Winter means cold weather, plenty of snow, and the chance to shred mountains. What does it take to get out there and get after it safely?

You’ll need your snowboard, jacket, pants, and gear. Of course, each snowboarder has a different taste and style.

That’s why today we’re going to help you find the best snowboarding jacket for you.

Whether you need style, function, or both today’s snowboard coats are made to handle it. By the end of our guide you’ll know which features to look for and which to leave behind.

We’ll also line up some of our top snowboarding jackets for you to choose from.

Ladies: We reviewed women’s snowboarding jackets here.

Best Snowboard Jackets

	Burton Covert Jacket	686 Authentic Woodland Jacket	Dakine Smyth Jacket
Construction:	DRYRIDE 2-Layer Nylon Dobby Fabric	100% Poly Oxford shell	GORE-TEX® 2 Layer Nylon
Insulation:	80G Body / 60G Sleeves and Hood	140g Polyfill Body w/ 80g Sleeves & Hood	Taffeta
Features:	Easy-Access media/goggle pockets, critical taped seams	Internal mesh storage/goggle pocket, pit zips, fully taped seams	Waist & wrist gaiters, pit zips, fully taped seams

For more of my snowboarding recommendations, have a look through these popular Outside Pursuits guide links: Snowboard Pants, Snowboard Gloves, Snowboard Boots.

Quick Answer: The 7 Best Rated Snowboard Jackets For 2021

1. Burton Covert Snowboard Jacket
2. 686 Authentic Woodland Jacket
3. Dakine Smyth Jacket
4. Volcom Deadly Stones Snowboard Jacket
5. Oakley Division BZI Jacket
6. Burton AK 2L Swash Jacket
7. The North Face NFZ Jacket

Our reviews of the top rated snowboard jackets with our comparison table and buyers guide will help you choose the right one for you.

Reviews of Snowboarding Jackets for Men

#1 Burton Covert Men’s Snowboard Jacket

Available in enough colors to outfit two large families without a single duplicate, the Covert jacket is a top choice.

Why?

Waterproof breathable fabric makes the jacket tech savvy enough for new or experienced riders.

I like that the jacket has different amounts of insulation in the sleeves versus the arms. However, at 80g of insulation it is a pretty heavily insulated jacket.

Luckily there are pit zip vents so you’ll be able to dump a bunch of heat when the days warm up in the spring.

The fully helmet compatible hood is permanently attached, but that’s a minor drawback. If having a jacket that was manufactured to be environmentally friendly is important to you, the Covert is Bluesign approved.

Overall I think the Covert is the best snowboard jacket for the money.

Women’s Model: Burton Jet Set Women’s Snowboard Jacket

#2 686 Woodland Insulated Snowboard Jacket

This stylish snowboarding jacket has most the features I like to see in a jacket. The infiDRY 10k fabric is breathable so when you’re working up a sweat shredding you will stay dry. The mesh lined pit vents will also dump tons of heat when you need to.

I would have liked to seen fully taped seams but all the critical seams are. The snap off hood is great to see, ever since using a helmet I don’t use the hood and they usually just get in the way.

686 naturally includes a powder skirt and wrist gaiters to keep out the snow and cold. If you like to listen to music while boarding, the media pocket keeps your tunes within easy reach.

Internal goggle pocket and an plenty of storage pockets round out one of the warmest snowboarding jackets with nearly every feature you could expect.

In my opinion the Smarty Form is the best snowboard jacket under 0. The 686 pants are reviewed here.

Women’s Model: 686 Women’s Athena Thermagraph Jacket, the GLCR is probably the best Women’s snowboarding jacket.

#3 Dakine Smyth Pure Gore-Tex 2L Jacket

This Gore-Tex based Men’s snowboard jacket is as sleek as it is functional. I love the abundance of pockets. They’re crafted into the jacket in such a way as to be nearly invisible however.

There are four front external pockets and only two of them are really visible on the coat.

A standard sized non-removable hood is attached and I wish they would have made it removable but that’s a minor drawback.

I love the pit zips and tall neckline.

Unlike some other jackets, the neckline on the Smyth jacket is just tall enough to keep out wind and snow, but not excessive.

One feature that may seem minor but they put some soft fabric on the inside of the jacket wear it contacts your chin. So when you zip it up fully it doesn’t irritate you.

Just another nice feature on a well thought out jacket.

When the weather gets nasty, the pit vents, powder skirts, and wrist gaiters will allow you to keep out the worst and enjoy your day in style.

If your into listening to music while boarding, they included a headphone pass cord holder. Overall, an excellent choice and I think the best snowboarding jacket under $300.

Women’s Model: Dakine Brentwoot Women’s Snowboard Jacket

#4 Volcom Deadly Stones Snowboard Jacket

Another waterproof jacket with taped seams to keep out the water. It will hold up against surprise spring time showers or deep winter blizzards.

I like the little touches, like the suede micro fiber chin guard which protects the jacket from rubbing against your chin when it’s all zipped up.

Pit zips are included and as you know, this is a critical feature. The jacket overall has a more reasonable 80g insulation across the whole jacket.

The one drawback with this particular jacket is that the hood is permanently attached. Again, a minor drawback.

Unique to the Volcom jacket is the ability to zip into Volcom pants. The jackets and pants can be zipped together to form a single unit. It can be had for about 0 and probably the best budget snowboard jacket.

Women’s Model: Volcom Women’s Mission Insulated Gore-Tex Jacket

#5 Oakley Division 10K Bzi Snowboarding Jacket

When you decide to permanently attach a hood to your jacket, the solution for helmet wearers is simple.

Make the hood big enough to fit over the helmet.

That’s what Oakley did here. The hood can stretch to reach up over the entire helmet and then cinch down for protection. I’ve never found helmet compatible hoods to be very helpful, but you may!

Oakley put on the nice touch of including a goggle cloth in this jacket. They also pumped it up with 100g insulation. Beware of that thick insulation on hot days – even pit zips won’t save you if you’re completely overheating.

It’s truly amazing how easy it is to overheat while on the mountain even in the dead of winter.

Women’s Model: Oakley Women’s Charlie BZI Snowboard Jacket

#6 Burton Men’s AK 2L Swash Jacket

Burton took a note from The North Face and opted for Gore-Tex fabric on this winter snowboard jacket.

There are plenty of pockets so you have plenty of storage for snacks, water bottle and phone.

I like the integrated powder skirt with elastic waist and button front. The design of the jacket is similar to a vest where they focused the insulation on the core while keeping the sleeves lighter.

The fully taped seams and water-resistant zippers will keep you and anything in your pockets dry, especially nice in warmer, wetter spring conditions.

Burton even included powder cuffs on the sleeves, nice touch!

One drawback is the lack of pitzips, I would have liked to seen them but they do have venting pockets on the chest.

If you match the Swash with a pair of Burton pants, you can zip them together. Nice for complete protection of snow getting in and keeping the cold out.

With a lifetime warranty, hard to find anything wrong with this jacket. If you don’t mind spending a little more, the Swash might be the best snowboarding jacket you can buy.

Best Women’s Snowboarding Jacket: Burton AK 2L Blade Jacket.

#7 The North Face Men’s Resolve 2 Snowboard Jacket

The North Face has brought out the big guns. They’ve stitched this jacket up with some serious waterproofing using thier DryVent 2L that has a rating of 25 PSI and a breathability of 750-800 g/m².

The jacket is fully seam sealed for wet spring weather or pond skimming, whichever you choose. I love that they stuck with the pit zips on this jacket because it brings the whole unit together as a solid choice for any weather.

With two internal pockets including a goggle pocket, there’s plenty of storage with the three external pockets. I also love the powder skirt in the jacket.

Just like the gaiters on your snow pants, powder skirts help keep snow out when you take a digger and don’t want snow down your pants. The Resolve definitely deserves to be on the list for the best Men’s snowboarding jackets.

Hard to go wrong with The North Face!

Women’s Model: The North Face Women’s Osito Triclimate Jacket

Snowboard Jacket Comparison Table

Author’s Expertise / Why You Should Trust Our Reviews

I started writing online for my own outdoor sports blog in 2010. Right out of the gate I landed opportunities to test gear for Road ID, Hydrapak, Wolverine, Helle Knives, Pearl Izumi, and GU Energy. Those were the days when growing a no-name blog was easy. Today niche blogging is a different story.

In 2012 I left Central Wyoming College with a degree in Outdoor Education and Leadership. Soon after, I was on a month-long expedition with the National Outdoor Leadership School’s Outdoor Educator Course which helps would-be outdoor guides ascend from “aspiring” to “inspiring”.

Between here and there I’ve participated in and spoken at length about outdoor pro-deal programs for companies like Patagonia, Smith Optics, Giro, Therm-a-Rest, Platypus, MSR, Columbia, and many more. I still work closely with tons of outdoor gear companies to review and analyze products. If you have a product opportunity you’d like to discuss, please review my guidelines and contact me here.

After several seasons of guiding backpacking trips and working as a certified Alpine Ski Instructor at Deer Valley Resort in Park City, UT for several seasons, I had to move on. As any educator will tell you – teaching doesn’t pay the bills very well.

In 2016 I began building my freelance writing career as readers and other bloggers reached out to me for help with technical outdoor sports content strategy for online businesses. Within weeks I was overloaded with requests for freelance writing and my new career blossomed.

2018 saw the launch of Hike With Less, my ultralight backpacking partnership program with Dustin Walker.

How to Choose the Best Snowboarding Jacket

• Waterproofness
• Storage
• What is Layering?
• Types of Snowboard Jackets
• Hood or No Hood?
• Venting
• Goggle Cloth
• Powder Skirt
• FAQ For Snowboard Jackets
• Best Snowboard Jacket Brands
• Extra Features
• Conclusion

Waterproofness

At one point, Gore-Tex was the only name in waterproof breathable materials. Today nearly every maker of outdoor gear has an in-house brand of waterproof breathable fabric.

Do you need the breathability? In the winter time for snowboarding, it doesn’t hurt.

Watch out for non-breathable fabrics as they can get hot and sweaty quickly. In most conditions, it is possible to vent the jacket by just unzipping. However, that can let in snow if you wipe out which quickly melts and leaves you vulnerable to hypothermia.

Make it simple. just go with waterproof breathable coats.

Storage

I like to keep enough storage in my jacket for all the items I need to be prepared on the mountain. Extra internal pockets are particularly helpful to store extra goggle lenses, snacks, and balaclavas.

External pockets can stash a few snacks or extra goodies.

When it comes to a good snowboarding jacket, it’s hard to have too much extra space.

What is Layering?

If you have dressed for winter conditions you are probably familiar with what layering is. Layering is a method for dressing that gives the wearer with a variety of  combinations of clothes that can insulate for a wide range of temperatures and conditions.

Basically this means wearing a base layer, shirt, fleece and jacket gives you may more options than just wearing a thick jacket.

Snowboard Layer Types

So let’s go through the types of layers:

Shells

The shell is the outer layer and is the most critical to achieve success of your layering system. Your shell has one main job: create a barrier separating you from the weather.

A shell is usually waterproof, windproof and better quality shells are both. If your shell is waterproof then by definition is also windproof. However the opposite is not always true.

Insulation

The insulation of your layering system is going to be one of two types, natural or synthetic.

Three good examples of this are:

• Merino Wool
• Polyester
• Goose Down

For the really cold winter months having goose down insulation is one of your best bets.

Unfortunately the most expensive also. Insulation layers will always go under the shell and its primary job is to trap and keep in your natural body heat.

Types of Snowboarding Jackets

“3-in-1” Modular Jackets

For a variety of reasons modular jackets are very popular. This type of jacket take a layered approach, when you buy one, they come with everything you need to make 3 separate layers.

Here’s how it works: You get a shell and an insulation layer combined when you purchase a 3-1 system. What makes them so popular and is they are made to zip together and give three separate ways to wear the jacket.

Why is this important? Because, when you zip them zip together, you have a single jacket that forms a layered system; insulation and shell in one.

When taken apart you can choose shell or insulation – or both depending on weather conditions.

Modular 3-1 jackets provide an easy no-brainer type solution to layering.

So whats the downside?

You’re stuck with the combination of shell and insulation the manufacturer feels best.

The problem is their choices are not always the best. You can normally do better by choosing your own layers. The 686 Authentic Smarty Form Jacket is a good example of a shell with a removable fleece liner.

NOTE: Additional shells or insulation layers may not fit the zipper system of your original 3-1 coat so you may have to wear them as individual layers (something I prefer to do anyways).

Insulated Shells

Lower end jacket are usually the “insulated shell” type of jacket. It is far less versatile and adjustable than a 3-1 modular jacket, the insulated shell comes with thick insulation sewn inside the jacket and cannot be removed or modified.

I do not advocate this type of jacket,  they are usually heavier and bulkier than a 3-1 modular jacket and of course less versatile.

This really becomes apparent when when its spring boarding conditions and everyone else is stripping off layers while you’re soaked in sweat inside your non-adjustable coat. If you plan on doing any spring snowboarding then I would not even consider this type of jacket.

Other than polar conditions there is really no advantage to this type of jacket other than they maybe cheaper. Only consider this type of jacket for the most extreme cold conditions.

Soft Shell Jackets

A relatively new option in jackets. This type of jacket is a hybrid of a hard shell and an insulation liner such as a fleece jacket. A softshell jacket is a good option in warmer conditions early in the season or spring snowboarding where it tends to be warmer.

The one caveat is they do not have the same level of water resistance of a hard shell but if don’t fall very much or its not raining then I would recommend this style of jacket.

However, I would purchase this type of jacket if you ski frequently and have other jackets.

Hard Shell Jackets

This style of jacket is designed for protection against the elements, like wind, sleet and snow. A great example of just a quality hard shell is the Dakine Smyth Jacket.

When you buy this type of jacket you are choosing the “Homemade layering” (see above) I would consider this type of jacket for a frequent or experienced skier who wants maximum flexibility with their layer options.

As you get to know the conditions and what layers works best, you can dress exactly the way you need to. For the once a year skier/boarder the 3-1 modular jacket is probably a better option,

Hood or No Hood?

This is a good question. If you’re going to be snowboarding without a helmet, I would opt for a hood on your snowboard jacket. This will add a bit of protection and warmth to your otherwise vulnerable noggin.

For helmet users, I would opt for a jacket without a hood or one with a removable hood.

Why?

Because when it starts snowing, the extra hood will funnel all that snow right down your coat. There’s just no need for a hood when you’ve got a nice helmet.

Venting

Venting is critical. If you’re picking up snowboard jackets or pants be sure to look for vent zippers. On snowboard jackets the zippers are usually located in the armpits. Sometimes these zippers extend down the sides of jackets.

Either way, ventilation can extend the usable range of temperatures of your jacket. By unzipping the jacket will be able to dump excess heat and you’ll be more comfortable on hot days. Zip them up to stay warm longer on cold days.

Goggle Cloth

Is this really critical? No.

It is nice, however. Some jackets have a dedicated goggle pocket and inside you’ll usually find a microfiber cloth for cleaning your lenses. I find it handy often enough that I would suggest you look for it in a jacket but this feature is sometimes hard to find.

Powder Skirt

Another mandatory feature of the best jackets for snowboarding is a powder skirt.

Just about all shells come with an elastic cord around the bottom hem to help seal the jacket against the weather. However, don’t confuse this with a true powder skirt.

A powder skirt is inside the jacket, usually a few inches above the bottom of the jacket and gives you an adjustable seal around your waist to keep out the snow when you take a digger.

FAQ For Snowboard Jackets

Q: What is the best material for snowboard jackets?

A: Like many things in the outdoor clothing world your top choices will be nylon or polyester. These two manmade fibers comprise most outdoor garments and you’ll be happy to know they’re both good picks.

Like with snowboard pants I feel that nylon makes the best choice for an outer layer. It’s more durable and abrasion resistant than polyester and it also repels water and wind better in most cases.

Polyester liners inside the jacket can add a good soft touch and help improve the garment by adding some wicking capacity to the inside of the jacket. Ideally look for nylon outer and polyester inner.

Q: Do I need a powder skirt inside my jacket?

A: Most definitely. Powder skirts are great for both ski and snowboard jackets.

They work by sealing away the bottom of the jacket so that snow can’t get back inside if you take a fall (or when you’re boarding pow). Look for silicone beads around the bottom of the powder skirt. These little beads of silicone help hold it in place so it doesn’t ride up as you ride down.

Powder skirts aren’t 100% essential but they’re handy particularly for those who board in areas that regularly see dumper pow.

Q: What are pit zips?

A: As always with snow jackets I recommend pit zips, but what are they and how do they help?

Pit zips are so important because they allow for temperature management without having to unzip the jacket itself. Under the arms of the jacket look for zippers that open to allow air passage.

Because they’re under the arms they won’t get filled with falling snow during a storm and they’re less likely to get powder in them if you take a fall.

As you warm up, unzip them. If you get cold, close them off to keep the heat inside!

Q: Should I spend extra on waterproof breathable snowboard jackets?

A: I would say definitely not!

I’ve spent thousands of hours teaching on the slopes of Park City, Utah from December to April. I’ve been through whiteout blizzards, pea soup fog, whipping winds, and spring rain at 9,000 feet. All that in a non-waterproof polyester jacket (it was our uniform).

While I’ve wetted out before in some cases because I had to be out there teaching, I’ve never truly needed a waterproof breathable jacket.

In some cases I would have liked to have it, and if your budget has room to afford it then go for it. But if you’re questioning whether or not it’s absolutely essential, I’d say don’t worry about it.

Worst case scenario you can always just go inside to the lodge.

Q: Are two-way zippers important?

A: They are if you’re wearing a long coat or jacket.

Snowboarding jackets still tend to be a bit longer than skiing jackets (in general) which can sometimes get in the way of leg movement. No matter if it’s a style choice or personal choice, having two way zippers gives you more options.

With two way zippers you can zip up from the bottom or down from the top. Zipping the bottom zipper upwards can help get the jacket out of the way if you need to dig around in a pants pocket or let some extra air through.

On tight fitting jackets, unzipping the bottom zipper a little can open up a lot more legroom for movement of the hips, too.

Q: Do I need a hood for my jacket?

A: It seems like every jacket has them but I don’t consider them necessary. In fact I would rather have one without a hood because they just get in the way. Since I wear a helmet, (you do as well I hope!) my head never gets cold.

Q: Should I go with a shell or an insulated jacket?

A: There is no easy answer to this question. It really just depends on how experienced you are. If you have all the necessary base layers you are probably better off without an insulated jacket because of the extra flexibility you have. If you only go snowboarding occasionally and don’t have a large variety of warm base layers, go with a 3-1 modular jacket like the 686 Smarty Form.

Q: What features should I look for?

A: Some features I look for in a snowboard jacket are LOTS of pockets for keeping my phone, snacks etc. Pit-Zips for extra ventilation when the weather turns warm are invaluable! A RFID pocket for your lift ticket is also a nice feature as more and more resorts are doing away with the paper, clip on lift ticket.

Q: What is the best type of insulation?

A: It’s almost impossible to find in a snowboard jacket, but goose down is probably the warmest insulation. However, newer synthetic insulation like fleece does an excellent job of keeping you warm.

Best Snowboarding Jacket Brands

As always choosing the best snowboard jacket brands is very subjective. Ask 10 snowboarders and you will get 6-7 different answers. However certain brands always come to the top like Burton.

So the best snowboard jacket brands in my opinion are:

• Burton – Not a lot to say about Burton, they are the originator of snowboarding and are making some of the best jackets available at any price.
• The North Face – Who hasn’t heard of The North Face? They have been quality outdoor clothing since 1968 and I think they have it figured out.
• 686 – Founded in 1992, they focus only on outdoor clothing and have a good reputation for snowboard jackets and pants.
• Dakine – Known for a variety of apparel has come out with a solid line of jackets at very reasonable prices.
• Volcom –  Volcom, a leader in snowboarding is certainly a standout in the budget category.
• Oakley – Newcomer, Oakley being best known for their venerable sunglasses have created a line of excellent jackets.

Extra Snowboard Jacket Features

Better snowboard jackets will offer some extra handy features and there are others that are just necessities. One of the more useful features that I like are a special ski pass pocket.

Most ski mountain no longer have the clip on paper lift ticket but a RFID card that they scan.

Most all snowboard jackets come with adjustable and sometimes removable hoods. I consider this less valuable because I personally and most boarders wear a helmet.

The helmet usually provides plenty of warmth and protection from the elements.

The one feature that I consider a necessity are “pit zips”. When unzipped they allow plenty of air flow under your arms when you start getting warm. They allow you to regulate your temperature your liking.

Lastly, make sure the jacket has plenty of pockets for keeping snacks, a phone, water, a neck gator etc.

Conclusion

Picking out the right jacket is a tough call. Ultimately the Dakine Smyth jacket has a nice modern look with almost all the features we need in a snowboard jacket.

After that I would consider the Burton Covert jacket or the Oakley Razorback. Of course, each person’s needs will be unique and if you can afford a little more, the Burton Swash might be your favorite. Make sure to consider what type of weather and riding you like before settling on the jacket for you.

I hope this guide was helpful for finding the best snowboard jacket to fit your needs. If you want to comment or recommend a jacket I didn’t include, please use my contact form to get in touch.

New to snowboarding? See my beginners guide to snowboarding for tips and advice.

Have fun and be safe out there!

How We Researched

To come up with the best snowboarding jackets, we researched a variety of sources for reviews such as REI, Backcountry, Moosejaw, EVO along with our own personal experience.

We also consulted online magazines for product research and reviews to get as much unbiased information as we could. To help weed out fake reviews we used Fakespot.com to make sure we only looked at genuine reviews.

With so much quality gear available, we had to narrow it down based on what we felt were the best options were for the price. The author, Casey Fiedler was a full-time ski instructor for Park City and The Canyons in Utah. 

To help narrow down the selection he used his personal experience along with recommendations from fellow ski instructors.

After extensive research, we came up with our list to help you choose the right one for you.

Sources