There are two other jacket lists on this website (Top 20 non-insulated and Top 10 insulated) – but price isn’t a factor in those lists. For this post I want to present what I think are the best cheap snowboard jackets for men.
This list has been updated for 2019-20.
The Jacket’s in this list aren’t necessarily the cheapest you can get – but they will be value-for-money in terms of the performance you get, for a relatively low price.
In my opinion snowboarding jackets below a certain level of waterproofing are a waste of time and money, so there was a minimum quality level needed to make the list. To make this list each jacket had to score at least 75 points (in my jackets rating system) and have a recommended price less than $250.
I have included both insulated and non-insulated jackets so you can find one to suit your preferences.
Compared to Other Jackets
As a means of comparison here are the stats from all of the jackets that I researched.
O.K. let’s make a start with the top 10.
BEST CHEAP SNOWBOARD JACKET #10
Jacket: Volcom Slyly
Price: View More Info and Current Price Here
Score: 77/100
Insulation: shell
Waterproofing: 15,000mm
Breathability: 15,000g
Seams: Critically Taped
Starting the list in #10, we have the Volcom Slyly.
At nearly $100 cheaper than the average price of all the jackets I looked, the Slyly gives plenty of value-for-money to the table.
Great waterproofing and breathability for the price. Would be nice to see fully taped seams, but then the price likely goes up.
The Slyly also comes in an insulated version for $10 extra.
Check out the Score Breakdown For the Slyly Below
RATING | Contribution to Final Score | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 4.0 | 24/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 2.5 | 10/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.0 | 20/25 |
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 | 77/100 |
BEST CHEAP SNOWBOARD JACKET #9
Jacket: Volcom Scortch
Price: View More Info and Current Price Here
Score: 77/100
Insulation: 80g
Waterproofing: 15,000mm
Breathability: 15,000g
Seams: Critically Taped
At #9, we have the Volcom Scortch.
Same functionality, waterproofing etc as the Slyly above, but for a slightly cheaper price-tag. The 3rd cheapest jacket in this list.
Check out the Score Breakdown For the Scortch Below
RATING | Contribution to Final Score | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 4.0 | 24/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 2.5 | 10/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.0 | 20/25 |
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 | 77/100 |
BEST CHEAP SNOWBOARD JACKET #8
Jacket: 686 Anthem
Price: View More Info and Current Price Here
Score: 77/100
Insulation: 80g
Waterproofing: 10,000mm
Breathability: 10,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The Anthem is the cheapest on this list, so if you're looking to go as low budget as you can, it's a great option.
You loose a little in terms of waterproofing and breathability vs the first 2 jackets, but you do gain fully taped seams to help that waterproofing. And for the price a very good option for low budgets.
Check out the Score Breakdown For the Anthem Below
RATING | Contribution to Final Score | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 3.0 | 18/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 3.0 | 15/25 |
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 | 77/100 |
BEST CHEAP SNOWBOARD JACKET #7
Jacket: 686 Sixer
Price: View More Info and Current Price Here
Score: 78/100
Insulation: 80g
Waterproofing: 10,000mm
Breathability: 10,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The Sixer from 686 comes in at #7. The biggest difference to this and the cheaper Anthem, is that the powder skirt is removable. If you like to have that, this might be worth the extra spend. But still of course, great value for money (or else it wouldn't have made this list!).
Check out the Score Breakdown For the Sixer Below
RATING | Contribution to Final Score | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 3.0 | 18/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 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 CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 78/100 |
BEST CHEAP SNOWBOARD JACKET #6
Jacket: DC Defiant
Price: View More Info and Current Price Here
Score: 83/100
Insulation: 40g
Waterproofing: 15,000mm
Breathability: 10,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The Defiant steps things up a bit in terms of waterproofing. So if that's your main concern, this is great value for money. It also has some light insulation.
At more than $60 cheaper than the average price of jackets that I looked at, and a good bit above the average score, this jacket is great for those on a lower budger, but still want good performance.
Check out the Score Breakdown For the Defiant Below
RATING | Contribution to Final Score | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 4.0 | 24/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 3.0 | 15/25 |
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 | 83/100 |
BEST CHEAP SNOWBOARD JACKET #5
Jacket: Quiksilver Horizon
Price: View More Info and Current Price Here
Score: 84/100
Insulation: 40g
Waterproofing: 15,000mm
Breathability: 10,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The Horizon features great performance for the price and offers light insulation for those who want just a bit, but not too much insulation.
It's over $50 cheaper than the average price of jackets, I looked at but boasts performance a good bit better than the average.
Check out the Score Breakdown For the Horizon Below
RATING | Contribution to Final Score | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 4.0 | 24/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 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 CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 84/100 |
BEST CHEAP SNOWBOARD JACKET #4
Jacket: DC Palomar
Price: View More Info and Current Price Here
Score: 84/100
Insulation: shell
Waterproofing: 15,000mm
Breathability: 10,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Similar performance to the 2 previous jackets, but the Palomar offers a shell option for those that don't want insulation.
Check out the Score Breakdown For the Palomar Below
RATING | Contribution to Final Score | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 4.0 | 24/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 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 CONNECTIONS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
POCKETS | 5.0 | 5/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 84/100 |
BEST CHEAP SNOWBOARD JACKET #3
Jacket: Volcom Creedle2Stone
Price: View More Info and Current Price Here
Score: 87/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproofing: 15,000mm
Breathability: 15,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
A step up in terms of breathability, the Creedle2Stone is another great shell option. For the price it has great waterproofing, breathability and functionality.
Check out the Score Breakdown For the Volcom Creedle2Stone Below
RATING | Contribution to Final Score | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 4.0 | 24/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.0 | 20/25 |
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 | 87/100 |
BEST CHEAP SNOWBOARD JACKET #2
Jacket: Thirty Two Delta
Price: View More Info and Current Price Here
Score: 87/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproofing: 15,000mm
Breathability: 15,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
The first of 2 Thirty Two jackets in this list, the Delta should perhaps be number 1. It's the second cheapest on this list, at over $100 cheaper than the average price of all the jackets, I looked at and has the second highest score on this list.
Check out the Score Breakdown For the Delta Below
RATING | Contribution to Final Score | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 4.0 | 24/30 |
SEAM SEALING | 5.0 | 20/20 |
BREATHABILITY | 4.0 | 20/25 |
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 | 87/100 |
BEST CHEAP SNOWBOARD JACKET #1
Jacket: Thirty Two TM
Price: View More Info and Current Price Here
Score: 88/100
Insulation: Shell
Waterproofing: 15,000mm
Breathability: 15,000g
Seams: Fully Taped
Finally, in at #1 we have the Thirty Two TM.
Whilst it just comes in under the price threshold for this list, it's still great value for money for all the waterproofing, breathability and functionality you get for the price.
It's still more than $50 cheaper than the average price and scores very highly.
Check out the Score Breakdown For the Thirty Two TM Below
RATING | Contribution to Final Score | |
|---|---|---|
WATERPROOFING | 4.0 | 24/30 |
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 | 4.0 | 4/5 |
TOTAL after normalizing | 88/100 |
Thanks for Reading
I hope this post has helped you to find a reasonably priced jacket suitable for you.
If you know of any other jackets at a reasonable price that you think deserve to be in this list feel free to mention it in the comments below.
Hey Nate! I just got the DC Palomar jacket. I usually wear a M on my snowboard jackets. I tried this one today and fits a bit big and it’s a M. I’m afraid if I exchange for a S it won’t fit me at all. This M has plenty of room to move about. Sleeves are long, is this normal?
Do DC jackets run bigger than other brands on market?
Thanks for feedback.
Fermin
Hi Fermin
Thanks for your message.
I don’t think DC jackets necessarily run bigger, but shell jackets often do feel that way – as they often allow for room to layer underneath. In my experience shell jackets tend to feel a little bigger than insulated jackets. But maybe you’ve had shell Ms in the past that are smaller than this one?
First off, Thank you for your help! Found this resource a few days ago and it really helped me rapidly get up to speed to make a educated Snowboard purchase along with some well needed gear.
My question – do you get any incentives from manufactures based on what items make the list? We all have different motivations and I am sure that you have to eat as well 🙂
Hi Adam
Thanks for your message.
No, no incentives from manufacturers. I do make a commission on sales when people click through my links and end up buying (which of course doesn’t add anything to your cost) but definitely no incentives from manufacturers. I do limit the number of brands that I look at – just because otherwise it would be too arduous to do all the brands, but I still try to get a good range in.
Cheap jackets going at 250 dollars? 🙂
Funny.
I know! But that’s snowboard jackets for you.
Relative to the average price of snowboard jackets (averaging close to $300 for the jackets I looked at and some well in excess of $600!), under $250 is pretty good, especially for something that’s got decent waterproofing/breathability and typical functionality for a snowboard jacket. But yeah, I get how $250 for a jacket can sound funny when it’s referred to as cheap!
Also $250 is the max here, there are plenty on this list that are less than that too.
Nate,
Although it’s technically not a snowboarding jacket (labeled as a ski jacket), the Elevation from Canadian company Eira is a fantastic jacket and a great value. I purchased mine for $150, but I’ve seen it as low as $75 on The Clymb. It features 20K waterproofing and 20K breathability, and all the bells and whistles like powder skirt, compression wrist cuffs, tons of pockets, fully-taped seams, etc.
Wow! That’s a great price for a jacket with those specs. You must have gotten a great deal on it. I haven’t had any experience with Eira but from quick research, the Elevation looks like a great jacket. It was $269 recommended price where I looked but down to $121 – always worth shopping around a few different stores to see if you can get the deals for things like this.
I guess when it comes to jackets there’s nothing really to distinguish ski and snowboard – in fact a lot of jackets are labelled as both.