The Best North Face Jacket for Skiing (Our Honest Opinion)
The North Face is one of the most prominent outdoor apparel brands out there. They have a range of clothing suited to all outdoor scenarios, including snow. If you’re looking for a ski jacket, The North Face has a number of great options to consider.
The North Face has several great jackets purpose-built for skiing. Jackets like the Clement, ThermoBall, and Chakal boast all the features you need when skiing. The North Face’s rain jackets can also be used instead as long as they have a few of the most important listed features.
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What Makes a Good Ski Jacket?
Before buying a ski jacket, it’s a good idea to know what makes for a good ski jacket. There are several features skiers should look out for that can set a great ski jacket apart from a regular outdoor jacket. While there are many extra features, people, like a ski or snowboarding jacket, these are some of the best and most important ones to look out for:
- One of the most important features of a ski jacket is its waterproof outer. This will help keep you dry and warm even if it's snowing.
- Helmet-compatible hoods are highly recommended. They can help keep your neck and head warm and dry while still giving freedom to wear a helmet.
- Ventilation zips aid sweat evaporating from your body keeping you cool despite all the weatherproofing and insulation of a good jacket. These are typically found under the armpits.
- Snow skirts are used to keep snow and powder from coming up into your jacket from the bottom. These are great in the event of bail or on heavy powder days.
- Long sleeves and collars are another way a good ski jacket can help keep snow from entering and undoing all the hard work the rest of the jacket is doing to keep you warm.
- A lift pass pocket on your arm. This isn’t a hugely important feature, but it sure does help anyone skiing at a resort. These are usually best on your left arm.
- Protective pockets on the inner lining are great for keeping items like wallets and phones safe and dry.
Best North Face Jackets
The North Face has several excellent purpose-built ski jackets to consider. Besides these, there are others that boast some of the features listed above that are also good for skiing. Let’s go over some of the best of the bunch.
1. The North Face Clement Triclimate
The Clement Triclimate is our top pick. This jacket really has just about every feature you want from a good skiing jacket. It’s a two-layer jacket, comprising a waterproof outer and North Face’s Heatseeker Eco Insulation to help keep you dry and warm on the slopes.
The layered construction also lets you choose how to wear the jacket based on the weather. The outer shell is great for warmer, rainy days. The inner is perfect for a cold winter day without rain. And of course, double up on layers for those colder days. The North Face gives the Clement Triclimate a two out of three rating for its warmth, but a full three out of three for both waterproofing and windproofing! These are excellent for most wintery conditions.
2. The North Face ThermoBall Eco-Snow
The ThermoBall Eco-Snow Triclimate is second on our list, and you might be able to tell why. This jacket is very similar to our top pick, with only a few differences between the two.
The ThermoBall boasts all the same great features as the Clement, with a few extra additions. The ThermoBall does come in at a higher cost, so the Clement feels like better value for money. The ThermoBall comes with the same ratings for warmth, waterproofing, and windproofing as the Clement.
3. The North Face Chakal
Another dedicated ski jacket is The North Face Chakal. Unlike the previous two jackets, the Chakal is a one-piece jacket. The Chakal offers all the great features needed for a good ski jacket, but with a set of more exciting colorways than the previous two jackets. This makes the Chakal great for anyone wanting to ski with a bit of flair.
As the Chakal is a one-layer jacket, there isn’t as much leeway in terms of the weather it suits, although there are ventilation pockets to help stay cool on warmer days.
4. The North Face Carto
The North Face Carto is the first jacket on our list that isn’t technically a ski jacket, but it does have some of the features you’d need on the slopes. The Carto features a waterproof outer and insulating inner jacket to keep you warm and dry. If the Carto can keep the rain out, it'll keep the snow out. You’ll miss out on some specialized features like a helmet-compatible hood and a powder skirt, but you will save some cash in return.
5. The North Face Arrowood Triclimate
The North Face Arrowood is another rain jacket that will have you covered on the slopes, albeit it isn’t a great option for very cold climates. The Arrowood features your typical water and windproof outer construction, with a warm insulating inner jacket. Another perk of the Arrowood not being a dedicated ski jacket is that you can buy it for much cheaper than the other jackets on this list.
Can You Use North Face Jackets for Skiing & Snowboarding?
Absolutely you can! The North Face has a number of dedicated ski jackets, but many of their jackets are suitable for snow conditions. They may lack one or two of the features we went over, but that doesn’t discredit their quality when it comes to skiing.
Recap This Article
The North Face makes some excellent dedicated ski jackets, but for those willing to expand their search to include some of their other offerings there are great options. Our favorite is the Clement Triclimate as it has everything you could ask for in a good ski jacket.
Just be sure to look out for the features we listed above to make sure you stay warm and dry the next time you hit the slopes in a North Face jacket. Out of all the features, waterproofing and insulation are the most crucial for very cold regions.
About Us
Hello, I'm Simon & I love skiing. I started skiing in 2007 and I founded this website to help new skiers learn everything there is to know about skiing. NewToSki.com has grown to be a trusted resource for over a million skiers to plan their ski trips each year and learn more about every aspect of skiing. Be sure to join my email list for the best tips and handpicked deals each week.
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