The next are our most advisable Snowboard Jackets for the 2025-2026 season. All of the jackets beneath both meet or exceed the required specs we predict it’s best to have in a snowboard jacket.
We like to think about these as our“Spec-Met” or, extra precisely, Spec-Met/Exceeded snowboard jackets. These are those that did the very best at assembly or exceeding our necessities for the 2025-2026 season.
How this Record has been Ordered
This checklist has been break up into the next classes:
- Shell (non-insulated) Snowboard Jackets
- Insulated Snowboard Jackets
- Gore-Tex Shell Snowboard Jackets
- Gore-Tex Insulated Snowboard Jackets
The jackets in every class aren’t in any specific order.
Pricing
See our Low cost snowboard jackets checklist for decrease funds jackets that also meet the minimal necessities. This checklist would not take value under consideration, besides that we solely selected jackets that price $500 or much less, as talked about above.
In the event you simply need to skip to the bit the place you could find present pricing, availability and the place to purchase them, use the linked fast navigation menu beneath to go to the “The place to Purchase” sections on the finish of every class.
If you wish to find out how we made our choices, learn on within the subsequent session.
What we Take into account the Most Vital Elements for selecting a Snowboard Jacket
Waterproofing
There are 3 major components that affect how waterproof a snow jacket is:
- Waterproofness of the material used;
- Seam Sealing; and
- Waterproof coating
The jackets beneath all exceed what we contemplate to be the minimal ranges for waterproofing.
Minimal waterproofness: 10,000mm
Seam Sealing: Totally Taped extremely most well-liked
Breathability
Shell jackets have a pure benefit over insulated jackets for breathability, however completely different materials have completely different ranges of breathability.
The jackets beneath all exceed what we contemplate to be the minimal stage of breathability.
Minimal Breathability: 10,000g
Insulation
It is a private desire as as to whether or not you need insulation and if that’s the case, how a lot. This may depend upon quite a lot of components, together with:
- how sizzling or chilly you run
- the standard temperatures you usually experience in
- Whether or not you employ your snow jacket only for snowboarding or for multi-use
And doubtless others.
Personally I run sizzling and I experience in diversified temperatures, so I choose a shell, in order that I do not overheat on hotter days and I can simply layer beneath on colder days.
Performance
There are a variety of capabilities that set snow jackets other than different jackets. These capabilities have an effect on all the pieces from comfort to consolation.
Powder Skirt
This might have simply as simply been put below the waterproofing part, because the powder skirt helps to maintain snow going inside your jacket or pants, while you bail. Even when that snow is dry snow it’ll soften and be moist, if you aren’t getting all of it out.
In addition to doing nicely in performing its job of holding snow out, it can be helpful to have a powder skirt that is detachable, for these days when you don’t need it – or should you use your snow jacket for issues apart from snowboarding, the place the powder skirt would not be helpful.
All however one of many jackets featured beneath have a powder skirt and round 20% of them have detachable powder skirts. Some fastened powder skirts are in a position to be zipped away or clipped away to get them out of the best way while you’re not utilizing them.
Hood
A hood can even have an effect on waterproofing in that it helps to maintain your head dry when there’s rain or moist snow. And even dry snow – which may settle and soften.
Nevertheless it additionally helps with heat and wind safety.
As lots of us put on helmets when driving lately, it is vital to have a hood that may accommodate that helmet – and since all of us have completely different sized heads/helmets, it is vital that the hoods are adjustable.
And they should not solely match over your helmet (or head) but additionally then be capable of be tightened sufficient in order that it will not get blown off – but additionally do all that in a manner that it will not have an effect on your visual field. So multi-direction adjustability is extremely preferable.
All of the jackets featured beneath have adjustable hoods.
Venting
This one might have come below breathability, however because it’s one thing that’s not usually discovered on non-snow jackets, we put it below performance.
For snowboard jackets, having underarm venting is just about a should, should you’re driving in hotter circumstances – not solely does it assist to control your temperature while you’re overheating, but it surely additionally helps to your jacket from being too smelly too rapidly, so that you need have to scrub it as typically – which is sweet, as a result of washing a snowboard jacket is not as straight ahead as different garments, as you must be sure you retain the waterproof coating that is on the jacket. Washing your jacket the the identical manner you’d wash different garments will find yourself eradicating that coating.
All of the jackets featured beneath have some type of venting, with most of them having zippered underarm venting.
Jacket to Pant Connections
If you’re in a position to join your jacket to your pants, it provides one other layer of safety to cease snow getting inside. Nothing is ready to experience up. A mix of this and a powder skirt makes it virtually inconceivable for snow to get in.
A majority of the jackets beneath have jacket-to-pant connection programs.
Pockets
It isn’t simply in regards to the quantity or quantity of the pockets within the jacket, it is in regards to the performance of these pockets. At a minimal we predict snowboard jackets ought to have at the very least:
Sleeve cross pocket: This pocket is tremendous handy to maintain your cross in and since it is in your forearm, it is very easy to ensure its near the scanner as you undergo the gate. It additionally means that you can have your cross nicely away from different playing cards that you simply may need in your different pockets that may in any other case intervene with the scanner, in the event that they’re too near your cross.
We choose zippered cross pockets – I am positive the hook-and-loop closure (aka velcro) pockets are effective, however they simply do not feel as safe as zips.
Media pocket: I’ll hazard a guess that there are only a few who do not deliver their telephones with them when driving. Having a particular pocket is nice to have. Particularly should you hearken to music and want earphone holes – if you do not have helmet audio system or Bluetooth ear telephones.
And these pockets are usually positioned on the within of the jacket and generally even have additional insulation, in order that it retains your gadget heat, which helps the battery to last more.
Mesh Goggle Pocket: It is nice to have a spot to place your goggles for while you’re taking a break on the lodge or no matter. Sure, you may relaxation them in your head or helmet, however that may be a recipe for the dreaded fog up! A mesh goggle pocket, offers you someplace to place them however decrease the danger of a fog up.
A lot of the jackets featured beneath have a superb quantity and number of pockets, and most embody sleeve cross pockets, media pockets and mesh goggle pockets.
Whether or not you need insulated or a shell and whether or not you need Gore-Tex or not
(or aren’t bothered both manner), hopefully you’ve got been capable of finding a jacket that fits your functions and supplies you with the issues that you simply want and wish our of your snowboard jacket.
After all, there are various different choices, however these are the very best that we discovered that got here in a price-tag lower than $500 and met or exceeded what we predict are an important issues to have with a snowboard jacket.
