10 top tips for buying a ski jacket

1. Waterproof:  it sounds obvious but you need a fabric that will keep the wet snow out and keep you dry.  Look for fabrics with a waterproof rating of 15k-20k mm.  Gore-Tex is the market leader, but there are plenty of other fabrics out there that perform almost as well.  Also consider when you will wear the jacket.  If you wear it aside from skiing then it will need to perform in rainy conditions too so a higher rating is more vital.
2. Breathability:  this is the key feature in all your ski clothing.  You will inevitably sweat so you must wear clothing that will transport the sweat away from your body. Look for fabrics with a breathability rating of 10k–15k grams.
3. Taped seams: your jacket fabric may be waterproof, but check for taped seams and waterproof zips to ensure there are no weak points.
4. Vents: Pit Zips: a really handy feature to release trapped hot air and let in some cool air to circulate around your skin.  Lift up the arm of the jacket and check to see if there are underarm zips that you can undo.
5. High Collar. When you are sitting on that chair lift heading up the hill, the wind can be bitter and there is no better feeling than being able to tuck your chin, mouth and nose into the cosy protection of your zipped up jacket.
6. Hood: make sure that it fits comfortably over your helmet.  Some jackets have removable hoods rather than fixed.
7. Pockets Galore.  Picture the kit you take with you on the slopes.  Do you need a goggle pocket?  Camera or phone storage?  Room for a hat?  Chocolate rations?  More than this and you ought to consider a rucksack!  One handy pocket feature to look out for is a lift pass pocket built into the sleeve, as most lifts are now operated electronically.  All you need to do is wave your sleeve across the sensor to gain access, saving you fumbling for your pass each time with the queue cursing behind you!
8. Snow skirt.  If you are lucky enough to find yourself creaming through the powder an elasticated snow skirt inside the bottom of your jacket will stop the snow creeping up inside.  If you’re not quite a powder hound yet you’ll still be thankful for it when you wipe out and find yourself sliding through a mound of snow.  If you have children make sure their jackets have this feature, as they love to roll in the snow!
9. Sleeve gaiters: another sneaky spot for snow to creep up is the open sleeves of your jacket.  Some jackets have an inner sleeve that hooks down over your thumb.  These are not essential, but do check you have a good overlap with long sleeves and the gauntlet of your gloves.
10. Design and Colour: of course this is the feature that first attracts you to the jacket in the shop.  Bright jackets are useful for spotting you on the slopes, which helps if you are skiing with friends or family.  Then again if you wear your jacket off piste as well, you might want to consider what is acceptable in your local pub!  If this is the case maybe go for a ‘safer’ colour on your jacket, and brighter ski pants.

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