The Best Ski Jackets of 2024

For the style-conscious and technical skier, the Stio Men’s Environ Jacket and Stio Women’s Environ Jacket ($465) are two of the best options when it comes to protection in any weather.

The Environ is constructed from 100% recycled polyester, upping the product’s sustainability game for 2023-24. The details of this jacket are all adjustable from the hemline to the cuffs and the easily removable hood. Stio calls this fully seam-sealed jacket a workhorse — and we agree.

Compared to previous iterations, Stio shortened the hemline of this layer. Admittedly, we prefer the previous cut for helping to keep out snow and up the warmth factor on the chairlift. We do appreciate the addition of another chest pocket on the new version for the guys — though we wish they’d added that to the women’s silhouette. The other pockets include two zippered hand pouches, an interior zippered security pocket, a zippered forearm sleeve pocket for a ski pass, and an internal mesh stash pocket.

What the jacket lacks in breathability, the design makes up for with generous, unlined pit zips to help you quickly cool off when crushing laps or inbounds hikes. Those zips are two-way, too. We love the soft, flexible feel that this textile maintains, despite being an incredibly waterproof and windproof option. You can tell that this jacket was conceived in the Tetons, where -20 degree Fahrenheit stormy mornings are a regular occurence.

Testers agreed that the revamped snow skirt sealed out powder even when face shots were on the menu. All of the zippers on this jacket were particularly smooth, and the silicone zipper pulls are easy to grab even with heavy mittens.

For resort and occasional backcountry skiing and riding, the Stio Men’s Environ Jacket and Stio Women’s Environ Jacket is a standout for burly, waterproof protection, and is a great choice for skiers who venture out no matter the conditions, from snowstorm to shine.

We’re impressed with the newly launched Eddie Bauer Chair Six Jacket for Men and Eddie Bauer Chair Six Jacket for Women ($249) for the kits’ versatility and stunning price. The jacket is a 3-layer design, offering protection from the elements while remaining flexible. This layer is extremely comfortable and allows for full range of motion without a loud swishing sound. While this jacket is built for the resort, it’s also entirely usable for the backcountry. 

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 of the jacket, it 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 Women and 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.   

The Eddie Bauer Chair Six Jacket for Men and Eddie Bauer Chair Six Jacket for Women are 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 or second set of ski outerwear.

The Rab Men’s Khroma Kinetic Waterproof Jacket and Rab Women’s Khroma Kinetic Waterproof Jacket ($400) are one of our favorite choices thanks to their versatile feature sets. For both guys and gals, this jacket is at home on- or off-piste, and performs admirably during grueling tours or chilly days riding the lift.

Constructed from Rab’s proprietary Proflex material, the Khroma Kinetic balances breathability and weather resistance. The shell fabric has the stretchy, comfortable feel of a soft shell, while still being waterproof. A fluorocarbon-free DWR treatment keeps wet snow beading off the face fabric, preventing it from “wetting out.”

In terms of comfort, our testers love 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 love 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 chest pockets with plenty of room for bars, a GPS, and a cellphone, plus a tiny stash pocket for keys. A two-way zipper makes for easy access to a harness during mountaineering endeavors.

This jacket doesn’t have a powder skirt. If we wanted a jacket exclusively for resort skiing, we’d like it to be a bit longer, but it does have a small shoulder pocket for a ski pass.

Versatility always involves a little compromise, but for skiers hoping to get by with one jacket for the resort and the backcountry, the Rab Men’s Khroma Kinetic Waterproof Jacket and Rab Women’s Khroma Kinetic Waterproof Jacket are an excellent choice.

Have you ever skied with a down jacket on beneath a shell? Despite stinging cold conditions, the internal heat that builds up can be stifling, as most lack ventilation and underarm zippers. The fit can be cumbersome, too.

Our solution: the Sync Performance Men’s Stretch Puffy and Sync Performance Women’s Stretch Puffy ($349) with synthetic insulation. 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 wild 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.

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 Sync Performance Men’s Stretch Puffy and Sync Performance Women’s Stretch Puffy are our number-one choice if we need extra warmth on a frigid day on the slopes.

The Patagonia Women’s SnowDrifter Jacket and Patagonia Men’s SnowDrifter Jacket ($449) was a resounding favorite from our testing panel: light enough to excel in the backcountry, yet sturdy enough to tackle resort riding. The SnowDrifter Jacket is a stylish, high-output layer that won’t hold you back from first chair to last, from alpine starts to backcountry summits. The ingredients are also among the healthiest, and most toxic-free for you and the environment.

Supporting completely uninhibited movement, the SnowDrifter Jacket incorporates a two-way stretch fabric throughout, which testers appreciated. Like other Patagonia outerwear, testers noted that this jacket ran a little large. Skiers debating between two sizes could likely size down. 

Like the other options in Patagonia’s 2024 outerwear lineup, the SnowDrifter is an eco-friendly powerhouse with this one leading the benchmark. The former iteration of the SnowDrifter had 70% recycled fabric while 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.

A proprietary textile — rather than say, one made by GORE-TEX — this jacket was heavily tested through Patagonia’s multiyear testing rounds for waterproofness plus durability and breathability, called the H2No Performance Standard. This one passed. The factory where this kit was manufactured is also Fair Trade Certified.

The waterproofness does reach 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. 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.

Both the Patagonia Women’s SnowDrifter Jacket and Patagonia Men’s SnowDrifter Jacket feature 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.

To learn more, read our full GearJunkie reviews covering the lineup including the Patagonia SnowDrifter Men’s Jacket Review, Patagonia Men’s SnowDrifter Bibs Review, Patagonia Women’s SnowDrifter Bibs Review, and Patagonia Women’s SnowDrifter Jacket Review.

Keeping waste out of landfills while keeping us warm and stylish, the Picture Men’s Naikoon Jacket ($425) and Picture Women’s Haakon Jacket ($404) continue the company’s legacy of sustainably-produced, eco-friendly outerwear with unique colorblock style. We love the comfortable fit of this jacket and appreciate the ample pocket space, which helps us carry everything we need on warm or cold resort days.

This year, Picture debuted an in-house Circular polyester made from upcycled fabric. The textile is comprised of 60% factory scraps and 40% used jackets. The rollout will fully replace the brand’s bio-sourced polyester, because their research determined that upcycled textile offers a significant reduction in emissions and dependence on fossil fuels compared to bio-sourced polyester. Starting now, 80% of Picture’s 2023-24 winter outerwear is made fully or with a portion of Circular polyester. For instance, the Picture Women’s Seen Jacket, which won an award in our Best Women’s Ski Jackets buyer’s guide, has 100% Circular Polyester in the fabric.

The Naikoon and Haakon have seemingly endless pockets to carry anything you might want to bring to the resort with you. The getup ranges from snacks to a cellphone and a ski pass or interior goggle storage (and even a leashed goggle cloth for cleaning the opticals). Testers noted 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, also made from fully recycled material. Wrist gaiters helped seal in the warmth and prevent snow from getting into our gloves. If you end up too hot on the slopes, long underarm zips help to quickly regulate temperature. We were able to head out on a day with below-zero windchill with nothing but a base layer underneath in this jacket and be completely protected. Overall, this was one of the coziest jackets we tested.

With an affordable price, fashionable look, and comfortable fit, the Picture Men’s Naikoon Jacket and Picture Women’s Haakon Jacket are the perfect opportunity for resort skiers in wintry climates — especially those who value eco-friendly production.

If you need a lightweight, breathable, windproof, and waterproof shell for backcountry adventure, here’s a superstar choice: the Outdoor Research Men’s Skytour AscentShell Jacket and Outdoor Research Women’s Skytour AscentShell Jacket ($399).

The design is 20% more lightweight than its predecessor, the Skyward. This hardy 40-by-60-denier nylon and spandex face fabric is a stalwart against harsh conditions and a loaded pack. The cut is roomy and long. We appreciate that the hood is wire-brimmed so it doesn’t collapse.

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 Outdoor Research Men’s Skytour AscentShell Jacket and Outdoor Research Women’s Skytour AscentShell Jacket for inbounds days at the ski mountain.

Reimagined with a super-sustainable makeover for the 2023-24 winter season, the Patagonia Men’s Untracked Jacket and Patagonia Women’s Untracked Jacket ($699) will keep you protected, stoked, and looking good through the fiercest of storms.

The Untracked has a relaxed but athletic fit and runs on the larger end of the true-to-size spectrum. To increase comfort and unencumbered movement, Patagonia integrated malleable flex panels strategically throughout the jacket including around the hood, to enable the wearer to quickly pull up the head shield and batten down the hatches for extra protection without unzipping.

We found this design detail enabled us to look around dynamically and ski well with the hood up and our ski helmet on, which isn’t the case for every jacket. We love this hood.

Another impressive aspect of this jacket is its sustainable and healthier construction, without sacrificing performance. After a multiyear project with GORE-TEX, Patagonia unveils a first-of-its-kind textile that’s completely void of perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), from the fabric to the membrane and the DWR final dress. The jacket is made with 100% recycled fabric and 100% recycled flannel backer, which are stitched up in a Fair Trade certified factory.

We appreciated this jacket’s burly protection — especially on sub-zero resort days in Crested Butte, windy backcountry missions in Silverton, and ski mountaineering in Pemberton — though, the layup could use a bit more packability to be a dedicated backcountry jacket. Both the men’s and women’s versions weigh a smidge under 600 g (21 ounces). We like the comfortable, effective fit of the adjustable powder skirt for helping us stay dry on powder days, too. 

While we enjoy the muted color schemes of the Untracked Jacket, the downfall is those colors don’t stand out as well in overcast conditions. For the passionate resort skier seeking out fresh tracks as the product name suggests, the Patagonia Men’s Untracked Jacket and Patagonia Women’s Untracked Jacket is a sustainable, durable, and sharp-looking grab for a do-it-all resort shell.

For more details on the fit, application, performance, and sustainability check out the full GearJunkie reviews of these kits including the Patagonia Women’s Untracked Jacket Review, Patagonia Men’s Untracked Jacket Review, Patagonia Men’s Untracked Bibs Review, and Patagonia Women’s Untracked Bibs Review.

New for 2023-2024, the freeride-inspired Stio Men’s Figment Jacket and Stio Women’s Figment Jacket ($499) combine a loose fit with sustainable materials, weatherproof and durable fabric, and pockets galore. All the details create a jacket that lives for steep, deep powder days, launching off rocks, and hike-to terrain at the ski resort.

The backbone of the Figment Jacket lies in the shell’s materials. The 3-layer piece utilizes a 100-percent recycled polyester plain-weave and ripstop fabric with a waterproof rating of 20,000mm, and breathability rating of 10,000 g/m2/24hrs, meeting a high benchmark for blustery days. The jacket boasts a PFC-free DWR finish.

In short, this fabric feels heavier than others we tested 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 resort jackets on the market for guys or gals. While the brand claims a menu of “Bold Colors,” we would like to see more options: The abyss and men’s knotty pine tones camouflage us, especially against glades, making it hard to stand out or be detected by ski partners at the resort. 

Another key identifier of the Figment Jacket is that stylish, relaxed cut, which turns heads at the resort, especially among the ladies’ kit. This silhouette offers a roomier, baggier top aimed at a limitless range of motion. 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: Big kudos. Our male testers 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. The ladies thought the freeride fit was true to size.

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: Our testers 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 Stio Men’s Figment Jacket and Stio Women’s Figment Jacket are 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 – just remember guys: consider sizing down before picking yours out.

Arc’teryx delivers these tough, flexible shell jackets for tackling big mountain ski lines at the resort or in the backcountry: the Arc’teryx Men’s Sabre Jacket ($750) and the Arc’teryx Women’s Sentinel Jacket ($750). This season, the women’s silhouette was updated with a roomier zone around the waist and chest to accommodate a variety of layering systems.

While both of these ski jackets are an investment, they continue to be at the top of our stack because they’re so functional, perform exceptionally well, withstand years of abuse, and look good. We can depend on them. These ski jackets are hands down some of our favorites ever made.

The designs feature 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. Both jackets feature two external hand pockets, one small sleeve pocket, one internal mesh pocket (a second mesh pocket was added to the men’s jacket this year), 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 Arc’teryx Men’s Sabre Jacket and Arc’teryx Women’s Sentinel Jacket are a worthy choice.

If a toasty hug isn’t what you need, pull on the noninsulated Helly Hansen Men’s Odin Mountain Infinity 3-Layer Shell Jacket ($700). The jacket is also available for gals: the in a Helly Hansen Women’s Odin Mountain Infinity 3-Layer Shell Jacket with all the same high-end qualities. The Odin Infinity features the brand’s proprietary Lifa Infinity Pro textile.

The eco-friendly fabric is waterproof/breathable, wind-resistant, and hydrophobic, meaning it eliminates the need for a toxic DWR treatment — water repellency is inherent to the fabric.

We wore this shell while skinning in a wintry spring climate. There was usually cloud coverage mixed with spurts of sunshine. Temperatures ranged from 16 to 40 degrees, and gusts peaked around 30 mph.

Typically, we took continuous 1,000-foot ascents with the underarm vents open and never felt hot or clammy. This shell is breathable yet provides a solid barrier against wind and fairly wet, heavy snowfall.

To stash small goods, the shell has two exterior hand pockets and one chest pocket. Inside, there’s a mesh pocket and another tiny pocket with a zip closure. We mostly used the outermost big pockets during ski tours.

Another highlight is the laminated brim, which is shaped for a full-angle view.

One drawback: The powder skirt has a snap attachment point in the back that occasionally got stuck beneath our pack while skinning up. We could usually shift it out of the way. If this bothers you, the powder skirt is removable.

Ultimately, this eco-conscious shell is soft, quiet, and comfortable. The design is easy to move in while climbing and on the descent. For a long-term investment, consider the Helly Hansen Men’s Odin Mountain Infinity 3-Layer Shell Jacket and Helly Hansen Women’s Odin Mountain Infinity 3-Layer Shell Jacket.

Read our full GearJunkie review of the Helly Hansen Women’s Odin Mountain Infinity 3L Shell Jacket to learn more.

The Black Diamond Men’s Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell and Black Diamond Women’s Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell ($365) — which received a 2020 gold-level ISPO award — are stretchy and sturdy for backcountry and uphill use.

The breathable softshell material is treated with the brand’s proprietary waterproof/breathable and windproof solution in the chest, shoulders, and hood. There’s also a PFC-free DWR, which enhances durability.

One of the most innovative features of this jacket is a center-front dual zipper that opens to a mesh panel for ventilation while uphilling.

The two large chest pockets are harness-compatible and roomy enough for skins, and the hood fits over a helmet. The thumbhole wrist gaiter helps protect wrists from getting chilled.

Ultimately, the lightweight Black Diamond Men’s Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell and Black Diamond Women’s Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell are both a comfortable, stretchy, and very waterproof choice for skiers.

If you tend to get a bit chilled on the lift ride or your home mountain is frigid or gusty, push this insulated jacket to the top of your wish list. Launched in fall 2022 and back in the lineup — ready for a powder day, delivering excellent waterproofness — is the Patagonia Men’s Insulated Powder Town Jacket and Patagonia Women’s Insulated Powder Town Jacket ($399).

Patagonia nailed the comfort and fit of this design. Beyond that, the jacket is completely free of PFC chemicals, a multiyear development the brand is rolling out across every product in the All Mountain lineup.

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 Patagonia Men’s Insulated Powder Town Jacket and Patagonia Women’s Insulated Powder Town Jacket are 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).