Past Season Jackets Lists

BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #20

Jacket: Dakine Barrier 2L Gore-Tex

Score: 91.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Standard

Starting off the list at #20 is the Dakine Barrier 2L Gore-Tex. 

The Barrier offers great waterproofing and breathability, courtesy of its Gore-Tex fabric - and otherwise has most of the functionality you want from a snowboarding jacket. 

Score Breakdown for the Dakine Barrier

BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #19

Jacket: Armada Haydon 3L Gore-Tex

Score: 93/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 25,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular 

The Armada Haydon is one of 3 3L jackets in this list. Most 3L jackets fall outside the price maximum I set for this, but the Hardon just sneaks under it, offering the superior waterproofing and breathability that 3L Gore-Tex provides. 

Score Breakdown for the Haydon 3L Gore-Tex

BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #18

Jacket: Dakine Stoker Gore-Tex 3L

Score: 94/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 25,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular

Next up we have another Dakine offering - the Dakine Stoker 3L Gore-Tex.

Speaking of 3L jackets that sneak under the price limit - the Stoker is the 2nd of those. 

Score Breakdown for the Dakine Stoker 3L Gore-Tex

BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #17

Jacket: Volcom Stone Gore-Tex

Score: 95.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Standard (relaxed but not loose)

The Volcom Stone is Volcom's first of 5 offerings on this list. 

It's got all the benefits of Gore-Tex and a lot of functionality. Not the cheapest on this list, but it's not much over the average price. 

Score Breakdown for the Volcom Stone

BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #16

Jacket: Volcom Ten Gore-Tex

Score: 95.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular

The 2nd Volcom option, the Ten, also has great waterproofing, breathability and functionality, but comes in at a good price drop from the Stone. 

Score Breakdown for Ten

BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #15

Jacket: Volcom BL Stretch Gore-Tex

Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Standard (relaxed but not loose)

Volcom's BL Stretch 2 Layer Gore-Tex, offers all the advantages of Gore-Tex (great waterproofing and breathability) in a stretchy flexible material that allows more freedom of movement in a more fitting fit. 

Score Breakdown for the Volcom BL Stretch

BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #14

Jacket: 686 Hydrastash Sync Gore-Tex

Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Articulated 

One of three 686 Jackets on this list, the Hydrastash Sync comes in at #14.

Apart from all of it's functionality and the benefits of gore-tex, the Hydrastash Sync has one other unique quality - it comes with a built in water bladder, that tucks away in the powder skirt - with tubing up through to the top of the jacket. So, if you're wanting a convenient way of carrying water with you on the mountain, without needing a backpack, this jacket is well worth considering. 

Score Breakdown for the Hydrastash Sync

BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #13

Jacket: Patagonia Powder Bowl Gore-Tex

Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped

The Powder Bowl is the only Patagonia jacket to make this list. Though, there would be others, if I didn’t put a $500 max in place. 

One difference that makes this jacket more affordable than some of Patagonia’s other options is that it’s heavier than their other shells (941g [33.6oz]) and has a slightly lower breathability rating – but the significant difference in price might make this the Patagonia option for most.

Score Breakdown for the Patagonia Powder Bowl

BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #12

Jacket: Quiksilver Black Alder 2L Gore-Tex

Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Modern Fit (slimmer)

The Black Alder 2L, 1 of 4 Quiksilver Jackets in this list, is a mid-priced Gore-Tex offering from Quiksilver and features all the performance you would expect from Gore-Tex and all the functionality you would want from a snowboarding jacket.

It has a more modern, slimmer fit for those looking for something not too baggy. 

Score Breakdown for the Quiksilver Black Alder

BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #11

Jacket: Volcom Longo Gore-Tex

Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular

The Volcom Longo comes with all the benefits of Gore-Tex (like most on this list!) and great functionality at a mid-range price. 

Score Breakdown for the Longo Gore-tex

BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #10

Jacket: Quiksilver Forever 2L Gore-Tex

Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Modern Fit (slimmer)

The Forever 2L has all the waterproofing and breathability that most will ever need – and for a really reasonable price for Gore-Tex – and less than the average price of jackets I rated for this list. 

I liked this jacket so much I bought it! (the 2019 model).

Score Breakdown for the Quiksilver Forever

BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #9

Jacket: Quiksilver Dominate Gore-Tex

Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular

The 3rd of the 4 Quiksilver options in this list, the Dominate is new for 2022. 

It shares most of the features of the Forever and at the same price - so the biggest decision really is which style you prefer. 

Score Breakdown for the Dominate

BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #8

Jacket: Quiksilver Mission 2L Gore-Tex

Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Modern

Quiksilver's Mission jackets come in a few varieties. This is the gore-tex version. Whilst it's more costly than the other Mission options, it also offers a lot more in terms of waterproofing and breathability, so well worth the extra, if that's important to you. 

And as far as price for Gore-Tex jackets go, this is one of the lowest priced going around - and a good bit less than the average price on this list. 

Score Breakdown for the Mission 2L Gore-Tex

BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #7

Jacket: Volcom L Gore-Tex

Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Standard Fit (relaxed but not loose)

The last of 5 Volcom jackets in this list, the Volcom L, is the 2nd cheapest Gore-Tex offering in this entire list, coming in priced just lower than the Mission Gore-Tex above at #8 and just higher than the 686 Core Gore Tex below at #6 (and also 2nd cheapest overall for this list).

And not only does it provide the performance of Gore-Tex, it also has great functionality for use as a snowboarding jacket - all without doing too much damage to the bank account. 

Score Breakdown for the Volcom L

BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #6

Jacket: 686 Core Gore-Tex

Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular

The 686 Core Gore-Tex jacket is one of the cheaper Gore-Tex jackets going around. It's the cheapest jacket on this list and didn't see a cheaper Gore-Tex option this year. 

So, if you're looking to get the benefits of a highly waterproof and breathable shell, but don't have the funds for the majority of them, this is worth looking at. 

Score Breakdown for the Core Gore-Tex

BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #5

Jacket: Burton AK Cyclic Gore-Tex

Score: 97.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular

The 1st of 3 Burton jackets on this list, the AK Cyclic is Burton's mid-priced Gore-Tex shell option. Just above the average price for this list, but not by much. 

It features, as you'd expect, great waterproofing and breathability and also has great functionality for snowboarding. 

Score Breakdown for the Burton AK Cyclic

BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #4

Jacket: 686 Gore-Tex GT

Score: 97.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Articulated

The 686 Gore-Tex GT is 686’s 3rd and final jacket to make this list. The Gore-Tex GT comes in at a really reasonable price for Gore-Tex and under the average price for this list. It also has a loose, articulated fit, for lots of freedom of movement. 

Score Breakdown for the 686 Gore-Tex GT

BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #3

Jacket: Burton Gore-Tex Powline

Score: 97.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular

The 2nd of 3 Burton offerings on this list, the Gore-Tex Powline is new for 2022. 

It provides all the functionality, waterproofing and breathability you're ever likely to need in a snowboard jacket - and all for a reasonable price - well under the average price for this list. 

Score Breakdown for the Gore-Tex Powline

BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #2

Jacket: DC Command

Score: 99/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 30,000mm
Breathability: 25,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular 

In at #2, we have DC's Command Jacket. 

It’s a good bit cheaper than the average price of all the jackets that I looked at, and yes, this jacket isn’t Gore-Tex either! So, if you’re looking for the tried and trusted of Gore-Tex, then this may not be an option – but if you’re willing to take a chance on it, it will save you a few bucks (versus most but not all Gore-Tex jackets on this list), and if it lives up to its billing, then you’ll pick up a super-performer at a super-price.

Score Breakdown for the DC Command

BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #1

Jacket: Burton Gore-Tex 3L Treeline

Score: 100/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 25,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular

And finally, the #1 jacket on this list.

The Burton Gore-Tex 3L Treeline is new for 2022 and is only 1 of 3 3 layer Gore-Tex jackets on this list. 

Typically 3L jackets come in at a price outside the $500 limit for this list - and outside most people's budget. But the Treeline, for a 3L is much more reasonably priced. In fact it's the cheapest 3L Gore-Tex on this list and that I've seen (from all the brands that I look at). 

So, if you're looking to try to get the extra waterproofing and breathability from 3L, but don't want to spend $500+, then this the Treeline is definitely worth looking at.  

Score Breakdown for the Gore-Tex 3L Treeline