A decent ski jacket is your first line of defence against the cold, harsh winter elements, and is one of the most important bits of ski gear you can buy—arguably more important than a helmet, gloves, goggles or even ski boots.
Jackets come at a whole range of price points, with a whole range of different features to suit different types of skiing. If you're cruising blues in Meribel, you might want some insulation, and you probably won't need the same level of waterproofing and breathability you would if you were ski touring in Jackson Hole.
"We've selected a mixture, from high-end Gore-Tex jackets designed for the backcountry and to simple models aimed at first-time skiers"
Here, SNOW's gear experts have compiled a list of what we believe to be the best men's and women's ski jackets on the market this winter. We've selected a mixture, from high-end Gore-Tex jackets designed for the backcountry and to simple models aimed at first-time skiers. The prices reflect each jackets' features and fabric.
At the bottom, you'll find a guide to what to look for in a ski jacket, which also explains some of the jargon. If you're looking for men's jackets specifically, you could also check out our more extensive list of men's ski and snowboard jackets, which has some other great options. If you're searching for women's ski jackets, check out the equivalent round-up by our reviews team.
Armada Addisen Ski Jacket
RRP £260
When it comes to creating stylish, all-mountain ski gear, Armada have been stepping up their game year on year. This insulated, parka-style jacket is an all-new favourite, with fish-tail drop hem, high collar, helmet-compatible hood, and durable, 2-layer waterproof shell. It features two weights of 90% recycled insulation, with more insulation around the core for warmth and lighter insulation in the arms for better mobility. It’s perfect for party laps in the park, pounding through powder, and for cruising into après-ski. Versatile, warm, and weatherproof, we think the Addisen is excellent value for money at just £260. A fully featured ski jacket that looks great on and off the slopes.
Buy Armada Addisen Jacket: £260 at absolute-snow.co.uk
Columbia Highland Summit II Ski Jacket
RRP £270
If you’re looking for an extra boost of warmth from your ski gear, Columbia’s new Highland Summit II Jacket offers just that. Lightly insulated and lined with Columbia’s Omni-Tech, it’s designed to offer warmth while remaining breathable. The gold dots reflect your body heat back towards you, significantly reducing radiant heat loss – ideal for a Scottish summit or a chilly chairlift.
It’s waterproof and windproof with dedicated pockets for ski pass and goggles and the stylish drop tail design comes comfortably down over the back of your hips. When the wind picks up you can cinch in the helmet compatible hood and adjustable cuffs, button up the powder skirt, and enjoy a cold mountain day from first lift till last.
The North Face Dragline Ski & Snowboard Jacket
RRP £380
Boxy, bold and built for boosting around the whole mountain, The North Face Dragline Jacket will work for all your lift-served snow days, from sun soaked resort laps to playing in the powder.
The casual fit and looks hide an otherwise high-tech spec, with a durable 3-layer ripstop Dryvent fabric, full seam sealing, and YKK Aquaguard zips to keep all moisture out. In true freeride style the hood is large and helmet compatible, and the chin comes up high over the face to offer excellent protection from biting winds.
Inside, there’s a media port for headphones and a ton of great storage including a large internal dump pocket and two deep drop pockets on the front. It's available in a range of different colours and sizes for both men and women — the women's colourway is shown here.
Decathlon Wedze Fr Patrol Ski Jacket
RRP £109
The Wedze Fr Patrol Ski Jacket offers considerable bang for buck, priced at a very reasonable £109 for a relatively high spec jacket. Decathlon has built in considerable weather protection breathability, with a 15,000 mm membrane, taped seams, storm cuffs and a snow skirt.
Another strong point is the hood, which the French brand has designed to adjust in several different ways to accommodate different helmet designs. Pockets are generous, including two hand pockets, chest pocket, a ski pass holder and an inside pocket for valuables.
As with many Decathlon products you may find that build quality suffers a little next to bigger name brands, but Decathlon have gone some way to assuage quality concerns by offering a two-year warranty, during which time it’ll be repaired for free. So it’s hard not to recommend the Wedze Fr Patrol Ski Jacket if budget is a primary concern.
Buy Decathlon Wedze Fr Patrol Ski Jacket: £109.99 Decathlon.co.uk
Klattermusen Brage 2.0 Ski Jacket
RRP £649
Klattermusen come from Sweden, and although that doesn't guarantee decent outdoor clothing, they do have skin in the cold-weather-game, so it tends to ring true. They're also a mountaineering focussed brand which gives us confidence that they know how to protect you from the elements.
The Brage 2.0's 3-layer shell make-up is high end, it’s built with Pertex Shield Revolve (a 100 percent recycled waterproof fabric) with fully taped seams. It’s soft and stretchy with a smart, low profile style. The adjustable hood moves with your head, cinching down easily over hat or helmet, and there’s good storage and plenty of adjustability to hone the fit. Overall, a top notch, street-style ski jacket that offers top performance on the mountain.
Buy Klattermusen Brage 2.0 : £649 at klattermusen.com
Patagonia Storm Shift Ski Jacket
RRP £450
Introduced for the first time last winter, this jacket looks like any other 2-layer Gore-Tex shell, but it’s the Storm Shift’s eco-credentials that make it stand out from the crowd. In partnership with Gore-Tex, Patatgonia has created a line of waterproof shells completely free from PFCs. That’s no PFC’s in the DWR finish and, crucially, no PFCs in the membrane either. This ePE membrane is an important milestone for the outdoor industry and will no doubt be rolled out across many brands – but folks, you saw it here first.
Coupled with a 100 percent recycled face fabric the Storm Shift offers a lower carbon footprint than ever before. It has all the usual features; pit zips, adjustable hood, powder skirt, and five useful pockets, but the finish and design are a cut above. Inside, there’s a soft, quick-wicking, body mapped fleece lining, giving it an edge on cold mountain days and easily regulating your temperature when you’re pushing it hard.
Picture Goods Jacket
RRP: £385
Launched last year but still available in various new colourways, this jacket lives up to its name—it has all the details, protection and warmth you need for skiing or snowboarding, and because French brand Picture pride themselves on their environmental transparency, it’s good for the planet too.
The 2-layer outer shell is made with both recycled polyester and fabric derived from sugar cane, which significantly reduces its environmental impact, and the DWR finish is PFC-free. This makes the durable outer reliably waterproof and the 4-way stretch gives you excellent freedom to move. For extra warmth it’s lightly insulated with 100 percent recycled synthetic insulation, great for cold chairlifts in depths of winter.
Fully sealed seams, waterproof zips, and an inner snowskirt make sure the snow stays where it belongs, whether you’re trucking through deep snow or brushing off a spectacular head plant.
Rab Khroma Kinetic Ski Jacket 
RRP £340
As leaders in the mountaineering sector, we’d expect Rab to easily transition into ski touring gear, and their Khroma Kinetic does just that. Offering the feel of a softshell and the performance of a hardshell, its lightweight Proflex fabric gives you comfort on both the ascent and descent. Highly breathable and reliably waterproof it’s soft, supple and easy to wear, while packing down small for stashing in your pack.
There are some clever additional design flourishes, like the through-draught created when you open the front pockets and rear arm zips, the deep front pockets that will swallow up skins or map, and the built in stretch and arm articulation – excellent if your ascent involves some mountaineering skills. And it doesn’t look out of place on the piste either.
Available in men's and women's sizes, fits and colourways, this is a jacket that will doubtless prove popular across the board. You can read our full review of the Rab Khroma Kinetic Ski Jacket and pants here.
Buy Rab Khroma Kinetic Jacket: £340 at rab.equipment
Buyer's guide: What do you need in a ski jacket?
Before buying a ski jacket, ask yourself these questions. If you need more jargon-busting advice check out the buyers' guide on our best snowboard jackets round-up here.
Is the jacket fully waterproof and how do I tell?
Get the basics right first, make sure your jacket is waterproof. We would suggest a minimum level for skiing and snowboarding of a 10,000mm hydrostatic head, this information can be found on the tag of the jacket or on the manufacturers web page. If you're really putting the jacket through its paces in all weathers then you should aim for a higher level of 20,000mm or above.
What are taped seams and do I need them?
Taped seams are important to stop the gradual creep of moisture past small holes created when the various panels of the jacket are sewn together. Some only have critically taped seams usually above the shoulder and in the hood but most dedicated ski jackets have fully taped seams i.e. every seam on the jacket has a layer of waterproof tape bonded over the top of it.
Are the zips waterproof?
Any zips will need to either have storm flaps - a flap of material over the top of the zip - or preferably be water tight. If they don't have either eventually moisture will creep through. You can tell if a zip is watertight by looking at the area either side of the teeth, if it has a rubbery looking coating then you're good to go. Also make sure that all zips run smoothly and have chunky pullers so you can easily use them with gloves or simply with cold hands.
How many pockets do I need and do I need pit zips?
Make sure you have enough for your needs, look for a jacket with a lift pass pocket on one of the sleeves as this will save a lot of hassle in busy lift queues. If you're going to be doing a lot of high intensity skiing or ski touring then pit zips are a must for ventilation through the body without having to remove your jacket.
Do I need an insulated ski jacket?
Whether you go for shell or insulated depends on if you prefer to layer up or not. Shell jackets (jackets with no insulation) are more versatile as long as you have a wardrobe full of technical layers to go underneath. You can vary these layers depending on conditions, from a light baselayer underneath on warmer days to a full compliment of base and mid layer for deep winter days. It also allows you to vary layers through the day for better temperature regulation overall. Some prefer insulated jackets for their simplicity and the fact that you don't have to buy expensive extra layers to go underneath them.
Is down insulation any good for skiing?
As a general rule synthetic insulation is better than down for ski clothing as it retains most of its insulating properties when wet. Although tempting be careful not to buy overly insulated jackets as they will quickly get hot and clammy when you're skiing.
Other features
Other features that skiers and snowboarders find useful, but aren't necessarily vital, are a powder skirt, which is designed to keep snow from going underneath your jacket, and thumb loops which keep your sleeves down and tucked under your gloves.
