These Expert-Recommended Men's Ski Jackets Will Keep You Warm All Season Long

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The key features of great ski jackets remain the same, although brands continue to seek out the most innovative materials, coatings, and construction methods to achieve them. The holy grail is a waterproof-breathable shell that either stretches or moves with you, especially in the back of the shoulders, and is warm but not too warm.

It should also be vented but zip up high around the face, have plenty of functional pockets inside and out, include a powder skirt or a stretch-cord adjustable waist (or both), and offer adjustable cuffs. From there the feature sets go on and on. For instance, you may also want a protective pocket for your personal electronics. A ski pass pocket is a nice perk, not to mention an attached lens wipe.

The ski jacket really has to do it all. And let’s be honest, it should look good — it’s your key style statement on the mountain, and it holds what you need for the day (assuming you’re not riding with a pack), and keeps you protected from wind, snow, cold and other infiltrating types of ice and moisture. It seals out the elements while maintaining an athletic fit and some level of breathability. You’ll probably be wearing it and fiddling with it more than any other piece of equipment.

I love high-end, eco-conscious, alpine-mountaineering focused brands like Patagonia from the United States, Norrona from Europe, and Arc’teryx from Canada. I also love Picture (based in France) for its environmental efforts, but not everyone needs a $700 jacket. There are plenty of $450 jackets that perform just as well. I love Columbia because it makes great stuff at a mainstream price point. There are many brands in this category, from small made-in-America brands to white label knock-offs, and everything in between. You may ultimately choose something based on style or because of brand loyalty.

Once you start researching jackets, you’ll see an array of features, minor differentiators, complex names for coatings and liners, various technologies, and a whole lot of zippers and drawstrings. Skiers and riders really start geeking out on these details from pocket liners to thumb loops and other seemingly minor differences. In the end, they all add up to performance and a better day on the mountain. Here, we’ve done the homework for you and bring you a selection of the best ski jackets for the 2024 season.

Best Men's Ski Jackets

• Most Feature-Rich: Ortovox Mesola Jacket

• Best Budget: REI Powderbound Insulated Ski Jacket

• Best Multi-Purpose: Spyder Leader Jacket

• Best for Everyday Use: Patagonia Powdertown Jacket

• Best for Cold Days: Norrona Lofoten Gore-Tex Pro Jacket

What to Consider

Each brand has its own look, cut, and style. Do you want something with a trimmer, more European cut, or something bigger and baggier, more free-ride oriented? You’ll know it when you see it.

Pockets, Hoods and More

Pocket configuration, helmet compatibility, and venting are what to look for once you see a style or brand you love. Key features include a pass pocket on the sleeve for your season pass, a helmet-compatible hood for optimal comfort on stormy days, and integrated cuffs with thumb holes to keep cold air from blowing up your sleeves. Other perks: pockets for electronics and an included chamois for wiping your goggles. Generally speaking, the more zippers and features a jacket has, the more expensive it will be.

More Gear to Consider: The Best Ski Boots • Best All-Mountain Skis • Best Roof-Mounted Ski and Snowboard Racks • Best Ski Gloves

What the Tech

You will see waterproof/windproof/breathable ratings when selecting your new ski jacket. These can be confusing metrics. All you need to know is this: the three-layer construction typical of most ski jackets will feature a waterproof/breathable membrane that keeps water out, while reducing build-up of moisture vapor inside when you’re all zipped up.

Gore-Tex tends to be the gold standard for three-layer jackets, especially here in the U.S. However, if a jacket is waterproof and windproof, it’s probably not going to breathe all that well regardless, and that’s where venting comes in. Unless it’s raining or you primarily ski and ride in a very wet environment like the Pacific Northwest, you can often get away with something less. Still, when it comes to traditional ski jackets, the three-layer shell still reigns supreme.

Don’t Forget About

A snow skirt is a material panel or baffle connected to the jacket that secures around the waist and prevents snow from getting in underneath. This can be a crucial feature on deep powder days, especially if you fall a lot.

How We Evaluated

I’ve tested and fallen in love with more jackets than you can imagine. For these top ski jackets for men, I factored in every consideration possible, including overall brand reputation, variety, quality, style and features.

The jackets here are built to outlast any color trend, especially with proper garment care. While there is a theme—three-layer waterproof-breathable shells with a variety of pocket placements and hoods—there are nuances.

The more iconic and higher-end brands use better materials, better zippers, have better fits—and lifetime warranties. And that is why you pay more for those. To be fair, there’s also a lot of value to be found in lower price point ski jackets—especially if you’re only using it a few times a year.

Mesola Jacket

When you can’t decide between softshell or hardshell, why not go for both? The new Mesola Jacket from Ortovox combines properties of both softshell and hardshell jackets—and does so beautifully.

Hardshell-like material on the shoulders, sleeves, front and hood give it reliable protection against wind and snow where you need it most. Softshell material on the lower back, armpits, and sides offer breathability where heat and moisture tend to accumulate.

A lightweight Merino wool lining minimizes odor, promotes breathability, regulates temperature across a wider spectrum, and increases durability. Because of its technological versatility, the Mesola jacket will stay with you day-to-day for seasons on end. This is also the choice for someone looking for more of a Euro, fitted look.

Powderbound Insulated Ski Jacket

REI covers all the bases with its Powderbound Insulated Ski Jacket, which offers protection and lightweight warmth for an affordable price compared to most in this category. This jacket will get you outside and on the slopes in almost any winter conditions.

Targeted insulation placement provides warmth where it’s needed and less where it adds unnecessary bulk. Especially appreciated is the longer back hem for snowboarding and riding lifts. You’ll find plenty of pockets and a media port so you are ready for a full day of skiing or riding.

Leader Jacket

Check out the Leader Jacket by Spyder for a ski outer layer that will serve you well across a variety of conditions and at any resort. Synthetic insulation dries out quickly making this a go-to for staying warm on wet snow days.

Stretch panels allow for a wide range of motion, no matter what type of skiing or riding you’re getting into. This is balanced out by 100 grams of insulation so you don’t have to sacrifice warmth for mobility. Integration with snow skirt, pants, and helmet make the Leader an essential component of any well-rounded alpine ski kit.

Powdertown Jacket

Patagonia designs its products for the long haul, and the Powdertown Jacket is no exception. This jacket guarantees a great investment in your ski gear. It makes an ideal outer layer for daily wear, with a slightly tailored and slim fit that still allows room for layering— since it is a 2-layer, uninsulated shell, it doesn’t provide much warmth on its own.

That’s all okay though, because it makes this jacket even more versatile for everyday wear no matter the weather or the temperature.

Patagonia’s waterproof H2No membrane protects against moisture, while a low-cut hem, adjustable cuffs, and contoured hood block out cold air and gusts of wind and snow. There’s not much this jacket can’t handle well despite its simplicity.

Lofoten Gore-Tex Pro Jacket

Nothing ruins an epic day of skiing like being cold. The new Lofoten from Norrona is designed for days spent in billowing clouds of powder on every turn. With 3-Layer Gore-Tex Pro construction, it’s the ultimate waterproof layer, with fully sealed seams and high-tech insulation, making this jacket the peak of the game for warmth.

This is for the skier who is ready to answer the call of the mountain no matter the weather. The integrated waist gator and zip-off powder skirt, as well as a helmet-compatible hood add to the Lofoten’s storm-ready capabilities.

Stoney HS Jacket

The Mammut Stoney HS is all about choosing your own adventure. Wear it on its own on warmer, or high-output days; or pair it with a mid-layer for added warmth. Leave on the hood, wrist gaiters, and powder skirt or take them off for milder days. Pull the hood, hem and cuffs tight or leave them loose. The Stoney HS makes an ideal sidecountry jacket as it features.

Skytour AscentShell Jacket

When hunting for the perfect backcountry ski jacket, you’ll want one that keeps moisture out, works with different layering configurations, and is highly ventable, if not entirely breathable. The Skytour AscentShell from Outdoor Research is ideal—and now lighter than ever before— with its unique laminated construction that’s waterproof, windproof and breathable.

With 93 percent 40-denier nylon and 7 percent spandex, it offers incredible freedom of movement, so it’s easy to put on—and leave on. Electrospun Membrane Technology is the latest marriage of breathable and waterproof so not only does the technology of this jacket help keep your temperature on point, but it has the perfect pockets and features to keep essential gear within arms’ reach.

Object Insulated Jacket

Look good and feel good with the Object Jacket from Picture, made from the brand’s circular polyester. Subtle features like comfortable thumb holes to keep sleeves from riding up and exposing your wrists to the cold, and a built-in goggle wipe for keeping your field of vision clear, make the Object Jacket feel like a gift on the mountain.

The color-block design gives it a sharp, eye-catching aesthetic. It’s a bit heavier than many of the jackets on this list, but doesn’t look or feel bulky for it. Just 60 grams of insulation is enough to stave off a chill on cold days, but you can flush heat through multiple ventilation zones as you warm up.

Khroma Kinetic Jacket

The demands of ski touring heat things up past the point of a regular ski jacket’s ventilation capabilities. That’s why Rab and the Khroma Kinetic approach touring differently, employing a soft-shell design to keep this layer lightweight and breathable.

Since you’re almost always moving, and usually climbing, you don’t need as thick of a barrier between you and the snow to stay protected. Even in the case of heavy snow fall, the water-resistance this jacket offers might be even better than waterproof. You get all the benefits of softshell construction without much of a loss on the other end. It is unquestionable quality— customizable to suit the weather and terrain situation as it unfolds.

Q+A with our Expert

What are the differences between down and synthetic insulation?

This question is actually the subject of many thousands of words and decades of research, but in layman’s terms there are a few things you can take to the bank. Synthetic insulation performs better when wet and is less expensive. Down has a higher warmth to weight ratio and costs more.

People tend to go with down as a layer for warmth, whereas more brands turn to synthetic insulations to engineer for performance and breathability. Now you’ve got even more options such as hydrophobic down and wool blends, which are incredible natural materials with great breathability and insulating properties.

How critical are cuff closures?

Some jackets will just have elastic at the wrist, but almost every ski jacket has adjustable velcro cuff closures. These are crucial for keeping out wind and snow, helping you stay warm, dry, and comfortable.

Hood or no hood?

Personally, I would say pretty much always hood. It’s difficult to imagine wearing a serious ski jacket without a hood, especially a helmet-compatible hood. That said, I’m sure there are some more recreational or even high-end but very much front-side fair-weather type jackets without hoods.

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