The 10 Best Snowboard Jackets of 2025 | For Women & Men  

As snowboarders, we move and groove all over the mountains. From groomers to trees, rain or shine, a jacket not only allows us to express ourselves, but is perhaps one of our most useful tools in keeping us happy and shredding all day long.

While holding true to the roots of being a counter cultural endeavor, modern snowboard jackets blend freestyle-aesthetics with technical features to create highly functional outerwear that can be used in a wide variety of conditions.

From the most durable of bombproof shells to entry level jackets, there is a flavor for every taste, so let’s dive in and see what’s out there.

Snowboard Jacket Buyer’s Guide

Why these Snowboard Jacket Brands?

We chose to include the brands that we did because each and every one has contributed in one way, shape, or form to the progression of snowboarding.

Burton has literally been around since the beginning, and its founder, Jake Burton, is perhaps one of the most pivotal figures in the sport’s history.

Volcom came along in the 90s, leaning into the ‘youth against the machine’ ethos and encouraging athletes to express themselves both on the slopes and in urban settings.

Jones burst onto the scene in 2010, normalizing split boarding in the backcountry community, showing everyone that us knuckle-draggers can go even further than our two-planked counterparts.

Other brands like Quiksilver, DaKine, and 686 got their start in board sports but have since diversified, supplying goods to all lovers of snow.

These brands all played an important part in the progression of board sports, turning snowboarding into what it is today.

Finally, there are the industry giants like Black Diamond and Patagonia. These brands run in a world that is, for lack of a better term, elite. By sponsoring world-class snowboarders, creating snowboard content, and marketing to skiers and snowboarders alike, these brands are doing their part to help break down the few remaining barriers that stand between skiers and snowboarders. 

Why these Snowboard Jackets?

We chose to include an even mix of hard shell and insulated hard shell jackets because we believe that these styles are jack(ets)s of all trades, providing the best balance of protection from the elements, durability, and performance features. Their packability and simplicity make them highly versatile and can be used in every situation, from snowboarding in sub-freezing temps to bluebird days, hiking in the mud season, or blustery morning commutes.

Types of Snowboard Jackets

Non-insulated Hardshell Snowboard Jackets

Modern hardshell jackets offer superior protection from the elements, breathability, and freedom of movement. Ideal for those who have a couple of seasons under their belt, hardshells provide you with ultimate control of your internal thermostat.

Designed to be worn with additional clothing, you can add or remove layers depending on the conditions without sacrificing protection from wind, snow, or rain.  Additionally, since these jackets are just the shell, they are highly packable, making them ideal candidates for splitboarding, and a bomb-proof raincoat for the summer months.

Insulated Hardshell Snowboard Jackets

Where traditional shell jackets are preferable for those who might be spending close to equal parts inbounds as out, insulated-shells are ideal for those who spend more time riding lifts. These kinds of jackets shine in resort settings, where long lulls on lifts make every bit of warmth worth its weight in gold.

Light insulation goes a long way, and when paired with a light base layer, it provides exceptional warmth that isn’t over the top for when temps start to climb. Light insulation is ideal because it isn’t so overbearing that the jacket feels like an oven when boot-packing or touring.

What to Consider: Some (hopefully) Useful Guidance for Buying a Snowboard Jacket

Unfortunately, there is no one ring to rule them all in the world of snowboard jackets, and what is considered the best jacket varies from person to person. With thousands of options, confusing technical jargon, and brands pushing their proprietary tech, it’s next to impossible to avoid information overload. But fret not because there are a few things that you can keep in mind when shopping around that will help you sift for gold.

Waterproofing: DWR, Seam Taping, and how its all measured

For starters, a snowboard jacket ought to be waterproof. This should be the bare minimum. Snow is wet, and wet means cold, so if your jacket doesn’t have a waterproof rating of at least 10k, it might be worth looking into something that is a little bit more robust.

Not all waterproof fabrics are created equal and are rated on a sliding scale of their ‘waterproofness.’ Measured in increments of 1,000mm, 3,000mm is at the lowest end of the waterproof classification and will offer protection in light showers, whereas 30k is the bee’s knees, offering top-notch protection from the elements.

For the most part, the snow-sport industry norm is at least 10k, and for most users, this level of waterproofing is sufficient.

The level of waterproofing that you’ll want will vary depending on where you are doing most of your riding and what kind of riding you are doing. If you ride solely in the terrain park or in dry climates, you can probably get away with a lower waterproof rating, as the amount of heavy weather you’ll experience is less.

Riding in wet climates or in backcountry settings might warrant a more robust option, as you’re more likely to experience an unpleasant day or two throughout the course of the season.

Other factors to consider when looking at a snowboard jacket’s protective capabilities are DWR and seam taping

DWR

Durable Water Repellent (DWR) is a treatment that is applied to the face fabric of a product and is the first line of defense against precipitation. A fresh coat of DWR causes precipitation to ‘bead’ off the fabric, taking some of the load off the inner membrane that is shouldering most of the responsibility. This effectively prolongs the time that it takes for your jacket to ‘wet out,’ and helps maintain breathability.

Seam Taping

Seam taping, the name says it all. Jackets are literally filled with thousands of tiny holes where pieces of fabric are sewn together. To prevent water from soaking through these weak spots, manufacturers will place a line of waterproof tape to the inside of the jacket’s seams, creating a watertight space.

Snowboard Jacket Breathability

Arguably just as important as waterproofing is how breathable a jacket is. A jacket that doesn’t breathe well will likely result in increased perspiration, and as we know, sweat is wet, and wet is cold.

While this aspect might not be number one on the priority list for those who are riding lifts, it is particularly important for those who are doing a lot of splitboarding, boot packing, and riding in the side country, or for those who simply run warm.

Breathability is the amount of water vapor (what your body produces when you sweat) that a fabric will let escape. This is achieved in two ways: by using fabrics that allow body perspiration to escape through the membrane or by installing vents in locations that allow for cross ventilation, letting your body shuck heat.

Similar to waterproof ratings, higher numbers are better, and the greater the number the greater the breathability. Between 10-20k is the industry standard, whereas 20-30k and up are reaching the highest echelons, helping keep you from getting damp and clammy.

While these ratings are important in identifying how breathable a jacket will be, by far the most useful way of adding breathability is through venting. At the end of the day, a jacket is a waterproof barrier between you and the outside world, and at a certain point of activity, sweating becomes inevitable. Oftentimes placed in the armpits or chest area of a jacket, vents are a surefire way of creating cross ventilation.

Snowboard Jacket Fit

Not only do you want it to look good, but a snowboard jacket should be large enough to provide full coverage, freedom to move, and the ability to add layers. Even if you end up going for an insulated shell, odds are you’ll want to add an additional layer or two on a particularly nasty day.

So while you don’t want your jacket to be excessive in size, as this makes for a drafty experience, make sure you can at least fit another layer comfortably underneath.

Snowboard Jacket Features

Snow-specific features are the bells and whistles that are meant to enhance your experience on the slopes. The usual suspects include powder skirts, wrist gaiters, hoods, jacket-to-pant attachment systems, ample storage space (pockets), venting systems, and RECCO. While not all of these features are specific to the world of snowsports, they are all immensely helpful and ought to be considered.

Snowboard Jacket Powder skirts

A common feature on most snowboard jackets, powder skirts are either fixed or removable features depending on if the jacket is geared towards resort riding or not.

They are generally made of a lightweight, elastic material that, when closed with a velcro or snap closure system, keeps the jacket tight and unmoving at your waist. Maximizing protection and warmth, powder skirts prevent snow from getting under your jacket on deep powder days or when you take a tumble.

Snowboard Jacket-to-Pants Attachment Systems

Jacket-to-pant attachment systems create yet another line of defense between you and the outside world, preventing snow from getting under your outer layers. As the name suggests, this technology connects your jacket to your pants via differing attachment systems depending on the brand.

Many brands offer these types of systems but will only be compatible with a pant from the same brand i.e., Volcom’s Zip Tech will not be compatible with Patagonia’s jacket-to-pants interface.

Snowboard Jacket Wrist Gaiters

Wrist gaiters are like little powder skirt ‘mini me’s’ for your wrists. Often sewn into the cuffs, they are made of an elastic material and conform to your wrist with ease. When worn under gloves, wrist gaiters create an excellent barrier against snow, preventing it from getting into your sleeves on the occasional wipe-out.

Snowboard Jacket Hoods

Status-quo on most jackets, hoods are particularly important on snowboard jackets. Typically constructed to be used with helmets, hoods on snowboard jackets are significantly larger and, ideally are highly adjustable.

Adjustability is key, as this allows you to customize the fit to allow for maximum protection while providing an uncompromised field of vision.

RECCO

RECCO is quickly becoming the outdoor industry norm in mid to high-level technical apparel. RECCO technologies allow you to be searchable if you are remote and off-grid, helping search and rescue professionals locate missing persons.

A Note on Snowboard Jacket Features

While snow-specific features are nice, we want to emphasize that they are by no means necessary and should not be the barrier that prevents you from getting out and shredding. While these features are convenient, they are costly, and if you’re balling out on a budget, search for jackets that cut out some of the bells and whistles.

What’re you using it for, and where are you using it?

Taking the prior information into consideration, perhaps the most important question to ask yourself is what application you’ll be using this jacket for. Will you be doing a lot of touring, resort riding, side country, or a healthy mix? 

This is necessary to consider, as the answer will affect how waterproof your jacket should be, if there is insulation, and what features you may or may not want. Generally speaking, insulated jackets are happier in resort settings, and while shells do well in all settings, they thrive in the backcountry.

Another crucial factor to consider is where you live. Do you live in an area that has a continental snowpack: cooler and drier? Or a maritime snowpack: warm and wet. This will affect how heavy-duty the waterproofing should be on your jacket.

Are Snowboarding Jackets Big?

While we realize that this is not always the case, snowboard-specific jackets tend to err on the roomier side. Jumping, grabbing, tweaking, spinning, and carving, snowboarding is an inherently playful sport, and a larger fit allows for the range of motion that is required to perform well. 

Cut to be a little bit longer and a little bit baggier, this freestyle-look is easier to layer with and allows for better freedom of movement than a tighter fitting alternative. This extra room not only allows you to express yourself more freely on the snow, but it’s also quite nice for strapping in and out of your bindings.

I’ll even venture to say that a longer cut is particularly nice for us snowboarders, given the amount of time we inevitably spend on our butts (please don’t hate me for writing this, I swear I snowboard too…)

Snowboarding vs Ski Jackets?

Skiing and snowboarding are one and the same, the primary difference being that the former requires two planks, whereas the latter requires one, but at the end of the day, both pursuits work towards a common goal: slide downhill on snow and have fun while doing it.

While the marketing campaigns are geared towards differing audiences, ski and snowboard jackets are very similar, if not the same. They all share the same general purpose of keeping their humans warm, protected from the elements, and providing some sort of snow-specific utility like powder skirts, wrist gaiters, waterproof zippers, helmet compatible hoods etc.

A case could be made that snowboard jackets, across the board, have a baggier fit than ski jackets, but that isn’t to say that ski jackets don’t also use a looser fit. Just like their snowboarding brethren, skiers partake in an equally fluid endeavor and benefit from a looser fit to move and groove all around the mountains freely.

Why Would You Listen to Me?

As a snowboarder and general lover of winter, I am of the mindset that a good jacket is perhaps one of the most important pieces of gear that a winter recreationalist can own.

Not only does a good jacket afford you the opportunity to express yourself, but it is a tool necessary to keep you happy and healthy. Having had the opportunity to use jackets in performance settings, I feel confident in offering insight into what features contribute to the success of a quality piece of outerwear.

On a final note, don’t let a lack of technical apparel be the barrier that keeps you from getting out and snowboarding. As time has progressed, snowboarding has become less and less attainable for a lot of people because of the costly nature of the sport. If you have a jacket that you love that you think will make the cut, get out there and go enjoy a day on snow!