The Best Ski Jackets We Tested on the Slopes, Including Halfdays, Stio, and Patagonia

Best Overall, Women’s

Halfdays Hedy Belted Puffer

View on Halfdays.com

I’ve worn my various Halfdays jackets to keep out the chill while headed to nice dinners or on many past NYC commutes, so I know that I can use them frequently enough to justify the purchase of more. Similarly, I’m a travel writer constantly switching up my time zone and climate, so I’m weak for any item that promises multiple uses, ensuring every inch of my suitcase space goes to good use.

While I’ve loved the Aston Jacket, too (see below), this season’s release is similar in style but extra-insulated for those, like me, who crave extra warmth. Its iconic butter yellow colorway is effortless, adorable, and shockingly neutral. I love the durability of Halfdays outwear; each jacket investment will last you many years of wear. And this fit-and-flare jacket toes (or rather, skis) the line between notable and lasting, making it a prime selection for fashion and utility.

The Hedy Belted Puffer is designed for temperatures from -30 degrees Fahrenheit to 32 degrees Fahrenheit. I’m always overprepared for the slopes, so I appreciate the number and organization of pockets for storing my wallet, lip balm, protein bars, sunscreen, hand warmers, and more. The adjustable hood fits over a helmet, and a powder skirt adds extra snow protection.

Frankly, I’m so obsessed with this jacket that I mourned going back to the sunny weather in Hawai’i, where I currently reside. Upon returning home from the Westgate Canyons Park City, I immediately scheduled my next ski trip. Bonus: The matching bib is even better than I expected, too. It’s soft, flattering, and fleece-lined.

Sizes: XS–2XL | Materials: 100% Polyester Shell with PrimaLoft® Insulation ECO 100% PCR | Colors: 3

Best Overall (Men’s)

Stio Men's Environ Jacket

View on Stio.com

In our original test, the Stio Environ Jacket was our clear winner. Five of us took this jacket for a spin on the slopes, and we all raved about its design, durability, and clever features. Made out of recycled polyester, the jacket received high marks for durability and sustainability. The heavy-duty shell performed well in most mountain conditions, and in terms of fit, allowed for multiple layers without feeling constricted or losing mobility.

It has a detachable, helmet-compatible hood (good for snow sports), a built-in powder skirt, and a unique PeakProof™ three-layer fully seamed waterproof fabric, which kept our testers warm and comfortable while snowshoeing, downhill skiing, and exploring a city in brisk temperatures. 

The jacket comes with armpit vents for ventilation, as well as accessible pockets (which held our lift pass, phone, two-way radio, and extra hand and foot warmer packs with ease). Overall, this is a high-quality investment piece that should see you through all but the coldest days of skiing.

Our original tester wore the men's version of the Environ jacket, and on a recent trip with the brand, three of us tested the women's version, and one wore the women's anorak version (pictured below). While we loved that this jacket is a shell, allowing us to customize our warmth level underneath, we understand that some may prefer a more traditional insulated ski jacket.

Sizes: XS–XXXL | Colors: 6 | Material: 100% recycled polyester

Best Features

Helly Hansen Alphelia LifaLoft Ski Jacket

$550 $480 at Amazon View on Hellyhansen.com $275 at REI

If you're all about bells and whistles, you've met your match with this jacket. Aside from standard features like a detachable helmet-compatible hood, a detachable powder skirt, pockets galore, and water-resistant zippers, this jacket has longer sleeves with thumb cutouts to serve as an extra base layer and increased down/puffiness placed around the collar.

It also has a special pocket outfitted with Aerogel insulation to protect and preserve your smartphone battery. This feature is useful for taking photos and videos while you're on the top of the mountain and a good way to ensure you have contact with others in case of an avalanche or sudden change in weather. We also found the longer armpit vents to be useful in customizing how much air circulates through. 

This jacket has a slimming cut, so it may not fit some body shapes and bust sizes. That said, the sleeves, hood, and powder skirt are adjustable: The sleeves have a velcro design, which is easy to tailor to your wrist, the hood has bungees on either side that easily slide up and down, and the powder skirt has three sets of snaps to adjust its tightness. We also found the fabric to be lightweight during testing, and it didn't add bulk or unnecessary heat despite layering. It's also available in men's sizing.

Sizes: XS–XL | Colors: 3 | Material: 89% Polamide, 11% Elastane

Best Investment

Arc'teryx Sentinel Jacket

View on Arcteryx.com $750 $600 at Evo.com

Arc'Teryx is known for its reliable, durable construction and premium technical features. Whether you're backcountry skiing or freeride touring, the Sentinel Jacket proves that no weather condition is too much or it. It features three-layer Gore-Tex fabric with a softshell construction and boasts an extremely featherlight feel (which is impressive given its functionality). 

Water rolled off the jacket during testing, and the fabric remained bone-dry to the touch afterward. Our tester even ran one of the pockets containing Airpods underneath the faucet, and the pocket remained dry. Thanks to the jacket's fully taped seams and insulated fabric, it did a great job of keeping the cold air and snow out. 

The fit also impressed: Our tester wore a merino wool base layer, a thin sweater, and a lightly insulated jacket underneath, and the Sentinel still felt perfectly roomy, if not a little long. The fabric is also extremely stretchy, so even though it provides extra coverage, it didn't impede mobility.

Of course, Arc'Teryx didn't skimp on features with this jacket. It comes with a powder skirt, velcro wrist closures, a drawcord along the rim and middle of the back of the hood, and armpit vents, all of which were easily adjustable. During testing, we enjoyed that the vents are slightly larger than other models and that they have dual zippers for customized airflow.

Sizes: XXS–XXL | Colors: 4 | Material: Gore-Tex

Best Lightweight

Outdoor Research Women's Skytour AscentShell Jacket

View on Amazon View on Outdoorresearch.com $429 $258 at Backcountry

With a 3L stretchy membrane and a unique AscentShell™ technology, Outdoor Research's Skytour AscentShell is a great option if you plan on skiing in mild conditions. Because it’s just a shell, it features ample room for several layers without ever constricting movement or feeling bulky. It's also incredibly versatile and can be worn for more than just winter sports, making that nearly $400 price tag worth it.

Functionality-wise, this jacket comes with two roomy interior pockets big enough to fit ski goggles and a water bottle, along with easy-to-use, waterproof zippers. The armpit zippers were great at offering breathability and reducing heat buildup while skiing. 

Overall, the jacket had a nice fit and moved well with the body while skiing (even the arm length offered maximum mobility and stretch while holding ski poles). Aside from being lightweight, the jacket boasts impressive water-repelling properties. During testing, it successfully kept water out — all while remaining breathable. It's also available in men's sizing.

Sizes: XS–XL | Colors: 3 | Material: 93% nylon, 7% spandex

Best Sustainable

Patagonia Powder Town Jacket

$199 at REI $399 $240 at Backcountry View on Patagonia.com

After multiple years of testing and revision, Patagonia has removed persistent PFC chemicals from 100 percent of their versatile all-mountain styles, including this Insulated Powder Town Ski/Snowboard Jacket. Aside from being fully PFC-free, the jacket is made of 100 percent recycled materials and has a two-layer shell with waterproof, breathable, and windproof construction.

The fabric is soft, flexible, and allows for easy movement. Our tester touted the fact that they had a full range of motion when they wore this — even on a three-mile run. We also enjoy the slew of storage pockets, as well as the armpit zips for breathability. The jacket also features a tall hood that allows for a ski helmet, a powder skirt, and two extra-lined pockets.

During testing, we found the jacket extremely comfortable to wear: It was lightweight yet warm and breathable yet insulated. The fabric is soft, yet it repels moisture effectively (even when we tested it in the rain). And, unlike other jackets in this price range that may skimp on closure quality, this one features zippers that are easy to pull up and down without getting caught in the fabric. 

The hood isn't adjustable (though we still found its size large enough to accommodate a helmet), and neither is the powder skirt. It does, however, have a bungee waist and two buttons for some adjusting. Overall, the jacket performed well in all conditions (rain, snow, and sweat) — and, it comes in a men's version.

Sizes: XXS–XXL | Colors: 6 | Material: H2No® Performance Standard shell, 100% recycled polyester taffeta lining

Best Shell

Stio Figment Jacket

View on Stio.com

PEOPLE associate shopping director Erin Johnson is “a huge fan of Stio.” She owns several of the brand’s ski jackets, but swears by this one in particular for its storage options. “I love this shell because it has pockets on pockets on pockets. There's an interior (scannable) pocket for my lift pass, pockets for extra gloves, my phone, tissues, anything I want to carry with me on the slopes — there's a pocket for it!”

Reviewers add that the jacket is quite oversized so it does provide more coverage, but could be too large for some. “I usually layer this jacket with a long underwear layer, and one of [Stio’s] light puffers, and that's the perfect formula for me to stay comfy on the slopes,” says Johnson.

Sizes: XS–XL | Colors: 4 | Material: Recycled PeakProof™ 3L

Most Stylish

Halfdays Aston Jacket

$445 at Nordstrom View on Halfdays.com $222 at REI

Co-founded by an Olympic skier, Halfdays started with a goal to stop the “shrink it and pink it” mentality of other outdoor brands for women — and to break down the sometimes-intimidating atmosphere of snow sports culture. The design of each apparel item shows clear consideration for what’s actually useful on the mountain, including built-in goggle wipes, pass pockets, and even a phone leash to keep your device in-hand if you’re responding to OOO messages on the lift. 

Associate shopping editor Erin Johnson sang its praises, and I can attest, too — I wore this pick almost daily while living in Park City (and later fell in love with its newest puffier version, too.) We’d note that the jacket is machine washable, but Halfdays recommends using technical laundry detergent for longevity.

Sizes: XS–2XL | Materials: 100% Polyester Shell with PrimaLoft® Black Insulation ECO 100% PCR | Colors: 8

Easiest to Style

Jorde Poppy Ski Jacket

View on Shopjorde.com

East Coast brands don’t get enough credit when it comes to the formation of durable skiwear: It might be harder to build skiwear that can endure the inevitable wipeouts on the East Coast’s packed snow (not as forgiving as the fluffy mounds out west). Founded in Stowe, Vermont, this up-and-coming skiwear brand won me over on my recent Park City trip given how easy it was to style (a confidence booster, as I’m used to looking like the Michelin man). 

While I’ve always admired the sleek, skin-tight vibe of one-piece ski suits, I’d never quite been brave enough to go for it. Jorde recommends styling the Poppy Jacket, its hero offering, with its ski suit for some extra insulation, so I tried the combo (Bonus: 3-in-1 style options including the jacket alone, the ski suit alone, or both for extra insulation). 

I styled the jacket with black jeans, boots, and a turtleneck for a seriously chic steakhouse night. Its high neck made me forgo a scarf, and you could probably also go without a neck guard (that was most frequently the item I’d realize I’d forgotten at home).

Most importantly, the eco-conscious jacket has features I demand from any ski jacket I’d invest in: cuffs with thumbholes, 500-fill power, multiple pockets, pass sleeve, adjustable powder skirt, and water-resistant zippers. 

Sizes: XS–XL | Materials: Water-resistant external fabric, sustainable insulation | Colors: 6

Best Luxury On-Sale

Bogner Fire+Ice Saelly2 Jacket

$590 $295 at Amazon $690 $518 at Backcountry $345 at Bloomingdales

If you’ve been a skier or snowboarder for a while, you’ve probably heard the name Bogner. The German brand focuses on performance and endurance. It’s also extremely comfortable without sacrificing fashion.

Ahead of ski season, you rarely find any ski or snow gear on sale, especially among luxury brands — which means you’ll want to jump on Backcountry’s deal on this wear-tested jacket. My family’s passed around a similar Bogner jacket for multiple seasons, with my mother, sister, and I rocking the outerwear for every occasion. (This pick would also be excellent if you plan on sharing a ski jacket between multiple friends or family members; it won’t stretch out, lose its luster or efficacy, and it stays looking new.) Fundamentally, it’s a trustworthy buy for weather, durability, return on investment, and attractiveness.

The DWR treatment on its exterior repels moisture easily, which is especially great in wetter conditions, and the Thermore Ecodown synthetic fill is warm without being suffocating. Similarly,  you can cinch its drawstring bottom for a tighter, more secure fit if it’s a drafty day (or you anticipate falling). As with on-sale picks, sizing can be limited depending on colorway, so you’ll want to act quickly if you see this 25-percent-off item in your size. 

Sizes: 4–10 | Materials: Nylon shell and filled with Thermore Ecodown synthetic fill | Colors: 4