The Best Ski Jackets of 2024-2025

The Chair Six Jacket comes with Eddie Bauer’s Storm Repel DWR and proved to be waterproof throughout testing despite feeling soft and breathable. Every seam is taped and the jacket comes with a powder skirt that is not removable. The longevity of the waterproofness remains to be tested but initially, we were impressed. Two underarm vents allow the wearer to shed excess heat and are fairly standard in size and placement. Unlike the Eddie Bauer Chair Six Shell Pants (men and women), these vents do not have a mesh lining and will allow snow to enter, in the event of a fall or accidentally leaving them open on a powder day. 

Skiers will be happy to find a chest pocket, two hand pockets, and an arm pocket for storing necessities. With the exception of the arm pocket, all of the pockets are nylon-mesh lined. We would have preferred that they be sealed pockets to keep things from getting wet, but sealed pockets would add to the overall weight of the jacket. Inside is a mesh dump pocket. Thanks to the lightweight construction, the jacket compressed easily and could be stuffed in a backpack when traveling uphill in the backcountry. The jacket is a shell without any insulation, meaning minimal bulk, which makes it perfect for carrying up and wearing downhill. The shape of the jacket is straight and offers a lot of room for layers. We would hesitate to call it baggy, but it wasn’t exactly form-fitting. Combined with the stretch of the fabric, this jacket allowed us to move freely without feeling like we were wearing a parachute. 

Speaking of layers, Eddie Bauer also offers the Chair Six Hybrid Half Zip for Men ($129), a midlayer designed to round out the whole kit. This insulated midlayer is a fleece-lined, breathable sweater that kept us warm on the chairlift. The hybrid piece contains 60g Polyfil insulation, strategically body-mapped over the shoulders, chest, and upper arms. This Half Zip kept us toasty on cold days without a sweaty back. The layer includes a zippered chest pocket and a kangaroo pouch, making it great for après or around town. But if you’re looking for an insulated ski jacket, check out the Patagonia Men’s Insulated Powder Town Jacket. Overall, the Chair Six Jacket is a great pick for the budget-conscious skier looking for full features in a shell jacket that could be used for resort and a bit of backcountry. This jacket would also be a great option for someone looking for a backup set of ski outerwear.

Supporting uninhibited movement, the SnowDrifter Jacket incorporates a two-way stretch fabric throughout, which we loved. The waterproofness reaches 20K/20K, which is our baseline suggestion for use in a coastal snow climate including Pacific Northwest-based skiers. What we haven’t tested, yet, is if this lightweight friend would hold up through back-to-back heavy, wet snowstorms. The jacket feels so soft and light that some of our testers are skeptical of the long-term protection against moisture — but that could simply be perception, because the textile feels so buttery and lean, like a softshell. For a more traditional-feeling density, check out the Rab Khroma Kinetic Waterproof Jacket, which is still lightweight, durable and offers supreme waterproofness and breathability.

Like other Patagonia outerwear we’ve put to the grind, some testers found that this jacket ran a little large. Like the other options in Patagonia’s 2024/2025 outerwear lineup, the SnowDrifter is an eco-friendly powerhouse setting an industry benchmark. While the former iteration of the SnowDrifter had 70% recycled fabric, this one is 100% recycled including the 50-denier polyester stretch plain weave and the polyester knit backer. What’s more, the entire manufacturing process is free of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) including the fabric, membrane, and DWR finish.

With eye-catching aesthetic, the SnowDrifter comes in sharp colors — including some of our favorite combinations of the season — clean design lines, all the features you need and none that you don’t. The generous underarm vents help regulate heat in a pinch. That chin guard and hood provide great protection on stormy days. This jacket is one of our top choices for both human-powered and lift-accessed skiing. For most intermountain and drier continental snow climates, we’re confident the SnowDrifter would make for a great jacket-of-all-trades for the skier who samples both the resort and backcountry goods. The full kit comes with bibs, too: Patagonia Men’s SnowDrifter Bibs Review.

Read Review: Patagonia SnowDrifter Men’s Jacket Review: A 3-Layer Shield Born for the Backcountry

In terms of comfort, we loved the stretch factor. A little stretch goes a long way, especially on cold days when we had to layer a fleece and a light puffy jacket underneath the shell. A large, two-way adjustable hood easily accommodates a ski helmet without restricting mobility, and we appreciate the low-profile internal cord locks. This jacket also has a few venting options for when it’s time to shed some heat on the skin track. We found that opening the rear arm vents and the chest pockets can create a nice draft.

When it comes to technical features, the Khroma Kinetic is better equipped for touring and mountaineering than powder days at the resort. It has two large Napoleon pockets with plenty of room for a beacon, bars, and glove liners on a tour. A two-way zipper makes for easy access to a harness during mountaineering endeavors. This jacket doesn’t have a powder skirt. For resort skiing, it has a small shoulder pocket for a ski pass.

For skiers hoping to get by with one jacket for the resort and the backcountry, the Khroma Kinetic is an excellent choice. For the ladies, check out the matching Rab Women’s Khroma Kinetic Waterproof Jacket. While the Patagonia Men’s SnowDrifter Jacket serves a very similar purpose and skier, the Khroma Kinetic feels slightly denser — and therefore a bit warmer and more wind-blocking — and has a higher breathability rate and two chest pockets, all at a lower price point.

We’ve reached for this jacket countless times for nail-biting temperatures — between -10 and 10 degrees — while skiing the slopes at Crested Butte Mountain Resort and Telluride Ski Resort where the conditions can be variable and frigid in Southwest Colorado.

Even with windchill, this jacket holds body heat yet is breathable when we hop into the trees or charge moguls and work up a sweat. This performance puffy is very stretchy (including the hood), pliable, and doesn’t feel fragile. We can reach down to adjust our boots or pick up a pole or put our arms overhead with no problem. Taking tight turns through the glades is no problem with the ease of this fabric.

The shoulders feature additional fabric reinforcements, so skis can’t slice in when we’re carrying gear around. Built with tenacious fabric and water-resistant construction, the Stretch Puffy is our number-one choice if we need extra warmth on a frigid day on the slopes.

The Recon LT is much softer and more flexible than most stiff, crinkly ski shells. And despite 20K/20K waterproofing and breathability, easily wads up, folds up, or packs down when you need to stow it in your pack. It’s a minimalist shell, but the light backer on the inside makes it comfortable against the skin if you’re rocking short sleeves.

This was the perfect shell for contributor Justin Park’s late-season spring testing hiking windy ridges at Breckenridge Ski Resort and skinning up long, sweaty couloir approaches in the intense high-elevation sun. The generous pit zips help keep it on when things get hot. But you can also blow open the main zipper and use the chin flap snap to hold it in place for maximum ventilation.

While the Recon blocks wind and repels precipitation adequately for the Rockies, we could feel the cold knocking at the door on colder, windy storm days. It’s a perfect touring and spring skiing shell, but most skiers will want something beefier for nasty midwinter resort skiing — like the Patagonia Untracked Jacket or Stio Figment Jacket. You can layer up underneath and be fine, but there are plenty of better heavy-duty options if you ski mostly via chairlift. On the plus side, however, the Recon can pull additional duties as a shoulder season hiking and biking jacket without feeling like you’re forcing it.

Read Review: Lightweight Backcountry-First Shell: Black Diamond Recon LT Jacket Review

Within the fabric, the Nomad shuns a claustrophobic GORE-TEX membrane for an eVent membrane that sacrifices some weather resistance for much better breathability. In a lighter construction, the blend actually lets air escape before you build up enough heat and moisture to dampen your baselayers. In terms of build and handfeel, the Nomad is appropriately somewhere between a stiff, crinkly GORE-TEX Pro shell and a thinner, backcountry-first shell like the Black Diamond Recon LT. In our testing, the Nomad held up just fine in high winds and wet snow, but if weather resistance is a top priority, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

Regarding weight and packability for touring, it’s closer to most resort shells, but it’s the balance of breathability and weather resistance that sets it apart. Most other crossover shells are just lighterweight versions of existing resort shells and aren’t realistic to leave on for most high-output touring in normal temperatures.

This baggier, freeride fit might be an adjustment if you’re used to a slimmer touring shell. But there’s enough room to ensure mobility, even though the fabric itself doesn’t have any stretch. Any shell can get too hot when touring on warmer days, and the Nomad is no exception. It also sacrifices some wind- and water-resistance compared to high-end GORE-TEX, but the compromise makes it one of the best options we’ve tested for a true 50/50 ski jacket option.

Read Review: Strafe Nomad 3L: A True Backcountry and Resort Ski Jacket

At the resort, this is a midwinter beast of a jacket. Yes, it uses the high-end GORE-TEX membrane, but notably, it pairs with 70D and 160D face fabrics that are thicker and more durable than most shells. There’s also reinforcement on the shoulders and elbows with even burlier 200D patches.

The Tamok is nothing if not durable, and this is a shell you could run through season after season of heavy use. It’s also backed by Norrona’s 5-year warranty just in case.

While the Tamok has great venting options, it’s not a realistic backcountry ski jacket option. The cut is extra-long, down to about mid-thigh, so it can be restrictive for active uphilling and definitely is a problem if using an airbag avalanche pack with the strap between the legs.

Beyond the robust build, there are several features that help the Tamok stand out. Because of the extra-long hem, there’s room for two oversized parka-style pockets with zippers and flaps that deliver plenty of storage, especially when paired with the oversized zippered chest pocket which comes with a tethered goggle wipe. There’s also the now-ubiquitous sleeve-mounted ski pass pocket. Ultimately, this eco-conscious shell is big, burly, and durable.

Read Review: Weatherproof Fortress for All-Season Freeriding: Norrona Tamok GORE-TEX ePE Jacket and Bib Review

Coming out strong, the 28K waterproofing is what sets this jacket apart. It won’t blink in heavy, wet snowfall or high winds and will be plenty of jacket even if you never leave the resort. But if you do take it out of bounds, the oversized chest pockets are accessible when wearing a pack and big enough to stash skins on quick transitions. Inside each sleeve is a slender wrist gaiter with thumb holes to help block the cold air.

The Latok employs best-in-class weatherproofing via GORE-TEX Pro, though they use the relatively lighter variant — which is the most breathable option — for an overall lower net weight and better packability in addition to slightly improved breathability. It’s still a pretty stuffy GORE-TEX shell (hence the 28K waterproofness) compared to a dedicated backcountry design, like the Black Diamond Recon Stretch LT Shell. But the Khroma is a great option if you tour casually or occasionally in colder conditions.

We found that this fit is roomy, which is great for mobility to make up for the lack of stretch and relatively stiff GORE-TEX fabric. This results in some blousing when wearing a pack, but you can size down if you’re between sizes for a trimmer fit for the backcountry. Our 6’0” tall tester fell right between an L and an XL but went with the XL for more mobility and comfort. This is a perfect shell for the resort skier who gets out in the backcountry but isn’t screaming up the skin track, doesn’t mind stopping to shed the Latok when warranted, and also doesn’t want to have to buy a separate shell just for touring.

Read Review: Rab Khroma Latok Ski Jacket: A High-End Crossover Shell

Recently, Picture debuted an in-house Circular Polyester made from upcycled fabric, which comprises the Naikoon. The textile is made with 60% factory scraps and 40% used jackets. The rollout fully replaces the brand’s bio-sourced polyester with the aim of reducing emissions and dependence on fossil fuels compared to bio-sourced polyester.

The Naikoon has seemingly endless pockets to carry necessities at the resort. We like that there are two lower pockets and two upper chest pockets, one of which carries a leashed goggle cloth for cleaning the opticals. There’s a pass pocket on one arm, an interior drop pocket for goggles or an extra lens, and a zippered chest pocket. We also found that the hood fits comfortably over a helmet without inhibiting movement. The cinch adjusters up front helped to further seal out the elements.

For extra warmth and comfort, we appreciated the polyester-taffeta sleeve and hood liners, which are also made from fully recycled material. Wrist gaiters helped seal in the warmth and prevent snow from getting up our sleeves. If you end up too hot on the slopes, long underarm zips help to quickly regulate temperature. Overall, this was one of the coziest jackets we have tested. With an affordable price, fashionable look, and relaxed fit, the Naikoon Jacket is a great option for resort skiers in wintry climates — especially those who value eco-friendly production. If you’re looking for a more athletic jacket with fewer grams, check out the Rab Men’s Khroma Kinetic Waterproof Jacket, which is also in this price zone.

The freeride fit lived true to its name letting us charge and huck hard without worry about the jacket constricting our movements. The design was particularly noticeable with the helmet-compatible hood that kept snow out without blocking our field-of-view or limiting our ability to turn our head on descents. We found that the jacket felt relatively large compared to the sizing chart and would encourage buyers to consider down-sizing to get the best-fitting jacket. Also this fabric feels heavier than other jackets and isn’t super breathable, meaning we wouldn’t choose it solely as an uphill or touring jacket for above-freezing conditions. At the same time, the heavy-duty fabric excels, keeping weather out and helping us stay comfortable on lift rides or really frigid tours. After a series of full-on testing weeks, the layer still looks new, leading us to believe it’s one of the more durable options.

A plethora of pockets means you can fit enough for a full day’s adventure in your jacket alone — forget about pant pockets and packs. Starting with a large chest phone pocket, the pouch could fit even the largest phones and was easy to access with gloves on. Across the chest is another deep pocket with a built-in lens wipe on a cord, which was perfect for wiping camera lenses and goggles when the weather moved in. Two large, lower hand pockets have zippers plus a buttoned flap to double-secure important items: We found the envelope was hard to operate with a gloved hand and while not obviously functional, were aesthetic. A wrist pass pocket rounded out the exterior pockets. Inside, a large mesh chest pocket has a zip closure. Two large mesh stash pockets are perfect for stashing goggles, skins, gloves, and a GoPro, especially on an in-bounds hike.

Overall, this style-forward, service-oriented kit is ideal for resort shredders that aim to charge hard with zero outfit restriction. The thoughtful design is a premium choice for skiers that want to be ready for anything — be it capturing footage or carrying lunch – and bring gear without toting a pack. The Figment Jacket a great ski resort choice for bell-to-bell days, hike-to terrain, cold days in the backcountry, or even the occasional tomahawk. This jacket simply keeps the weather out, time and time again.

We love that the vents are super-tall — they stretch from the hem all the way past our armpit and up to the inside of the chest. So, we don’t need to stop to remove our pack and jacket on uphill climbs with these huge vents.

There are two lower hand pockets and two upper chest pockets on the exterior and internal mesh pockets for skins. The fabric is breathable and buttery soft. We reach for this jacket for backcountry skiing and snowmobiling.

While this is an excellent jacket for tours, you can also wear the Skytour AscentShell for inbounds days at the ski mountain. If you’re looking for a women’s version, check out the Outdoor Research Women’s Skytour AscentShell Jacket.

This design features a durable yet buttery 80-denier (70 in the Sentinel) nylon face fabric, so we don’t need to worry about exploring the glades or playing fetch with an excited pooch at the base. From blustery conditions to blower powder, the three-layer GORE-TEX fabric is waterproof, breathable, and blocks wind well.

And the seams are fully sealed to bar moisture. If you build heat on deep-snow laps, the underarm vents are a lifesaver, and the powder skirt helps keep base layers dry. A soft flannel backer provides a bit of warmth for cooler days on the chair lift. The hood fits over a helmet. The sabre features two external hand pockets, one small sleeve pocket, two internal mesh pockets, and one internal pocket with a zip closure.

If you’re looking for a comfortable, lightweight shell that stands season after season and manages variable conditions from spring sunshine to storms, the Sabre Jacket is a worthy choice.

The 75-denier shell, liner, and lower body of the jacket are all 100% recycled polyester blends. Even the insulation is 100% recycled polyester. The lining is Bluesign-approved while the product is Fair Trade Certified sewn. Inside, a taffeta liner is smooth without noise and ups the jacket’s class and quality.

We really appreciate the pockets on this jacket, which are ergonomic and functional. There’s a small pass pocket on the left forearm, a large left exterior chest pocket, a wide interior dump pocket with a zip closure, a wide-mouthed interior mesh pocket, and two softly lined hand pockets. Patagonia is also launching the Warmth Index, a new metric that measures the warmth of each of the brand’s products. That way, skiers can compare jackets side by side for their own insulation needs. The Insulated Powder Town is the warmest all-mountain snow jackets that the brand makes.

The Powder Town is available in a noninsulated version, too: the Patagonia Women’s Powder Town Jacket and Patagonia Men’s Powder Town Jacket ($349).