Best Ski Jackets Tested: Top Shell, Insulated Picks (Full Transcript)

[00:00:00] Speaker 1: Hi, I'm Kai Burkhart, editor at CNN Underscored, and today I'm at Eldora Mountain Resort to show you how I tested for the best ski jackets. There are two main types of ski jackets you can get, insulated and non-insulated. Insulated jackets are obviously better for cloudy, cold days, while uninsulated jackets are great for warmer days, and they typically give you more room so you can layer underneath a little bit better. The Columbia Platinum Peak 2 is the best shell jacket I tested because it has a nice roomy fit, the fabric is soft, it's super protective against water and wind, and it's got huge useful pockets. It has a nice roomy fit so you can fit puffy jackets underneath on really cold days, or just wear it with a base layer on normal spring days. Plus, the jacket extends really far down your back, so if you ever want to sit down in the snow, your butt can stay dry. It's really soft and flexible, so you have full freedom of movement, so you can stay comfortable while you're doing a lap on the slope. Of course, a ski jacket has to be waterproof and highly wind resistant, and that's another reason why I love this jacket. When I held the jacket underneath my faucet sink for a full minute straight, zero water penetrated the shell. And as I've been snowboarding here at windy Eldora Mountain Resort, I've really loved how protected I feel in this shell. Even in high winds, the fabric holds up well, so you can fight off a little bit of that wind chill. Lastly, this Columbia jacket is so great because of its amazing pockets. It's got a pass pocket on the sleeve, your normal side pockets that both have zippers, and these two huge front pockets where you can keep water bottles, snacks, your phone, and for even more organization, there's an interior drop pocket too. The Columbia Platinum Peak 2 is the best shell ski jacket I tested, but it still might not be for everyone. While I love how big these chest pockets are, they can be pretty easy to overload, which might get uncomfortable for some. Plus, since the fit is so long, if you have a shorter torso, you might feel like you're swimming in it. Since it is a shell jacket, it doesn't do a great job at keeping you warm, and even compared to other non-insulated jackets I tested, the fabric is a little bit thin. If you want a versatile, waterproof, windproof shell jacket that's easy to layer with and has great pockets, the Columbia Platinum Peak 2 is for you. But if you're scared of getting cold and want some more insulation, check out my other favorite jackets. The best insulated ski jacket I tested is this, the Patagonia Insulated Powdertown jacket. It's warm, it's got great extras, and best of all, it's the most comfortable jacket I tested. The best part about this jacket, and the reason why it's the best insulated jacket I tested, is its comfort. The fabric and fit are so nice, I can barely feel it when I'm snowboarding on the slopes. I have full freedom of movement, and I can wear it all day long. Even when I go into the lodge, I'm not desperately trying to tear it off the second I step inside. I actually love how thin and light the insulation is, because on really cold days, you can fit another sweater or even another puffy jacket underneath this one, so you can stay extra warm. I'm always looking at pockets when I'm testing ski jackets, and this one definitely has enough. Two zippered hand pockets, a pass pocket, a chest pocket, and two pockets on the inside as well. The pockets aren't the biggest I tested, but there's just enough to keep all your essentials like your keys, wallet, phone, snacks, and maybe a water bottle with you on the slopes. This jacket had a lot of the features and extras that many other jackets I tested have, like a pass pocket, a powder skirt, and a helmet compatible hood. But one feature this jacket has that most others don't, is a reco reflector. Reco reflectors can help rescuers find you if you get lost in the backcountry, and it's a feature that a lot of ski brands have started to put in their apparel. Yes, this jacket is expensive at $400, but the Patagonia Insulated Paddertown Jacket is by far the best insulated jacket I've tried. It's warm, it's got great extras, and most of all, it's the jacket I want to be wearing when I'm snowboarding all day long. If you don't want to spend $300 on a ski jacket, or you don't want to buy an insulated and an uninsulated jacket, the Columbia Whirlybird 5 Interchange Jacket is the one for you. It's warm, it's pockets and extras are good enough, and it's 3-in-1 design is super versatile. The biggest allure of the Columbia Whirlybird 5 Interchange Jacket is it's 3-in-1 design. It's constructed with an inner puffy that connects to this outer shell, so you can wear the puffy alone, you can wear the shell alone, or you can wear both of them at the same time, giving you three different options for different conditions. If it's going to be a little cold with zero chance of precipitation, you can just rock the puffy. If it's going to be super warm, but maybe a little bit of snow, or you think you might fall, you could just wear the outer shell. Or on days when it's really cold and it's snowing, you can combine them both to create a warm and very protective jacket. The 3-in-1 versatility of this jacket makes it a great value, since it's cheaper than our other winners, and it's one of the cheapest jackets I've tested. It is cheap, and it is versatile, but this Columbia jacket isn't perfect. Because of the layering system, there's a lot of material, so it can feel a little bit claustrophobic and sometimes tight. And on hotter days, since there is so much material, your body might have a hard time cooling down. The jacket does have pit zips, but when the inner puffy is zipped up, it blocks those holes, so you don't get a ton of ventilation. I felt like I didn't have as much freedom of movement compared to other jackets I tested, and since it's so thick, it would be hard to layer a lot underneath this jacket too. At $230, the Columbia Whirlybird 5 Interchange Jacket is cheaper and more versatile than the other jackets I tested. To read more about the best ski jackets I tested, and for more product reviews and recommendations, keep it locked to CNN Underscore.