Choosing the right jacket for backcountry skiing or snowboarding is more than a fashion statement. Hopefully that’s the last thing on your mind. But when it comes down to it, a proper hardshell jacket can be a possible life-saver to keep you warm and dry in critical moments. Or at the very minimum it’ll keep you out enjoying the elements longer than if you had something that didn’t protect you.
Safety aside, a good hardshell also optimizes movement, while also preventing overheating on the skintrack. It must also allow freedom to move abruptly, and of course, handle copious amounts of snow. Since we live in an unpredictable climate, it would probably be good if it could also transition well between bombproof protection and easy ventilation.
As a backcountry educator running courses in the unpredictable Coast Mountains of BC, I view a hardshell as a critical piece of safety equipment. From breaking trail in heavy coastal snowpacks to digging pits in the freezing wind, these are the jackets that have survived the absolute worst conditions Mother Nature could throw at them.
The Best Hardshell Jackets For Backcountry Skiing and Splitboarding
Best All-Around Hardshell Jacket: Patagonia Stormstride
Best Hybrid Resort Jacket: Arc’teryx Sabre
Best Relaxed Fit Hardshell Jacket: Marmot Orion Gore-Tex
Best Hardshell for Skinning Up: Burton [AK] Kalausi
Best Grassroots, Owner-Designed Jacket: Forum 3L Backcountry Jacket
Backcountry Hardshells at a Glance
| Jacket | Best For | Price (USD) | Membrane | Weight |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Patagonia Storm Stride | Best All-Around Backcountry | $499 | 3L H2No | 580g |
| Arc’teryx Sabre | Best Hybrid Resort | $750 – $900 | 3L GORE-TEX ePE (Flannel Backer) | 740g |
| Marmot Orion | Best Value | $500 | 3L GORE-TEX | Lightweight |
| Burton [AK] Kalausi | Best for Skinning Up | $900 | 3L GORE-TEX C-Knit | Ultralight |
| Forum 3L Backcountry | Best Independent Brand | $594 | 20k Proprietary | Midweight |
Best Value Hardshell Jacket: Patagonia Storm Stride
Bottom Line: Good Stretch
Price: $499 (Currently on sale)
Membrane: H2No
Pockets: One chest, internal stash, two hand pockets
Device Pocket: Yes
Vents: Pit vent
Pros: Large chest pockets, legendary repair policy
Cons: Only one internal stash pocket
Patagonia is a brand name that carries high expectations. People spend the money to be responsible consumers, as well as get a guarantee that if it breaks, they’ll fix it. On top of all that, it needs to work. And after using it over the past year in the Coast Mountains of BC, the report is… it does work. In fact, It works exceptionally well.
The H2No material is proprietary to Patagonia, and works perfectly well compared to the much higher name recognition of Gore. The stretchy fabric moves with the body, allowing for a more slimmer fit without sacrificing any performance. The chest pockets are large enough for skins to keep warm, and the jacket protects as it should.
This is a no bells-or-whistles type of hardshell, which is exactly what we want in the backcountry. The less fluff, the better. It’s small enough to pack up on the ascent, or you can keep it on and just open the vents if need be. There wasn’t too much to want on this jacket, although a second internal stash pocket would be nice. But the price is right and the performance is right up there with the best of them, giving this jacket our nod for the best all-around backcountry hardshell.
Best Relaxed Fit Hardshell Jacket: Marmot Orion Gore-Tex
Bottom Line: Excellent jacket with intentional design
Price: $500
Membrane: Gore-Tex
Pockets: One chest, internal stash, two hand pockets
Device Pocket: Yes
Vents: Pit vent
Pros: Lightweight, Recycled materials, relaxed fit
Cons: Only one internal stash pocket
3L Gore-Tex has become the standard for weatherproof/windproof protection in the elements. Problem is, the name and quality demands a bit of a premium price. For those on a budget, there shouldn’t be a sacrifice for protection. Thankfully, Marmot offers a shell that checks all the boxes for performance, breathability, and protection from the elements with a price tag that is much lower than some of the trendier brand names on this list.
Yes, $500 is still a price that for most people you want to really love it and wear it for many years. But this jacket fits that bill. It’s light, protective, even stylish for most… while at the same time offering all the necessary features that one would want for a backcountry hardshell. It’s on the roomier side as well, and the relaxed fit means bigger turns without feeling encumbered by material.
Best Hardshell For Skinning Up: Burton [AK] Kalausi
Bottom Line: Lightweight with innovative design
Price:
Membrane: 3L Gore-Tex
Pockets: Chest vent/pocket
Device Pocket:
Vents: Chest vent/pocket
Pros: Super lightweight, large chest vents/pockets
Cons: Expensive, more prone to wear and tear
Burton’s Kalausi could also be given the award for “Most Innovative”, as it has some design features that don’t exist in any other jackets. For one, the zipper is angled, rather than centered. While this may seem like a fashion statement, it’s also functional. No longer will the zipper be smack dab in the face, especially when riding down.
The chest pockets are also some of the largest tested, which double as vents in a brilliant design move. You can tell that whoever designed this jacket is a proper backcountry shredder, as all the features are examples of forward-thinking innovation.
But perhaps the best part of the Burton Kalausi jacket is the material. The Gore-Tex C-knit fabric is incredibly lightweight and flexible, yet still is waterproof and breathable like other Gore-Tex. It’s like comparing titanium and steel… both are strong and protective but one is much lighter. You of course have to pay the price for this, and it’s not as durable, but the tradeoff is a lightweight shell that still gets an A for performance.
Best Grassroots Jacket: Forum Backcountry Jacket
Bottom Line: Excellent jacket with intentional design
Price: $594
Membrane: Proprietary
Pockets: One chest, internal stash, two hand pockets
Device Pocket: Yes
Vents: Pit vent
Pros: Well thought out design, just enough stretch to be flexible
Cons: Material frays on heavy use
Forum is a brand that ushers nostalgia to a certain cohort of over-40 snowboarders who came of age during snowboarding’s golden era of the late 90’s and early 2000’s. At the helm of the infamous Forum 8 team was Peter Line, the leader of The Resistance whose silhouette of a fist in the air is now iconic in the realm of classic snowboard movies.
Line resurrected the brand after being killed by Burton post-buyout, but some may argue is better than ever now, with Line and a few others putting all their blood, sweat, tears, and love into the brand to be rider-driven. Line is also a designer who put his decades of snowboarding prowess into an outerwear line, adding features that only a real snowboarder would know is neccesary.
From the stretch fabric to the rubberized zippers and pack-friendly pit vent placement, this jacket is as technical as it is stylish. The 20k waterproofing is still plenty good for most situations outside a downpour… but let’s hope you’re not riding the backcountry in the rain too often. Breathability was as good as it gets, despite working hard on some hikes it never got sweaty. That’s a huge win, especially in the backcountry.
Best Hybrid Resort/Backcountry Jacket: Arc’teryx Sabre
Bottom Line: Bombproof
Price: $900 (Currently On Sale)
Membrane: Gore Tex ePe
Pockets: Two Chest, arm, one internal stash
Device Pocket: Yes
Vents: Pit vent
Pros: Environmentally friendly materials, solid construction
Cons: A bit rigid and on the heavier side compared to others in the list, fit is a bit thin
It’s quite funny to see how much Arc’teryx has grown from a niche climbing brand to a fashion statement on the streets of New York and Tokyo. One may scoff at their vaulting into the big leagues and buyout by multinational Amer Sports. But one thing is for certain: The brand still knows how to make quality outerwear.
The Sabre has become one of the staple jackets for performance in skiing or snowboarding. It works, and works well. The hood has to be one of the best for keeping the snow out while still maintaining the filed of view, and the protection you get from the elements is second-to-none. New this year is the new Gore-Tex ePe fabric. After using it for the majority of two weeks in Japan (that included a dreaded wet warm-up), the report on the new material is that it’s as good as ever.
We decided on showcasing the Sabre and not the more backcountry-inclined Rush for a few reasons: one is that the Rush costs slightly more for less features (albeit lighter), and the other is that we have plenty of other ligthweight jackets on this list. And if we are going to maintain brand consistency, the shining feature of Arc’teryx gear is how durable it is. For that reason, this is a great choice if you still like to ride a chairlift and dont’ mind sacrificing some ounces for added protection in places where it gets wet and windy. Right not it’s on sale, and you can usually find a used one online since it’s a popular model. It’s well worth the investment and it’ll last many seasons to come.
If you want to learn more about the Sabre, check out this in-depth review.
Why You Should Trust This Guide
Evaluating backcountry gear requires more than just reading the manufacturer’s tags. It requires putting the equipment through rigorous, high-stakes conditions. As a certified CAA basic avalanche educator and guide with the Canadian Ski Guide Association operating in the unpredictable terrain of the Coast Mountains, gear is viewed primarily as life-saving safety equipment. From slogging up 19,000 feet on Mount Logan to scouting lines in Japan to managing groups during 50cm storm cycles in Whistler, these jackets have been tested in heavy, wet coastal snow, freezing winds, and high-output skin tracks. This is more than a review… it’s a boots-on-the-ground assessment from actual backcountry travel in harsh mountain environments.
Buyer’s Guide: What to Look for in a Backcountry Hardshell
1. Membrane and Heat Management (3L vs 2L)
In the backcountry, managing your body heat is a safety issue. A 3-Layer (3L) uninsulated shell allows you to dump heat rapidly on the uptrack. If you sweat out your layers on the ascent, you will freeze when you stop to assess a slope or look for surface hoar. Save the 2-Layer insulated jackets for the resort.
2. Pocket Placement for Packs
A jacket is only useful if you can access its features while wearing a touring backpack. You want high chest pockets that remain accessible above your backpack’s waist belt. These are crucial for storing your radio or keeping your skins warm against your chest during a transition.
3. Master the Art of Layering
A hardshell is just a barrier against the wind and snow; it doesn’t provide the warmth. The secret to a comfortable backcountry day is what you wear underneath. You need a system that wicks moisture away from your skin and traps heat when necessary. Start by dialing in your foundation with the best baselayers for skiing and snowboarding, and then add a highly breathable midlayer, like this backcountry-specific hoodie, before throwing your hardshell on top.
Final Thoughts
Finding the right backcountry hardshell is nothing to gloss over. It’s a significant investment that will also protect you from the elements, regulate heat, and help you enjoy your time on the snow a bit better, especially throughout crappy weather. All of the jackets featured in this guide are worthy of a purchase, it’ll just come down to your personal preference, style, and wants/needs of the jacket.
If you have any further questions, please ask us a question, we’re happy to connect with the community. And speaking of community, come join a group of backcountry adventurers on our Mighty Networks space to help make the journey into backcountry skiing or splitboarding one that is shared with good people who care about having the best day ever in the mountains, and doing it all again safely.
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