Ski Jackets

Winter is here again and if you're thinking of heading for the slopes, or you're looking for a waterproof and insulated jacket, then a ski jacket is the answer. Ladies and Mens Ski jackets couple warm insulating properties with water repellency to help keep you comfortable when you end up in the snow. At GO Outdoors you'll find a range of ski jackets for women, men and kids meaning you can kit out the whole family for less this winter.

Our ski wear comes from celebrated ski brands such as Ellesse, as well as fantastic value brands such as The Edge and Dare 2b, ensuring that there are options for all budgets here at GO Outdoors.

 

What are the features of a typical ski coat?
So, what makes a coat specialised for the slopes? A high collar is the first defining feature, ensuring that you’re entirely protected right over your chin. Taped seams are usually a given to help reinforce the waterproof fabrics that these jackets are constructed with to help withstand rain, snow, and other turbulent conditions. Longer sleeves and snow cuffs are usually integrated to keep snow on the slope and out of your coat, under arm zips and snow skirts an increasingly popular choice to include amongst ski brands. 

What are the different types of jackets for skiing? 
There are numerous types of jackets available on the market to serve different skiing purposes, with external factors such as weather and internal preferences such as activity choice needing to be considered to choose the perfect fit. 

Softshells are a more suitable fit for higher intensity activities such as ski touring, where the body requires a little more breathability and enhanced ease of movement. These variations are lightweight with a focus of water-resistance and can be worn individually on warmer days on the slopes or as part of a layering system, useful during changing weather conditions. 

Hardshells are made for all-round weather protection, the best overall option for shielding against the wind, rain, and other extreme conditions. The hardshell is the middle ground between softshell and insulated, warmer than the softshell and less bulky than insulated.

An Insulated ski jacket focuses on keeping you warm in cold, freezing conditions, usually available in either down or synthetic variations with the heavier coats typically being much warmer. This is usually the option most suitable for beginners and is almost always the correct choice for kids. The trade-off is slightly more bulk and less maneuverability meaning these types of jackets are more suitable for slightly less intensive skiing activities.

 

How do I know how waterproof my jacket is?
Waterproofing is defined on the mm scale, showcasing how resistant it is to varying levels of downpours. 

Below 5000m - lighter rain and snows
Between 5,000-15,000mm - moderate rain and snows 
15,000mm+ the heaviest rain and snows

The mm waterproof rating for each product can be found in the description.

 

How breathable is my jacket? 
The breathability scale refers to how much body heat a given jacket let's leave. For more strenuous skiing activities, higher breathability rating is preferable.

15,000g + - High Activity
Between 10,000g-15,000g – Moderate breathability
Below 5,000g – Low activity 

For lower levels of activity, a lower breathability rating is perfectly acceptable and often preferable as it lets out less heat.

 

Why are ski jackets so brightly coloured?
The main reason that jackets made for skiing are so colourful and vibrant is for safety reasons, brighter designs make people much more visible on the slopes, important in lower light conditions. The second reason is that they look great!