Looking for a ski jacket or snowboard jacket, but no idea what to look for? In this video, our advisor Carolien gives you some useful tips to make your choice easier.

THIN HARDSHELL JACKET

These jackets are made of lightweight and very thin material. Gore-Tex material is often used for this. Gore-Tex is very waterproof and has a very high breathability, rain and snow can not penetrate and perspiration is perfectly disposed of.

HARDSHELL JACKET

Many jackets fall into the hardshell category. These jackets have a synthetic outer shell, which is water- and windproof. The jackets have light to very warm insulation.

SOFTSHELL JACKET

A softshell jacket is a very versatile jacket. Softshell material is supple and often slightly stretchy, which makes it comfortable to wear around the body. Breathability is the main issue with a softshell. A softshell is still very waterproof, but excels in breathability. Because of this, these jackets have a pleasant climate underneath. Ideal for the sunny and warmer winter sports days.

DOWN OR PUFFER JACKET

A Down jacket is a warm down-lined jacket, also called a Puffer jacket. By using synthetic or animal down, these jackets are very light and warm. Besides a high insulation value, down has the advantage of very high breathability, so it doesn't feel clammy at all.

WHAT DOES THE WATER COLUMN MEAN?

The water column indicates the water pressure that the outer shell of a pair of trousers can withstand. The higher the number, the more waterproof the trousers are. Water column is indicated in mm's, e.g. 5000mm/8000mm up to 28000mm for GORE-TEX garments.

WHAT DOES BREATHABILITY MEAN?

Breathability is expressed in number of grams (e.g. 5000gr/10000gr). The higher this value, the better the trousers can wick away perspiration.

TAPED SEAMS

To prevent moisture from penetrating through the seams of a jacket, the seams are often taped on the inside. In the cheaper coats, often only the critical seams are taped (shoulders, side), in the more expensive coats all the seams are taped.

SNOW GAITER

An elastic flap, which can be on the inside of a jacket. Often, this flap can be tightened around the waist with press studs or Velcro. This prevents snow and wind from getting under the jacket.

CONNECTABLE SNOW GAITER

Some snow gaiters have the possibility to be attached to ski trousers. Often with loops or a zip. This makes it really impossible for snow to get under the jacket or into the trousers.

HOOD

A good, adjustable hood is important to keep the body warm during icy winds or a heavy snowfall. Some jackets have a big enough hood that you can also wear a helmet underneath. On warm days, it may be pleasant to be able to remove the hood.

INNER CUFFS

Inner cuffs are stretch inner sleeves, which are located at the beginning of the sleeve. This prevents wind and snow from getting into the sleeves.

VENTILATION ZIPS

There are often zippered slots under the arms. By zipping these up, the body gets extra ventilation, ideal for the 'warm-blooded' skier. Often, these slits are lined with mesh to prevent snow from entering.