You’ll know the feeling. The lift stops halfway up, the wind picks up, and you realise your jacket isn’t quite doing what it promised in the shop. A good ski jacket is the single piece of kit that makes the biggest difference to how much you enjoy your day, so it’s worth getting right.
We’ve picked the best men’s ski jackets for 2026/27, from budget-friendly insulated jackets to storm-proof GORE-TEX shells, including one we’ve tested ourselves in the French Alps. We update this guide every season.
Our quick picks
- Best overall shell: 66°North Hornstrandir GORE-TEX Pro (£595)
- Best value: Montec Doom (£218)
- Best budget: Dope Spartan (£174)
- Best insulated resort jacket: Schöffel Safuna (£499 RRP)
- Best for touring: Arc’teryx Rush (£750)
Men’s ski jackets 2026/27 compared
| Jacket | Price | Type | Waterproofing | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dope Spartan | £174 | Insulated | 15K/15K | Budget-friendly all-mountain warmth |
| Montec Doom | £218 | Insulated (shell option too) | 20K/20K | Weatherproof value with a bit of attitude |
| SCOTT Ultimate Dryo 10 | £280 | Insulated | 10K/10K | Holiday skiers who mainly stay on piste |
| Patagonia Powder Town | £320 | Shell (mesh lined) | H2No 2-layer | Daily resort skiers who care about footprint |
| Rab Latok Mountain GORE-TEX Pro | £480 | Shell | GORE-TEX Pro 3-layer | Ski touring and big mountain days |
| Schöffel Safuna | £499 RRP | Insulated | 20K/20K | Warm, stylish resort skiing |
| Descente Finder | £589 | Insulated | Dermizax 20K | Fast, precise piste skiing in the cold |
| 66°North Hornstrandir GORE-TEX Pro | £595 | Shell | GORE-TEX Pro 3-layer | Storm days and serious mountain weather |
| Helly Hansen Ridge Infinity Shell | £700 | Shell | Helly Tech Professional 3-layer | Hard-charging resort skiers who run hot and cold |
| Arc’teryx Rush | £750 | Shell | GORE-TEX Pro ePE 3-layer | Technical touring and backcountry |
How do I choose a ski jacket?
Shell or insulated? A shell is the most versatile option: you add or remove midlayers to suit the day. An insulated jacket is simpler and warmer on its own, which suits cold resorts and short trips where you’d rather pack less.
Waterproofing and breathability. Ratings around 10K to 15K are fine for most Alpine holidays. 20K and above, or a GORE-TEX membrane, is worth it if you ski in wetter conditions or get out whatever the weather.
Fit and features. A helmet-compatible hood, cuffs that seal over your gloves, a hem that stays put and vents you can reach on the move make more difference than an extra pocket. Try it on with your midlayer and, ideally, your helmet.
Sustainability. Recycled fabrics and PFAS-free water-repellent finishes are now common across every price point, so there’s no need to compromise. Looking after your jacket properly (washing, reproofing and repairing) will also keep it performing for many more seasons.
What do you get for your money?
- Under £300: solid weather protection with simpler fabrics and trims. Great for piste skiing and holiday weeks.
- £300 to £500: better membranes, smarter venting and neater patterning, with noticeably better comfort and durability.
- Over £500: premium shells with top membranes, better hoods and tougher hardware, built for heavy use and bad weather.
The best men’s ski jackets under £300
Dope Spartan
£174
Best for: Budget-friendly all-mountain warmth
Dope’s Spartan is the jacket we’d point to if you want proper ski features without spending a fortune. You get a 15K/15K bonded membrane, medium-weight Fellex insulation (60gsm in the body, 40gsm in the sleeves and hood), fully taped seams, big underarm vents and a helmet-compatible hood.
The relaxed, boxy cut won’t suit everyone, but it leaves room for a midlayer and has that easy park-to-piste look. At this price, 15K waterproofing is more than enough for a typical Alpine week, though it’s not the one for days of persistent wet snow.
Montec Doom
£218
Best for: Weatherproof value with a bit of attitude
The Doom steps up to a 20K/20K membrane for not much more money, which is exactly why it keeps making our lists. The insulated version uses the same 60/40gsm fill as the Spartan, and there’s a lined shell version if you prefer to layer.
That asymmetric front zip is the signature look, but it’s the practical stuff that earns it a place: a proper snow skirt, wrist gaiters, a sleeve pass pocket and vents you can actually reach with gloves on.
SCOTT Ultimate Dryo 10
£280
Best for: Holiday skiers who mainly stay on piste
A dependable resort jacket built for long days on groomed runs and cold chairlifts. SCOTT pairs a 2-layer DRYOsphere fabric (10K/10K) with 100g insulation in the body and 80g in the sleeves, in a regular fit that layers easily.
10K is the lowest waterproof rating on this list, so it’s best for typical snowy holiday weather rather than wet, stormy climates. For most holiday weeks, though, it’s a comfortable, well-featured choice.
The best men’s ski jackets from £300 to £500
Patagonia Powder Town
£320
Best for: Daily resort skiers who care about footprint
Patagonia’s Powder Town is a 2-layer H2No shell in 100% recycled polyester with a PFAS-free finish, a mesh lining and no insulation, so you control warmth with your layers. It weighs about 880g and has pit zips, a powder skirt that links to the Powder Town pants, and a RECCO reflector.
If you run warm or ski spring and autumn as well as midwinter, a shell like this is more versatile than an insulated jacket. Just make sure you’ve got a decent midlayer for January.
Rab Latok Mountain GORE-TEX Pro
£480
Best for: Ski touring and big mountain days
A proper mountain shell at a price that undercuts most GORE-TEX Pro rivals. At around 407g in a size M it’s light enough to stash in a pack on the skin track, and the 3-layer GORE-TEX Pro construction shrugs off the worst of the weather.
It’s built more for the mountains than for the lift queue, so expect a trim, technical fit and fewer resort-friendly pockets than an insulated piste jacket.
Schöffel Safuna
£499 RRP
Best for: Warm, stylish resort skiing
Schöffel has earned a loyal following among UK skiers, and the Safuna shows why. It uses a 4-way stretch Venturi fabric (20,000mm) with PrimaLoft Black insulation, a removable helmet-compatible hood, mesh-backed underarm vents and a goggle pocket.
At around 1.1kg it’s not light, but it’s warm and well finished, and it looks the part in the bar afterwards too. It’s often discounted, so it’s worth checking the current price at Ellis Brigham.
The best men’s ski jackets over £500
Descente Finder
£589
Best for: Fast, precise piste skiing in the cold
Descente’s race heritage shows in the Finder’s skier-specific cut, designed to minimise seams and move with you. It pairs 4-way stretch Dermizax fabric (20,000mm) with Thinsulate insulation, plus an upper back vent to dump heat on the way down.
It’s a sleek, piste-focused jacket rather than a backcountry shell. If your idea of a perfect day is fast laps on cold, groomed snow, it’s one of the nicest jackets you can buy.
66°North Hornstrandir GORE-TEX Pro
£595
Best for: Storm days and serious mountain weather
Tested by InTheSnow
We tested the Hornstrandir for a week in the French Alps, in everything from bluebird groomers to full-blown blizzards, and it was one of the most capable, confidence-boosting shells we’ve taken onto a mountain. The 3-layer GORE-TEX Pro shell kept out sideways sleet and gale-force ridge gusts without fuss.
It’s the Icelandic brand’s most premium shell, and it feels built with zero shortcuts. As with any shell, you’ll need to layer underneath on the coldest days.
Helly Hansen Ridge Infinity Shell
£700
Best for: Hard-charging resort skiers who run hot and cold
Developed with Helly Hansen’s pro athletes, the Ridge Infinity combines a 3-layer Helly Tech Professional shell with LIFA INFINITY technology. Underarm vents with laser-cut holes help when you’re working hard, and a detachable powder skirt, RECCO reflector and the clever Life Pocket (which keeps your phone battery warm) round it off.
It’s a lot of money, but it’s a genuinely do-everything shell for skiers who spend big days on and off the piste.
Arc’teryx Rush
£750
Best for: Technical touring and backcountry
The Rush is Arc’teryx’s backcountry ski shell: 3-layer GORE-TEX Pro with the newer PFAS-free ePE membrane, at just 485g. It has a helmet-compatible StormHood, two big internal dump pockets for skins, pit zips and a RECCO reflector.
It’s the most expensive jacket here and it’s built for the skin track as much as the lift. If you mainly ski the resort, you’ll get better value elsewhere on this list.
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See the jackets in action
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FAQs
What is the best men’s ski jacket for 2026/27?
It depends on how you ski. For storm-proof all-round performance, our pick is the 66°North Hornstrandir GORE-TEX Pro, which we tested for a week in the French Alps. For value, the Montec Doom offers 20K/20K waterproofing for £218, and for warm, stylish resort skiing the Schöffel Safuna is hard to beat.
Should I buy an insulated ski jacket or a shell?
An insulated jacket is simpler: warm on its own, ideal for cold resorts and short trips. A shell is more versatile, because you add or remove layers to suit the day, and it’s the better choice if you run warm, ski in spring or go touring.
What waterproof rating does a ski jacket need?
For most Alpine holidays, 10K to 15K is enough. If you ski in wetter climates or want a jacket that copes with all-day storms, look for 20K or a GORE-TEX membrane.
How much should I spend on a ski jacket?
Between £150 and £300 buys solid weather protection for piste skiing. £300 to £500 gets you better fabrics, venting and durability. Above £500 you’re paying for the best membranes and hardware, built for heavy use and bad weather.
Prices are RRPs at the time of writing (October 2026) and may change. This guide is updated every season.