You can toggle (by clicking the "+" sign) each year below to see the lists from past season's.
Of 49 non-insulated jackets rated:
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #20
Jacket: Helly Hansen Juniper 3.0
- US
- CA
Score: 89.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 20,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular with articulated sleeves
Starting off the list at #20 we have Helly Hansen's Juniper 3.0.
The Juniper 3.0 offers plenty of waterproofing and breathability, as you would expect from a good shell jacket. It also has plenty of functionality to serve you well as a snowboard jacket.
Score Breakdown for the Juniper 3.0
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 4.5 | 27/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 0.0 | 0/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 89.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #19
Jacket: Burton AK Velocity Anorak Gore-Tex
- US
- CA
- UK/EU
Score: 91.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular Articulated Fit
Next up we have Burton's AK Velocity Gore-Tex Anorak.
This is the first of many Gore-Tex options in this list - not surprisingly, given the waterproofing and breathability performance that Gore-Tex provides.
If you prefer the idea of an anorak/pullover type jacket over a full zip option, this jacket is worth looking at. It's one of 3 anorak options in this list.
Score Breakdown for the AK Velocity Anorak Gore-Tex
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 0.0 | 0/5 |
POCKETS | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 91.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #18
Jacket: Oakley TC Earth
- US
- CA
Score: 92/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 20,000mm
Breathability: 15,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular
At #18 we have Oakley's TC Earth Jacket.
New for 2023, the TC Earth boasts all the functionality you'll ever need from a snowboarding jacket - and has really decent waterproofing and breathabillity go along with all that functionality.
Score Breakdown for the TC Earth
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 4.5 | 27/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.0 | 20/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 92.0/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #17
Jacket: Flylow Dante
- US
- CA
Score: 93.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 20,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular
In at #16, the Flylow Dante is the first of 3 Flylow jackets to make the list this year.
The Dante provides quality in every area you need from a snowboard jacket, including great waterproofing, breathability and functionality.
Score Breakdown for the Dante
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 4.5 | 27/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 93.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #16
Jacket: Flylow Quantum Pro
- US
- CA
Score: 94.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 20,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular
The next entry from Flylow is the Quantum Pro.
Score Breakdown for the Quantum Pro
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 4.5 | 27/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 94.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #15
Jacket: Flylow Malone
- US
- CA
Score: 94.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 20,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular
And the 3rd and final Flylow option this year, is the Malone.
Score Breakdown for the Malone
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 4.5 | 27/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 94.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #14
Jacket: Oakley Evocative
- US
- CA
Score: 94.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 20,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular
Oakley's 2nd and final offering in this list is the Evocative.
The Evoacative provides all the waterproofing and breathability most will ever need from their snowboard jacket - and all the funcionality most will ever need to.
It's the lowest priced of the 3 jackets (this one and #15 and #16 above) that score 94.5/100.
Score Breakdown for the Evocative
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 4.5 | 27/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 94.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #13
Jacket: Volcom L Gore-Tex
- US
- CA
- UK/EU
Score: 95.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Standard Fit (relaxed but not loose)
The first of 4 Volcom jackets in this list, the Volcom L Gore-Tex, is the 3rd cheapest offering in this entire list.
Not only does it provide the performance of Gore-Tex, it also has great functionality for use as a snowboarding jacket - all while doing less damage to the wallet than most on this list.
Score Breakdown for the Volcom L
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 95.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #12
Jacket: Volcom DUA Gore-Tex
- US
- CA
Score: 95.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Relaxed
At #12 we have the Volcom Dua Gore-Tex.
The Dua Gore-Tex is new for 2023 and offers great performance for the buck. It's the cheapest jacket in this list and a really reasonable price for Gore-Tex.
Score Breakdown for the DUA Gore-Tex
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 95.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #11
Jacket: 686 Hydrastash Sync Gore-Tex
- US
- CA
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 #11.
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #10
Jacket: Volcom Longo Gore-Tex
- US
- CA
- UK/EU
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 a lot on this list!) and great functionality at a mid-range price.
Score Breakdown for the Longo Gore-tex
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #9
Jacket: Volcom Melo Gore-Tex Pullover
- US
- CA
- UK/EU
Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Relaxed
The last Volcom offering for this list, the Melo Gore-Tex Pullover is the second of 3 Anorak/Pullover options on this list.
So, if you'd prefer this style to a full zip option but still want high-end waterproofing, breathability and functionality, this one is well worth considering.
Score Breakdown for the Melo Gore-Tex Pullover
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #8
Jacket: 686 Gore-Tex GT
- US
- CA
Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Articulated
The 686 Gore-Tex GT is 686’s 2nd of 3 jackets to make this list. The Gore-Tex GT comes in at a reasonable price for Gore-Tex and at around the average price for this list. It also has a loose, articulated fit, for lots of freedom of movement - and if you prefer that looser, baggier style.
Score Breakdown for the 686 Gore-Tex GT
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #7
Jacket: Burton Gore-Tex Pillowline Anorak
- US
- CA
- UK/EU
Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular
The final anorak option on this list, the Pillowline Gore-Tex Anorak is the lowest priced anorak option here and a really reasonable price for the performance and functionality that you get.
Score Breakdown for the Pillowline Gore-Tex Anorak
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #6
Jacket: 686 Core Gore-Tex
- US
- CA
Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular
Whilst the 686 Core Gore-Tex did go up in price this year, it's still one of the cheaper Gore-Tex jackets going around and one of the cheapest options on this list.
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #5
Jacket: Quiksilver Mission Gore-Tex
- US
- CA
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 - a very important distinction from the rest of the Mission series.
And as far as the price for Gore-Tex jackets go, this is one of the lowest priced going around - the 2nd cheapest on this list - and a good bit less than the average price.
Score Breakdown for the Mission 2L Gore-Tex
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #4
Jacket: Burton AK Cyclic Gore-Tex
- US
- CA
- UK/EU
Score: 97.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular
The AK Cyclic is Burton's mid-priced Gore-Tex shell option. It's priced higher than the average price for this list, but you do get a high quality option for that price.
It features, as you'd expect, great waterproofing and breathability and also has great functionality for snowboarding.
Score Breakdown for the Burton AK Cyclic
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 97.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #3
Jacket: Burton Gore-Tex Powline
- US
- CA
- UK/EU
Score: 97.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular
The 4th of 5 Burton offerings on this list, the Gore-Tex Powline 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 and only 3 jackets on this list are cheaper.
Score Breakdown for the Gore-Tex Powline
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 97.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #2
Jacket: DC Command
- US
- CA
- UK/EU
Score: 99/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 45,000mm
Breathability: 30,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular
In at #2, we have DC's Command Jacket.
No those waterproofing and breathability numbers aren't a typo. This is what DC claims them to be. I have no way of verifying that, but if it's true then this is one of the most waterproof and breathable jackets going around.
It’s also a good bit cheaper than the average price of all the jackets that I looked at.
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 5.0 | 25/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 99/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #1
Jacket: Burton Gore-Tex 3L Treeline
- US
- CA
- UK/EU
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 the only 3 layer Gore-Tex jackets on this list!
The main reason for this is that 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 that I've seen this year (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 the Treeline is definitely worth looking at.
Score Breakdown for the Gore-Tex 3L Treeline
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 5.0 | 25/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 100/100 |
Of 43 non-insulated jackets rated:
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 0.0 | 0/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 91.5/100 |
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 5.0 | 25/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 0.0 | 0/5 |
POCKETS | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 93.0/100 |
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 5.0 | 25/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 0.0 | 0/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 94/100 |
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 95.5/100 |
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 95.5/100 |
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 97.5/100 |
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 97.5/100 |
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 97.5/100 |
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 5.0 | 25/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 99/100 |
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 5.0 | 25/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 100/100 |
This list is for non-insulated jackets only, though some jackets in this list might have a lining but no insulation in that lining. There is a separate list for insulated jackets.
Prices have not been taken into account except where scores are equal the lowest price gets the better spot. Also any jacket over $500 has not been considered for this list.
Compared to other Snowboard Jackets
Below are the stats for all of the snowboard jackets that I researched so you can see how the top 20 here compare. Of 52 non-insulated jackets rated:
Note: that this list is based on specs only and not by personal experience with these jackets. So this is only going by taking the given specs at their face-value. Style, fit durability and weight haven’t been taken into account.
O.k. let’s get into the top 20
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #20
Jacket: Dakine Smyth Pure 2L Gore-Tex
Price: $299
Score: 91.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Standard
The Dakine Smyth 2L is the cheapest of Dakine’s Gore-Tex jackets. And it’s really reasonably priced – a good bit less than the average price of all the jackets I looked at for this list – and well less than the average for a gore-tex jacket.
Score Breakdown for the Dakine Smyth
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 0.0 | 0/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 91.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #19
Jacket: Dakine Sawtooth 3L Gore-Tex
Price: $449
Score: 94/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 25,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Tailored
Next up we have another Dakine offering - the Dakine Sawtooth 3L Gore-Tex.
This is the only 3 layer gore-tex jacket to make this list - 3L options typically cost more than $500 (which was the upper limit I set for this list), but this one was one of the only options to sneak in under that limit.
It's the 2nd of the Dakine options on this list. It boasts a 3 layer gore-tex construction for superior waterproofing and great breathability.
Score Breakdown for the Dakine Sawtooth 3L Gore-Tex
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 5.0 | 25/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 0.0 | 0/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 94/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #18
Jacket: Thirty Two TM
Price: $269
Score: 94.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 20,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular
The Thirty Two TM snowboard jacket is one of only 4 in this list that isn't gore-tex. But that's not necessarily a bad thing in this case, with the TM boasting great waterproofing and breathability.
That plus all the functionality you need from a snowboard jacket, makes this a very appealing option, particularly if you're on a budget but still want really good waterproofing/breathability - it's the second lowest priced jacket on this list.
Score Breakdown for the TM
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 4.5 | 27/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 94.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #17
Jacket: Volcom Stone Gore-Tex
Price: $420
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 4 offerings on this list. It's is a small step down in terms of price vs the BL Stretch (see #15 below), but also has great performance and functionality.
Score Breakdown for the Volcom Stone
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 95.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #16
Jacket: Volcom L Gore-Tex
Price: $270
Score: 95.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Standard Fit (relaxed but not loose)
The second of 4 Volcom jackets in this list, the Volcom L, is the 2nd cheapest Gore-Tex offering in this entire list (and 3rd 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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 95.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #15
Jacket: Volcom BL Stretch Gore-Tex
Price: $440
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #14
Jacket: 686 Hydrastash Sync Gore-Tex
Price: $439
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 was new for 2020 and now also has a 2021 model.
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #13
Jacket: Patagonia Powder Bowl Gore-Tex
Price: $399
Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell with lining
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 a few 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.
One of the reason’s that the Powder bowl is a little heavier is that it has a liner. No insulation but a liner – so it will be a little warmer than most in this list – but only by a little bit.
Score Breakdown for the Patagonia Powder Bowl
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #12
Jacket: Quiksilver Black Alder 2L Gore-Tex
Price: $399
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 3 Quiksilver Jackets in this list, is the 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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #11
Jacket: Volcom Longo Gore-Tex
Price: $350
Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular
New for 2021, the Volcom Longo comes with all the benefits of gore-tex and great functionality at a mid-range price.
Score Breakdown for the Longo Gore-tex
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #10
Jacket: Quiksilver Forever 2L Gore-Tex
Price: $349
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) Not only does it provide great value for the performance, but I also really liked the style of it.
Score Breakdown for the Quiksilver Forever
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #9
Jacket: Quiksilver Mission 2L Gore-Tex
Price: $289
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #8
Jacket: 686 Core Gore-Tex
Price: $279
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 new for 2021 and is one of the cheaper gore-tex jackets going around. It's the third cheapest gore-tex jacket on this list and the 4th lowest price.
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #7
Jacket: Burton AK Cyclic Gore-Tex
Price: $399
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. Pretty much at the average price for this list, but not by much.
It also has great functionality for snowboarding.
Score Breakdown for the Burton AK Cyclic
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 97.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #6
Jacket: Burton Vagabond
Price: $349
Score: 97.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular
The 2nd of the 3 Burton options in this list, the Vagabond comes in a little cheaper than the Cyclic, but offers the same great performance and functionality.
Score Breakdown for the Vagabond
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 97.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #5
Jacket: 686 Gore-Tex GT
Price: $349
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 97.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #4
Jacket: Thirty Two TM3
Price: $309
Score: 97.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 30,000mm
Breathability: 30,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular
New for 2021, replacing last years Mullair, the TM3 (not to be confused with the boots of the same name!) are 1 of just 4 non-gore-tex options on this list, but boast really good performance and at a price that your bank account might just be able to stomach.
Score Breakdown for TM3
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 97.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #3
Jacket: Burton Doppler
Price: $259
Score: 97.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular
The final Burton offering on this list, the Doppler is the cheapest Gore-Tex snowboarding jacket I've seen full stop. So, if you're sold on gore-tex, but don't have a massive budget, then this is an option well worth checking out. It's the cheapest gore-tex option and the cheapest overall on this list too.
Score Breakdown for the Doppler Gore-Tex
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 97.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #2
Jacket: DC Command
Price: $299
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, 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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 5.0 | 25/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 99/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #1
Jacket: DC Operative
Price: $419
Score: 100/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 45,000mm
Breathability: 30,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular
And finally, the #1 jacket on this list.
The DC Operative boasts incredible waterproofing and breathability performance. If the numbers are to be believed, it's one of the most waterproof and breathable jackets going around.
And on top of all that, it has all the functionality you'll ever need (and might just make you look like a ninja!)
Score Breakdown for the Operative
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 5.0 | 25/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 100/100 |
Thanks for Reading
I hope this post has helped you to find the best non-insulated snowboard jacket for you.
This list is for non-insulated jackets only, though some jackets in this list might have a lining but no insulation in that lining. There is a separate list for insulated jackets.
Prices have not been taken into account except where scores are equal the lowest price gets the better spot. Also any jacket over $500 has not been considered for this list.
Compared to other Snowboard Jackets
Below are the stats for all of the snowboard jackets that I researched so you can see how the top 20 here compare. Of 41 non-insulated jackets rated:
Note that this list is based on specs only and not by personal experience with these jackets. So this is only going by taking the given specs at their face-value. Style, fit durability and weight haven’t been taken into account.
O.k. let’s get into the top 20
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #20
Jacket: Volcom BL Stretch Gore-Tex
Price: $420
Score: 95.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Standard (relaxed but not loose)
The 1st of 3 Volcom jackets in this list, the 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 Stretch
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 95.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #19
Jacket: Volcom Stone Gore-Tex
Price: $400
Score: 95.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Standard (relaxed but not loose)
The Stone, Volcom's second offering in this list, is a small step down in terms of price vs the BL Stretch, but also has great performance and functionality.
Score Breakdown for the Volcom Stone
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 95.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #18
Jacket: Volcom L Gore-Tex
Price: $270
Score: 95.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Standard Fit (relaxed but not loose)
The final of the Volcom jackets in this list, the Volcom L, is the 2nd cheapest Gore-Tex offering in this entire list (and 2nd cheapest overall).
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 95.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #17
Jacket: Quiksilver Black Alder 2L Gore-Tex
Price: $399
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 5 Quiksilver Jackets in this list, is the 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.
Score Breakdown for the Quiksilver Black Alder
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #16
Jacket: Patagonia Powder Bowl Gore-Tex
Price: $399
Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell with lining
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The Powder Bowl is 1 of 2 Patagonia jackets to make this list. Though, there would be a few others, if I didn’t put a $500 max on it.
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.
One of the reason’s that the Powder bowl is a little heavier is that it has a liner. No insulation but a liner – so it will be a little warmer than most in this list – but only by a little bit.
Score Breakdown for the Patagonia Powder Bowl
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #15
Jacket: 686 Hydrastash Sync Gore-Tex
Price: $399
Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Articulated
One of two 686 Jackets on this list, the Hydrastash Sync is new for 2020.
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #14
Jacket: Quiksilver TR Stretch
Price: $389
Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 30,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Modern Fit (slimmer)
A rare non gore-tex option on this list (shock horror!), the TR Stretch still offers up excellent waterproofing and breathability. It’s a little above the average price – but not by much and for the performance and functionality you get with it, it’s money well spent, assuming it lives up to it’s ratings.
It is also constructed with (as the name suggests) flexible stretch fabric for greater range of motion in a slimmer design.
Score Breakdown for the Quiksilver TR Stretch
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #13
Jacket: Quiksilver Forever 2L Gore-Tex
Price: $349
Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Modern Fit (slimmer)
The cheapest of Quiksilver’s options on this list, 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 in this top 20.
I liked this jacket so much I bought it! (the 2019 model) Not only does it provide great value for the performance, but I also really liked the style of it.
Score Breakdown for the Quiksilver Forever
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #12
Jacket: Patagonia Departer Gore-Tex
Price: $349
Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular
The Patagonia Departer Gore-Tex is a little cheaper than the other Patagonia option in this list – and it’s also lighter at just 646 g (22.8 oz). So, if weight is important to you as well, this could be a great option for you.
Score Breakdown for the Patagonia Departer Gore-Tex
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #11
Jacket: Dakine Smyth Pure 2L Gore-Tex
Price: $299
Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Standard
The Dakine Smyth 2L is the cheapest of Dakine’s Gore-Tex jackets. And it’s really reasonably priced – less than the average price of all the jackets I looked at for this list – and well less than the average for a gore-tex jacket.
Score Breakdown for the Dakine Smyth
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #10
Jacket: Quiksilver Mission 2L Gore-Tex
Price: $289
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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #9
Jacket: Burton Frostner 3L Gore-tex
Price: $449
Score: 97.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular
New for 2020, the Burton Frostner 3L Gore-Tex may isn't the cheapest going around, so you'll want a good budget for it. However, it is one of the only 3 layer jackets to fit under the $500 threshold.
So if you're after the best protection, but still want a somewhat doable price, then the Frostner is worth looking at.
Score Breakdown for the Frostner 3L Gore-tex
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 97.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #8
Jacket: Burton AK Cyclic Gore-Tex
Price: $399
Score: 97.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular
The 2nd of 4 Burton jackets on this list, the AK Cyclic is Burton's mid-priced gore-tex option. Slightly above the average price for this list, but not by much.
It also has great functionality for snowboarding.
Score Breakdown for the Burton AK Cyclic
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 97.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #7
Jacket: The North Face Powderflo
Price: $349
Score: 97.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Standard
The Powderflo is The North Face’s most affordable non-insulated Gore-Tex option. It has you covered for keeping you dry as well as offering lots of functionality for snowboarding.
Score Breakdown for The North Face Powderflo
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 97.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #6
Jacket: Burton Vagabond
Price: $349
Score: 97.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular
The 3rd of 4 Burton options in this list, the Vagabond comes in a little cheaper than the Cyclic, but offers the same great performance and functionality.
Score Breakdown for the Vagabond
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 97.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #5
Jacket: 686 Gore-Tex GT
Price: $339
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 2nd 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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 97.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #4
Jacket: Burton Doppler
Price: $259
Score: 97.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular
The final Burton offering on this list, the Doppler is the cheapest Gore-Tex snowboarding jacket I've seen full stop. So, if you're sold on gore-tex, but don't have a massive budget, then this is an option well worth checking out.
Score Breakdown for the Doppler Gore-Tex
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 97.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #3
Jacket: Dakine Sawtooth 3L Gore-Tex
Price: $449
Score: 98/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 25,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Tailored
In at #3 we have the Dakine Sawtooth 3L Gore-Tex.
This is one of only 3, 3 layer gore-tex jackets to make this list - there are more over $500, but this one was one of the only options to sneak in under that limit.
It's the 2nd of the Dakine options on this list. It boasts a 3 layer gore-tex construction for superior waterproofing and great breathability.
Score Breakdown for the Dakine Sawtooth 3L Gore-Tex
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 5.0 | 25/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 98/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #2
Jacket: Quiksilver Mamatus 3L Gore-Tex
Price: $469
Score: 99/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 25,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Modern
The final Quiksilver option on this list and one of just three 3 layer gore-tex options for this list, the Mamatus just scrapes under the price threshold. But the performance it boasts and the style (though that's of course in the eye of the beholder) make it a tempting option, if your wallet can manage it.
Also available in black if the bright orange isn't your thing.
Score Breakdown for the Quiksilver Mamatus
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 5.0 | 25/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 4.0 | 4/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 99/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #1
Jacket: DC Command
Price: $299
Score: 100/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 30,000mm
Breathability: 25,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Fit: Regular
And finally, the #1 jacket on this list. This jacket used to have waterproof/breathability ratings of 20,000/20,000 (a couple of seasons back) and the upped ratings have only brought the price up by $20. So if you believe these ratings to be true then this is one heck of a jacket for one heck of a price.
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, 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
RATING | SCORE WEIGHTING | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 5.0 | 30/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 5.0 | 25/25 |
POWDER SKIRT | 5.0 | 5/5 |
VENTING | 5.0 | 5/5 |
HOOD | 5.0 | 5/5 |
JACKET TO PANTS CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 100/100 |
Thanks for Reading
I hope this post has helped you to find the best non-insulated snowboard jacket for you.
This list is for non-insulated jackets only, though some jackets in this list might have a lining but no insulation in that lining. There is a separate list for insulated jackets.
Prices have not been taken into account except where scores are equal the lowest price gets the better spot. Also any jacket over $500 has not been considered for this list.
Compared to other Snowboard Jackets
Below are the stats for all of the snowboard jackets that I researched so you can see how the top 20 here compare. Of 49 non-insulated jackets rated:
Note that this list is based on specs only and not by personal experience with these jackets. So this is only going by taking the given specs at their face-value. Style, fit durability and weight haven’t been taken into account.
O.k. let’s get into the top 20
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #20
Jacket: Ride Monthaven
Price: $489
Score: 93.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 20,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Starting off the list in #20, we have the Ride Monthaven Jacket. Whilst not the cheapest jacket going around, it’s got ample waterprooing, great breathability and most of the other things you could want in a snowboard jacket, like helmet compatible hood, jacket-to-pants connections and a flexible, stretchy fabric.
Score Breakdown for the Ride Monthaven
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Waterproofing | 4.5 | 27/30 |
Seam Sealing | 5.0 | 20/20 |
Breathability | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Powder Skirt | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Venting | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Hood | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Jacket-to-Pants Connections | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Pockets | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 93.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #19
Jacket: The North Face Repko
Price: $249
Score: 93.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 20,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The North Face Repko is the lowest priced jacket in this list. But it doesn’t lack in performance with some great waterproofing and breathability. Plus all the other bells and whistles you would expect in a good snowboard jacket.
Like the Monthaven above, and a couple of others in the list, the Repko is a rare non-gore-tex option that made the list.
Score Breakdown for The North Face Repko
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Waterproofing | 4.5 | 27/30 |
Seam Sealing | 5.0 | 20/20 |
Breathability | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Powder Skirt | 4.0 | 4/5 |
Venting | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Hood | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Jacket-to-Pants Connections | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Pockets | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 93.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #18
Jacket: Volcom Guide Gore-Tex
Price: $499
Score: 95.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The 1st of 4 Volcom offerings in this list is the Guide. This is their only 3 layer jacket for under $500. Though it only just comes under the $500 specification, the Guide comes with pretty much the ultimate waterproofing and breathability, plus one unique thing about this is that it has a built in face mask. Bonus.
Score Breakdown for the Volcom Guide
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Waterproofing | 5.0 | 30/30 |
Seam Sealing | 5.0 | 20/20 |
Breathability | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Powder Skirt | 4.0 | 4/5 |
Venting | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Hood | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Jacket-to-Pants Connections | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Pockets | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 95.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #17
Jacket: Burton AK Cyclic Gore-Tex
Price: $389
Score: 95.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Like the Volcom Guide above, the Burton AK Cyclic has all the benefits of gore-tex but with a slightly more friendly price-tag.
Apart from not having some of the pockets that I would like to see in a snowboarding jacket, it also has great functionality.
Score Breakdown for the Burton AK Cyclic
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Waterproofing | 5.0 | 30/30 |
Seam Sealing | 5.0 | 20/20 |
Breathability | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Powder Skirt | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Venting | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Hood | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Jacket-to-Pants Connections | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Pockets | 3.0 | 3/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 95.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #16
Jacket: Volcom Stone Gore-Tex
Price: $369
Score: 95.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Another small step down in terms of price, but also with great performance and functionality, we next have the Volcom Stone, the 2nd of 4 Volcom offerings in this list.
Score Breakdown for the Volcom Stone
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Waterproofing | 5.0 | 30/30 |
Seam Sealing | 5.0 | 20/20 |
Breathability | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Powder Skirt | 4.0 | 4/5 |
Venting | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Hood | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Jacket-to-Pants Connections | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Pockets | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 95.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #15
Jacket: Dakine Eliot 3L Gore-Tex
Price: $475
Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Whilst the Dakine Eliot is one of the most expensive on this list, it does boast a 3 layer Gore-Tex construction offering some awesome waterproofing and being highly breathable. That plus pretty much everything else you could ask for in a snowboarding jacket and you get a high quality option, if you’ve got the budget for it.
Score Breakdown for the Dakine Eliot 3L Gore-Tex
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Waterproofing | 5.0 | 30/30 |
Seam Sealing | 5.0 | 20/20 |
Breathability | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Powder Skirt | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Venting | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Hood | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Jacket-to-Pants Connections | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Pockets | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #14
Jacket: Quiksilver Mamatus 3L Gore-Tex
Price: $469
Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
This is the first of a few Quiksilver jackets to appear on this list. Like most of the Quiksilver options (bar one) the Mamutus boasts gore-tex and is also their only 3 layer option.
Score Breakdown for the Quiksilver Mamatus
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Waterproofing | 5.0 | 30/30 |
Seam Sealing | 5.0 | 20/20 |
Breathability | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Powder Skirt | 4.0 | 4/5 |
Venting | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Hood | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Jacket-to-Pants Connections | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Pockets | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #13
Jacket: Dakine Sawtooth 3L Gore-Tex
Price: $449
Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The Dakine Sawtooth 3L Gore-Tex is the 2nd of 3 Dakine options on this list. Like the Eliot, it boasts a 3 layer gore-tex construction for superior waterproofing and great breathability.
It’s a more regular fitting jacket, compared with the longer Eliot. It’s also better looking through my eyes (but beauty is in the eye of the beholder, of course, so that doesn’t come into the ratings).
Score Breakdown for the Dakine Sawtooth 3L Gore-Tex
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Waterproofing | 5.0 | 30/30 |
Seam Sealing | 5.0 | 20/20 |
Breathability | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Powder Skirt | 4.0 | 4/5 |
Venting | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Hood | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Jacket-to-Pants Connections | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Pockets | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #12
Jacket: Patagonia Powder Bowl Gore-Tex
Price: $399
Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell with lining
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The Powder Bowl is 1 of 2 Patagonia jacket to make this list. Though, there would be a few others, if I didn’t put a $500 max on it.
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.
One of the reason’s that the Powder bowl is a little heavier is that it has a liner. No insulation but a liner – so it will be a little warmer than most in this list – but only by a little bit.
Score Breakdown for the Patagonia Powder Bowl
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Waterproofing | 5.0 | 30/30 |
Seam Sealing | 5.0 | 20/20 |
Breathability | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Powder Skirt | 4.0 | 4/5 |
Venting | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Hood | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Jacket-to-Pants Connections | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Pockets | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #11
Jacket: Volcom BL Stretch Gore-Tex
Price: $389
Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The 3rd of 4 Volcom jackets in this list, the BL Stretch offers all the advantages of Gore-Tex in a stretchy flexible material.
Score Breakdown for the Volcom Stretch
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Waterproofing | 5.0 | 30/30 |
Seam Sealing | 5.0 | 20/20 |
Breathability | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Powder Skirt | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Venting | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Hood | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Jacket-to-Pants Connections | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Pockets | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #10
Jacket: Quiksilver Forever 2L Gore-Tex
Price: $349
Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The cheapest of Quiksilver’s options on this list, 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 in this top 20.
Score Breakdown for the Quiksilver Forever
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Waterproofing | 5.0 | 30/30 |
Seam Sealing | 5.0 | 20/20 |
Breathability | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Powder Skirt | 4.0 | 4/5 |
Venting | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Hood | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Jacket-to-Pants Connections | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Pockets | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #9
Jacket: Patagonia Departer Gore-Tex
Price: $349
Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The Patagonia Departer Gore-Tex is a little cheaper than the other Patagonia option in this list – and it’s also lighter at just 646 g (22.8 oz). So, if weight is important to you as well, this could be a great option for you.
Score Breakdown for the Patagonia Departer Gore-Tex
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Waterproofing | 5.0 | 30/30 |
Seam Sealing | 5.0 | 20/20 |
Breathability | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Powder Skirt | 4.0 | 4/5 |
Venting | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Hood | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Jacket-to-Pants Connections | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Pockets | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #8
Jacket: Dakine Smyth Pure 2L Gore-Tex
Price: $300
Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The Dakine Smyth 2L is the cheapest of Dakine’s Gore-Tex jackets. And it’s really reasonably priced – less than the average price of all the jackets I looked at for this list – and well less than the average for a gore-tex jacket.
Score Breakdown for the Dakine Smyth
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Waterproofing | 5.0 | 30/30 |
Seam Sealing | 5.0 | 20/20 |
Breathability | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Powder Skirt | 4.0 | 4/5 |
Venting | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Hood | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Jacket-to-Pants Connections | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Pockets | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #7
Jacket: Burton Radial Gore-Tex Shell
Price: $275
Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell with lining
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Burton’s second entry in this list is the Raidal Gore-Tex Shell (also comes in an insulated version).
Again gore-tex comes to the fore here – and for a gore-tex jacket, this one is actually really reasonably priced and comes with most of the functionality you will ever need from a snowboard jacket. And it has actually gone down in price for 2019 – and by a good $35. It’s nice to see something go down in price in a world where most things are going up.
Score Breakdown for the Burton Radial Shell
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Waterproofing | 5.0 | 30/30 |
Seam Sealing | 5.0 | 20/20 |
Breathability | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Powder Skirt | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Venting | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Hood | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Jacket-to-Pants Connections | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Pockets | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #6
Jacket: Volcom L Gore-Tex
Price: $260
Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The final of the Volcom jackets in this list, the Volcom L, is the cheapest Gore-Tex offering in this entire list (and 2nd cheapest overall).
I challenge you to find a lower costing Gore-Tex jacket than this, anywhere!
And not only does it provide the performance of Gore-Tex, it also has great functionality for use as a snowboarding jacket.
Score Breakdown for the Volcom L
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Waterproofing | 5.0 | 30/30 |
Seam Sealing | 5.0 | 20/20 |
Breathability | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Powder Skirt | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Venting | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Hood | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Jacket-to-Pants Connections | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Pockets | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 96.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #5
Jacket: Quiksilver Black Alder 2L Gore-Tex
Price: $399
Score: 97.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The Black Alder 2L is the 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.
Score Breakdown for the Quiksilver Black Alder
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Waterproofing | 5.0 | 30/30 |
Seam Sealing | 5.0 | 20/20 |
Breathability | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Powder Skirt | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Venting | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Hood | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Jacket-to-Pants Connections | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Pockets | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 97.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #4
Jacket: Quiksilver TR Stretch
Price: $389
Score: 97.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 30,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
A rare non gore-tex option on this list (shock horror! 
), the TR Stretch offers up superior waterproofing and breathability. It’s a little above the average price – but not by much and for the performance and functionality you get with it, it’s money well spent, assuming it lives up to it’s ratings.
It also constructed with (as the name suggests) flexible stretch fabric.
Score Breakdown for the Quiksilver TR Stretch
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Waterproofing | 5.0 | 30/30 |
Seam Sealing | 5.0 | 20/20 |
Breathability | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Powder Skirt | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Venting | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Hood | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Jacket-to-Pants Connections | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Pockets | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 97.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #3
Jacket: The North Face Powderflo
Price: $349
Score: 97.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The Powderflo is The North Face’s most affordable non-insulated Gore-Tex option. It has you covered for keeping you dry as well as offering lots of functionality for snowboarding.
Score Breakdown for The North Face Powderflo
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Waterproofing | 5.0 | 30/30 |
Seam Sealing | 5.0 | 20/20 |
Breathability | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Powder Skirt | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Venting | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Hood | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Jacket-to-Pants Connections | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Pockets | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 97.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #2
Jacket: 686 Gore-Tex GT
Price: $320
Score: 97.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The 686 Gore-Tex GT is 686’s only jacket to make this list – largely because a lot of their jackets are insulated. 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
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Waterproofing | 5.0 | 30/30 |
Seam Sealing | 5.0 | 20/20 |
Breathability | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
Powder Skirt | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Venting | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Hood | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Jacket-to-Pants Connections | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Pockets | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 97.5/100 |
BEST SNOWBOARD JACKET #1
Jacket: DC Command
Price: $299
Score: 99/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 30,000mm
Breathability: 25,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
And finally, the #1 jacket on this list. This jacket used to have waterproof/breathability ratings of 20,000/20,000 (a couple of seasons back) and the upped ratings have only brought the price up by $20. So if you believe these ratings to be true then this is one heck of a jacket for one heck of a price.
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, 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
FACTOR | rating (OUT OF 5) | contribution to final score |
|---|---|---|
Waterproofing | 5.0 | 30/30 |
Seam Sealing | 5.0 | 20/20 |
Breathability | 5.0 | 25/25 |
Powder Skirt | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Venting | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Hood | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Jacket-to-Pants Connections | 5.0 | 5/5 |
Pockets | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 99/100 |
Thanks for Reading
I hope this post has helped you to find the best non-insulated snowboard jacket for you.
This list is for non-insulated only, though some jackets in this list might have a lining but no insulation in that lining. There is a separate list for insulated jackets.
Prices have not been taken into account except where scores are equal the lowest price gets the better spot. Also any jacket over $500 has not been considered for this list.
Compared to other Snowboard Jackets
Below are the stats for all of the snowboard jackets that I researched so you can see how the top 20 here compare. Of 51 non-insulated jackets rated:
- The average score was 83.8/100
- The highest score was 100/100
- The lowest score was 34.0/100
- The average price was $347
Note that this list is based on specs only and not by personal experience with these jackets. So this is only going by taking the given specs at their face-value. Style, fit durability and weight haven’t been taken into account.
O.k. let’s get into the top 20
#20: Oakley Timber 15K BioZone
Jacket: Oakley Timber 15K BioZone
Price: $300
Rating Score: 84/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 15,000mm
Breathability: 10,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The first jacket on this list, the Oakley Timber 15K Biozone offers a good level of waterproofing and breathability, especially for the price. At $47 cheaper than the average price for the snowboard jackets I looked at, the Timber is a great buy for the budget conscious who don’t want to compromise too much on performance.
With a 15,000mm fabric waterproof rating, fully taped seams and 10,000g breathability rating, the Timber is about as waterproof and breathable as you’ll need your jacket to be in 90% of conditions (percentage not scientific! 😉 ).
And with really good functionality too, in terms of pockets, jacket-to-pants connections, powder skirt etc, the Timber is a good buy for snowboarding, especially if you don’t tend to ride in extreme weather conditions.
Score Breakdown for the Oakley Timber
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 4.0 | 24/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 3.0 | 15/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL | 84/100 |
#19: Dakine Wyeast
Jacket: Dakine Wyeast
Price: $259
Score: 84/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 15,000mm
Breathability: 15,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
At even better price than the Timber above, and the cheapest jacket in this whole list, the Wyeast gives you slightly better breathability specs with the same amount of waterproofing.
It is however missing jacket-to-pants connections. But if that’s not something you think you’ll ever use or not something that’s a dealbreaker for you, then these are a great buy, especially for the price.
Score Breakdown for the Oakley Timber
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 4.0 | 24/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 4.0 | 20/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 0.0 | 0/5 |
| Pockets: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL | 84/100 |
#18: Marmot Freerider Gore-Tex
Jacket: Marmot Freerider Gore-Tex
Price: $475
Score: 91.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The first of the Gore-Tex jackets in this list (which unsurprisingly dominate most of the rest of this list, given the waterproof and breathability qualities of gore-tex), is the Freerider by Marmot.
You get a significant jump in price from the first 2 jackets but also a significant jump in performance too.
Score Breakdown for the Marmot Freerider
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 0.0 | 0/5 |
| Pockets: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| TOTAL | 91.5/100 |
#17: Arc’teryx Iser Gore-Tex
Jacket: Arc’teryx Iser Gore-Tex
Price: $549
Score: 91.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Like the Marmot Freeride, the Arc’teryx Iser makes use of gore-tex for high performance in terms of waterproofing and breathability. It’s something you can take out in pretty extreme conditions and stay dry in.
Score Breakdown for the Arc’teryx Iser
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 0.0 | 0/5 |
| Pockets: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| TOTAL | 91.5/100 |
#16: Ride Monthaven
Jacket: Ride Monthaven
Price: $469
Score: 93.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 20,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
A brief break from gore-tex, we have the Ride Monthaven. A little cheaper than the previous two entries but not as cheap as the first 2. But it has great performance and also great functionality.
Score Breakdown for the Ride Monthaven
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 4.5 | 27/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| TOTAL | 93.5/100 |
#15: Burton AK Cyclic Gore-Tex
Jacket: Burton AK Cyclic Gore-Tex
Price: $389
Score: 95.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The cheapest Gore-Tex offering so far in this list, the Burton AK Cyclic has all the benefits of gore-tex but with a slightly more friendly price-tag than some.
Apart from not having some of the pockets that I would like to see in a snowboarding jacket, it also has great functionality.
Score Breakdown for the Burton AK Cyclic
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 3.0 | 3/5 |
| TOTAL | 95.5/100 |
#14: Volcom Guide Gore-Tex
Jacket: Volcom Guide Gore-Tex
Price: $499
Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The 1st of 4 Volcom offerings in this list is the Guide. This is their top of the line jacket and has the specs to back it up. This is their only 3 layer jacket.
Score Breakdown for the Volcom Guide
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| TOTAL | 96.5/100 |
#13: Volcom Stretch Gore-Tex
Jacket: Volcom Stretch Gore-Tex
Price: $389
Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The next Volcom jacket in this list, the Stretch, still offers great performance and functionality but at a cheaper price than the Guide.
Score Breakdown for the Volcom Stretch
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| TOTAL | 96.5/100 |
#12: Volcom Stone Gore-Tex
Jacket: Volcom Stone Gore-Tex
Price: $369
Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Another small step down in terms of price, but also with great performance and functionality, we next have the Volcom Stone, the third of 4 Volcom offerings in this list.
Score Breakdown for the Volcom Stone
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| TOTAL | 96.5/100 |
#11: Volcom L Gore-Tex
Jacket: Volcom L Gore-Tex
Price: $289
Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The final of the Volcom jackets in this list, the Volcom L, is the cheapest gore-tex offering in this entire list.
I challenge you to find a lower costing gore-tex jacket than this!
And not only does it provide the performance of gore-tex, it also has great functionality for use as a snowboarding jacket.
Score Breakdown for the Volcom L
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| TOTAL | 96.5/100 |
#10: Burton Radial Gore-Tex Shell
Jacket: Burton Radial Gore-Tex Shell
Price: $309
Score: 96.5/100
Insulation: Shell with lining
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Burton’s second entry in this list is the Raidal Gore-Tex Shell (also comes in an insulated version).
Again gore-tex comes to the fore here – and for a gore-tex jacket, this one is actually really reasonably priced and comes with most of the functionality you will ever need from a snowboard jacket.
Score Breakdown for the Burton Radial
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| TOTAL | 96.5/100 |
#9: The North Face Lostrail Gore-Tex
Jacket: The North Face Lostrail Gore-Tex
Price: $349
Score: 97.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The first of 2 North Face jackets in this list, the Lostrail receives North Face’s highest ratings for water and wind protection. It’s a little heavier than some of their more expensive options (910grams [32.1oz]) but it’s great value for a jacket with this much water and wind protection
Score Breakdown for the North Face Lostrail
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL | 97.5/100 |
#8: Quiksilver Mamatus 3L Gore-Tex
Jacket: Quiksilver Mamatus 3L Gore-Tex
Price: $469
Score: 97.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
This is the first of a few Quiksilver jackets to appear on this list. Like most of the Quiksilver options (bar one) the Mamutus boasts gore-tex and is also their only 3 layer option.
Score Breakdown for the Quiksilver Mamatus
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL | 97.5/100 |
#7: Quiksilver Forever 2L Gore-Tex
Jacket: Quiksilver Forever 2L Gore-Tex
Price: $329
Score: 97.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The cheapest of Quiksilver’s gore-tex options, 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 on this list.
Score Breakdown for the Quiksilver Forever
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL | 97.5/100 |
#6: Quiksilver Black Alder 2L Gore-Tex
Jacket: Quiksilver Black Alder 2L Gore-Tex
Price: $379
Score: 97.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The Black Alder 2L is the 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.
Score Breakdown for the Quiksilver Black Alder
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL | 97.5/100 |
#5: Patagonia Powder Bowl Gore-Tex
Jacket: Patagonia Powder Bowl Gore-Tex
Price: $399
Score: 97.5/100
Insulation: Shell with lining
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The Powder Bowl is the cheapest of 2 Patagonia jackets to make this list. It’s heavier than the other one that made it (953g[33.6oz]) and has a slightly lower breathability rating – but the significant difference in price might make this the Patagonia option for most.
One of the reason’s that the Powder bowl is a little heavier is that it has a liner. No insulation but a liner – so it will be a little warmer than most in this list – but only by a little bit.
Score Breakdown for the Patagonia Powder Bowl
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL | 97.5/100 |
#4: Dakine Smyth 2L Gore-Tex
Jacket: Dakine Smyth 2L Gore-Tex
Price: $320
Score: 97.5/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The Dakine Smyth 2L is one of two Dakine jackets that’s available in gore-tex. And it’s really reasonably priced – less than the average price of all the jackets I looked at for this list – and well less than the average for a gore-tex jacket.
Score Breakdown for the Dakine Smyth
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 4.5 | 22.5/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL | 97.5/100 |
#4: Patagonia Untracked Gore-Tex
Jacket: Patagonia Untracked Gore-Tex
Price: $599
Score: 100/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 25,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
It’s the most expensive in this list – but for anyone looking for the ultimate in performance and functionality and willing to pay the price, and want something that’s also lightweight, the Untracked gives that option at 726g (25.6oz).
Want something even lighter, but even more expensive – then check out the Patagonia Powslayer – it weighs just 547g (19.3oz)!
Score Breakdown for the Patagonia Untracked
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL | 100/100 |
#3: The North Face Free Thinker Gore-Tex
Jacket: The North Face Free Thinker Gore-Tex
Price: $549
Score: 100/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 28,000mm
Breathability: 25,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
With a little more breathability and coming in at a lighter weight – 615 g (21.69 oz) – than the first North Face jacket on this list, the Free Thinker is one of the ultimate snowboarding jackets available.
But you’ve got to have a healthy budget to not have this put a major dent in your wallet.
Score Breakdown for the North Face Free thinker
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL | 100/100 |
#2: Quiksilver TR Stretch
Jacket: Quiksilver TR Stretch
Price: $359
Score: 100/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 30,000mm
Breathability: 30,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
A rare non gore-tex option on this list (shock horror! 🙂 ), the TR Stretch offers up superior waterproofing and breathability. It’s a little above the average price – but not by much and for the performance and functionality you get with it, it’s money well spent, assuming it lives up to it’s ratings.
Score Breakdown for the Quiksilver TR Stretch
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL | 100/100 |
#1: DC Command
Jacket: DC Command
Price: $289
Score: 100/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproof Rating: 30,000mm
Breathability: 25,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
And finally, the #1 jacket on this list. This jacket used to have waterproof/breathability ratings of 20,000/20,000 and the upped ratings have only brought the price up by $20. So if you believe these ratings to be true then this is one heck of a jacket for one heck of a price.
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, and if it lives up to its billing, then you’ll pick up a super-performer at a super-price.
Personally I love the look of this jacket too – but that’s in the eye of the beholder, of course.
Score Breakdown for the DC Command
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL | 100/100 |
Thanks for Reading
I hope this post has helped you to find the best non-insulated snowboard jacket for you.
This list is for non-insulated jackets. I will create a separate list for insulated jackets.
Prices have not been taken into account except where scores are equal the lowest price gets the better spot. Also any jacket over $500 has not been considered for this list.
Compared to other Snowboard Jackets
Below are the stats for all of the snowboard jackets that I researched so you can see how the top 20 here compare.
- The average score was 78.5/100
- The highest score was 100/100
- The lowest score was 14/100
- The average price was $279
O.k. let’s get into the top 20
#20: DC Clout Jacket
Jacket: DC Clout
Price: $219
Score: 90.5/100
Insulation: Lining
The first jacket on this list also happens to be the lowest priced jacket on the list. At a good $60 cheaper than the average price for a snowboard jacket the Clout is a great buy for the budget conscious who don’t want to compromise too much on performance.
With a 15,000mm fabric waterproof rating, fully taped seams and a 15,000g breathability rating, the Clouts are about as waterproof and breathable as you’ll need your jacket to be in 95% of conditions.
And with really good functionality too (only really missing the Jacket-to-Pants connection) this Jacket is super value-for-money.
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 4.5 | 27/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 4.8 | 24/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 0.0 | 0/5 |
| Pockets: | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
| TOTAL | 90.5/100 |
#19: Volcom Lido Jacket
Jacket: Volcom Lido
Price: $260
Score: 91.5/100
Insulation: Lining
Also coming in under the average price, is Volcom’s Lido.
It doesn’t quite have the breathability of the Clout’s above but have the same waterproof rating – and what they do have over the Clouts is Jacket-to-pants connections.
Another great buy for those with less to spend.
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 4.5 | 27/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 4.0 | 20/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
| TOTAL | 91.5/100 |
#18: Volcom Brighton Pullover Jacket
Jacket: Volcom Brighton Pullover
Price: $240
Score: 91.5/100
Insulation: Lining
The next jacket on our list is very similar jacket to the Lido above, and made by the same company. The Brighton Pullover, however, has a different look and comes in at $20 cheaper based on recommended prices.
Of course, being a pullover, this one is pulled over your head unlike most snowboarding jackets which zip up.
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 4.5 | 27/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 4.0 | 20/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
| TOTAL | 91.5/100 |
#17: 686 Vector Jacket
Jacket: 686 Vector
Price: $220
Score: 91.5/100
Insulation: Lining
Coming in with the same score as the 2 Volcom’s above, 686’s Vector jacket is pretty similar again spec-wise but are that bit cheaper again.
At just $220 and the performance you get from this sucker, it’s super value-for-money – and in my opinion pretty stylish too.
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 4.5 | 27/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 4.0 | 20/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
| TOTAL | 91.5/100 |
#16: Ride Georgetown Jacket
Jacket: Ride Georgetown
Price: $249
Score: 92/100
Insulation: Lining
Ride’s Georgetown is next on the list and comes with a 15,000mm waterproof rating, fully seamed seals and 10,000g of breathability.
Plus you get every type of pocket you could ever need – and again this jacket is really reasonably priced for the performance you get.
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 4.5 | 27/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 4.0 | 20/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL | 92/100 |
#15: Lib Tech Wayne Jacket
Jacket: Lib Tech Wayne
Price: $299
Score: 93/100
Insulation: Lining
A little bit of a step up in price but also a bit of a step up in performance.
The Wayne boasts a fabric waterproof rating of 20,000mm, fully taped seams and a breathability rating of 15,000g. That’s going to keep you dry and comfortable in practically any conditions.
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 4.8 | 24/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 0.0 | 0/5 |
| Pockets: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| TOTAL | 93/100 |
#14: DC Command DPM Jacket
Jacket: DC Command DPM
Price: $269
Score: 94.5/100
Insulation: Lining
Another step up in performance (20,000mm waterproof, 20,000g breathable, fully taped seams) but without any extra price added on (in fact they’re cheaper than the Wayne jacket above).
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 0.0 | 0/5 |
| Pockets: | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
| TOTAL | 94.5/100 |
#13: Quiksilver That’s It 3L Gore-Tex Jacket
Jacket: Quiksilver That’s It 3L Gore-Tex
Price: $499
Score: 95/100
Insulation: None
The first of the Gore-Tex jackets in this list naturally comes with a price hike (though there are cheaper Gore-Tex Options in this list). This is particularly pricey.
But you do get quality for your dollar with the That’s It jacket. Gore-Tex is super waterproof and super-breathable. And it’s 3L gore-tex for that extra bit of waterproofing.
And the That’s it comes with awesome functionality too.
The only thing stopping this jacket from a perfect score is that it’s lacking venting. Even though Gore-Tex is really breathable I’d still like to see venting in this jacket.
I personally wouldn’t pay the recommended price for this jacket – but if you can find it at a reduced price it would be a great buy if you are willing to invest in quality.
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 0.0 | 0/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL | 95/100 |
#12: Dakine Smyth Gore-Tex Jacket
Jacket: Dakine Smyth Gore-Tex (2L)
Price: $320
Score: 95/100
Insulation: None
Dakine’s Smyth Jacket gives you all of the performance benefits of the That’s It jacket above – it will just cost you significantly less to get it.
The Smyth does have venting too – it just lacks in a jacket-to-pants connection system. But this is a great buy and a really good price for a Gore-Tex jacket.
It does have 2L Gore-Tex vs the That’s It’s 3L Gore-Tex – the difference being the 3L offers slightly more waterproofing and sacrifices a little with breathability – but in my experience there isn’t a huge amount of difference.
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 0.0 | 0/5 |
| Pockets: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL | 95/100 |
#11: Burton AK 2L Cyclic Gore-Tex Jacket
Jacket: Burton AK 2L Cyclic Gore-Tex
Price: $389
Score: 98.5/100
Insulation: Lining
Now we get into the near perfect scoring jackets (in my scoring system anyway) – the first of which, Burton’s AK 2L Cyclic jacket has all the benefits of Gore-Tex (as mentioned above) and a heap of functionality.
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
| TOTAL | 98.5/100 |
#10: Burton AK 2L Boom Gore-Tex Jacket
Jacket: Burton AK 2L Boom Gore-Tex
Price: $339
Score: 98.5/100
Insulation: Lining
A very similar jacket to #11 above but $50 cheaper. Personally I’d choose the cheaper option but check out the prices at the links at the bottom of this post, you may be able to find them on sale.
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 3.5 | 3.5/5 |
| TOTAL | 98.5/100 |
#9: Burton AK 2L Velocity Anorak Gore-Tex Jacket
Jacket: Burton AK 2L Velocity Anorak Gore-Tex
Price: $339
Score: 99/100
Insulation: Lining
Again, very similar to the #10 and #11 above – but with some better pocketing – and different styling.
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| TOTAL | 99/100 |
#8: Quiksilver Forever 2L Gore-Tex Jacket
Jacket: Quiksilver Forever 2L Gore-Tex
Price: $299
Score: 99/100
Insulation: Lining
Quiksilver’s Forever jacket has awesome performance and is extremely well priced for a Gore-Tex jacket.
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 4.0 | 4/5 |
| TOTAL | 99/100 |
#7: Quiksilver TR Exhibition 2L Gore-Tex Jacket
Jacket: Quiksilver TR Exhibition 2L Gore-Tex
Price: $459
Score: 99.5/100
Insulation: Lining
And in at #7 is the TR Exhibition jacket from Quiksilver. The second Quiksilver offering in the top 10 and with all the functionality and features you could ever want in a snowboarding jacket – but it’s a bit more pricey than it’s brother at #8.
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
| TOTAL | 99.5/100 |
#6: Burton Vagabond Gore-Tex Jacket
Jacket: Burton Vagabond Gore-Tex
Price: $439
Score: 99.5/100
Insulation: Lining
Not much more to say except that you get exceptional performance in terms of features, waterproofing and breathability. You do pay for it – but if you’ve got the money to invest it could be well worth the investment.
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
| TOTAL | 99.5/100 |
#5: Volcom Stretch Gore-Tex Jacket
Jacket: Volcom Stretch Gore-Tex
Price: $420
Score: 99.5/100
Insulation: Lining
Again pricey – but with super-performance. If you can find one of these bad boys on sale then it’s a great investment.
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
| TOTAL | 99.5/100 |
#4: Volcom Stone Gore-Tex Jacket
Jacket: Volcom Stone Gore-Tex
Price: $360
Score: 99.5/100
Insulation: Lining
Very much like it’s Volcom partner in crime at #5 above – but with a better price-tag.
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
| TOTAL | 99.5/100 |
#3: Volcom L Gore-Tex Jacket
Jacket: Volcom L Gore-Tex
Price: $290
Score: 99.5/100
Insulation: Lining
The #3 jacket on this list, Volcom’s L Gore-Tex, comes in at an awesome price for this kind of performance and features.
Just 290 for a Gore-Tex jacket with all these features is a steal!
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 4.5 | 4.5/5 |
| TOTAL | 99.5/100 |
#2: Burton 3L Arsenal Jacket
Jacket: Burton 3L Arsenal
Price: $329
Score: 100/100
Insulation: Lining
For the #2 jacket on the list, the Burton 3L Arsenal, we have the only non-gore-tex option since #14.
But you get a 20,000 mm fabric waterproof rating, fully sealed seams and a 20,000g breathability rating. It’s not Gore-Tex but in my opinion will be able to handle 99% of conditions that most riders would face.
And if for any reason, you don’t want Gore-Tex but still want a high performing jacket then this is a great option – and it isn’t even that pricey considering the performance you get.
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL | 100/100 |
#1: Burton 3L Particle Gore-Tex Jacket
Jacket: Burton 3L Particle Gore-Tex
Price: $499
Score: 100/100
Insulation: Lining
And finally the #1 Jacket on this list. Not for the budget conscious – but if you’ve got the money to invest then you get pretty much the perfect snowboard jacket money can buy (for under $500 – I didn’t include anything in this list that was over 500).
The 3L Particle Gore-Tex jacket features 3L Gore-Tex.
3L Gore-Tex gives you a bit more waterproofing but sacrifices a bit of breathability – so if you ride in wet conditions often then it might be worth the extra investment (3L Gore-Tex tends to be more expensive).
Plus it has all the other functionality you’d want in a snowboard jacket – powder skirt, venting, adjustable hood, jacket-to-pants interface and plenty of pocketing (including hand pockets, chest pockets, media pocket, goggle pocket and pass pocket).
| FACTOR | RATING (OUT OF 5) | CONTRIBUTION TO FINAL SCORE |
| Waterproofing: | 5.0 | 30/30 |
| Seams: | 5.0 | 20/20 |
| Breathability: | 5.0 | 25/25 |
| Powder Skirt: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Venting: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Hood: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Jacket-to-pants interface: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| Pockets: | 5.0 | 5/5 |
| TOTAL | 100/100 |
Thanks for Reading
I hope this post has helped you to find the best non-insulated snowboard jacket for you.
For the latest season's list, check out the link below.
>>TOP 20 SNOWBOARD JACKETS (LATEST SEASON)
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