I know there are a lot of ski-enthusiasts. What should I look out for in getting a jacket for skiing?

Should I get a think one without insulation and wear insulating layers underneath? Or get a one that is insulated (e.g. filled with down)?

Any recommended brands?

Hello,
I would rather go for more thin layers rather than 1 thick one. The benefit is that you can adjust to various temperatures by adding/removing them. Also you can reuse them in other sport activities, rather than having separate thick jacket just for skiing. But since skiing is either not-moving on lift, and going down (fast) which makes temperature feeling much lower, do not underestimate how warm your clothes need to be.
As for brands, it depends on how much you plan to spend on it - ochsner&athleticum& similar have cheaper but good-enough types, but of course if you add more money you will get better and more costly equipment. Switzerland is not a place for bargain on these things, maybe little bit after season is over (april/may) but even then elsewhere it is cheaper than here.

A lot depends on when and where you are going to ski, I tend to ski in New England so go for an insulated jacket and and a couple of light layers, but I make sure I have a jacket with vents for the warmer weather. If you are going to be skiing in powder then a powder skirt would be a good thing.

If you are going to ski listening to music then check to see if it has cable routing for head phones. Generally plenty of pockets is a good thing.

I personally have used Spyder jackets for the last several years.

Be a MAN !!!




Step out in a "One-zy" from the 70's

Don't forget the aviator sunnies and headband

Aldi do have fanttastic deals at the mo. Much prefer of thinner but totally waterproof.windproof jacket with a combination of layers. Same with clothes, much prefer thinner but excellent quality with silk inners. Same for socks too - those UK type really thick ones with a square toe which bunches are dreadful.

You are looking for 3 basic qualities in your jacket: it has to be windproof, waterproof and rank high on breathability. Most brands have good tags with explanation on them, telling you how the particular jacket ranks on those dimensions.

I go for a jacket that is less insulated (less bulky), but ranks high on the above and wear two more layers underneath - a fleece and thermal underwear (long sleeve). I also prefer to have a larger hood, so that when it starts to rain or snow, I can put it over my helmet and not worry about cold water going down my neck!


Agree with Markarina - Spyder is good and it lasts. Hally Hansen is cheaper and still offers great quality as well as Burton (a famous snowboard brand).

Happy shopping and then hitting the slopes!

thanks. i'll try to find one in an extremely garish colour which also can double as an optical illusion. this seems to be the done thing.

Which is why I have been using my motorcycle jackets (non-leather ones) for the past 25 years.

Plus, the body armor is nice to have!

Tom

oh yeah that reminds me, I think it's adidas that do a ski jacket that has a special fabric that stiffens and adds more protection when you fall, can't remember how it does it

i was thinking motorcycle jacket would be too rigid.

It is! And of course avoid leather!

Aldi is a good suggestion. I saw in KTipp magazine in November that their own brand ski helmets (24 Chf) are made by a well known Austrian manufacturer and that the same helmet (different colours and I think a slightly different chin strap bit) is selling for the equivalent of 260 Chf in Austria

IMHO I would avoid down, twice I've had down jackets and have sweated to the point of almost freezing plus you'll wonder why you have greyish looking snow flakes following you when you rip a whole in it. Layers is the way to go with a waterproof gortex shell. The more durable the material the better.

Phil aside from what to get, if you are going home for Xmas, go to Ellis Brigham (there's a couple in Manchester). They are signed up to the VAT retail export scheme. For a flat fee of £4.50 they will refund you all the VAT. None of this Global Blue nonsense that take half of the refund for doing bugger all.

+1 to EBBs proposal. I would always go for the layer approach - more flexible. I find insulated jackets often too hot. Don't go too cheap, it is false economy. There is nothing worse than being wet or cold whilst in the mountains. So make sure it is waterproof, windproof but also breathable. Doesn't need to be gore-tex, as now a days most respectable brands have their own ok solutions like, Columbia, North face etc. I have Patagonia which I am very happy with.

Cool. I found a jacket:

http://eu.thenorthface.com/tnf-eu-en...zo-jacket.html

Will see if in stock when I am back in the UK.

No optical illusion, but radioactive green colour as standard

Hurray - make sure you get 3 pairs of very good quality ski socks in the right size too. And for ultimate underwear, look at silk!

www.patra.com

for ski socks, there's only one option: www.smartwool.com

Go for silk Phil!

Might also be worth going in with an open mind and telling the assistant what you want. I went in expecting to buy a shell and came out with a Primaloft filled one.

From this:
http://www.ellis-brigham.com/snowspo...gtx-pro-jacket
to this:
http://www.ellis-brigham.com/ski-jac...-austin-jacket

If you are after making a statement and want a shell check out the Harlequin version of the first jacket i posted