomad and we hope to see them on more ski jackets in the next few years.
Wrist gaiters are a feature that’s gaining in popularity as a great way to keep snow out of your sleeves. Photo: Tim Manning//The Inertia
Material
When it comes to the material your jacket is made of, you’ve got a lot of great options, and there’s always going to be a few trade-offs. Weight and durability tend to go hand-in-hand – gains in one category tend to eat away at the score of the other. However, you can also get a more lightweight and durable jacket by using a stiffer material like that used in the Flylow Quantum Pro. Weatherproofing and breathability are another trade-off point – while all the jackets on this list are extremely waterproof, more breathable jackets like the Rab Khroma Kinetic are less windproof, and you’ll likely want to layer up underneath on storm days.
Ripping it up in The North Face Summit Series Verbier kit. Photo: Ming Poon//The Inertia
To be fair, it’s very hard to beat GORE-TEX material in terms of waterproofing and durability, but it won’t always be the winner when it comes to weight and breathability. Proprietary fabrics and DWR finishes like Mammut’s DRYtechnology Pro, Black Diamond’s BD.dry, Flylow’s Perm HD fabric and others are catching up and sometimes even beating GORE-TEX in one or more of the aforementioned key categories. GORE-TEX also comes in a few different constructions these days, such as the lightweight and breathable GORE-TEX C-Knit used in the Mountain Hardwear High Exposure, or the burly GORE-TEX Pro Most Rugged used in the Arc’teryx Rush. But when it comes to designing a great ski jacket, all of those factors need to work together.
Strafe Outerwear’s Nomad Kit was designed for a mix of backcountry and resort use, with an emphasis on backcountry breathability and resort-ready features. Photo: Ella Boyd//The Inertia
Another point of distinction is 2L vs. 3L material. Both types have a waterproof (but importantly, breathable) membrane sandwiched by an exterior layer on the outside for durability and an inner lining on the inside. The outside layer is then coated in a Durable Water Repellent (DWR) finish that keeps water from seeping in and adding weight as well as reducing breathability. This DWR will wear out with use, but is easily revived with special washes.
Patagonia’s Storm Shift jacket is a 2L design, and the interior liner is a soft zig-zag fleece that provides a dose of extra warmth. Photo: Tim Manning//The Inertia
In a 3L design, all three layers – inside, outside, and the waterproof membrane – are fused together. 2L material has the outer two layers fused together and the inside liner (often mesh) hanging separately. For those hitting the backcountry, 3L material is far and away the top choice for increased breathability and reduced bulk, whereas if you’re hitting the resort, 2L (like the REI First Chair) will do just fine, and keep a few bucks in your pocket, too.
A solid DWR will keep water from soaking into the face fabric, and a waterproof membrane (like GORE-TEX) will keep you dry when the DWR is overwhelmed. Photo: Skyler Fitzmaurice//The Inertia
DWRs and PFAS
So-called “forever chemicals” are a hot topic these days. From non-stick pans to ski jackets, PFAS (per- and poly-fluoroalkyl substances, of which there are thousands) have been used as a way to repel water, stains, and create that nonstick coating on pans that makes it easier to cook eggs in the morning. Now, we’re coming to the realization that these chemicals (colloquially called “forever chemicals” due to the fact that they take a very long time to break down) are pretty horrible, both for ourselves and the environment. And as a result of our prolific use of them, they’ve gotten into everything, from groundwater, to our own bloodstreams. This year, a couple of states (California and New York) are taking action, banning PFAS from just about everything.
Moving forward, most ski jackets will have to look for alternative waterproofing measures. Photo: Tim Manning//The Inertia
As that pertains to ski gear, PFAS can be found in most, but not all, DWRs and waterproof membranes, and as such, the ski industry is making a huge shift this year to start using membranes and DWRs that do not contain these chemicals. As you look to purchase your ski outerwear this season, keep an eye out for PFAS-free DWRs and waterproof membranes (such as GORE-TEX’s new GORE-TEX ePE) if you want to put the environment first. These new materials and compounds may not perform quite as well as the unsustainable chemicals we’ve spent years developing and manufacturing, but the difference, as far as our testing goes, is very slight. It’s mainly worth noting that PFAS-free DWRs may require extra (or simply different) care to maintain water-repellancy, so it’s certainly worth reading up a bit on suggested care for your new ski jacket. Don’t be afraid to wash it, especially if you notice the water-repellency starting to fade (which happens naturally as a result of dirt and oils glomming on) and it can also be worth looking into special DWR washes like those from Nikwax.
Patagonia’s Untracked Jacket uses sustainable GORE-TEX, something the industry has been working towards for a very long time. Photo: Ella Boyd//The Inertia
What’s the Hype Around GORE-TEX?
As mentioned above, any good ski jacket needs a waterproof/breathable membrane to keep water out, and GORE-TEX happens to be one of the first and best. It’s actually a very long and interesting story, but here’s the short version. Back in 1969, Bob Gore accidentally discovered how to create a porous membrane (called ePTFE) by stretching PTFE, a fluoropolymer, and immediately filed a patent. Many legal battles ensued, but Gore held onto their patent for creating the type of porous membrane for years, getting a head start over everyone else who has come to market with a similar material since. As such, many outerwear companies simply use GORE-TEX rather than going to the trouble of manufacturing their own waterproof/breathable membrane.
A full range of motion is essential for both resort and backcountry skiing – don’t let a poor-fitting jacket hold you back. Photo: Ella Boyd//The Inertia
Final Thoughts
Any of the ski jackets on this list would be a great companion for wintertime skiing on the resort and in the backcountry. We’ve tested a wide variety of jackets in the past few years, and these are the ones that rose to the top with high-performing materials, great pockets and features, and comfy fits. While we do spend a lot of time calling out both pros and cons of the jackets in this review to give you the full picture in making a purchasing decision, overall, we stand by every single item on this list and would never recommend a product we wouldn’t use ourselves.
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Editor’s Note: While you’re in the market for outerwear, check out our guide to The Best Ski Bibs. For women, see our guide to The Best Women’s Ski Jackets and The Best Women’s Ski Bibs. And if you’re not against reaching across the aisle, there are also some great outerwear options in our Best Snowboard Jackets and Best Snowboard Pants articles. For more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here.
