The Best Ski Jackets

Buying Guide

If you enjoy skiing or snowboarding, you’ll want the right kind of jacket that keeps you comfortable and doesn’t restrict your movement during activities. Ski jackets do a good job providing the warmth and weather protection you need in cold, wet and windy climates. In addition, they can usually do this without being too bulky or unbreathable.

There are a few different ski jacket types you can consider depending on how you plan to wear yours and what kind of weather you plan to ski in. They differ depending on how lightweight they are, whether they have insulation, how breathable they are and how much protection from precipitation they offer.

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For example, you can find shell ski jackets that provide basic protection and are usually meant to layer with various warm clothing items underneath. These don’t usually have any insulation, so they’re lightweight, breathable and not as warm. While many of these shell jackets are waterproof, certain ones labeled as “soft shells” are just water-resistant and even lighter in weight. These can also be a good idea for warmer winter days.

If you want a very warm ski jacket that offers great protection from the elements, you’ll want to go with an insulated jacket. While these are heavier and less breathable, they’ll keep you warm and dry during ski trips in all kinds of weather. You can find these with insulation made of either synthetic or natural down material, where the synthetic option does better in moisture and the natural option is lighter.

For more flexibility, you can opt for a combination jacket with multiple layers you can remove or add depending on your activities and the weather. The inner layer will have insulation, while the outer will resemble a shell. This means you can wear both on the coldest days and switch to just the shell for warmer days. You can also alter the arrangement based on what you’ll wear underneath.

There are several ski jacket features you’ll want to look out for too. Regardless of the jacket style you choose, make sure you get a protective hood and sufficient pockets for what you’ll carry on you. Ventilation is also important since winter activities can make you sweat even in the cold, so consider jackets that have ventilation pockets you can open as needed. The sleeves, hood and waist can also have features that keep snow from getting inside.

• Finding the right ski jacket size is tricky, so avoid just immediately going with your regular clothing size. First, you’ll find sizing can run differently depending on the manufacturer, jacket style and thickness. In addition, you’ll usually need extra space anyway to accommodate for thicker clothing worn under the jacket. Therefore, it helps to take your chest, waist and hip measurements while dressed in base clothing layers.
• You’ll find no shortage of color options when you shop for ski jackets. You can find everything from classic neutral colors that match anything to bright colors that make you easy to identify. If you ski in a group, a bolder color can especially come in handy.
• If you go with a shell ski jacket, consider wearing fleece clothing underneath for extra warmth. On the other hand, you may wear lighter clothes under an insulated ski jacket to avoid becoming overheated.
• If you plan to ski in a setting where your ski jacket could snag trees, you’ll get better durability with a jacket made of thick fabric. You can expect less protection with shells than bulky insulated jackets.
• Make sure your ski jacket’s hood allows for adjustments based on the weather. Also, you might be interested in a jacket with a detachable hood you can take off if the weather doesn’t demand it or you just have a hat you prefer to wear instead.
• You can find ski jackets with pockets shaped for specific purposes. These can include a goggle pocket, lift pass pocket and a media pocket for your phone. There may even be an opening for a headphones cable.