Best Ski and Snowboard Jackets for Men 2019-2020

Here’s our roundup review of the best ski and snowboard jackets for men.

The right jacket is an extremely important piece of equipment. At a minimum we expect them to keep us warm, dry, and comfortable all day long in a wide range of weather conditions. It takes keen attention to design and use of technical materials to accomplish this.

As a result there is actually quite a bit of technical information that needs to be considered to find your perfect jacket. In this article, we will give you a basic primer of what to look for along with our in-depth reviews of the 6 best ski and snowboard jackets to help you make the best choice you can.

Different people have different tastes and style preferences when it comes to ski and snowboarding jackets. There are plenty of options available on the market that you can consider based on your likes and dislikes. When we talk about winter and skiing or snowboarding, jackets are likely to appear in our mind because they keep you protected from those freezing temperatures and chilling winds.

In this post, we will be discussing some important design features that you must keep in mind before buying. If you purchase based on appearance alone there’s a good chance that you’ll end up regretting your decision when you are on top of a mountain wet and shivering.

First, we’ll introduce our top selections in a Feature Comparison Table. Then we’ll share our quick tips to be aware of while shopping for jackets and for the technical minded we’ll link to some resources for more detailed information. Then we’ll go through our list of the 6 best ski and snowboard jackets for men.

So let’s dig right in.

Feature Comparison Table: Best Ski and Snowboard Jackets for Men

Photo

Brand/

Model

Waterproof/

Breathability

Warmth

Our Rating

DC Servo

15k/15k

Medium

Quicksilver Mission

10k/10k

Medium-High

DC Ripley

10k/10k

Medium

Burton Covert

10k/5k

Medium

Burton Breach

10k/5k

Medium

The North Face Thermoball Triclimate

High*

High

*The North Face uses a different waterproof/breathability rating system.  See in-depth review for more information.

DC Servo

O​​​​u​r Ra​​​​ting

Waterproof/

Breathability

15k/15k

Warmth

Medium

Quicksilver Mission

O​​​​u​r Ra​​​​ting

Waterproof/

Breathability

10k/10k

Warmth

Medium-High

DC Ripley

O​​​​u​r Ra​​​​ting

Waterproof/

Breathability

10k/10k

Warmth

Medium

Burton Covert

O​​​​u​r Ra​​​​ting

Waterproof/

Breathability

10k/5k

Warmth

Medium

Burton Breach

O​​​​u​r Ra​​​​ting

Waterproof/

Breathability

10k/5k

Warmth

Medium

The North Face Thermoball Triclimate

O​​​​u​r Ra​​​​ting

Waterproof/

Breathability

High*

Warmth

High

Quick Tips for Choosing Ski and Snowboard Jackets

We’ve compiled the following quick tips to help you understand the important aspects to be focused on while researching men’s ski and snowboard jackets.

  1. Traditional vs. 3-in-1: Decide if you want the ski/snowboard specific design features of a traditional jacket or the versatility in layer options and warmth potential that come bundled with a 3-in-1 jacket.
  2. Fit: Jackets come in slim, regular, and relaxed fit.  Consider your personal style and body type.  Slim fit jackets are more sleek but have less room and will feel tighter and possibly restrictive especially if you want to layer.  Relaxed fit may feel too baggy unless you have a big and tall body type.  Regular fit usually gives the best compromise of freedom of movement and ability to wear layers without restricting movement.
  3. Length: Jackets come cropped at waist or above; hip length that sit at the hip bone or slightly below; and thigh length extending to the thighs.  Shorter length jackets have the advantage of not interfering with leg movement but do not cover as much so are not as warm.  Thigh length cover more and are warmer, but they can restrict movement depending on the fit.  Hip length are the compromise that gives good warmth and little restriction to movement.
  4. Waterproof and Breathability: Generally you should purchase the most waterproof and breathable jacket you can afford.  The bare minimum is 5k/5k but 10k/10k and above is preferred.  For detailed information on how these are rated then check out our Buying Guide: How to Choose Waterproof and Breathability Ratings for Outerwear.
  5. Insulation: Decide if you want just a simple shell or an insulated jacket.  If you like to wear a lot of layers to adjust warmth then a shell may be right for you.  If you are usually cold then you may prefer the extra warmth of an insulated jacket.  Consider that an insulated jacket can’t really be made “less warm”.  The degree of warmth varies by the type and amount of insulation used.  So you can choose anywhere from low to heavy warmth.  For detailed information check out our Buying Guide: How to Choose Insulated Outerwear.
  6. Design Features: Pay attention to the features that are most important to you like hoods, pockets, vents, powder skirt…etc. I you like to have your phone easily accessible then pay special attention to media pocket options.
  7. Try it On: Set up all your gear ahead of your snowboard trip.  Put on your layers you expect to wear and make sure you have enough room to move your arms and legs around freely with little restriction.

For more detailed information about jackets check out our complete Buying Guide: How to Choose Ski and Snowboard Jackets.

Product Reviews: Best Ski and Snowboard Jackets for Men

DC Servo Jacket Review

DC Servo

O​​​​u​r Ra​​​​ting

Waterproof/

Breathability

15k/15k

Warmth

Medium

OVERVIEW

The Servo is a highly competitively priced insulated mid-warmth jacket from DC. It has critically taped seams and a very respectable 15k/15k waterproof/breathability rating to keep you dry. For warmth it is synthetically insulated with 80 g in the body and 40 g in the sleeves.

PROS

  • Flap closure system has Velcro for easy closing/opening which is easier to use when wearing gloves compared to a button flap closure
  • Media pocket has a headphone pass-through hole and is externally accessible
  • Sleeve pass pocket making for easy gate access
  • Mesh goggle pocket on the inside
  • 2-way adjustable hood with visor and helmet compatible
  • Powder skirt with pants attachment to keep powder from going up your back
  • Wrist gaiters help keep snow out of your sleeves
  • Armpit vents to increase breathability when you get hot
  • Waterproof rating of 15,000 mm and breathability rating of 15,000 g (15k/15k) will keep you quite dry

CONS

  • Many feel it is more of a relaxed fit than a regular fit so keep this in mind while picking your size

BOTTOM LINE

This jacket has some great features and solid waterproofing/breathability that are typically only found on higher end jackets.

Quicksilver Mission Jacket Review

Quicksilver Mission

O​​​​u​r Ra​​​​ting

Waterproof/

Breathability

10k/10k

Warmth

Medium-High

OVERVIEW

The Quicksilver Mission jacket is 100% polyester and for this reason, it feels very light in weight. The jacket comes with a waterproof rating of 10k/10k and is insulated with 120g on the body and 100g in the sleeves so it can handle moderate weather conditions very well. It is equipped with a removable helmet compatible adjustable hood as well as a lift pass pocket on the sleeve. It is a regular fit jacket with critically taped seams.

PROS

  • Made of 100% polyester and is extremely lightweight
  • Waterproof rating of 10,000 mm and 10,000 g breathability giving acceptable dry performance
  • Mesh pit vents to help keep you cool and dry when the weather gets warm
  • Wrist gaiters will keep snow out of sleeves
  • Internal media pocket with cable management
  • Mesh goggle pocket for easy access
  • Powder skirt with pants fastening system to keep snow from running up the back
  • Lift pass pocket on sleeve to get you through the gates without hassle

CONS

  • Wrist gaiters don’t go over thumb which means they may not stay perfectly where you want them without a little extra adjustment

BOTTOM LINE

The Mission has all the features you should look for in a jacket at a great price point. It has a decent waterproof and breathability rating that will allow it to perform in a variety of conditions keeping you warm and dry.

DC Ripley Jacket Review

DC Ripley

O​​​​u​r Ra​​​​ting

Waterproof/

Breathability

10k/10k

Warmth

Medium

OVERVIEW

The DC Ripley is a highly competitively priced insulated jacket rated at mid-warmth. It has critically taped seams and a 10k/10k waterproof/breathability rating to keep you dry. To keep you warm it is synthetically insulated with 80 g in the body and 40 g in the sleeves.

PROS

  • Velcro flap closure system which is preferred over button closure because it is easier to work with when wearing gloves
  • Externally accessible media pocket (with headphone pass-through hole) so you don’t need to open the jacket to get to your phone
  • Pass pocket on the sleeve making it easy to get through gates
  • Internal mesh goggle pocket for quickly stashing items
  • Helmet compatible 2-way adjustable hood with visor
  • No snow up your back thanks to a powder skirt with pants attachment
  • No snow in your sleeves due to wrist gaiters
  • Spring conditions are no problem with the help of armpit vents
  • Acceptable dry performance due to waterproof rating of 10,000 mm and breathability rating of 10,000 g (10k/10k)

CONS

  • Although it is marketed as regular fit many feel it is more of a relaxed fit

BOTTOM LINE

You can’t beat the quality and features for the price. It has all the pockets you need and sufficient insulation, waterproofing and breathability to keep you warm and dry in moderate weather conditions.

Burton Covert Jacket Review

Burton Covert

O​​​​u​r Ra​​​​ting

Waterproof/

Breathability

10k/5k

Warmth

Medium

OVERVIEW

The Burton Covert jacket for men from Burton is equipped with DryRide dual layer nylon dobby fabric. These jackets come with 10,000 mm waterproof rating and 5,000 g breathability rating. This is a mid-warmth jacket with taped seams in critical areas and is stuffed with Thermolite insulation of 80g on body and 60g on hood and sleeves. This is a regular fit jacket and the hood is fully helmet compatible and includes rear cinching.

PROS

  • Easy external access media pocket under the front flap on the left side of the chest with a headphone cord pass-through hole to the inside
  • Internal mesh goggle pocket and season pass pocket
  • Thermolite insulation of 80g on body and 60g on hood and sleeves for medium warmth
  • Helmet compatibility with rear cinching
  • Waterproof rating of 10,000 mm and breathability rating of 5,000 g (10k/5k) providing acceptable dry performance
  • Removable powder skirt with a pants attachment feature to keep snow from going up your back
  • Some of the available colorways are Bluesign® approved products which is more sustainable method of textile production

CONS

  • May not be warm enough in extreme cold
  • Sleeves may be longer than desired for those with shorter arms
  • Breathability could be a bit better

BOTTOM LINE

The Covet Jacket from Burton is an excellent product because it provides good value for money. It might not be the ideal option for tough weather conditions but it will get the job done in a wide variety of more moderate weather conditions.

Burton Breach Jacket Review

Burton Breach

O​​​​u​r Ra​​​​ting

Waterproof/

Breathability

10k/5k

Warmth

Medium

OVERVIEW

Burton’s Breach is a regular fit and mid-warm jacket. It features DryRide Durashell with dual layer blocked solid polyester weave and solid twill fabric. These jackets come with 10,000 mm waterproof rating and 5,000 g breathability rating. The Breach jacket boasts Thermolite insulation of 80 g on body and 60 g on hood and sleeves too. This jacket also features rear cinching on the hood to improve its helmet compatibility.

PROS

  • Easy external access media pocket under the front flap on the left side of the chest with a headphone cord pass-through hole to the inside
  • Internal mesh goggle pocket
  • Season pass pocket
  • Thermolite insulation of 80g on body and 60g on hood and sleeves for medium warmth
  • Helmet compatibility with rear cinching
  • Fully taped seams
  • Waterproof rating of 10,000mm and breathability rating of 5,000g (10k/5k)
  • No snow up your back due to removable powder skirt with a pants attachment feature

CONS

  • May not be warm enough in extreme cold so layering is necessary
  • Sleeves may be longer than desired for those with shorter arms
  • Breathability rating could be improved

BOTTOM LINE

The Breach Jacket is a good choice because it provides just about all the features you should look for at an affordable price. The jacket works well in moderate weather conditions and will keep you warm and dry all day long.

The North Face Thermoball Triclimate Jacket Review

The North Face Thermoball Triclimate

O​​​​u​r Ra​​​​ting

Waterproof/

Breathability

High*

Warmth

High

OVERVIEW

The Thermoball Triclimate Jacket from The North Face is a 3-in-1 jacket that is more designed for general cold weather use than specifically for skiing or snowboarding. But it will keep you very warm and dry which people who generally feel colder may find that this offsets the more general design features.

3-in-1 jackets are really two jackets that are designed to work together as a system and allow flexibility in terms of how they’re worn. They consist of an outer shell (outer jacket) that provides some waterproofing and wind protection while an inner layer (inner jacket) acts as an insulator.

The waterproof and breathability ratings used by North Face for this jacket are not the same as for most other jacket manufacturers. But based on the materials used and the 3-in-1 design you can expect very warm, waterproof, and breathable performance from this jacket.

If you would like more detailed information about the features and benefits of 3-in-1 jackets then check out this link to our Buying Guide: How to Choose Ski and Snowboard Jackets.

PROS

  • Zipper attachment for both the layers which is mandatory for a 3-in-1 jacket to make getting it on and off easy
  • Fully adjustable hood for custom fit
  • Excellent warmth, waterproofing, and breathability
  • Can wear just the shell or just the inner jacket allowing you to customize warmth
  • Mesh pit vents to allow you to adjust air flow

CONS

  • The large outer layer may feel baggy without the inner layer
  • No wrist gaiters so it’s possible to end up with snow in your sleeves
  • No inner goggle pocket or pass pocket
  • Has waist cinch cords but no powder skirt so snow may end up going up your back in powder conditions
  • Chest pocket where a phone may go is on the outside and the pocket is not insulated. This increases the chance the battery will get too cold while skiing or snowboarding.

BOTTOM LINE

If you are looking for an very warm, waterproof, and breathable jacket with the versatility of a 3-in-1 jacket then the North Face Thermoball Triclimate Jacket is an exellent choice. Just be aware that this jacket is not specifically designed for skiing or snowboarding so some of the activity specific features found in other jackets are missing.  This is why we gave it 4 stars despite the excellent protection it provides from the elements.