A ski jacket is your first line of defense against Mother Nature and all of her elements. A good ski jacket will keep you warm on bone-chilling winter days, insulate you from rain or heavy snow, and breath on a bluebird day.
Ski jackets have evolved over the years as manufacturers searched for the perfect combination of warmth, waterproofness, breathability and fit. Skiers can choose from shell jackets, insulated jackets and 3-in-1s. Technology and new innovations have made ski jackets better than ever and more tailored to skier’s needs.
If you’re going to invest in the best ski jacket on the market, then make sure to pair it with the best skis in the industry. Renoun is the first ski manufacturer to use VibeStop™, a non-newtonian polymer which adapts instantly to snow conditions and ski style. Check out Renoun’s line-up of award winning skis.
Now that we have a better understanding of different types of ski jackets and what to look for, let’s take a look at this year’s best ski jackets for men.
1. Environ Men's Ski Jacket by Stio
Awarded the “Skier’s Choice Award,” the Environ is a workhorse—but we love it for its simplicity.
Made with 3 waterproof, breathable layers and carefully placed zip vents, it'll keep you cool for the out-of-bounds hike or that early morning skin up the ridge. Close everything up, and it becomes a trusty resort jacket with plenty of storage where you need it (and none where you don’t).
The Environ is constructed with a Stio’s PeakProof™ 3-layer waterproof/breathable fabric, ensuring a high level of waterproof technology and breathable comfort for action in mountain environments. The Environ has plenty of adjustments around your waist and hood to seal in the heat on those cold days and has all the bells and whistles you’d expect out of a more expensive shell jacket.
Headquartered near the iconic Jackson Hole Mountain Resort, Stio is one of the most successful new outdoor brands in recent years. We’ve been fans of their gear since we stopped by their headwaters in 2014. Inside secret: Stio's founder once dyed her hair green for a product launch—a bird used it as a perch for an hour.
Price: $465
Shop the Environ Men's Ski Jacket by Stio
2. Men’s PowSlayer Jacket by Patagonia
For hardcore ski mountaineers and backcountry enthusiast skiers, the Patagonia PowSlayer jacket is one of the best shells money can buy. With 3L Gore-Tex Pro, this shell gives ultimate weatherproofing in all conditions. The PowSlayer’s outer construction makes this jacket perfect for high-alpine endeavors or long expeditions where top-notch breathability and waterproofing is a necessity.
Patagonia uses 3L Gore-Tex Pro fabric to give the ultimate weatherproofing in all conditions. Other features include an adjustable hood and powder skirt, watertight zippers, quick-venting pit zips, and a built-in RECCO® reflector
Founded by Yvon Chouinard, Patagonia is known for its environmental and social initiatives. Chouinard co-founded the Fair Labor Association, 1% for the Planet, and the Sustainable Apparel Coalition. If you buy the PowSlayer you’ll get a great jacket and fund initiatives that make the world a better place.
Price: $749
Shop the Patagonia PowSlayer Jacket
3. Cosmic Men's Ski Jacket by Trew
The Cosmic Jacket combines classic alpine design with modern materials to deliver a shell that is timeless, functional and tough. The designers drew inspiration from products that embody performance and eschew fussiness.
This jacket is constructed of 3-layer PNW fabric with 20k / 20k waterproofing and breathability. It provides a helmet-compatible hood with internal elastic. Other features include underarm zip vents, adjustable powder skirt, two internal drop pockets, zip chest pockets under flaps and zip hand pockets. The Cosmic is perfect for those who split their time between the resort and the backcountry.
If your main jam is backcountry, then check out the Capow Jacket by Trew. Engineered specifically with the backcountry skier in mind and designed in collaboration with Capow Guides of Revelstoke, B.C., this jacket is extremely breathable, lightweight, and stretchy.
Trew Gear is located in Portland, Oregon. The name is the hybrid of the founders, Tripp Frey and the brothers Chris and John Pew. Chris is Trew's CEO and a board member of the Mount Hood Institute. He is a passionate backcountry skier and has summited and skied Mount Hood several times.
Price: $399
4. Alpha LIFALOFT™ Insulated Ski Jacket
With a sleek design and light yet warm insulation, the Alpha LIFALOFT™ is built for comfort and agility in mind. This jacket features a long silhouette, copious amounts of pocket space, and double needle embossed stitching. LIFALOFT™ combines Helly Hansen’s unique LIFA technology with PrimaLoft synthetic insulation for a jacket that retains heat while remaining lightweight and comfortable.
This jacket features 2-ply fabric construction and is fully insulated with LIFALOFT™ technology. It’s lightweight, waterproof, windproof and breathable. Other features include durable water repellency treatment, underarm ventilation zippers and articulated arms and elbows for a great fit.
Helly Hansen is a Norwegian company that has been a leader in outdoor apparel since 1877. Its warm, lightweight ski jackets have made it a favorite with the Swedish and Canadian National Ski Teams.
Price: $550
Shop the Helly Hansen Alpha LIFALOFT™ Insulated Ski Jacket
5. Men’s ThermoBall™ Eco Snow Triclimate® by North Face
The Thermoball™ Eco Snow Triclimate® jacket is a versatile and stylish high-performance option for committed skiers. It’s a 3-in-1 jacket so you can use it as a shell, a stand-alone insulated jacket or a combination of the two.
The Thermoball features 2-layer DryVent material, a helmet-compatible hood, powder skirt with gripper elastic, chest and hand pockets and North Face’s ThermoBall Eco insulation. This ski jacket has you covered for a range of conditions.
Price: $360
Shop the North Face Thermoball™ Eco Snow Triclimate® jacket
6. Nomad 3L Shell Jacket by Strafe
The Nomad returns this year with a full feature set, updated fabric, and a proven relaxed and freeride-focused fit. Weatherproofing and breathability are the top design priorities with this backcountry jacket.
With its 3-layer waterproof, air-permeable fabric, this jacket will keep you dry while allowing for good thermoregulation. The jacket is equipped with underarm vents, an integrated helmet hood, backpack-friendly seamless shoulders, and microfleece-lined front hood and chin guard.
Strafe Outerwear was founded by twin brothers, John and Peter Gaston, in Aspen, Colorado. They felt that most performance gear was beyond the budget of most young skiers or lacked the style of the freeskier movement.
Price: $629
Shop the Strafe Nomad 3L Shell Jacket
7. O'Riginals Anorak Jacket by O’Neill
With their O'Riginals Anorak Jacket, O’Neill has combined urban style with highly functional skiwear. This model keeps you dry with a 20K/20K waterproof/breathable outer fabric and warm with an insulated inner lining.
O’Neil’s O'Riginals Anorak Jacket doesn’t have the highest rating of the models in this article. However, at a list price of just $230, it is a strong contender for the best value.
O’Neill started by making gear for surfers to flow on the world's best waves. Today, O’Neill has a strong presence in the snow adventure space as well.
Price: $240
Shop O'Neill's O'Riginals Anorak Jacket
8. Core Divisional Rc Insulated J by Oakley
The Core Divisional Rc Insulated J Jacket uses FN Dry10K fabrication and hydrophilic lamination to keep skiers insulated against the elements. It’s a great line of defense against any weather conditions you may face atop the mountain.
Pit zips under the arms allow you to regulate temperature. The Core Divisional Rc Insulated J includes an oversized front pocket so you will have plenty of space for ski accessories. Although this jacket isn’t as waterproof, breathable, or lightweight as some others on this list, the price point makes it well worth your consideration.
Oakley was founded in 1975 and is based in Lake Forest, California. Oakley is known for sports eyewear but it has a comprehensive line of ski apparel to boot.
Price: $200
Shop Oakley's Core Divisional Rc Insulated J
9. Quantum Pro Men’s Ski Jacket by Flylow
The Quantum Pro is a 3-layer hardshell jacket that was designed to be stormproof for climbing and skiing. It packs small so you can travel easily to your favorite backcountry or resort skiing locations. The Quantum can be combined with other layers to suit any temperature.
Primary features include 3-layer 100% Polyester Oxford fabric, a 20k/20k waterproof/breathable membrane and OmniBloq durable water repellent. You’ll also find plentiful pockets, a helmet-compatible hood and a removable powder skirt in a light format (656 grams).
Flylow was created by Greg Steen and Dan Abrams, two Colorado natives who imagined better gear for the mountains. The name of the company was coined by a French girl who saw them telemark skiing and shouted, “You don’t ski fast—you fly low”.
Price: $430
Shop the Flylow Quantum Pro Jacket
10. Sabre AR Men's Ski Jacket by Arc'teryx
Newly revised for 2023, the Sabre AR Jacket is built with freeride touring in mind. It is designed to handle the vertical aspects of big mountain skiing by delivering freedom of motion, breathability and the ultimate protection from the elements.
The jacket includes comprehensive features such as WaterTight pit zips for ventilation, an integrated powder skirt and a helmet-compatible StormHood. You’ll also find Slide’n Loc attachments to the Saber AR Pant to create a snowproof ensemble.
Arc-teryx is a Canadian outerwear clothing and sporting goods company. It was founded in Vancouver, B.C., by Dave Lane. The name was adopted in 1991 and refers to Archaeopteryx, one of the earliest known birds.
Price: $625
Shop the Arc'teryx Sabre AR Jacket
I hope you find our round-up useful in choosing the best men’s ski jacket for your needs.
Ski hard and stay warm!
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