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      • Best Ski Touring Shells

      Best Ski Touring Shells

      In this review we’ll be putting the top 10 touring jackets head to head, sussing out each detail in an attempt to find the best ski touring shell. With a variety of features available, we’ll take a look at what each jacket brings to the table and what they leave out. We’ll compare materials used, garment weights, price, performance, fit and mobility, and packability. 

      What each individual may look for in a jacket will be subject to a certain amount of preference, for example, maybe you hate powder skirts, or maybe you’re looking for a jacket that has a lower environmental impact. We’ve done our best to keep subjectivity to a minimum and focus on the specifics in order to figure out which jacket brings the most to the table while hopefully leaving some change in your pockets. 

      Best Mid Layers
      BEST
      SKI
      TOURING
      SHELLS

      BLACK
      DIAMOND
      DAWN
      PATROL
      HYBRID

      DYNAFIT
      FREE
      GORE-TEX
      MOUNTAIN
      HARDWEAR
      HIGH
      EXPOSURE
      C-KNIT
      WESTCOMB
      APOC
      RAB
      KHROMA
      KINETIC
      JOTTNAR
      JORMUN
      ARC’TERYX
      RUSH
      HELLY HANSEN
      ODIN
      INFINITY
      OUTDOOR
      RESEARCH
      CARBIDE
      RAB
      KHROMA
      GTX
      PRICE $455 $780 $700 $750 $450 $589 $900 $800 $397 $775
      SHELL
      MATERIAL

      BD.Dry

      Gore-Tex C-Knit

      Gore-Tex C-Knit

      Polartec Neoshell

      Proflex

      Skjoldr

      Gore-Tex Pro

      LIFA Infinity Pro

      Pertex Shield

      Gore-Tex Pro

      WATER/WIND
      RATING
      20k/20k 28k/20k 28k/20k 10k/30k 20k/25k 20k/20k 28k/25k 25k/33k 20k/20k 28k/25k
      WEIGHT 500g 535g 458g 482g 532g 415g 590g 600g 608g 689g
      POCKETS
       
      3 5 5 4 3 4 6 6 5 6
      POWDER SKIRT No Yes Yes No No No Yes Yes (Removable) Yes Yes (Removable)
      WRIST GASKETS
       
      Yes Yes No No No No No No No Yes
      RECCO Yes No Yes No No No Yes Yes No No

      Choosing the Best Ski Touring Shell is a daunting task given the overall quality of shells on the market and their extensive feature sets and innovative fabrics.

      Best Ski Touring Shells
      SHOW THE REST OF THE REVIEW / PHOTOS / VIDEOS

      Rab Khroma GTX Jacket

      The Rab Khroma GTX jacket uses fully recycled 70D GORE-TEX Pro fabric. It also uses a hybrid of new GORE-TEX Pro fabrics, Rab has reinforced the most breathable fabrics with the most rugged resulting in enhancements to both comfort and toughness.

      The helmet-compatible hood offers two-way adjustment and the waist hem and wrist cuffs are fully adjustable for a secure fit. 

      A YKK AquaGuard VISLON zipper on the front zip is further protected with an internal storm flap while underarm zips offer ventilation. There are two large exterior chest pockets, a smaller napoleon pocket, and a sleeve pocket which is ideal for a ski pass. On the interior of the Khroma GTX there is one zippered chest pocket and two mesh stash pockets.

      A removable powder skirt keeps snow from coming up from below while gaskets at the wrist keep snow out of your sleeves while large underarm vents feature dual zipper pulls for best adjustability.

      The Rab Khroma GTX Jacket fits larger than any other medium-sized jacket in this review, but it's very comfortable and roomy for layering. Although the Khroma GTX is a little bulkier with the materials feeling a bit stiffer than most, it provides a reassuring impression of durability. All the features a person might look for in a ski touring jacket can be found in the Khroma GTX and since it uses recycled materials it has a much lower environmental footprint than others. Initially, this was actually one of my top picks, but upon comparing the data it seems to have come up short. 

      Best Ski Touring Shells
      Rab Khroma GTX Jacket

      Features:

      • YKK AquaGuard Vislon front zip with internal storm flap
      • Ski helmet-compatible hood with 2-way adjustment
      • Hybrid of new GORE-TEX Pro membranes (Most Breathable reinforced with Most Rugged) provide enhanced levels of both comfort and toughness.
      • YKK zippered hand pockets and 1 inner pocket
      • Internal ski-specific pockets
      • Removable powder skirt
      • Fully adjustable cuffs  and hem
      • Wrist gasket

      Fabrics:

      Main Fabric: Recycled 70D GORE-TEX Pro (Most Breathable), 160g/m²
      Reinforcement: Recycled 70D GORE-TEX Pro (Most Rugged), 160g/m²
      Composition: 100% Recycled Polyamide with ePTFE membrane and 100% Polyamide Backer

       

      --NO LONGER AVAILABLE--

      The Khroma GTX Jacket is no longer available from RAB, however you can check out a review of its replacement: 
      Rab Khroma Converge GORE-TEX Ski Jacket & Pants Review.


       

      PROS:

      • Use of recycled materials
      • Full of features
      • Comfortable and roomy
      • Durrable

      CONS:

      • Bulkier than other jackets in the review
      • Heaviest jacket in review
      • Internal stuff pocket openings are too small for wider skins

      SPECS:

      Price: $775CAN / $600US
      Weight: 689g / 24.3oz
      Sizes: S, M, L, XL
      Hydrostatic head: >28k mm
      Moisture Vapour Transmission Rate (MVTR)
      : 25k g/m²/24 hrs
      Colours: Oxblood Red, Polar Blue, Firecracker

      RATING: 8.5/10

      Fit/Mobility      1.5/2
      Weight              1/2    
      Packability        1.5/2
      Features            2/2
      Price/Quality     1.5/2


      Outdoor Research Carbide

      Outdoor Research's Carbide jacket is made with 3 layer Pertex Shield for a versatile, stretchy, and stylish fit. The Carbide is designed for those who want to do it all, be it in bounds or backcountry. 

      The helmet-compatible hood features Outdoor Research's wire brimmed halo and HoodLock technology. This unique feature allows the cord lock at the back of the hood to be clipped further back for “helmet mode”, thus keeping the brim free and clear of your field of vision.
       
      The waist hem on the Carbide Jacket includes an elastic drawcord and the wrist cuffs feature Outdoor Research's ThumbDrive Hook/Loop closures which are oversized velcro tabs which can be used to pull the sleeve down tight over your glove in order to keep those wrists warm and protected. 

      The Carbide offers plenty of pockets with two handwarmer pockets, opposing napoleon pockets, a ski pass pocket on the sleeve, and also an internal napoleon pocket. All pockets are zippered, and the internal pocket features a media port (aka hole for headphones).

      To ensure you don't over heat on the skin track the Carbide has pit zips with dual zipper pulls so you can ventilate from either end which helps keep things cool.

      Outdoor Research's  Carbide Jacket is a very comfortable jacket, it feels light and stretchy with a great range of motion. Despite this, however, it was the second heaviest jacket in the review! It has some great features for ski touring but these increase its weight and bulk. This is the least expensive jacket in the review so if the price is a driving force in your decision-making process then the Carbide will rank higher in your consideration.

      Best Ski Touring Shells
       Outdoor Research Carbide

      Features:

      • Helmet Compatible Hood with wire Brimmed Halo and HoodLock
      • Pit Zips
      • Powder Skirt
      • Internal Mesh Stash Pocket
      • Forearm Ski Pass Pocket
      • Two external and one internal chest pocket
      • YKK AquaGuard Zippers at Center Front and Hand Pockets
      • Double Separating Center Front Zipper
      • Elastic Drawcord Hem
      • ThumbDrive Hook/Loop Cuff Closures

      Fabrics:

      Shell: Pertex Shield 3L 100% nylon 40D face with tricot knit backer

      Buy directly from Outdoor Research:


      Buy at Outdoor Research

      PROS:

      • Great fit and mobility, feels very light and comfortable
      • Second stretchiest jacket in the review
      • Lots of pockets
      • Low price point

      CONS:

      • Powder skirt is not removable
      • No internal stash pockets for skins

      SPECS:

      Price: $399CAN / $299US
      Weight: 608g / 21.5oz
      Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
      Hydrostatic head: 20k mm
      Moisture Vapour Transmission Rate (MVTR)
      :  20k g/m²/24 hrs
      Colours: Black/Storm, Fatigue/Umber, Fir/Lichen, Twilight/Cascade

      RATING: 8/10

      Fit/Mobility     1.5/2
      Weight             1/2    
      Packability        2/2
      Features            1,5/2
      Price/Quality     2/2


      Helly Hansen Odin Infinity Shell

      The Odin Infinity Shell is made with Helly Hanson’s LIFA Infinity Pro Technology. This 3 layer waterproof and breathable fabric is pushing the boundaries of sustainable manufacturing by completely avoiding the use of topical coatings and solvents aka DWR's. They do this without compromising performance and by using 100% LIFA fibres which are inherently hydrophobic and offer a permanent DWR that not only has never been coated but will never need to be re-coated. In addition, this fabric uses solution dyeing which uses 75% less water, resulting in less wastewater and superior colour fastness over time. 

      The helmet-compatible hood features a laminated brim, flat contrast piping, and double cord adjustability in order to maintain your field of vision by keeping the hood out of your face. 

      The general design and pocket layout are for compatibility with both backpack and harness usage. On the exterior, there are two chest pockets, a napoleon pocket, and a ski pass pocket on the sleeve. The two interior pockets are both top entry, one with a zipper on the right side and a mesh stash pocket on the left. 

      Pit zips with dual zipper pulls offer ventilation control for warmer days or grunting up the skin track. The detachable powder skirt uses hook and loop closure which offers enhanced adjustability compared to more common snap button closures resulting in a better fit.

      This is another well-featured jacket with a unique snow skirt closure system which offers more adjustment (and staying power) than other styles in this review. The Odin Infinity Shell did fit a little tight across the chest which reduced mobility slightly when testing the full range of motion. Otherwise, a comfortable jacket that feels even better thanks to its environmental footprint reducing technologies. The most breathable jacket in the review with no sacrifice to the waterproofing.

      Best Ski Touring Shells
      Helly Hansen Odin Infinity Shell

      Features:

      • 3 layer LIFA Infinity Pro Technology with Solution-dyed face fabric
      • Helmet, backpack and harness compatible construction and pockets
      • Detachable powder skirt
      • Vertical and horizontal hood adjustments
      • Laminated brim with flat contrast piping and double cord brim shape
      • Mechanical ventilation zippers
      • Moulded cuff tabs with Odin sign off
      •  Inside pocket on right side
      • Inside mesh stash pocket
      • Ski pass pocket
      • RECCO Advanced Rescue system

      Fabrics:

      Shell: 3L LIFA Infinity Pro Technology (100% polypropylene membrane, 100% polyester tricot backing)

      Buy Directly from Helly Hansen

      Buy Directly from Helly Hansen

       

      PROS:

      • Reduced environmental footprint
      • Impressive breathability while maintaining waterproofing
      • Good pocket options
      • Best powder skirt of the jackets reviewed

      CONS:

      • Pockets are a bit small and the interior zippered pocket is a little awkward to access due to top entry. 
      • Expensive
      • Heavier and bulkier than most others

      SPECS:

      Price: $800CAN / $700US
      Weight: 600g / 21oz
      Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
      Hydrostatic head: 25k mm
      Moisture Vapour Transmission Rate (MVTR)
      : 33k g/m²/24 hrs
      Colour: Grey

      RATING: 8/10

      Fit/Mobility        1.5/2
      Weight                1/2    
      Packability          1.5/2
      Features              2/2
      Price/Quality       1/2

      Arc’teryx Rush 

      The Arc’teryx Rush uses GORE-TEX Pro in order to deliver performance, protection, and durability without sacrificing comfort and weight. This new GORE-TEX fabric maintains the GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY promise while offering a range of new technologies that make the Rush Jacket just a little bit better. Such advancements include a completely new and more durable membrane, and the addition of stretch, and a backer with a lower environmental footprint. Oh, and this is the most breathable GORE-TEX fabric yet!

      Pockets are as follows; two large exterior zippered chest pockets, one smaller pocket on the sleeve; two mesh stash pockets on the interior, and one small zippered mesh pocket on one of the interior stash pockets.

      Ventilation is accomplished with large underarm vents made adjustable with dual zipper pulls and the articulated patterning of the Rush facilitates an increased range of motion.

      The Arc’teryx Rush is a comfortable jacket with a good range of motion though less stretch than the GORE-TEX Pro hybrid material used in the RAB Kinetic. The fit was a little tight across the back of the shoulders when testing a full range of motion but generally moves quite well. Equipped with all the key ski features you could want and it's one of the only jackets in this review with interior stash pockets large enough for wider skins. If only it wasn’t so expensive...

      Best Ski Touring Shells
      Arc’teryx Rush

      Features:

      • Helmet compatible StormHood
      • Pitzip ventilation
      • Articulated patterning
      • Bluesign
      • Recco

      Fabrics:

      Shell: GORE-TEX Pro with Most Rugged Technology (100% ePTFE)
      Zippers: Water tight

      Buy Directly from Arc'teryx

      Buy Directly from Arc'teryx

      PROS:

      • The only Bluesign jacket reviewed
      • Fully featured
      • Low-profile cordlocks
      • Only stash pockets reviewed large enough for wider skins

      CONS:

      • Most expensive jacket reviewed
      • Snow skirt is not removable

      SPECS:

      Price: $900CAN / $749US 
      Weight: 590g / 1lb, 4.8oz
      Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
      Hydrostatic head: >28k mm
      Moisture Vapour Transmission Rate (MVTR)
      : 25k g/m²/24 hrs
      Colours: Galactic Halo, Phoenix, Deep Sea Disco, Glade Runner, Alchemist
      Fit: Regular

      RATING: 8.5/10

      Fit/Mobility      2/2
      Weight             1.5/2    
      Packability        2/2
      Features            2/2
      Price/Quality     1/2

      Jottnar Jormun

      The Jormun utilizes Jottnar’s lightest micro rip-stop, 3 layer SKJOLDR waterproof, windproof, and breathable fabric to create a packable, fully-featured, performance hard shell. 

      The streamlined fit features articulated elbows and scoop drop back hem. The fit is roomy enough to accommodate mid and base layers comfortably.

      Two-way pit zips provide easy temperature regulation via YKK AquaGuard coil water repellent zips that keep the weather out of the interior microclimate.

      The helmet-compatible hood is wire stiffened and features a moldable laminated peak to keep the hood out of your face. Elastic, anti-snag drawcords are glove compatible and ensure excellent visibility. The waist hem also features elastic, anti-snag drawcords and a scoop drop back to protect your behind from the elements. The hem at the wrist offers scooped hand protection and VELCRO with triple reinforced stitching.

      The Jottnar Jormun is a well-featured, comfortable jacket for ski touring. It is missing a couple of key ski features but generally not deal breakers on an otherwise great jacket. Articulated elbows and underarm gussets facilitate ease of movement aided by light stretch throughout the garment. This is the lightest jacket in the review.

      Best Ski Touring Shells
      Jottnar Jormun

      Features:

      • Helmet compatible, wire stiffened hood with moldable laminated peak and glove compatible elastic drawcords and cinch
      • Scooped hand protection on cuffs with Hypalon® tabs, VELCRO™ with triple reinforced stitching, and elastic cinch
      • No loop, anti-snag, glove compatible hem drawcords
      • Large chest pockets compatible with harness and backpack
      • Internal stretch pocket
      • YKK AquaGuard coil water repellent laminated chest pocket zips
      • YKK AquaGuard VISLON water repellent front zip with internal storm gasket
      • YKK AquaGuard coil water repellent pit zips
      • Soft internal beard and neck guards

      Fabrics:

      Shell fabric: Jottnar SKJOLDR 3 layer with DWR coating
      Zippers: YKK AquaGuard

      --NO LONGER AVAILABLE--

      PROS:

      • Clean cut and simple design
      • Great mobility
      • Light and packable

      CONS:

      • No powder skirt
      • No internal stuff pockets for skins

      SPECS:

      Price: $589CAN / $449US
      Weight: 415g / 14.6oz
      Fabric weight: 98g/m²
      Sizes: S, M, L, XL
      Hydrostatic head: 20K mm
      Moisture Vapour Transmission Rate (MVTR)
      : TBD
      Colours: Marine, Fire Red, Bay Green
      Fit: streamlined with articulated elbows and scoop drop back hem

      RATING: 8.5/10

      Fit/Mobility       2/2
      Weight              2/2    
      Packability        2/2
      Features            1/2
      Price/Quality      1.5/2


      Rab Khroma Kinetic Jacket

      The Rab Kroma Kinetic is a self-proclaimed “soft hardshell” due to the use of the 20D Proflex material. This stretchy, breathable, and waterproof shell is composed of 3 layers: a wicking polyester inner, an expanded PTFE core, and a woven polyamide/elastane outer with a DWR coating. The result is a jacket well suited to all kinds of mountain pursuits, be it a casual day tour or an epic ski mountaineering objective. 

      The flexible Khroma Kinetic Jacket is combined with ski-specific features like a helmet-compatible hood, adjustable hem and cuffs, and through flow ventilation system which is composed of “venting pockets” and a vent on the back of each arm. 

      The jackets pocket system is quite unique with the two internal stash pockets being able to be accessed more easily from large zippers on the exterior of the jacket. Within one of these two pockets, you'll find a smaller zippered pocket.  The chest pockets, as mentioned above, are also designed to be a part of the ventilation system. 

      The Khroma Kinetic Jacket has a very comfortable fit, uninhibited range of motion and best stretch of the jackets reviewed. The simplistic design keeps things efficient, yet the pocket layout is unlike any I’ve seen before. The Khroma Kinetic has the largest pockets of any jacket in this review, but also the fewest. The internal stash pockets have small openings that are awkwardly small, unfortunately. Flow-through ventilation is an interesting innovation; good air movement but requires one to open pockets in order to open the front vents.

      Best Ski Touring Shells
      Rab Khroma Kinetic Jacket

      Features:

      • Flexible shell material
      • Helmet compatible hood with 2-way adjustability
      • Front zip with internal storm flap
      • 2 external ‘venting’ Napoleon pockets
      • Through flow ventilation system
      • Fully adjustable cuffs and hem

      Fabrics:

      Shell: 3 layer 20D Proflex (stretch woven nylon with DWR, 149g/m²; HH: 20,000mm and MVTR: 25,000; 90% polyamide/10% elastane with polyurethane membrane with 100% polyester backer)
      Zipper: YKK AquaGuard VISLON
       

      --NO LONGER AVAILABLE--

      The Khroma Kinetic Jacket is no longer available from RAB, however you can check out a review of its replacement: 
      Rab Khroma Converge GORE-TEX Ski Jacket & Pants Review.

      PROS:

      • Very relaxed comfortable fit. 
      • Most stretch out of all materials reviewed
      • Massive pockets
      • Good ventilation

      CONS:

      • The fewest number of pockets of jackets in this review
      • No powder skirt
      • Stash pockets internal access is too small for skins

      SPECS:

      Price: $450CAN / $350US
      Weight: 532g / 18.8oz
      Sizes: S, M, L, XL
      Hydrostatic head: 20k mm
      Moisture Vapour Transmission Rate (MVTR)
      :: 25k g/m²/24 hrs
      Colours: Ascent red, deep ink, firecracker
      Fit: Regular

      RATING: 8/10

      Fit/Mobility       2/2
      Weight              1.5/2    
      Packability         2/2
      Features            1/2
      Price/Quality      2/2

      Westcomb Apoc

      The Westcomb Apoc jacket is the only Canadian made jacket that made the cut for the Best Ski Touring Shells and features Polartec Neoshell fabric. This industry-leading fabric blocks 99.9% of wind and is the most breathable of the waterproof fabrics on the market. The fabric is also soft and quieter than other fabrics like GORE-TEX. This fabric was used not only for its feel and breathability but also for its durability, however, it is slightly heavier.

      The Apoc offers extra adjustability with two torso adjustments, one at the waist hem, and the other higher up around the top of the hips. The pocket scheme is two large chest pockets on the exterior and two zippered napoleon pockets on the interior. Underarm pit zips have dual zipper pulls for best adjustability.

      The Westcomb Apoc jacket is the smallest fitting medium in this review, a little tight across the chest and shoulders during full mobility test and uses one of the least stretchy waterproof/breathable fabrics. That said, it is still very comfortable and while it is the second most breathable material, it is the least waterproof of those in this review. Well sized well-placed pockets are a big plus also along with the refined simple and clean design.

      Best Ski Touring Shells
      Westcomb Apoc

      Features:

      • Dual waist adjusting cord locks, one at the hem, other at top of hips
      • Two zippered napoleon pockets on the interior
      • Two large zippered chest pockets
      • Dual zipper pull underarm ventilation

      Fabrics:

      Shell: Polartec Neoshell

      --NO LONGER AVAILABLE--

      PROS:

      • Super breathable material
      • Really adjustable fit due to second cord lock adjustment for torso

      CONS:

      • No snow skirt
      • No internal stash pockets

      SPECS:

      Price: $750CAN / US
      Weight: 482g / 17oz
      Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, 2XL
      Hydrostatic head: 10k mm
      Moisture Vapour Transmission Rate (MVTR): 30k g/m²/24 hrs

      RATING: 9/10

      Fit/Mobility        2/2
      Weight                2/2    
      Packability          2/2
      Features             1.5/2
      Price/Quality      1.5/2


      Mountain Hardwear High Exposure Gore-Tex C-knit

      The High Exposure jacket from Mountain Hardwear is their lightest shell and features GORE-TEX C-Knit, a stretchy, durable, and waterproof fabric that is designed to breathe exceptionally well. The new C-Knit technology offers a softer, lighter garment with no sacrifice in durability or performance. This is accomplished by making the backer, or innermost layer, from a dense, extremely thin circular knit. The design is thin and smooth which reduces bulk and makes it easier to slip the jacket on over other layers.

      The High Exposure fabric also incorporates Mini Ripstop tech in order to add another layer of durability to the garment.

      Three exterior zippered pockets chest pockets are joined by two pockets on the interior; one with a zipper closure and the other a mesh stuff pocket. 

      A snow skirt is aided by adjustable wrist cuffs and waist hem, keeping you dry at all openings. The helmet-compatible hood is three-way adjustable, and all cord locks throughout the jacket are low-profile.

      The Mountain Hardwear High Exposure has a great fit, uninhibited range of motion, uses stretchy, light materials; is the second lightest jacket reviewed. Exterior pockets are great but interior pockets are a little small and the lack of ventilation is less than ideal. 

      Best Ski Touring Shells
      Mountain Hardwear High Exposure Gore-Tex C-knit

      Features:

      • Helmet-compatible hood with three-way adjustment
      • Oversized zippered chest pockets
      • Internal power skirt
      • Articulated cuffs with Velcro® adjustment tabs
      • Drawcord at hem
      • Low-profile cord locks
      • RECCO

      Fabrics:

      Shell: 3 layer GORE-TEX C-Knit Stretch Mini Ripstop (100% nylon)
      Zipper: YKK

      Buy now at Backcountry.com

      buy backcountry skiing gear

      PROS:

      • Excellent fit and mobility
      • Great pockets
      • Low-profile cord locks
      • Light, packable and durrable

      CONS:

      • Powder skirt is not removable
      • Interior stash pocket is not large enough for wider skins
      • No ventilation options

      SPECS:

      Price: $700CAN / $550US
      Weight: 458g / 1lb
      Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
      Hydrostatic head: >28k mm
      Moisture Vapour Transmission Rate (MVTR):
       >20k g/m²/24 hrs
      Colours: Citron Sun, Dark Storm, Deep Lake

      RATING: 9/10

      Fit/Mobility       2/2
      Weight               2/2    
      Packability         2/2
      Features            1.5/2
      Price/Quality     1.5/2


      Dynafit Free Gore-Tex Jacket

      Dynafit’s Free Jacket features 3 layer GORE-TEX with patent-pending C-Knit technology. This is the same base material used in the Mountain Hardwear High Exposure jacket but without the addition of Mini Ripstop tech.

      Two large exterior pockets and one smaller sleeve pocket feature waterproof YKK zippers. These waterproof zippers are also found on the ventilation zips, which are located on the back of the arms and do not extend to the torso. This positioning allows the opening and closing of vents to be free from any constraints imposed by backpacks or harnesses.

      On the interior of the jacket, 2 mesh pockets offer further storage for things like climbing skins. The helmet-compatible hood is easily adjustable with one hand and both the waist hem and wrist cuffs can be adjusted for an individualized fit. A mesh powder skirt features stretch cuffs and can be clipped to the Dynafit Free GORE-TEX Touring pant to keep snow out of your apparel. 

      The Dynafit Free Gore-Tex Jacket is yet another great fitting jacket. The Free offers all the standard ski-specific features while staying on the lighter end of the spectrum meaning it is also one of the most packable jackets reviewed. All the pockets are spacious but the interior drop pocket openings are a bit small for wider skins. I suspect they would fit most without issue but wide splitboard skins are out of the question. While it is in the upper price range, this jacket either tops out or comes close to topping out in each of the categories looked at in the review.

      Best Ski Touring Shells
      Dynafit Free Gore-Tex Jacket

      Features:

      • Adjustable hem, hood, and sleeve cuff
      • Helmet-compatible hood
      • Two exterior chest pockets, 2 interior mesh pockets, and one sleeve pocket
      • Reflectors
      • Taped seams
      • Snow skirt
      • Wrist gaiters
      • Dual zippered ventilation
      • Water repellent YKK zippers

      Fabrics:

      Shell Fabric: 3 layer GORE-TEX® with C-Knit Technology (100% Polyamide)
      Mesh: PL INTERLOCK 94
      Hem Insert: PA SENSITIVE PLUS 115 (73% Polyamide, 27% Elastane)
      Pocket Lining: PL INTERLOCK 94
      Zippers: YKK

      Buy Directly from Dynafit

      Buy Directly from Dynafit

      PROS:

      • Fully featured
      • Big pockets
      • Great fit and mobility 
      • Lightweight and packable
      • Great looking

      CONS:

      • The snow skirt is not removable
      • Internal stash pockets too small for wide skins

      SPECS:

      Price: $780CAN / $599.95US
      Weight: 535g / 18.9oz
      Sizes: S, M, L, XL, XXL
      Hydrostatic head: >28k mm
      Moisture Vapour Transmission Rate (MVTR):
       >20k g/m²/24 hrs
      Fit: Sportive

      RATING: 9.5/10

      Fit/Mobility      2/2
      Weight              2/2    
      Packability        2/2
      Features            2/2
      Price/Quality     1.5/2

      Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Hybrid

      The Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Hybrid jacket combines the BD.Dry laminated waterproof breathable solution with an air-permeable softshell fabric in key places (under the arms and on the back). The design is inspired by long days in the backcountry with the intention of a jacket that can be worn comfortably on both the ascent and descent. 

      The GTT EMPEL Molecular Water Protection used is a revolutionary technology, the treatment results from a molecular bond that protects each individual fibre with a flexible polymer coating as opposed to traditional methods of a topical coating. This not only creates a softer, quieter fabric but offers enhanced breathability. These benefits come at no detriment to the water protection, in fact, it delivers ten times better performance and durability when compared to industry-leading DWR finishes (C8, C6, and C0 padded wet finishes). All this is accomplished without the use of solvents and with zero water pollution (textile finishing generates 20% of the world's freshwater pollution, so it’s sort of a big deal).

      Revolutionary technologies aside, this jacket includes a few of the key ski features we’ve seen in many of the other jackets in the review including a helmet-compatible hood, harness-compatible pockets, and wrist gaiters.

      They’ve also added a few features not seen in the other jackets like a perforated collar panel, and dual front zipper with built-in mesh venting. The perforated collar panel offers a little more room to breath while still offering protection, while the double zipper offers a unique venting strategy for the ascent.

      The Dawn Patrol jacket can be paired up with the Dawn Patrol pant for all the same great tech and zonal construction with hard and soft shell fabrics but for the lower half of your body.

      Black Diamond's Dawn Patrol Hybrid Jacket rules in just about every single category in this review; if only it had drop pockets and a powder skirt! Oh, and dual zipper pulls for the pit zips… but hey that’s not much to complain about considering they nailed everything else. The mesh ventilation panel on the front zip is sort of interesting. It certainly creates more airflow and is not at all noticeable when not in use but do I love it? Uncertain at this point, more time testing on the skin track will see how valuable it really is.

      It was a tough choice for first place between the Dynafit Free and the Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Hybrid Jacket, but I gave it to the Dawn Patrol Hybrid for two reasons. First off is the price as the Dawn Patrol is significantly cheaper. Secondly, the GTT EMPEL Molecular Water Protection is industry-leading tech that not only improves garment performance and durability but significantly reduces the environmental footprint. If saving a few bucks isn’t worth the bump up to 1st place, then surely the efforts towards saving the environment (while also improving performance) must be. 

      Best Ski Touring Shells
      Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Hybrid

      Features:

      • Adjustable, helmet-compatible hood
      • Underarm gussets for added range of motion
      • Two harness-compatible chest pockets large enough for skins
      • Interior chest pocket with media cord entry
      • Mesh ventilation panel on front zipper
      • Internal lightweight stretch wrist gaiter
      • Integrated RECCO technology

      Fabrics:

      Shell 1: BD.Dry 2 way Stretch Nylon 3L with GTT EMPEL DWR finish (138gsm, face: 100% nylon, back 100% nylon)
      Shell 2: 4-way stretch nylon double weave with GTT EMPEL DWR finish (169gsm, 87% nylon, 13% elastane)

      Buy Directly from Black Diamond

      Buy Directly from Black Diamond

      PROS:

      • Environmentally friendly, industry leading DWR treatment
      • Very competitive pricing
      • Breathable panels in areas where weatherproofing is less critical
      • Very stretchy materials

      CONS:

      • No internal stash pockets
      • No snowskirt
      • Single zipper pull on pit zips

      SPECS:

      Price: $455CAN / $349US
      Weight: 500g / 17.6oz
      Sizes: S, M, L, XL
      'Hydrostatic head: 20,000 mm
      Breathability: 20,000 g/m2/24hr
      Moisture Vapour Transmission Rate (MVTR): TBD

      Fit: Slim
      Colours: Octane, Carbon, Kingfisher

      RATING: 9.5/10

      Fit/Mobility       2/2
      Weight              2/2    
      Packability         2/2
      Features            1.5/2
      Price/Quality      2/2

      Verdict:

      Best Fit / Mobility
      It goes without saying that fit is going to vary widely across users, so for reference, I’m a 6ft, 165lb male. All the jackets were mediums with the exception of the Dynafit and Rab Kinetic, which were larges and these size differences were taken into account when assessing fit. Generally, mobility has a lot to do with fit and articulated patterning goes a long way to make movement easier and more natural. Other design features that aid with mobility include gussets and stretchy materials.

      The Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Hybrid and the Rab Kinetic were the stretchiest of the jackets, the Dawn Patrol Hybrid has a bit more of a slim fit while still being roomy enough for a micro-down underneath, while I felt that the Kinetic could be worn over top of a larger puffy and still be comfortable. I’d be curious to see if I felt the same in a medium, but the cut of the jacket makes me think it would still be fine. 

      The Mountain Hardwear High Exposure, the Jottnar Jurmon, Outdoor Research Carbide, and Dynafit Free are not quite as stretchy as the other two jackets but all of these jackets offer a very light feel and uninhibited range of motion. 

      Finally, the Arc’teryx Rush had a great fit but the slightest bit of tightness around the back of the shoulders when flinging my arms around for a range of motion test. This is likely due to the slightly stiffer material that does not stretch like those previously mentioned. 

      Best Weight
      The three lightest jackets are the Jottnar Jurmon, Mountain Hardwear High Exposure, and the Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Hybrid. While each of these jackets brings a lot to the table, none of them is “fully featured” which would, of course, trims a few grams off the jacket's weight and push them to the top of that category. On the other hand, the Dynafit Free sits in the middle of the weight class but is the lightest of the fully-featured jackets. 

      Trim a few features to save a few grams? Or pack in all the features and haul what amounts to less than the weight of two Clif Bars up the mountain (68g per bar if you’re curious).

      Best Packability
      The most packable jacket is the Mountain Hardwear High Exposure followed closely by the Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Hybrid and the Dynafit Free. Both the High Exposure and the Free feature GORE-TEX C-Knit which is a softer and lighter material than many of the other fabrics seen in this review, and it seems to pack down better as well. The BD.Dry material found in the Dawn Patrol Hybrid is similarly supple and helped the jacket pack a bit smaller than the Free, but with the Free having more features than the Dawn Patrol, perhaps it speaks to the packability of the C-Knit material.

      Best Features
      The jackets which I would consider to be fully featured are the Helly Hansen Odin Infinity, Dynafit Free, Rab GTX, and the Outdoor Research Carbide jacket. These all offer powder skirts, underarm ventilation, and 5+ pockets which include both interior stash pockets and a zippered interior pocket. They also sport the usual features seen amongst the competition, like an adjustable hem, cuffs, and hood.

      There are some unique features which deserve a shout out—namely the snow skirt on the Helly Hansen jacket as it is something else. Helly Hansen decided that the traditional snap button attachments are not worthy and moved onto steel hooks that latch onto a number of small webbing loops. It’s the sort of lashing system you might look for on a backpack when you’re securing cargo, which makes me feel like snow WILL NOT be getting up in your business. Moving on from the exciting snow skirt…

      The mesh front zipper panel on the Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Hybrid is, as mentioned above, interesting. It’s essentially an internal storm flap, but instead of keeping the weather out, its design is climate control focused aka airflow and venting. Imagine your internal storm flap had an extra set of zipper teeth that matched the main zipper; now make that storm flap 85% mesh and there you have it. 

      The Outdoor Research Carbide jacket also brought a couple of unique features to the table which I had not seen before. The HoodLock feature makes use of the cord lock adjusters on the hood and allows you to pull the hood back and securely clip it in place. The result would be a hood that would never drop in front of your face. Next up, the ThumbDrive cuff adjustments are essentially the same design as any other with the exception of them being oversized and designed in such a way that allows you to wrap the strap around your thumbs before attaching to the cuff. This sounds slightly awkward but OR really nailed it. It doesn’t pull the arm of the jacket in a weird way and it isn’t tight around your thumb as to be uncomfortable but it definitely does keep the cuff down over your glove, therefore, keeping more snow out of your sleeves. Neat.

      One feature that is a must-have for any good ski touring shell is internal stash pockets that can accommodate climbing skins. Big fat wide climbing skins, yes I am including split board skins here as well. It's essential to keep the glue on your climbing skins warm and internal stash pockets are meant just for that. While most jackets we reviewed featured these internal pockets very few made them wide enough for the fattest of skins.

      Best Value
      Let's face it, these are all high-quality jackets and you could not go wrong with any of them. On the other hand, prices vary greatly. Much of the price has to do with the main fabric and, unfortunately for us, GORE-TEX is expensive. With GORE-TEX you not only get the most waterproof membranes on the market, but it’s backed up by a lifetime warranty. Breathability in GORE-TEX remains at the high end as well, but Polartec Neoshell and LIFA Infinity Pro are able to boast higher MVTR test scores (Moisture Vapour Transmission Rate, also known as breathability to the layman). Speaking of those two materials, Polartec Neoshell offers >30k (specific test results not readily available to the public) MVTR but seems to sacrifice waterproofing in order to achieve this. LIFA Infinity Pro boasts 33k, the most breathable material in the review, while just barely falling shy of the waterproofing test scores achieved by the top end GORE-TEX materials, AND it does so with a smaller environmental footprint! But it’s also the second most expensive jacket in the review. 

      Fabrics aside, another interesting aspect when considering weatherproofing is the DWR finish, and a few of these jackets feature novel DWR tech. The critical thing to note about a DWR finish is that this is typically what makes the water bead on the exterior of the fabric, and this eventually wears out with time, which is why we have tech washes, DWR sprays, and the more environmentally friendly wax alternatives. Now consider the EMPEL finish on the Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Hybrid or the LIFA fibres in the Helly Hansen Odin Infinity. These claim that they never need to be refinished and will maintain their hydrophobic properties indefinitely! Unfortunately, I did not have years to test these jackets so we will have to wait and see how true these claims hold up, but longevity in weatherproofing is certainly something to behold.

      Ok, enough about materials, while the tangent was relatable to quality I think it strays a bit. Which jackets do I think top out the price/quality categories? As mentioned previously, all of these are quality jackets so naturally, those that are less expensive will come out on top when comparing the price to quality. The Rab Kinetic, Outdoor Research Carbide, and Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Hybrid are all under $500 before tax which pushed them to the top of this category.

      I think the Dynafit Free also deserves an honourable mention due to the fact that it brings so much to the table. While it is one of the more expensive jackets, it might be worth breaking the piggy bank open for this one. 
      BEST
      SKI
      TOURING SHELLS

      BLACK
      DIAMOND
      DAWN
      PATROL
      HYBRID

      DYNAFIT
      FREE
      GORE-TEX
      MOUNTAIN
      HARDWEAR
      HIGH
      EXPOSURE
      C-KNIT
      WESTCOMB
      APOC
      RAB
      KHROMA
      KINETIC
      JOTTNAR
      JORMUN
      ARC’TERYX
      RUSH
      HELLY HANSEN
      ODIN
      INFINITY
      OUTDOOR
      RESEARCH
      CARBIDE
      RAB
      KHROMA
      GTX
      BEST FIT/MOBILITY 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 1.5/2 1.5/2 1.5/2
      BEST WEIGHT  2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 1.5/2 2/2 1.5/2 1/2 1/2 1/2
      BEST PACKABILITY 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 2/2 1.5/2 2/2 1.5/2
      BEST FEATURES 1.5/2 2/2 1.5/2 1.5/2 1/2 1/2 2/2 2/2 1.5/2 2/2
      BEST VALUE 2/2 1.5/2 1.5/2 1.5/2 2/2 1.5/2 1/2 1/2 2/2 1.5/2
      RATING 9.5/10 9.5/10 9/10 9/10 8.5/10 8.5/10 8.5/10 8/10 8/10 7.5/10

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