Introduction
Knowing the right fabrics and constructions for a winter jacket can definitely bring about better performance, comfort, and safety on the slopes. It will keep you from overspending and buying things that really aren't necessary. Quite simply, if you only ski resorts—not backcountry at all, no parks —you may not need a 3-layer Gore-Tex winter jacket.
On that note, we have pointed out some key features to consider that will best allow you to make the right decisions while shopping for a winter jacket for skiing.
Table of content
Popular Materials Used in Winter Jacket
You usually have two popular options for the shell material: polyester and nylon. Though the thickness of the shell, weave, and yarn thickness all come to play, really the most basic differences between these two fabrics are rather simple. Before we get into the advanced fabric, let's get familiar with these two.
Polyester
Polyester is a synthetic fabric made from polymer fibers. This results in a go-to fabric for making nearly every type of garment.
It's a real champ, offering good strength and resistance to shrinking, stretching, and mildew—traits that make it an excellent choice for winter jackets. Polyester can be both waterproof and rugged when woven tightly, but most winter jackets and pants, especially for skiing and snowboarding, still require a DWR or laminate to seal the deal.
Nylon
The fabric is exceptionally hard-wearing, with high resistance and low absorbency, making it very easy to dye and clean—therefore a favorite among outdoor adventurers. However, despite the main advantages of nylon fabrics in outerwear, it is very often treated with an additional coating to enhance the protective qualities.
Nylon generally has abrasion resistance superior to other materials, but it is "hydrophilic" in nature—it can absorb water.
Winter Jacket - Skiing & Snowboarding - Polyester
Winter Jacket - Skiing & Snowboarding - Nylon
✨Difference between Polyester and Nylon
Polyester, on the other hand is “hydrophobic” – meaning that it inherently resists absorbing water. Polyester is also more resistant to UV damage. The downside of polyester is that it’s not as abrasion-resistant as nylon.
Dermizax™ by Toray Industries is a high-performance fabric, ideal for winter jackets and sportswear. Among the distinctive features of Dermizax™ comes its incomparable combination of waterproofing and breathability with stretchability.
The Membrane: At the heart of GORE-TEX technology is an extremely thin membrane. This membrane contains over 9 billion tiny pores—about 20,000 times smaller than a water droplet and 700 times larger than a moisture vapor molecule. This means liquid water can't penetrate the membrane, whereas moisture vapor can pass through and reach the outside, thereby keeping you dry and comfortable.
Laminate: Well, here's one of the cool things about GORE-TEX: it is essentially a laminate. This means that its membrane is bonded to the primary fabric—usually some synthetic like nylon—to create a type of "sandwich" effect. GORE-TEX winter jackets have varying fabric constructions like three-layer and two-layer designs, in which the membrane is bonded to fabrics from either side for added durability, bonded on one side but has a liner from the other side, to add warmth when required. You will either have an insulated or uninsulated version based on your requirements.
So, as we all learn that the outer shell of most winter jackets will be made from nylon or polyester that has been treated with a Durable Water Repellency (DWR) coating.
These winter jackets are also insulated with a synthetic filling normally made from made from polyester fibres.
Synthetic Insulation
It is usually made of raw or recycled polyester, structured after the down to gain warm air for insulation, and it is also a cost-friendly material. However, since this synthetic material is not as delicate as down, it doesn't compress that much, so one needs more of it to have the same warmth, making the clothing heavier and bulkier. The major advantage of synthetic insulation, however, is that it does retain its insulating ability even after getting wet or being humid. It also dries faster, therefore easy to wash, and the polyester fibers are more robust than down.
PrimaLoft is a synthetic microfibre insulation developed in the 1980s for the U.S. Army. Unlike down, it does not allow the insulation properties to be destroyed by water, as PrimaLoft manages to retain 96% of its warmth when wet. It is thus considered equivalent to a synthetic down, guaranteeing high insulation and compressibility under cold, wet conditions.
Thinsulate is a brand of synthetic fiber thermal insulation used in clothing . Like most insulation materials, the gaps between fibers not only reduce heat flow, but also allow moisture to escape . Plus, it's lightweight and doesn't add bulk. You'll find Thinsulate in winter jackets, boots, and mittens.
3M Thinsulate Featured Products
Types of Waterproof Fabric Layered Construction
2 Layer - The Original
This system consists of a nylon outer fabric (generally with a DWR) bonded to a waterproof/breathable (WP/BR) laminate, with a lining that protects the laminate and prevents direct skin contact. Seam taping prevents water and wind from penetrating the seams but does not allow breathability. This construction is common due to its lower cost and ease of design, especially for insulating garments. And it would feel softer and more comfortable than 3L.
3 Layer - The Premium Choice
3L jackets have three layers: a nylon face fabric with a DWR, a WP/BR laminate, and a tricot layer on the inside. There is no lining to increase breathability and slash weight with better durability. However, advanced materials and complex construction make 3L garments very pricey. It's more durable, lighter, and cleaner. More backcountry riders choose a 3L shell winter jacket as their first choice.
3L garments do not have any lining in their construction and thus are generally shells.
Advanced Skin Warm Insulation
This technology focuses on keeping winter jacket warmth while remaining breathable, necessary for comfort in varying conditions. It would also let moisture out to keep you dry during winter outdoor sports.
Seam Sealing
Seam sealing is what really makes the whole garment waterproof. It essentially seals off the water entry by laying waterproof tape on all the seams that join two fabrics together. One of the indications that attest to a high-quality winter jacket for skiing would be neat, properly aligned seam sealing. The poorly done seam sealing, usually found in winter jackets of poor quality, is most likely to give way to waterproofing and lower overall performance.
Ventilation
The other critical aspect that a skiing winter jacket has is ventilation, which allows the escape of heat from the jacket to let the body temperatures be regulated. This would be important to people who tend to spend all day doing ground tricks, park moves, or riding intensively. For a beginner, ventilation might not be an issue since they may not work that hard. The most prevalent ventilation options are underarm vents, also known as pit zips and mesh-lined vents that open and close as need be. More winter jackets for skiing have additional vents either on the sides or at the back, while pants now frequently have vents rather than inner-thigh openings. These ventilation systems otherwise circumvent overheating to keep you comfortable.
2L Featured Products - 2L Winter Jacket Bestsellers in 2024
3L Featured Products - 3L Winter Jacket Bestsellers in 2024
Summary
Winter jackets primarily use either polyester or nylon shells, where polyester is water-resistant and strong, and nylon provides higher abrasion resistance but is water-absorbing. Higher performing materials include Gore-Tex and DermizaxTM, both of which provide extremely high performance in waterproofing and breathability.
Synthetic insulations—such as PrimaLoft and 3M Thinsulate—stay warm when wet, so they do pretty well in cold, wet conditions.
