Ski Jackets: Complete Buyers Guide
Whether you are a beginner or an experienced skier you’ll need the absolute must have item of ski clothing before tackling the slopes: your ski jacket!
There is a huge amount of information out there relating to the best types of all sorts of ski clothing. In this Ski Jacket Complete Buyers Guide, we are going to make it simple for you to pick the best ski jacket for you that will keep you warm, dry, comfortable and of course, stylish on the slopes – let’s start with the basics!
Types of Ski Jacket
There are three main types of ski jackets – insulated and shell jackets of which there are two types, hardshell and softshell jackets. The main area you have to factor in when buying ski jackets is the type of skiing that you intend to do – whether you intend to take a leisurely cruise down the slopes or if it’s time to go hard or go home!
Insulated
Softshell
Hardshell
Insulated ski jackets are the best way to keep warm on that chilly mountain. This does mean that they are much bulkier than a shell jacket which could mean pulling off that 180 is a touch tougher.
Insulated ski jackets are the best types of ski jackets for those particularly cold days or you are somebody who really feels the cold. You don’t want to be wearing an insulated ski jacket if you are trying to set the range record from top to bottom, but for those of us who like to take our time meandering down the slopes, these jackets are perfect.
Softshell jackets are generally preferred by those hitting the slopes hard as they’re typically made from stretchy fabrics which are thin, lightweight and offer mostly unrestricted full range of movement.
Unfortunately, the trade off to these ski jackets being lightweight is that they don’t tend to perform well in wet weather or heavy snow as standard unless they are coated with ‘DWR’ (hold that thought!).
Hardshell ski jackets on the other hand are typically made of hardy (multi-layered) material specifically designed for outdoor activities in harsh weather.
Like the softshell jackets they are also lightweight and durable, however (the same as softshell jackets) they are uninsulated, which is the trade off to these hardy little ski jackets, so wearing at least a base layer underneath is a must!
Water resistant vs waterproof vs DWR (Durable Water Repellent)
Most ski jackets tend to be water resistant, waterproof or water repellent – we know, it’s confusing.
In a nutshell: water repellent jackets tend to have the bare minimum levels of coating/design to repel a smaller amount of water and water resistant jackets are treated with a stronger coating which protects against a slightly higher amount of water and are designed to ensure water (whether that is rain, snow or slush) just slides off.
Waterproof jackets are designed to block all water (up to a certain submersion amount and depth) which makes waterproof ski jackets really the minimum you should be looking at whether you are skiing downhill or cross country.
So now we know we’re only looking at waterproof jackets – thankfully most decent ski jackets out there are ranked with waterproof ratings. The higher the rating the better the protection!
- 1,500 – 5,000 mm – water resistant – this type of rating is good for dry snow
- 5,000 – 10,000mm – waterproof – this type of rating is waterproof is ideal for normal snow
- 10,000 – 20,000mm – very waterproof – ideal for wet snow
DWR is on a whole different level. The downside? Ski jackets and any clothing which is pre-coated with DWR can be quite expensive. How it works depends on the fabric on which it’s applied. But without getting too technical, DWR basically creates a smooth top surface layer on fabric and so water ‘beads up’ and runs off rather than soaking in.
Importantly however you should also be looking for ski jackets with a waterproof membrane as well as DWR (if possible) as both of these design features working together will ensure you and your family keep dry on the slopes. The slight trade-off is that breathability will of course be impacted but we’re of the view that you’re better to be dry and you can cool off at Apres Ski!
Breathability
Even if you find yourself in the middle of a snow storm whilst you are driving down those runs you will get hot so making sure your ski jacket is breathable is an absolute must. You want a jacket that will keep the snow at bay but gets rid of the heat from your body.
Breathability is measured by clever people working out how much vapour passes through fabric in a 24hr period. The ultimate goal is to allow water vapour from perspiration to escape whilst keeping water droplets out.
Most Ski Jackets come with a breathability rating, similar to waterproof ratings, however you don’t necessarily need to aim for the highest rating possible. It all depends on how hard you intend to hit those runs. The more active you intend to be, the higher breathability rating you will need.
Ski Jacket Fit
Not unlike all types of clothing, ski jackets come with different types of fits and depending on what best suits you and what you feel most comfortable wearing – there is a fit for everyone.
The usual fit sizings are used: slim fit, regular and loose fit. They give you the same fit as you’d expect from any other clothing. Slim fit gives you a close and tight fitting ski jacket whilst regular and loose fit will give you a less restrictive fit in your ski jacket.
The important point to consider? Don’t get your ski gear solely based on how you prefer your usual clothing.
Whilst you may prefer slim fit for your fashion styling – skiing is an active sport. You will generally tend to want more room to rotate, twist and bob up and down to feel comfortable with your ski jacket for a full day’s skiing or snowboarding.
If you do prefer a more fitted style then maybe consider slim fit but get a larger size than you’re used to so that you take into account your underlayers and the extra movement you will need flying down the slopes.
Ski Jacket Features
Skiing and snowboarding can be a fiddly thing to grapple with when you have so much gear to keep track of. Helpfully, the best ski jackets come with lots of handy little features, which are designed to make your ski more comfortable as well as helping keeping track of your gear much less of a faff.
- Hood – An adjustable or removable hood is always a good feature to have. You won’t always need a hood whilst you are on the mountain, as you will be protecting your head with your ski helmet (although of course you can pop it over your ski helmet if your hood ski helmet compatible). However, when you are exploring the resort, getting some food or returning from a session at the après ski bar and the snow heavens have opened – you will most definitely be thankful for it.
- Pockets – Pockets, lots and lots and lots of them – they are never a bad thing. There is one pocket that we really love – sleeve pockets, these give you a handy little pocket (usually on the inside of your left forearm) which allow you to safely keep your ski lift pass at a really convenient place to activate ski lifts
- Snow Skirts – Yes guys, you need them too. These are elastic straps which run around your waist and are an absolute must. The strap is usually inside the ski jacket and is adjustable so that it secures the inner (usually waterproof) lining around your waist. It basically stops snow from getting in underneath your jacket should you have a mishap on the mountain.
- Wrist Gaiters – Most jackets tend to come with what is known as “wrist gaiters” (not the biting kind!) which stop snow from getting in through your sleeves. They are extra pieces of material which extend slightly beyond the end of the sleeves of your ski jacket. You can also get wrist gaiters with thumb pockets for extra snow protection. Wrist gaiters also help your ski gloves to fit properly and snugly.
- Ski Audio – If you love glide down those slopes whilst blasting out some music, it is definitely worth having an audio pocket in your ski jacket. This little gem of a pocket allows you to safely and securely store your music device and let you listen to your favourite tunes whilst taking in them breathtaking views without worrying about losing your very expensive mobile.
So, there it is, our Ski Jacket Complete Buyers Guide. We have covered the essentials to help you decide what type of ski jacket is best for you and what features you absolutely need from your next jacket.