Ski Jacket

[kenshinu]

I'd go for a jacket that has a inner as well. My Animal jacket has a thermal sort of jacket inside then the outer shell. Makes it wearable in the winter here and means I can have it warm or warmer when skiing =] But it's from last season and they don't have any new season stuff in.

 

[AGD]

I know people who buy spyder jackets but in my opinion if you spend over £250 you don't really get anything extra worthwhile and I often ski in jan in the alps. You can get lucky in tkmaxx depending on your size so don't rule it out at all. But otherwise snow+rock or ellis brigham tend to be the only options.

edit: have a look here http://www.snowandrock.com/Department/Best+Sellers/Mens+Clothing/List/

 

[Skidder]

Personally it's all about layering, I have gore-tex shell jacket and pants, wicking tops, a dryride hoody for really cold days, wind-stopper, fleece gilet and wear whatever combination will work on the day. Always have another layer in my pack if the weather is likely to be anything but spring like.

Spyder stuff is tacky and awful stay away from it unless you want to look like a try-hard.

You can get an excellent gore tex or similarly rated shell for a couple of hundred. My current jacket is an Ak 2L burton jacket and it was £200 it is as highly rated and in my opinion every bit as good as my last jacket which was about £475. They take a lot of abuse if you ride a lot (ie not a week a year) and don't last long however much you spend.

 

[D.P.]

Thanks for all the advice everyone.



How so? Surely when spending that much money on a jacket it should be useable in 'normal' conditions as well?

It would be usable, but it certainly wont be stylish or that convenient. Furthermore, the materials used in these jackets are susceptible to dirt and grease of normal use.

I would say buy a £30 TK-Max jacket for going to work and a ski jacket for when skiing or when the weather is really bad, and any time you are hiking or sailing etc.

 

[Gaijin]

I'm a boarder but I assume its not that different. Get one that has:

(Must haves)
A snow skirt
Zippable Vents
Lots of deep pockets
At least 3-5k waterproof
Taped Seams

(Nice to haves)
Over 5k waterproof
Glove retainers
Glove skirts
Hood
Goggle Pocket
Drawstrings
Removable Fleece/Inner liner
Skipass holder.

I've got lots of jackets including ones from Four Square(2), Special Blend, Bonfire, DC, Burton, Oakley

The Four Square, Special Blend and Burton Jackets are best but more expensive. The Oakley and Bonfire ones provide good value for money.

My jackets differ depending on the time of the season I use them, I.e. December/January is colder in France so its always a thicker jacket with a hood. March is T-Shirt weather, so my Four Square shell drill jacket with no hood or vents is preferred.

All my jackets are wearable here (maybe the DC one is a little garish ) and excellent as windbreakers and for all weather as you would expect.

 

[Jonny Wright]

Depends on how much you want to spend / what you want to do with it.

Dare 2 Be - Cheep / Beginner relatively low altitude - TK Max

Trespass - Middle / Intermidiate middle altitude - TK Max

Spyder - Expensive / Expert high altitude - Snow and Rock

I got my Spyder jacket in the end of season sale in Breckenridge this year for $300 well chuffed.