13 Best Men’s Ski Jackets for Snowy Days on the Slopes

The Cottonwoods is Backcountry's everyday jacket and one of our favorites of the year. It's super waterproof, loaded with technical, comfort-enhancing features, has a just-right fit with plenty of space for layering without being baggy, and feels durable enough for heavy use without feeling boxy or rigid.

Everything about this jacket was designed to keep you warm and dry when you're raging the mountain. The three-layer Gore-Tex membrane keeps moisture outside, sheds heat when you warm up, and keeps wind gusts at bay.

We love the mid-length, roomy fit of this freestyle-ready ski shell for windy, blower pow days at the resort just as much as we do for sidecountry booter sessions.

Its outer fabric is abrasion-resistant to hold strong, no matter how many double ejects and yard sales you put it through. And it has all the features you'd expect from pricier competitors, like underarm vents, soft wrist gaiters, a powder skirt, a helmet-compatible hood, seam-sealed zippers, and media pockets.

If you need one solid jacket that you can count on all season long, the Cottonwoods is, in our opinion, the best bang for your buck.

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If avalanche forecasts, 3 a.m. wakeup calls, and sunrise skiing are a part of your regular routine, you’ll need a reliable shell. Luckily, Black Diamond makes super technical gear that is also pretty darn stylish. The Recon LT Stretch is their newest shell, with a mid-length cut and lightweight feel that is super versatile for all winter’s outdoor adventures, from quick jaunts around town to disconnecting miles deep in the backcountry.

The Recon features BD.Dry, the brand's own three-layer waterproof and breathable membrane. It's plenty capable of keeping you warm and dry in wet weather. But the LT is a slimmer, lighter version of the Recon Stretch Shell, made for weight-saving and easy packability when you need to stuff it in your pack on backcountry excursions.

This shell leans a bit more minimalist when it comes to extras and features, but it's a reliable touring companion. Two underarm vents aid in temperature regulation, a back-snap tab interfaces with your pants (in lieu of a powder skirt), and adjustability at the hem, cuffs, and hood let you customize the fit and weather protection. It's equipped with two large underarm vents, a stretchy powder skirt, internal pockets big enough to house your skins, and adjustability at the cuffs, hem, and hood.

Patagonia has long been one of our favorite brands — if not for its high-quality gear, for its dedication to sustainability. And with the company's recent commitment to donate all of its profits to combat climate change and protect undeveloped land around the globe, we can't think of a better brand to support.

The Storm Shift is Patagonia’s newest line of winter outerwear, made with a new two-layer nonfluorinated Gore-Tex membrane, and a DWR finish that’s PFC-free. With this recycled fabric technology, Patagonia is once again leading the way in environmental sustainability, while still offering the same waterproof, breathable, and durable “Guaranteed to Keep You Dry” storm protection that Gore-Tex guarantees.

This jacket is not insulated, but it does have a unique liner that is warmer and wicks moisture away better than a typical uninsulated shell. It's complete with a helmet-compatible hood, easy-access pit zips, a powder skirt, ample interior and exterior pockets, and a built-in RECCO reflector for avalanche rescue.

If you're serious about skiing or snowboarding and know how important a quality jacket is, then Mammut should definitely be on your radar. This Swiss brand makes dependable, high-performance jackets with clean styling that easily blurs the line between touring and mountaineering gear, and their top-quality construction justifies the investment-level price tag.

We’ve been able to spend a few days in Mammut’s new Haldigrat HS jacket, and we can’t sing its praises enough. It’s a waterproof (20,000/m2), breathable, three-layer shell (without insulation) that is super effective at regulating temperature when paired with the proper layers underneath. We’ve never found ourselves freezing or sweating, no matter how fast our engine is churning — which means every day lasts longer, and the stoke is always higher.

Mammut used their own Dry Technology Pro three-layer material, which is lighter, softer, and more pliable than most hardshell jackets, with less of a crinkly feel and sound. And it has all the little details that you'd expect from a league leader like Mammut, including fully taped seams, long two-way underarm vents, easy-pull zippers, and a removable powder skirt.

So if you prefer to layer up (we do) over rocking an insulated jacket, this shell is ready for nearly any conditions and adventures that winter may bring.

Every sender knows there’s no better feeling than skiing first tracks in untouched powder. Sometimes you’re lucky enough to be in the right place at the right time when Ski Patrol drops the rope, and sometimes you’ll have to wake up at sunrise and brave the storm. Whatever the case, you’ll need a jacket that’s as ballsy as you, like Dakine’s new Sender.

The Sender is a stretchier alternative to their previous crowd-favorite (the Stoker line), thanks to a recycled polyester outer layer with a four-way stretch material. It's pretty dang stout, too, thanks to the three-layer Plain Weave membrane construction (rated at 20,000/m2) that repels the wettest snow, blocks the coldest winds, and breathes to prevent moisture buildup.

We love the fit, feel, and style of this long, loose (but not baggy), freestyle-oriented shell. A well-rounded design includes fully sealed seams and zippers, a stretchy, removable powder skirt, a helmet-compatible hood that adjusts two ways, two oversized chest pockets, and underarm vents to let some cool air in when you're bootpacking park laps to skip the chairlift.

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When trailhead meetups and backcountry booter sessions are a daily occurrence, you'll need a robust shell that will hold strong under heavy use. Enter the new Viv jacket from Mountain Hardwear — a stout ski shell, designed by and for professional skiers.

The Viv features Gore-Tex Pro — the company's highest-performing three-layer membrane — for ultimate waterproofing, windproofing, and breathability. Meanwhile, taped zippers, sealed seams, a large adjustable hood, and jacket-to-pant interfacing further reinforce this snow shelter.

We love its internal “skin pin” system, which lets you hang your skins inside the jacket so they stay warm and unfrozen during the coldest descents. The fog-free breath zone near the chin, which keeps your goggles from fogging up, is a nice touch, too.

Jones Snowboards — makers of some of the finest snowboards and splitboards in the industry — launched their first collection of outerwear in the fall of 2021. This year's updates are an improvement on last year's gear, and we're pretty stoked about the MTN Surf line.

The Mountain Surf Park is an insulated ski and snowboarding jacket that's ideal for climates with heavy, wet snow. It features a two-layer membrane that is 20k waterproof, 20k breathable, made from recycled fabrics, and treated with a PFC-free DWR.

The face fabric is soft to touch but made from ripstop polyester with reinforcements in high-wear areas for ultimate durability, season after season. We also love the warmth that the recycled Primaloft BIO insulation delivers when winds are whipping on the chairlift.

We’re big fans of this jacket’s relaxed fit, long cut, four-way stretch material in the torso, and reinforced fabrics in high-wear areas (hood, shoulders, arms). And it’s rounded out with all the extras you’d expect from a high-quality snowboard jacket, like a helmet-compatible hood, armpit vents, adjustable waist, fully taped seams, large pockets, a RECCO rescue reflector, and an anti-fog breath vent to keep your goggles from fogging up.

If you’re looking for a lightweight, minimalist ski shell that’s designed for backcountry touring in inclement weather, Norrona has you covered. The Lofoten is a longstanding favorite of the Norwegian brand, known for its mountaineering and climbing gear.

The Lofoten jacket is incredibly weatherproof, thanks to a three-layer Gore-Tex membrane, a large helmet-compatible hood, internal wrist gaiters, a powder skirt, and jacket-to-pant integration.

It will keep you dry in deep, wet snow, and keep the wind out when it’s whipping. It’s not insulated and it’s lighter than more robust shells, so proper layering is paramount. But it’s incredibly breathable, and it features long pit zips to expel heat when you’re skinning to your favorite backcountry line.

If you can get past the sticker shock, this jacket will keep you drier than any of your friends when the snow is wet, heavy, and deep.

Outdoor Research has been making top-notch ski gear for what seems like ages, so it’s no surprise that it continues to excel. Their newest collection is the Snowcrew — an insulated, waterproof jacket that helps keep you toasty and is priced to sell.

This jacket features a two-layer Ventia membrane that’s plenty waterproof, windproof, and breathable for most skiers on all but the coldest day at the local resort. The ECO insulation is made from 85% recycled materials to keep you warm and feeling good about it.

We love the brushed tricot chin guard, which feels soft on your neck and won’t snag on your beard hair. The chest pocket is insulated and specifically designed to prolong the battery life of your phone. And the hand pockets have a brushed tricot lining for extra comfort and warmth.

The design is casual yet sophisticated, so you’ll only need one jacket for skiing and heading out for refreshments on your next ski trip to Whistler.

If you need a bit more warmth and versatility from your ski jacket, the 3-in-1 ThermoBall from The North Face is a solid contender. On warmer days, wear just the outer shell. But on colder days, zip the included down jacket into the outer shell for a super warm combination. Heck, you can even wear the down jacket separately, hence why it’s called a “triclimate” jacket. Genius.

This standard-fit jacket doesn't claim to be the most waterproof option out there, but water beads off this jacket like you'd expect from any The North Face jacket, thanks to two-layer DryVent Shell with DWR coating. The ThermoBall insulation is made from 100% post-consumer recycled polyester to reduce environmental impact, too.

With additional features like a helmet-compatible hood, powder skirt, and internal goggle pockets, this is another option with solid value. It's a well-built, affordable ski jacket for the weekend resort rider from an industry-leading brand.

There are many times when different is better, and this could be one of those cases. Fjällräven's Expedition Down Lite jacket is much different than the other jackets in this review, but it's plenty effective at providing warmth and protection for brisk days on the mountain.

Fjällräven calls this the “lite” version compared to their heavyweight Expedition down jacket. But when compared to most other down jackets, which are typically lighter and more packable, this baby is hefty and toasty for most (dry) days at the ski resort. 700-fill down is ample insulation, a DWR coating helps shed light moisture without interfering with breathability, and a snap-over flap covers the front zipper to prevent drafts from reaching your core.

There's no pass-specific pocket, as is common in many ski jackets. But there are plenty of storage options to secure your essentials, including two large exterior pockets with both top and side access, plus a zippered internal pocket for your goggles, wallet, or phone. Dare to be different than everyone else wearing shells.

When human-powered laps are your idea of a good time, the Skytour is a lightweight, high-performance shell that will take you where you need to go.

Like many others in this review, the Skytour is a three-layer shell that's perfect when matched with the appropriate base- and mid-layers. We're pretty stoked about the stretchy AscentShell fabric, which is electrospun to be lighter, stretchier, and more breathable than traditional fabrics.

The Skytour has clean lines, a two-tone colorway, a lower profile, and a fit that falls between active and freestyle — all styling that will keep you from standing out like a lost tourist.

Looking for an insulated, active-fit jacket with simple styling that won't cost you an arm and a leg? You're in luck, because Columbia makes solid gear for the skier on a budget. The Last Tracks is an update on one of their tried-and-true winter jackets.

Columbia's Omni-Tech waterproofing technology (no official rating) makes the outer shell plenty waterproof for skiing — it could even keep you dry in a downpour. Meanwhile, the synthetic insulation and Omni-Heat thermal reflective lining keep your body warm when you're riding the chairlift.

The Last Tracks also comes with plenty of features that are typical of more expensive options, like a removable hood, powder skirt, drawcord hem, and dedicated pockets for your ski pass and goggles, so you never (or less frequently) misplace those crucial elements again.