The Best Budget Ski Jackets Under $350 That Deliver Premium Performance

By the time you’ve paid for lift tickets, gas, tune-ups, and gear, skiing can feel downright prohibitive. You shouldn’t need a four-figure budget to stay comfortable on the mountain.

In helping our fellow editors at SKI test nearly 100 men’s and women’s ski jackets for the 2025/2026 season, we prioritized performance, protection, and value. These five budget ski jackets deliver all three—four of which are priced under $350, and one just slightly over that’s worth the extra cash.

Best Budget Ski Jackets: At a Glance

• Best Budget Ski Jacket Overall: Columbia Platinum Peak II 3L Shell $300)
• Most Versatile: Backcountry CrestCarver Jacket ($265)
• Most Luxurious: Bogner TAJO-T Jacket ($207)
• Best Features: Scott Vertic Ripstop 3 Layer Jacket ($228)
• Best Splurge: Outdoor Research Cloudchaser 3L Jacket ($385)

Best Budget Ski Jacket Overall

Columbia Platinum Peak II 3L Shell

$300 at REI (Men’s)

$300 at REI (Women’s)

$300 at Columbia (Men’s)

$300 at Columbia (Women’s)

Sizes: S-XXL
Insulation: None

Pros and Cons
+ Tailored fit
+ Flexible
– Fixed powder skirt

Made from 100 percent recycled polyester, the Columbia Platinum Peak 11 3L Shell is free of PFAS—but that doesn’t make it any less waterproof. The seam-sealed Omni-Tech waterproof and breathable membrane didn’t let a drop of precipitation inside, even in the wettest, snowiest conditions. “I wore this at Stowe while they were snowmaking under the lift and got absolutely blasted,” said one Vermont-based tester who logs 150 ski days per season. But, she added, “This piece kept me warm and dry.”

A touch of stretch gives this jacket full freedom of movement, a drop tail adds warmth and weather resistance, and pit zips dump heat when you work up a sweat. On blustery days when snow is blowing sideways, the roomy hood slides easily over a helmet to protect your head.

Intended for backcountry use, testers found that it’s just as equipped for skiing in bounds. We recommend it for everything from warm spring days to full storm cycles.

One note about the fit: This jacket is slimmer than Columbia’s typical boxy cut, but even without sizing up, we had enough room to layer a couple light puffies underneath and even a back protector.

Most Versatile Budget Ski Jacket

Backcountry CrestCarver Jacket

From $122 at Backcountry (Men’s)

From $157 at Backcountry (Women’s)

Sizes: S-XXL
Insulation: None

Pros and Cons
+ Thoughtful details, including lined pockets and chin guard
+ Sustainable materials
– Fiddly hem adjustment

With all the features of an over $500 jacket, this Gore-Tex jacket is bound to sell out fast. It checks all our boxes: wrist gaskets, lined hand pockets, pit zips, chin guard, and a helmet-compatible hood. It’s also free of forever chemicals, made with recycled face fabric, lining, and Gore’s ePE membrane.

Testers agreed that it’s ideal for lift rides and laps at the resort but not too heavy for stuffing in your pack on backcountry expeditions. “It’s light-feeling, has good movement, seems to breathe well for a shell fabric, and has a nice, clean, smooth feel,” said a Vermont-based tester. The light, fleecy liner was a big bonus on the bitter days.

We only had a couple small gripes: Cinch straps at the hem required both hands to operate, and the hood was a little too roomy even with a helmet on. Neither was a dealbreaker.

Most Luxurious Budget Ski Jacket

Bogner TAJO-T Jacket

$260 at RuLaLa

From $177 at Zappos

Sizes: S-XL
Insulation: Polyester

Pros and Cons
+ Luxury for a bargain
+ Wide warmth range
– Heavy
– Not waterproof, only water resistant

The Bogner Tajo-T is a Land Rover in terms of features and a Subaru when it comes to price. It’s noticeably more comfortable than your standard ski jacket but with all the technical capabilities you’d expect for a ski day. Instead of the usual slick nylon, a stretchy polyester lining is soft against the skin, even when we wore a T-shirt as a base layer on the warmest of ski days. Outside, the soft shell is rugged enough for tree runs. Testers agreed the bulk was worth its weight in all-day skiing.

One big bummer though is that it’s only water-resistant, not waterproof. We wouldn’t recommend wearing this when it’s actively precipitating or in big powder, but it’s perfect for dry days when you get a little drip on your shoulder from the lifts—and, for one tester, it was warm enough for sub-zero temps in the Canadian Rockies. Pit zips let the cool air in when you get sweaty, and thumb loops at the cuff and a light layer of synthetic insulation add coziness.

Best Features

Scott Vertic Ripstop 3-Layer Jacket

From $228 at Scott (Men’s)

From $228 at Scott (Women’s)

Sizes: XS-L
Insulation: None

Pros and Cons
+ Design details meet skiers’ needs
+ Smartly designed
+ Foolproof waterproofing
– Sizes run large

Scouting backcountry lines or waiting in line at the resort? The Scott Vertic Ripstop 3-Layer Jacket is good for both and so much more. One tester wore it in the pouring rain and full-blown blizzards, and was never betrayed by the breathable waterproofing. “When my ski buddies were soaked, I was dry, and I never felt clammy,” she praised.

While it’s not as stretchy as other shells, we still had free range of movement, even when we layered down layers and a base layer underneath. Pockets were placed in all the right places, including one on the sleeve for a ski pass, so we were never unzipping to find things. Underarm vents, a helmet-compatible hood, and powder skirt made it that much more compelling.

Lastly, skiers and riders alike loved the aesthetic for a wide range of conditions, from all-mountain to freeride. “There wasn’t any one thing that on its own made this shell great, it’s just a well-thought-out jacket,” one reported.

Best Slight Splurge

Outdoor Research Cloudchaser 3L Jacket

$385 at Backcountry (Men’s)

$385 at Backcountry (Women’s)

$385 at Outdoor Research (Men’s)

$385 at Outdoor Research (Women’s)

Sizes: XS- XL
Insulation: None

Pros and Cons
+ Freedom of movement
+ Plenty of pockets
– Limited feature-set

Just because the Cloudchaser is built for the skin track doesn’t mean you can’t take it to your resort vacation this winter. This waterproof and breathable three-layer shell is made from 100 percent recycled polyester and a recycled PET membrane. With a roomy fit, you can wear only a baselayer for backcountry touring missions, or suit up in a puffy underneath for stormy days.

Underarm zippers make venting easy, a two-way waterproof center zip keeps snow out, smartly placed pockets organize essentials, a fixed powder skirt keeps your bum warm, and the oversized hood is compatible with a helmet. In this case, when we say basic, it’s a compliment. “The jacket was basic, but it had everything I needed,” said an Idaho tester. “I never thought about my jacket. I could just focus on my line, which is what you want.”