If you’ve been anywhere near a ski slope in the past few years, you can’t have missed Dope Snow. Their jackets and apparel are literally everywhere, with their sister brand Montec also being very visible.
And also, if you spend any time on internet forums, you might also notice that there is quite a bit of Dope Snow bashing going on. So, we’ve taken a deep look at Dope Snow and Montec, and we’re gonna dig deep and review Dope Snow apparel to find out if it’s actually fast fashion nonsense or good quality ski wear.
Full disclaimer: While we received items for this review, this is entirely our own take on Dope Snow and Montec, with no paid placement or affiliate links within the article.
First up.
Who owns Dope Snow?
The Dope Snow and Montec brands are both owned by the Swedish online retailer Ridestore. Founded in 2006 by brothers Linus and Emil Hellberg, Ridestore and the apparel brands all remain independently owned.
While Dope Snow and Montec are both owned by the same company, they do offer a very similar styling and build quality. Dope Snow is aimed more at the style conscious rider and Montec is designed as a more technical brand – for more demanding skiers and snowboarders.
With that being said, in our experience with the products the differences are actually fairly minimal between the two brands, as we’ll see shortly.
Is Dope Snow a legit brand?
Yes, Dope Snow and Montec are both proper ski and snowboard brands providing – from what I’ve experienced – high quality apparel. Because they sell mostly from their own internet shop and aren’t usually available in retail stores, people are sometimes worried about the quality of the final product, but as we shall see in our Dope Snow review below, this doesn’t need to be the case.
While there are a lot of cheap snowboard jacket brands, Dope Snow might offer affordable gear, but as we’ll see, they’re not cheap in quality.
Where are Dope Snow products shipped from?
Our order of Dope Snow and Montec products both shipped from Sweden to us here in the UK. Shipping was super quick, taking just a few days during December 2025 in the run up to the Christmas period.
Both our deliveries came with UPS which is much more reliable in the UK than some other snow brands I’ve dealt with.
Where are Dope Snow products made?
Our Dope Snow and Montect products were mostly made in China, which includes two jackets, ski pants, and a helmet. The ladies fleece we received was the only item which was made in Vietnam. All of our Dope Snow and Montec products are well made and have, so far, stood up to the rigours of a subzero degrees trip to the Swiss Alps and the demands of on-piste riding.
While people might think the Made in China tag is a sign of lower quality, the truth is that most high end brands also make their products in China. I have products made by Burton, Picture Organic and SunGod and these are all premium products which are also made in China. So, as far as the sign of quality goes, we’re on track for reliable.
Reviewing Dope Snow and Montec ski jackets and pants
For our recent trip to the Swiss Alps, we got our hands on several items from Ridestore’s brands including:
- Dope Snow Adept ski jacket (mens) (£183)
- Dope Snow Iconic ski pants (mens) (£157)
- Montec Morpehus womens ski jacket (£218)
- Dope Snow Comfy womens fleece (£61)
- Dope Snow x Bern Macon 2.0 ski helmet (£104)
I’ll do individual reviews for these items to look in more detail at their technical aspects. But let’s look at the overall build quality, feel and sizing of these Dope Snow jackets and pants.
Dope Snow vs Montec ski jackets – whats the real difference?
While the two brands look and feel similar, there are some key differences. Notably the technical performance of Montec ski jackets vs Dope Snow.
| Feature | Dope Snow (Adept) | Montec (Morpheus W) |
| Waterproofing | 15k | 20k |
| Material | DryTech (Soft, street-feel) | Shield-Tec (Ripstop, technical feel) |
| Venting | Meshed pit zips | Pit zips – no mesh |
| Insulation | 60g Body / 40g Sleeves | 60g Body / 40g Sleeves |
| Target market | All weather resort use | All mountain and storm riding |
On paper, as you can see the differences are slight, with Montec jackets offering slightly higher waterproofing and a more technical focused material finish.
The Dope Snow Adept is the quintessential resort jacket. It uses Dope’s “DryTech” shell, which feels soft and slightly more like streetwear than traditional “crunchy” mountain gear. It has a relaxed, slightly baggy fit that is designed for comfort and ease of movement.
I’m 5’11” with a 34″ waist and picked the size large which was perfect for me.
The Morpheus feels similar, but offers an extra step up in terms of “ruggedness.” It uses a ripstop shell fabric (Shield-Tec) that feels more durable and technical to the touch. The fit is still relaxed and very steezy like Dope, but it’s tailored to be slightly more functional for active riding. Like the Adept, it features body-mapped insulation, but Montec jackets tend to be designed as a one jacket solution for both the resort and the occasional slackcountry hike.
One big visible difference between my Adept and my girlfriend’s Morpheus is the pockets. The Adept has a couple of good sized pockets on the body, but the Morpheus goes one step further with an inside goggle pocket, perfect for those bigger items. Both of them feature a dedicated media pocket and the left arm pass pocket.
And as both of these jackets are insulated, you’ll keep warm and dry in both of these down to around -10c (14f). A good base layer is your friend though. A warm day north of 5c on the slopes and you will need to open those vents as it will get sticky…
Are Dope Snow/Montec jackets really waterproof and windproof?
Yes. In my review, I took my Dope Snow Adept jacket out into the depths of the British winter and into the Swiss Alps and the jacket most definitely stood up to the rigours of both.
In cold December British rain the Adept was both waterproof and solidly windproof too. Rain literally bounced off it and while on a blustery coastal walk, or rainy school run, the Adept kept me both properly dry and toasty – whilst also looking quite cool too (if I may say so myself).
During our visit to the Alps we unfortunately didn’t get any fresh snowfall to test the jacket. But with daytime temperatures dropping to -5 on the mountain, not to mention that wind, the Adept stood up. I was wearing a simple base layer and a relatively thin pullover under my Dope Snow Adept and I stayed perfectly warm while riding.
My partner, who was left to monitor our children at the ski school was wearing the Montec Morpheus with a base layer and Dope Snow Cosy fleece. She also found the insulating properties stood up to the no-less demanding scenario of standing in the shade at the resort with temperatures staying well below freezing.
What fit should you choose for Dope Snow apparel?
Both Dope Snow and Montec are designed to be a more baggy street style fit. However, we found that in terms of sizing it was all quite true to fit. For my sizing, at 5′ 11″ with a 34″ waist, I went for large for both the jacket and ski pants. The Iconic ski pants were slightly loose but the velcro waist straps and elasticated pull cords meant I could adjust accordingly and make sure my pants stayed up on the slopes (which they did).
My girlfriend went for the small in both the jacket and the fleece, again with both being a perfect fit. She’s about 5′ 4″ and a 28″ waist (UK size 10) and found both the Montec jacket and Dope Snow fleece to be a good fit.
Sustainability credentials
Another big factor for modern clothing brands, especially in ski and snowboard culture, is a focus on sustainability. The technical credentials for the Ridestore brands are solid. Both brands are bluesign system partners, meaning at least 90% of their outerwear fabrics meet the highest global standards for environmental and worker safety. Their gear is entirely PFAS-free, and roughly 90% of the polyester used is recycled from PET bottles.
Beyond materials, Ridestore is tackling the end-of-life problem head-on with their Renewed program. By refurbishing and reselling returned or slightly damaged gear, they’ve successfully diverted thousands of garments from landfills. For the user, this means gear that isn’t just stylish but ethically engineered. In short this is a brand that acknowledges the most sustainable jacket is the one that lasts for decades, not just one season.
And on a last point,
The TL;DR
Both Dope Snow and Montec offer very good quality with solid technical specs for demanding environments. The street styling also means that these jackets offer a relaxed fit which is well suited to being able to layer up and stay comfortable on the slopes, or in the resort.
Why do people hate Dope Snow?
If you spend any time on the social media side of ski or snowboarding, you will inevitably see someone slating Dope Snow and Montec. Much of this criticism stems from a misunderstanding of their business model and a defensive reaction from so-called purists. To me I’ve always found this to be a bit cringe and indicative of some kind of elitism or gatekeeping, especially in the snowboarding community.
One of the big criticisms is about perceived ‘fast fashion’, which in real terms is not a label that can be applied to Dope Snow or Montec. Both brands, like any other snow sports brand (pick any of them) follow a hybrid product cycle that combines permanent, ‘legacy’ models with seasonal colour refreshes and occasional new design drops.
Unlike traditional fast fashion brands that might scrap an entire collection every few months, Ridestore (the parent company) treats their gear more like tech products: they find a silhouette that works and refine it over several years. And, unlike true fast fashion, Dope Snow gear is technically rated and durable. While they focus on style, they use 15k/15k or 20k/20k waterproof/breathability membranes, specs that often outperform entry-level gear from legacy brands at a higher price point.
Another focus for the vocal minority is the association with beginners – especially in reference to ‘Jerrys’. Now, I am not a fan of this term and feel it’s just another example of the broader ‘othering’ of people in the modern world (a subject for another day). Putting it simply, a Jerry is someone who is inexperienced and maybe a bit clueless, usually behaving in an annoying manner. And it seems that US-focused ski culture particularly hates Jerrys and that Dope Snow, in the US at least, is associated with this cohort.
This elitism is, at the moment, mostly absent in Europe at the moment – thankfully. The truth is that by offering stylish, high-performing gear at a lower price, Dope Snow has made skiing and snowboarding more accessible to a younger, more diverse audience. Getting the gear can be expensive, so for those who don’t want to spend £500 on a Gore-Tex shell, Dope Snow offers stylish and affordable technical wear that will keep people warm and dry without breaking the bank.
Read more: Independent snowboard apparel brands.
Who wears Dope Snow?
Dope Snow sponsor world-class athletes like Jesper Tjäder and have a massive, active community of riders who help design the gear through direct feedback. They also back a roster of up and coming skiers and snowboarders – the Dope Snow athletes.
If you head to any European ski resort you’re going to see a lot of Dope Snow – because it’s basically a quality brand offering affordable apparel. My recent trip to Switzerland was awash with Dope Snow and Montec jackets on riders of all ability levels – from the guys popping side hits at speed to the learners and families.
Why Dope Snow is an excellent choice
Because they don’t sell in physical retail stores, they don’t have to pay a middleman like many other major brands. This is why a jacket with 20,000mm waterproofing costs significantly less than a similar jacket from a traditional snow sports brand.
Both Dope Snow and Montec gear is built to last, and sustainable too. So if you choose either ski jacket you’ll be rocking them for plenty of seasons to come.
