A ski jacket is an essential for your ski or snowboard trip. Yes, you can ride with a normal jacket, if you absolutely HAVE TO. But trust me when I say a good ski jacket makes the whole experience so much more enjoyable.
And yes, ski jackets can be expensive. In fact, premium ski jackets can easily clock in at over £200 or more.
But fear not. If you’ve lined up a trip to the mountains this winter season and you’re in serious need of a new ski jacket that doesn’t cost more than your lift pass, we’ve got you.
We’ve picked our favourite budget ski jackets, packed with all the essential technical features you need, for pocket money prices. That means more money for fondue and apres ski, right?
How to choose a budget ski jacket
In order to find the best options for budget ski jackets, we’ve made sure they stick to the following criteria.
- Insulated jackets
- 10k waterproofing
- 10k breathability
- All the snow sports essentials such as lift pass pockets, snow skirts and air vents
We’ve also tried to keep the price to under £100, or thereabouts, and we’ve gone for trustworthy brands. By this we mean a brand that actually has a customer service phone number, or that you might have actually heard of.
We’ve also tried to list male and female ski jackets here when possible.
OK, so which are the best budget ski jackets for this season.
1. Wed’ze FR100
First up, French budget sports giants Decathlon bring their A-game with this very high value but low price ski jacket. The FR in the title stands for ‘freeride’ and this jacket is made for serious off-piste action. Which also means it’ll be great for casual skiers and snowboarders looking to stay warm and dry.
The FR100 features 10k waterproofing (meaning you’ll stay dry if it gets seriously rainy or snowy), and there all the pockets, air vents and taped seams you need too.
As far as budget ski jackets go, we rate Wed’ze pretty highly. In fact, if you’re looking for reliable quality at the budget end of the ski jacket market, sticking with Decathlon is a solid move.
Whats more, the mens FR100 is just £69.99 from Decathlon. Which is currently discounted from the full price of £89.99.
The ladies version of the same jacket is even more of a bargain, at £64.99 at Decathlon.
2. Coal Heavenly 3L/Gannett 3L
This is a very high spec ski and snowboard shell jacket, currently heavily discounted as of 2024. In fact, this is a serious piece of kit on paper, although I’ve never actually tried out Coal snow gear mysefl.
Both the Coal Heavenly 3L (mens) and Gannett 3l (womens) jacket comes equipped with 20k waterproofing for those serious off-piste and freeride adventurers, plus 15k breathability. While it is a shell jacket, meaning you’ll need to layer up underneath, the performance specs are the kind of tech details you’d expect on something packing Gore-Tex. In addition to the specs, the Coal Heavenly 2L is made with 50% recycled materials, ticking boxes on the eco-friendly front.
Reviews are all very favourable too, and we think this is a cool jacket for sure.
Pick up the Coal Heavenly 3L at Blue Tomato for just £90 right now….
The womens equivalent is the Coal Gannett 3L, which features very similar specs. And it’s even cheaper at £70 on Blue Tomato.
3. Dare2B ARED 20/30 Ski Jackets
British ski brand Dare2B are pretty much everywhere these days, but there’s a reason for that. They make technically sound ski jackets at a very attractive price point. And the Dare2B Baseplate is a solid example of their commitment to the budget end of the ski wear market, with a feature packed ski jacket.
The Baseplate is an insulated ski jacket that comes in a funky and stylish colourway, and uses their Ared 20/30 fabric, which is designed for maximum waterproofing and breathability.
It’s got all the essential ski features including snow skirt, pass pockets, not to mention a fleece lined interior.
The womens version, the Ice Ski, features all the same features and is also an insulated ski jacket, meaning less requirements for base layers.
The Dare2B Baseplate is available from £78.00 for men from Dare2B. The Ice Ski (womens) is £54!
4. Columbia Budget Shell Jackets
While we’re at the higher end of the budget snowsports wear here, Columbia are definitely worth a closer look. Their shell jackets for skiing and snowboarding are great technical jackets, with some of the features you’d expect on more premium ski apparel.
For men, the Iceberg Point is an excellent jacket for riders looking for lightweight yet high performance gear. It features Columbia’s own Omni-Heat thermal insulation, as well as under-arm vents, taped seams, a snow skirt and all the pockets you need.
For women, the Ava Alpine packs all the same features with a more feminine profile, as well as a fur lined hood.
Best prices for the Iceberg Point mens ski jacket is £104 on Amazon UK.
The Ava Alpine womens ski jacket starts from £119 on Amazon UK.
5. Adidas Terrex Gore-Tex Snow Jacket
Sportswear brand Adidas are obviously known for their street style. But with their new Terrex branding, they’re bringing their flair for both great sports wear and fashion to the snowy slopes.And what’s more, despite the relatively high list price, you can actually grab their snow jackets for an absolute steal.
Just as an example, we’ve picked the womens MYSHELTER 2-layer ski jacket and the mens 3-layer Gore-Tex Terrex jackets. Both are made with recycled fabrics, contain all the features you need including high quality waterproofing and breathability, wrapped up in a cool looking insulated jacket that will look hot on those freezing slopes.
The womens MYSHELTER ski jacket has a Gore-Tex active shell and is available for £80 at Sports Direct in the UK. The mens MYSHELTER Gore-tex jacket is just £123.50, also at Sports Direct.
6. Quiksilver/Roxy Ski Jackets
Surf brand Quiksilver and their ladieswear line Roxy have actually had a strong line of fresh and stylish ski wear for a good few years. And as well as their stylish looks, they’re also feature packed and very affordable. We’ve picked our favourite options from the line up this year, with the ladies Presence Parka from Roxy offering simple colourways, underarm vents and ample insulation, as well as quality waterproofing and breathability.
Guys will find the Mission jacket a solid option, with 10k waterproofing, all your essentials such as pass pockets and mesh vents and a choice of bold but stylish colours.
Grab the Roxy Presence Parka from £105 on Amazon. The mens version, the Quiksilver Mission jacket, is currently just £97 on Amazon UK.
Need More Winter Gear Guides…?
If you’re looking for the best advice to get the most out of your ski or snowboard trip, you’re in the right place. Get your full list sorted with our ski trip packing list.
Get the lowdown on budget ski goggles, and budget ski trousers and salopettes.
Looking for more ski jackets? Check out our snowboard brands guide, or read our write up of premium brand Picture Organic.
Excellent review! Some really nice jackets here, I’ll have to check them out for next season. Kudos!