The Best Ski Jackets of 2024-2025

How We Tested the Best Ski Jackets

Our GearJunkie testers wear and beat up these ski jackets in a range of winter conditions. We take these layers skiing at resorts, off-piste, in the backcountry, for skimo races, and while steering snowmobiles. These jackets have kept us dry and warm during blizzards and cold spells. By contrast, we’ve tested these jackets in the high-angle, high-intensity sun of spring.

Our Expert Testers

Contributor Justin Park skis more than 100 days each season, split evenly between backcountry and resort days. From sub-zero January pow days to slushy June touring missions, he puts dozens of jackets, skis, boots, and pants through their paces at high elevations.

Albert Kim, one of our lead GearJunkie testers, is based in southern Utah. He cut his teeth in the snowsports industry working as a ski builder for Wagner Custom Skis in Telluride, Colorado.

GearJunkie Senior Editor Morgan Tilton specializes in snowsports and has lived in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains for more than three decades, where she grew up, learned to ski at her home mountain of Telluride Ski Resort, and lives today in Crested Butte. She’s been an outdoor industry journalist covering snowsports for more than a decade.

Since 2021, additional contributors have included Steve Graepel, Ryan Wilchens, Eric Phillips, Sarah Stubbe, Kaylee Walden, Sean McCoy, Austin Beck-Doss, and Will Brendza.

Our Testing Grounds

Park is based in Breckenridge, Colorado. Despite the desert environment of southern Utah, Kim regularly skis at Brian Head Resort and the surrounding backcountry near an elevation of 10,000 feet. Constantly changing conditions have Kim putting his outerwear through its paces, which demands top-tier protection and durability.

Tilton manages nearly two dozen gear testers across the country and field tests between the desk shuffle. In 2023, she tested gear for 114 hours across 35 days. To date in 2024, she tested apparel for 216 hours throughout 62 days of recreation from the ski area to the backcountry. Those days exclude the countless hours of shoveling.

The GearJunkie team meets for an annual on-snow test week to grind out turns and swap notes, including two previous gatherings at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, which is known for its expert terrain.

Our Testing Process

Throughout field tests, we note a variety of metrics including performance, protection, quality, longevity, fit, functionality, features, size range, and value.

In addition to our experience, we consider the most novel, style-specific, popular, highly rated, and legacy products across a range of price points. This collection of ski jackets serves a range of athletes and applications.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose a Ski Jacket

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 buyer’s guide. The main differences are the fit, style, and brand alliance.

Ski Jacket Fit

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 ski jackets. Be sure to take your personal measurements and match them up with the size charts.

A handful of companies deliver more size inclusivity with broader offerings for men’s and women’s apparel including TREW Gear, Columbia, Obermeyer, and L.L.Bean. While there are unfortunately no men’s ski jackets on our list with extended sizes, the Stio Men’s Environ Jacket offers the broadest size range of XS to XXXL. The Eddie Bauer Chair Six Jacket for Women has plus sizes 1X-3X, in addition to XS-XXL, petite, and tall options. We’d like to see more size options added for our favorite men’s ski jackets.

Everyone’s body is unique, so check the exchange and return policy before you buy.

Insulated vs. Non-insulated Ski Jackets

Some ski jackets offer no insulation, which is a versatile option to use across a variety of conditions. This waterproof, breathable layer helps you stay dry and protected from the sun and wind or abrasion, like from a tree branch or snow burn if you slide out. There’s typically 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. A range of weight and densities exist, so you might prefer a heavier hand feel if you ski where there’s frequent windchill.

Other ski jackets are insulated, like the Patagonia Insulated Powder Town, for additional warmth in cold, windy locations. For some skiers, especially those going into the backcountry, these jackets can pigeonhole them into donning too much warmth. Insulated jackets also tend to be overkill on warm spring days or in more mild winter locations. The type and warmth of insulation varies across each jacket from flannel to down-filled panels or synthetic proprietary fabrics.

2-Layer vs. 3-Layer

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. A couple of our favorites include the Patagonia Insulated Powder Town and the Picture Naikoon. 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.

Waterproofness

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.

• 0-5,000 mm: Resistant to light rain, dry snow
• 6,000-10,000 mm: Waterproof for light rain and dry, non-heavy snow
• 11,000-15,000 mm: Waterproof for moderate rain and dry, non-heavy snow
• 16,000-20,000 mm: Waterproof for heavy rain and wet snow
• 20,000 mm and greater: Waterproof for heavy rain and dense, wet, heavy snow

The most waterproof jacket we’ve tested provided 30,000mm protection. Jackets at 10,000 mm, like the Outdoor Research Skytour AscentShell, 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.

Breathability & Air Permeability

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 outer layer is, the more hard-pressed the fabric is to be fully 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.

A small number of jackets are considered air permeable, such as the Strafe Nomad Jacket. These jackets use a different waterproof/breathable construction than the standard set by GORE-TEX. While GORE-TEX membranes allow moisture to escape in the form of vapor, air permeable fabrics let air pass through, so you don’t have to start sweating to activate the jacket’s breathability. Fabrics with air permeability include the Strafe Nomad’s eVent, Flylow’s The Perm, and the BD.dry fabric used in the Black Diamond Recon LT Shell.

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.

Ventilation

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 we’ve seen: a front-facing and closable mesh vent that parallels the front zipper. In terms of quality, YKK zippers are the toughest.

Weight

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 like the Black Diamond Recon Stretch LT Shell. 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.

Collar & Hood

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.

One of our favorite hoods is on the Patagonia Men’s SnowDrifter Jacket, which offers a great shape that fits over a range of helmet sizes, and doesn’t catch a draft, plus plenty of flexibility to swivel our head while skiing downhill or sitting on the lift.

Sleeve Cuffs & Powder Skirt

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 fixed and not removable like on the Eddie Bauer Chair Six Jacket for Men. Others have a zipper or attachment points to connect to your ski jacket.

Sleeve cuffs generally have a Velcro closure, though they vary in width, length, and pliability. Some designs have additional snaps. Many cuffs have an inner wrist gaiter or storm cuff (a cuff within a cuff). It’s usually a stretchy fabric and adds warmth while blocking wind. Sometimes it has thumbholes to help secure the fabric over the top of the hand.

Pockets

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. For resort skiing, one of our favorite jackets for the pocket design is the Stio Men’s Figment Jacket, which has two chest pockets and two large hand pockets on the face.

Sustainability

Outdoor apparel brands have struggled for years to provide gear that’s equipped to stand up to the natural world we recreate in while minimizing the harm to that same natural world created by manufacturing these goods.

Outdoor brands such as Patagonia and outdoor retailers such as the REI Co-op have been pushing sustainability for years. Today, most outdoor brands have made at least minor moves in this direction: incorporating recycled fabrics, using less intensive production methods, and offering end-of-life options for old apparel.

Legislation at state and federal levels is getting into the fight, as well, with the EPA declaring several PFAS chemicals officially hazardous. California and New York both have PFAS bans set to take effect for apparel in 2025, so outdoor brands have been hard at work getting product lineups into compliance by eliminating these forever chemicals from garments. The REI Co-op has already announced it won’t carry any products that run afoul of the California bans.

Price & Value

Like most ski gear, purpose-built ski jackets from name brands aren’t cheap, and you can expect to spend a couple hundred dollars even for the lower-tier options. 

Budget

The cheapest option in our top picks is the Eddie Bauer Chair Six Jacket ($249), which delivers 20K/20K performance that’s more than adequate for most ski days while keeping the price very reasonable. 

Mid-Tier

For a bit more, the Black Diamond Recon Stretch LT Shell ($400) delivers lighter-weight performance in a jacket that’s equally at home on the skintrack as it is on the chairlift.

Premium

High-end shell jump to as high $700, and while it’s not necessary to spend to that level to get a competent ski jacket, these high-end options usually pair high-performing waterproof and breathable membrane such as GORE-TEX Pro. Not only do these fabrics deliver on performance, they usually have better durability, allowing you get spread the cost of the jacket out over many seasons of hard use.

Frequently Asked Questions

Ski jackets are specifically constructed to be waterproof/breathable and windproof to protect you 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 usually add layers beneath.

Alternatively, if you want a cozy jacket for cold-weather walks, low-output commutes, or mellow groomer skiing in icebox conditions, 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.

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 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, folks prefer to wear a cozier winter jacket that’s longer, more insulated, and more fashion-forward for everyday use.

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 and backcountry skiing or mountaineering, 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. Hoods can include an integrated brim that helps keep moisture from dripping into your ski goggles.

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 contact with human skin or cosmetic products like sunscreen.

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: 2-3 seasons.

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 for skiing, snowboarding, or snowmobiling? We’ve got you covered with our vetted collection.

For the resort or backcountry, we found the best ski pants for a range of conditions including Flylow, Patagonia, Rab, and more.