Ski Jackets - Comfortable and cozy jackets from Armada, Dakine and more
Ski Jackets are one of the most important pieces of gear for an enjoyable day out on the slopes. You want to make sure that your jacket has everything you need - waterproofing, warmth and fit top that list. At L9 Sports, we carry jackets for warm spring days and frigid stormy winter days, and some that work great all the time. For example, zip vents in the jacket (usually in the armpits or back) can turn a super insulated jacket into a light cooling piece. Some features you should look for include the fabric, the waterproof/breathability ratings, and the insulation.


Jacket Fabrics
Everyone wants a jacket that is sealed up tight to keep out the cold and snow, but they also want it to breathe, so they don’t feel like they’re stuck in a greenhouse. Luckily, fabrics that do both exist, and most jackets available at L9 incorporate these materials. Gore-Tex, AdvancedSkin and infiDRY (among others) are waterproof AND breathable. The description of each jacket will explain the unique fabrics that jacket features.


Waterproof and Breathability Ratings
The industry has developed special ratings to help you understand your jacket’s ability to repel water and let air through. The waterproof rating is measured in millimeters using a Hydrostatic Head test. In this test, the fabric is pulled tight under a 1 inch diameter sealed tube of water. Then it is watched over the course of a day to determine how many millimeters of water the fabric can withstand before it soaks through.

The breathability rating is measured in grams, and specifically looks at how many grams of water vapor can travel through the fabric. It is measured by testing how much water vapor can move through one square meter of fabric, from inside to out, in a day.

Jacket Insulation
Some jackets are like a portable furnace, while others act more like a thin wall between you and the elements. Some jackets have removable insulation so you can switch it up depending on the temperature. Insulated jackets have all different kinds of insulation, including Goose Down, and a number of synthetic insulators. Non-insulated jackets, or shells are preferred by many skiers because they are versatile. You can wear nothing but a base layer and your shell, or you can layer up to stay warm. Often, shells have better breathability ratings than insulated jackets as well. If you aren’t sure if the jacket you’re looking at is a shell or insulated, remember to read the description. It will usually let you know.