Stormproof Ski Shell for Backcountry or Resort: Arc’teryx Sabre Freeride Jacket Review

A mild morning on the skin track had turned into an afternoon of whipping wind and freezing mist at the resort. Frozen rime covered everyone’s helmets. I pulled the hood of my Arc’teryx Sabre Jacket up against the blasting gusts and chill at the summit. We pushed past the top of the lift through a stand of pine trees to the hidden stash of early-season Vermont powder that lay beyond.

I took a moment to appreciate the versatile jacket. It was taking a beating from plummeting temperatures, biting winds, and a frozen rain that was making a mess of everyone’s outerwear but mine.

Many brands attempt to make a jacket burly enough to deflect the worst conditions on the trail and shed heat and moisture while hiking, to mixed results. If you’ve ever shivered on a chairlift or sweated profusely on the skin track, you’ve probably experienced some of the common compromises of freeride shells.

The Arc’teryx Sabre Jacket is a rare gem, though. It manages to blur the line between resort and backcountry. It moves effortlessly on the descent and prevents hangups when you head uphill.

In short: The 2024 Arc’teryx Sabre 3L ePE GORE-TEX Jacket has been updated with 80D 3L ePE GORE-TEX for a reduced carbon footprint, lighter weight, and better flexing fabrication. It easily transitions from the harshest midwinter resort storm riding to higher-output backcountry forays. Pure resort riders may want to seek out a more insulated jacket, and all-day touring missions may call for a lighter-weight shell. But intelligent layering will let you use this jacket all season in almost every setting. 

If you’d like to compare the Arc’teryx Sabre jacket to others like it, check out GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Ski Jackets and the Best Ski Jackets for Women.

Arc’teryx Sabre 3L ePE GORE-TEX Ski Jacket Review

The Sabre Jacket has been a flagship in the Arc’teryx lineup for 15 years. It has well earned its place on GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Ski Jackets.

The 2024-25 Sabre received one big change from the previous season’s version: It uses GORE-TEX’s new ePE fabric, which is better for the environment. The upgraded fabric seems to be lighter weight (on the scale, I found a 1g difference between last year’s and this year’s model) while offering an easier-moving, less bulky feel. It also helps reduce the jacket’s overall carbon footprint.

I tested the 2024-25 Sabre Jacket over 6 days of backcountry touring and resort riding between Stowe and Bolton Valley, Vt. The start of the season provided a full range of conditions. We had a howling storm day with a windchill of 5 degrees, a surprise day of 30-degree sunshine, and a bout of freezing mist.

I also rode in the 2023-24 Sabre Jacket the entire previous season across conditions in Vermont, plus a 6-day Pacific Northwest rain-to-powder bender in Stevens Pass, Wash.   

Fit

Arc’teryx lists this jacket under its “Freeride” category. For reference, I am 5’7” tall and 180 pounds. My build could be described as stocky, but I found the medium to be ideal, with room for a baselayer and micro puffy on colder days. Anything smaller would have been too restrictive.

The 2024-25 Sabre jacket hits just below my waist, with some, but not a lot, of room in the body. The arms are longer and more generous at the cuff — an odd touch for an otherwise more form-fitting jacket. Some consumers have been very critical of the new fit, but I didn’t take issue with it. In my opinion, it strikes a decent balance, given the design intention of segueing from resort to backcountry.

On the resort, this fit really shines. It is easy to move inside without bunching or constraint. It blocks wind and weather when I’m sitting on a frozen chairlift. It’s also light enough that I don’t overheat.

Backcountry use is more subjective. I take off my shell jacket for touring unless it’s dumping or blasting wind. So, I look for packability plus mobility on the descent. The 2024-25 iteration gets the nod with its lighter-weight, easier-to-stuff fabrication.

I didn’t even try with the stiff fabrication on last year’s model. But as a picky packer, I’m happy to have a lighter-weight version of the Sabre to take out on tours.

Buyers would be advised to try first since Arc’teryx’s sizing is largely form-fitting. Folks after a baggier fit should look elsewhere: Arc’teryx has launched its own “Relaxed Fit” Sabre collection, which is more in line with looser-fitting “freeride” stylings. 

Riding Out the Storm in Comfort

For most skiers and riders clocking days on the mountain, standard waterproofing and design set is enough. For those who drop everything to ski and ride through the storm, you need a shell that can take on everything winter dishes out. In my experience, the Arc’teryx Sabre Jacket delivered.

Transitioning from splitboard to snowboard mode after a 2,000-vertical-foot tour, I stowed my skins and zipped up the Sabre, relieved to be tucked into such a sturdy jacket for the high-speed descent. Hiking the sheer ridgelines of Stevens Pass in Washington, I opened pit zips as the shell shrugged off a March storm cycle that dropped nearly 4 feet of powder over 6 days (the precipitation was always on the verge of becoming rain).

After testing the 2024 model and now the 2025 model, this jacket lives up to the 3L GORE-TEX “Guaranteed to keep you dry” tagline. The new ePE GORE-TEX upgrade didn’t seem to impact the jacket’s ability to block the elements.

When I was riding up the quad in freezing mist, a quick survey revealed that my jacket was the only one not encrusted with rime.

The backer is GORE C-KNIT, a thin fleece that softens the typical shell crinkle. Details like the backer, articulated fit, and a hood that locks down without constricting vision let you batten down the hatches in truly harsh conditions.

On numerous occasions, the Sabre jacket made the difference between staying dry and warm for more runs and heading home for the day.

Lightweight Performance for Side & Backcountry

The 2024/25 Sabre jacket clocks in at 705 g. To compare, the Rush jacket, Arc’teryx’s top “touring” ski shell, is 515 g. Compared to all the other jackets on GearJunkie’s guide to the Best Ski Jackets, the Sabre is the sixth heaviest on the list.

If saving 190 g for uphill travel is your game, this isn’t the jacket for you. But at resorts like Stowe and Stevens Pass, where lift-accessed side and backcountry is a big draw, those calculations come second to versatility and durability.

As with all things, there’s a tradeoff. The bomber weatherproofing of this level of GORE-TEX has its limitations when it comes to active breathability. As someone who sweats while hiking or touring, regardless of what I’m wearing, I typically unzip, vent, or stow my jacket while going uphill. Folks looking for a dedicated touring shell might want a lighter-weight piece and even one with a fabrication focused more on breathability.

But on my latest two splitboard tours, I found myself taking the Sabre Jacket instead of the Rush Jacket. I didn’t notice the extra grams in my pack. And I was thankful for the additional weatherproofing riding back down in the howling wind. If your use case doesn’t involve pure touring on the regular, the Sabre likely has you covered.

Pockets & Features

In the Sabre jacket, the performance is defined by minimalism. You get everything you need and nothing else and the pocket layout is no exception.

Inside, two mesh stash pouches can barely handle goggles. One features a zippered security pocket for small items that need to be locked down.

The two exterior pockets are generous in size, large enough to swallow up folded-up touring skins. I ride a 157 splitboard, but the pockets seem large enough to accommodate even longer ski skins.

On the resort, the lack of pocketing could be frustrating. The arm RFID pocket works for a pass, and while I prefer to keep my phone in my fleece or micro puffy chest pocket, others may wish for an additional, phone-focused interior pocket.

The powder skirt is integrated into the jacket, a small ding for people who don’t use them (I like to remove mine). But the skirt clips right into the Sabre pants with a well-designed series of connectors. 

Room for Improvement

Arc’teryx got a lot of things right with the Sabre, but there’s always room for improvement. While some may love the fit, it’s proven somewhat divisive among customers. I wouldn’t mind a touch longer drop on the back for coverage on the chair lift and when strapping in.

With the hood up, the fit is on the snug side. I had to unzip the collar to get the hood on and off with my helmet. Blame it on my size large head, but having to unzip is a negative, especially since you’re putting the hood up in the worst possible conditions.

The pockets could use a little more consideration as well. Given the resort use case, a slightly larger arm pocket would be helpful. This would make it easier to store in-bounds or side-country necessities like a radio. I had a hard time cramming mine into that slender pocket while navigating the woods and spines of Steven’s Pass.

The internal dump pockets are verging on too small to securely stash my outdated goggles. They aren’t even as large as the latest wide-lens, magnetic versions. The elastic at the dump pocket top also isn’t cinched much, offering little confidence that cargo will stay put.

Conclusion

The Arc’teryx Sabre 3L ePE GORE-TEX Ski Jacket is a total trooper on the resort and more versatile for backcountry forays than other jackets in this class. The 3L ePE GORE-TEX shrugs off the harshest elements while moving easily and clocking in just heavier than touring jackets. It’s good to go on anything but all-day or multiday tours — and even then, it would perform pretty well.

The lighter weight means it runs cooler. So, having a layering quiver is a must for year-round skiing and riding, especially on long chair lift rides in mercury-throttling temperatures and gusting wind. Getting the layering game dialed will let you run this jacket anytime and almost anywhere you’re riding in the snow.