The short answer: The best running jacket depends entirely on what you're running in. Wind and cold call for the Patagonia Houdini, Arc'teryx Squamish, Rab Vital Hoody, or Black Diamond Distance Wind Shell. Sustained rain demands
Jackets
Whether you’re tackling backcountry trails, carving powder, or enduring alpine storms, the right jacket can make or break your adventure. Our reviews dive deep into the best jackets and technical outerwear from trusted brands like Arc'teryx and Patagonia, helping you find the perfect balance of performance, durability, and comfort for your adventures.
Most Popular Coverage
Arc’teryx Beta vs Beta AR vs Beta SL (Plus Beta SV)
Even in mid-summer it gets cold and windy at the summit of Colorado's famed 14ers. Karen chose the Beta AR Jacket for her summit of Mount Columbia. Heads up: Several Arc’teryx men’s and women’s ski and
Best Patagonia Jackets (2026 Guide): Temperature Ratings, Uses & Top Picks
Patagonia makes some of the best jackets on the market — but choosing the right one depends on how you plan to use it. In this guide, we break down our testing and reviews of the
Best Arc’teryx Jacket | Temperature ratings + much more
Standing on the summit of a Colorado 14er during a 3-day backpacking trip. From left, the Arc'teryx Cerium, Arc'teryx Alpha Lightweight, and Arc'teryx Beta SL. Heads up: Several Arc’teryx men’s and women’s ski and ride shells
Temperature Ratings of Jackets (Quick cheatsheet)
Summary Most outdoor apparel companies say that providing temperature ratings for their jackets isn't possible. And to be fair, they're not incorrect. There are tons of fluid parameters that are difficult, if not impossible, to measure.
Best Arc’teryx Ski Jacket: 2026 Freeride, Backcountry, Touring & Resort options
Just some of the Arc'teryx shells we've tested for skiing and snowboarding. Heads up: Several Arc’teryx men’s and women’s ski and ride shells and pants are seeing rare markdowns — up to 40% off on select current-season
Arc’teryx Proton vs Atom | How to decide + our temperature ratings
The available lineup of men's Arc'teryx Proton and Atom jackets varies throughout the year depending on season. It can include the Proton Hybrid Hoody, Proton Hoody, Proton Heavyweight Hoody, Atom Heavyweight Hoody, Atom Hoody, and Atom
Patagonia Nano Puff vs Micro Puff Review: How to decide
The more matte 20d fabric of the blue Patagonia Nano Puff vs the Micro Puff and its 10-denier face fabric in green Our bottom line: Nano Puff vs Micro Puff We like the versatility of the
Insulated Jackets
Patagonia Grade VII Parka Review (2026)
The Warmest Jacket Patagonia Makes—And Why It Matters in the Alpine. Not all insulated jackets are built for the same purpose. Some are designed for movement, others for everyday winter use, and a smaller category is
The Best Down Jackets of 2026
Below we’ve grouped our picks for the best down jacket so you can match warmth, weight and packability to your needs. We do our best to give you choices and include a few brands that may
Patagonia Hi-Loft Nano Puff Hoody Review: A Synthetic Heavyweight
When Patagonia dropped the Hi-Loft Nano Puff, it felt like their answer to the common question: Can you get down-sweater warmth without down? Clear, cold, and windy. The Hi-Loft Nano Puff Hoody comes into play when
Arc’teryx Atom SV Hoody Review: Warmth for Harsh Alpine Conditions
The Fall 2025 Arc'teryx Atom SV is available in five colors for men, including Black Sapphire. Heads up: Several Arc’teryx men’s and women’s ski and ride shells and pants are seeing rare markdowns — up to 40%
Patagonia Nano-Air Ultralight Review: Breathable Warmth for High-Output Adventures
Patagonia stripped down its Nano-Air jacket to create an ultralight shell for high-output activities while still providing a touch of warmth. I find it to be an impressive layer when I need something to block the
First look: The 2025 Arc’teryx Proton SL Hoody
The 2025 Proton SL Hoody is available in three colors for men, including Dynasty. We've got great news for fans (and future fans) of Arc'teryx's lightest-weight version of the uber-comfortable, uber-versatile Proton insulated hoody: it's officially
Arc’teryx Cerium vs Cerium SV: How to choose 2026
The Cerium Hoody in Rune (left) and the Cerium SV Hoody in Black Sapphire (right) may come from the same product collection, but they're distinct jackets in almost every way. Arc’teryx’s Cerium line of jackets and
Stio Hometown Down Hooded Jacket Review
The Stio Hometown Down jacket features technical construction and ample comfort to be considered as your go-to winter down jacket. Stio was born in the shadows of the Teton mountains in Jackson Hole, Wyoming, and the
Arc’teryx Fissile SV Down Jacket review | A down-insulated oven for skiers
Heads up: Several Arc’teryx men’s and women’s ski and ride shells and pants are seeing rare markdowns — up to 40% off on select current-season styles. Here's what's still available in men's and women's markdowns at Arcteryx.com. The all-new Arc'teryx Fissile
Hard Shell Jackets
Patagonia Torrentshell 3L Review: The Best All-Around Rain Jacket Under $200
We tested the Patagonia Torrentshell 3L in high-alpine conditions and numerous storms to see if it lives up to its reputation. The result is a comfortable, versatile rain shell that performs well both on trail and around
Arc’teryx Norvan Jacket Review: GORE-TEX Weather Protection at Trail Running Weight
Bottom Line: The Arc'teryx Norvan is the most breathable, lightest waterproof running jacket I've tested. The hood has some fit issues, and it's genuinely expensive — but if you do serious time in the mountains or
Arc’teryx Alpha vs Beta: I own ALL six models of Winter ’24
Y'all know this is just my opinion... right? Heads up: Several Arc’teryx men’s and women’s ski and ride shells and pants are seeing rare markdowns — up to 40% off on select current-season styles. Here's what's still
Arc’teryx Beta vs Beta AR vs Beta SL (Plus Beta SV)
Even in mid-summer it gets cold and windy at the summit of Colorado's famed 14ers. Karen chose the Beta AR Jacket for her summit of Mount Columbia. Heads up: Several Arc’teryx men’s and women’s ski and
Arc’teryx Rush vs Sabre: How to choose between Arc’teryx’s top-end 2026 ski jackets
For all-around performance no matter the conditions, it's hard to beat Arc'teryx's Sabre SV jacket. But some of its high-end specifications may be overkill for many skiers and snowboarders. Heads up: Several Arc’teryx men’s and women’s
Stio Environ Jacket review: A full-featured ski shell to slay resort days
Rocking the full Stio Environ kit during a cold January day at Copper Mountain, Colorado. I expect three things from a full-featured ski shell: weatherproof performance for whatever Mother Nature throws my way, dependable durability for
Ski & Snowboard
Stio Figment Freeride Shell Review: A Burly Resort Ski Jacket That Delivers
The Stio Figment freeride shell stands out as one of the top relaxed-fit jackets I've tested. It combines a genuinely tough build with thoughtful features and a modern freeride fit that looks as good as it
Arc’teryx Rush Jacket and Bib Review
The Arc'teryx Rush jacket and pants featuring Gore-Tex Pro are constructed to be a lightweight, waterproof, and breathable kit for the backcountry. We took them to Arc'teryx's backyard in British Columbia for some real-world testing during
Arc’teryx Fissile SV Down Jacket review | A down-insulated oven for skiers
Heads up: Several Arc’teryx men’s and women’s ski and ride shells and pants are seeing rare markdowns — up to 40% off on select current-season styles. Here's what's still available in men's and women's markdowns at Arcteryx.com. The all-new Arc'teryx Fissile
Arc’teryx Rush vs Sabre: How to choose between Arc’teryx’s top-end 2026 ski jackets
For all-around performance no matter the conditions, it's hard to beat Arc'teryx's Sabre SV jacket. But some of its high-end specifications may be overkill for many skiers and snowboarders. Heads up: Several Arc’teryx men’s and women’s
Best Arc’teryx Ski Jacket: 2026 Freeride, Backcountry, Touring & Resort options
Just some of the Arc'teryx shells we've tested for skiing and snowboarding. Heads up: Several Arc’teryx men’s and women’s ski and ride shells and pants are seeing rare markdowns — up to 40% off on select current-season
Stio Environ Jacket review: A full-featured ski shell to slay resort days
Rocking the full Stio Environ kit during a cold January day at Copper Mountain, Colorado. I expect three things from a full-featured ski shell: weatherproof performance for whatever Mother Nature throws my way, dependable durability for
Patagonia Stormstride Jacket review: Testing the backcountry-focused ski shell
The Patagonia Stormstride is a backcountry ski jacket made for high-output ski touring. The Patagonia Stormstride series is the brand's most breathable jacket and pants for ski touring. The Stormstride jacket offers a three-layer waterproof fabric
Patagonia Powder Town Review: Jacket, Insulated Jacket, Pants & Bibs
Todd wearing the Patagonia Powder Town Insulated jacket and pants for a full day on sleds in the backcountry. The Patagonia Powder Town line is designed to be a durable, weather-protective ski system for resort riders
StormHood vs DropHood
The difference between StormHood and DropHood is that with the DropHood the hood is separated from the collar, whereas with the StormHood the hood and collar are sewn and move together. About less than 5-10% of
Temperature Ratings of Jackets (Quick cheatsheet)
Summary Most outdoor apparel companies say that providing temperature ratings for their jackets isn't possible. And to be fair, they're not incorrect. There are tons of fluid parameters that are difficult, if not impossible, to measure.
Mammut Stoney HS | Mammut’s softest ski jacket
With a premium feel and construction that shows attention to detail, the Mammut Stoney HS jacket is one of the best hard shell ski jackets we've tested this winter. The Mammut Stoney HS jacket is the
Powder skirt: What is it and do you need one on your ski jacket?
A powder skirt (also known as a snow skirt) is a common feature on ski jackets. What is it? Do you need one? Here is some information to help you decide. The Arc'teryx Sabre Jacket, one
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