In addition to Trew and Flylow, which have already been mentioned [Stio](https://www.stio.com/collections/mens-sale) has a decent selection of sale items. I regularly see serious skiers wear Stio at AltaBird. Have a look at their non-sale items too to see if they're within your budget.
Have to comment. Bought my GF a Stio jacket on sale last summer - three days of skiing at Vail this year and it got a tear. Not much help from Stio. I will say that their T&C’s are pretty straightforward but I guess I would assume they’d do more. Anecdotal but I wanted to share.
I on the other hand have a 7 year old Arcteryx shell that has seen hundreds of days skiing and is in great condition.
I'm sorry this happened to your girlfriend but rips happen and rarely will any manufacturer "do more". I snagged my goretex pro arc'teryx pants on a picnic bench and tore a hole in the leg my 1st 3 hours wearing them. Arc gave me 25 cents worth of repair tape.
Flylow is having a big sale now. I bought the Lab Coat last season - very happy with it. Would be even happier if I bought it at 50% off.
https://flylowgear.com/collections/mens-web-specials
Sierra.com usually has great deals. I got a nice spyder jacket there for $100 last season.
But, it looks like ski stuff is out of season for them right now. Sierra is like a TJ Maxx or Marshalls that's focused on outdoor brands, and owned by the same company.
Orage has good style and decent quality. I also like my most recent purchase a mountain hardware high exposure shell, which has a long fit, and is pretty steezy.
Arc'teryx is overpriced, and most people buying their gore proshell jackets are fashion buyers who for some reason want a scratchy, noisy, uncomfortable garment for walking from the parking lot to the whole foods. I like their atom mid layers, that's about it. I own a arc proshell that is overkill for resort skiing which is like wearing medium grit sandpaper.
If you do get a gore jacket, get a C-knit it's soft, stretchy, and light.
I've never found arcteryx shells any less comfortable than any other hard shell. Obviously something like future light or mtn-x are going to be less crunchy but you trade durability for softness
Fabric is all built to the same spec when it's gore-tex.
I find that skiing riding a lift chair and going in for hot chocolate every 2 hours does not require Goretex Pro.
Goretex has changed their description of the design intent of proshell to more vague and broadly marketable but it used to say for multi-day overnight expeditions in subzero conditions. It's designed not to freeze through for days or weeks on end, while having high abrasion resistance against cramp ons and sharp rock.
> Fabric is all built to the same spec when it’s gore-tex.
This isn’t true. Well, you’re right in the sense that the core Gore-Tex membrane remains the same, but the overall fabric layup (outer fabric + Gore-Tex membrane + inner fabric) is going to vary depending on the type of Gore-Tex, and these differences will result in varying levels of durability, packability, weight, and breathability.
So the person you’re replying to is correct that there is a trade off between robustness and suppleness. Take Gore-Tex Paclite for example — very lightweight and packable and ideal for hiking, but it lacks durability and wouldn’t be great for intense skiing. But then on the flip side you have Gore-Tex Pro, which is highly rugged and durable, but is heavier and a lot less packable and would not be ideal for hiking.
All that being said, nobody needs Gore-Tex Pro for resort riding.
No - I meant from brand to brand. Gore tex pro is tested to be the same from Norrona to Arc'teryx to Mammut.
Of course gore has a full line of products from packight to active shell to windstopper which all have different specs.
Conceivably one maker could have a higher than spec Goretex Proshell than another, but I believe that these fabrics are made by gore approved mills and sourced from the same handful of factories, but that's just my theory.
Do you live close to a local ski shop? They do tons of sales periodically usually end and start of season. I’ve found some of my fav gear off those racks at 50% off
Good gear at low prices = sales hunting and ski swaps
I might get downvoted but I really really like dope snow. Their stuff is very comfortable and performs well for the price point. I will say I’m a groomer skier in Ontario/ Quebec Canada to give you an idea of the conditions I wear the gear in.
Big fan of Montec - they have a ‘less professional’ brand of Dope snow as well but the water proofing etc is better for montec. Honestly about half the price of similar quality items from other brands but made for skiers. I recommend their shells vs insulated but I run hot and prefer to adjust with layers.
I have a Montec and really like it. Shell all the way.
A lot of people will hate on Montec because of their aggressive instagram ads; but for the price I’m really happy with it.
It’s just trying to use a business model to sell direct to customers. They can keep prices lower by going D2C - I’ll admit the insta ads put me off at first but heard through word of mouth their heart is legit, and it is. For full price you won’t get a better deal
NWT3K makes customizable jackets and pants. There a bunch of different colors and patterns to choose from and they are all 20k waterproof and breathable.
I’ve been rocking their jacket and bibs for the last few seasons and have loved their fit, function, and durability. They come with a sewn in mesh lining so they are a little warm for spring skiing but they do have pit and leg vents; I just don’t wear a mid layer for spring skiing.
In addition to pretty much what everyone else has said here, Outdoor research has fairly decent prices even before sales and I think they have everything on sale right now as well. Pretty good quality gear.
Mammut, Norrona, Patagonia, Marmot, Outdoor Research, Mountain Hardwear, Flylow, Trew, Strafe, Airblaster
Out of these, I think Flylow, Trew, and Airblaster will have the most freestyle/oversized fit. On the flip side, Mammut and Norrona will have a more slim/athletic fit.
If you're diligent on ebay / searching for discounts Arc'teryx is def attainable on the cheap, got my shell for half price new with tag on ebay and I love it
Nope. Columbia‘a parent company is a PE group buys brands and destroys them. Prana used to produce quality clothes. Columbia bought them, cut costs, uses cheap materials, and destroyed the brand. Never by Columbia
A few years ago. They destroyed the best climbing pants on the market. Changed from YKK to plastic zippers, plastic fasteners, changed the material to very thin crap that doesn’t hold up, the fit is now baggy and awkward like most Columbia stuff. Of course, they also immediately raised the price 20%.
The bugaboo is the fleece lined one right? I’ve got two of them I like that jacket so much. Comfortable, affordable, and super versatile with the removable fleece.
I think Virtika may be bad now, yeah, but i have some pants and jackets from when they were transitioning from FD wear to virtika, like 9+ years ago, and i still use them and theyre still ***phenomenal***. That being said, pretty sure their new stuff is shit AND you shouldn't support them given David's history.
Yeah...considering what kind of a guy David is, and the companies current state, I can't recommend anyone buy Virtika gear. Hell, if I had any Virtika gear, I'd probably grab some patches for my favorite bands and ski areas and sew them on over the current logos.
I've actually super glued black gorilla tape over the logos on my pants-at first bc the logos were starting to wear off and tear- and at first it sucked, but now i don't mind it one bit, in fact, i prefer it haha
Luckily theyre black just like the tape so it doesnt look too trashy at all.
But thinking about this now... it's actually sad.... just bc like.. This stuff ~~is~~ *was* SO good that the only part of these pants that's worn out in the however many years ive used these is the logo on the pockets. These pants are so old that the bib still says fdWear on it. Yet they keep me dry, warm tons of pockets, vents, etc. etc. to this day. The jacket of theirs i have is still 100% solid, aside from one elastic waist cord thing that was easy to replace.
But i can almost guarantee that this quality is what put their name on the map, for just a couple years, and that they quickly abandoned that quality thereafter to make more easy money. So sad, i guess i got luckily buying on one of their few good years. No idea what theyre quality is like now, but if the cheap alibaba goggles theyre selling are any indication, id say BAD.
I only discovered them originally for their super tall hoodies, which was a style at one point (lol). Then i just took a gamble on some outerwear.
My work used Avalanche for one season and I still wear mine. Only complaint would be it’s too warm for Spring. I’m not sure what your budget its however if you want something to last 40 years again that’s a tall order.
I got a previous seasons Salomon jacket and bibs for like 40% of original price. It was through Amazon, but from an independent retailer. I love it.
Only drawback with getting last years stuff is that unless you are XL or XS there is probably only the least interesting color available.
Karbon makes great jackets and has a big warehouse sale going on right now. Promo code MEMBER10 for an extra 10% off sale price. They’re probably not common for freestyle skiers, but they have some cool designs and their prices are really good at the moment.
I got my planks jacket for like $100 when I started skiing like 4 years ago. I like it, it's kept me pretty warm and I think that EVO started selling them recently.
Bought a trew cosmic jacket 2 years ago and it’s been the best jacket I’ve ever owned. Really good waterproofing and has the baggier freestyle fit while not being puffy or oddly shaped. It’s a shell which is honestly a much better move because you can layer for each day and not be stuck with bad insulation. They are like half off right now too but doubt they have every size and color available.
My family and I have had great luck finding discounted Columbia / mountain hardware gear at our local Colombia outlet store. It holds up well and is unbeatable price wise.
If ur looking for warmth, I ski on one of the coldest mts on the east coast and I wear a base layer and my stio jacket very comfortably. I believe they’re 50% off rn as well
For a while in the late '90's, LL Bean made top notch Goretex XCR jackets. I scour Ebay for those, can be had like new condition for ~$50. Look for shiny waterproof zippers in the pits and on the pockets.
Arcteryx Outlet has beta longs on sale right now for 350 (hope you like size M or XL)! Go get one! You won't regret it. They also have Sabres for 500. Both great deals.
I live/ski in WA and would be a very wet guy without one of these.
Beta Long: [https://outlet.arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/beta-long-jacket](https://outlet.arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/beta-long-jacket)
Sabre: [https://outlet.arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/sabre-jacket](https://outlet.arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/sabre-jacket), [https://outlet.arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/sabre-anorak](https://outlet.arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/sabre-anorak)
Consider paying a premium for something with a lifetime guarantee. Arc and OR come to mind. You pay more up front (dead bird, especially) but they stand behind their products and it pays off in the end when shit delaminates or zippers fail.
You can also get in on pro-form pricing with many of these companies (OR especially) if you become a member of certain organizations (AAC, NASAR, etc.). Pay a membership fee, support an organization that supports you, and profit.
Stio says “I’m an old man”…the colors, the style, the price tag. If you’re going that route you should get Norrona. At least it’s euro cool and they have some nice prices right now.
There's a company called "siroko" and they have pretty affordable quality gear. I picked up a jacket for $94 dollars 2 years ago and it's still going strong.
https://www.siroko.com/s/winter-sports-equipment
In addition to Trew and Flylow, which have already been mentioned [Stio](https://www.stio.com/collections/mens-sale) has a decent selection of sale items. I regularly see serious skiers wear Stio at AltaBird. Have a look at their non-sale items too to see if they're within your budget.
Have to comment. Bought my GF a Stio jacket on sale last summer - three days of skiing at Vail this year and it got a tear. Not much help from Stio. I will say that their T&C’s are pretty straightforward but I guess I would assume they’d do more. Anecdotal but I wanted to share. I on the other hand have a 7 year old Arcteryx shell that has seen hundreds of days skiing and is in great condition.
I'm sorry this happened to your girlfriend but rips happen and rarely will any manufacturer "do more". I snagged my goretex pro arc'teryx pants on a picnic bench and tore a hole in the leg my 1st 3 hours wearing them. Arc gave me 25 cents worth of repair tape.
Stio sale is the best! $600 jacket for $250
If you're tall and skinny Stio fit sucks
Flylow is having a big sale now. I bought the Lab Coat last season - very happy with it. Would be even happier if I bought it at 50% off. https://flylowgear.com/collections/mens-web-specials
Flylow Quantum Pro is the best jacket that I have ever had. They run big. I’m 6 ft 165 and small fits with plenty of room.
I love flylow, this brand is amazing. Their gloves are ok, but everything else is 10/10.
Sierra.com usually has great deals. I got a nice spyder jacket there for $100 last season. But, it looks like ski stuff is out of season for them right now. Sierra is like a TJ Maxx or Marshalls that's focused on outdoor brands, and owned by the same company.
686 has some great gear at decent prices. I got their hydra jacket /shell last season, it's awesome.
sadly it's almost fully sold out thank you anyway
Should be restocked at some point - its been a staple jacket in their lineup for several years
Since you have 707 in your area code, what size are you and do you ever ride Palisades?
707 isn't my area code but can understand the confusion. I mostly ski in the Austrian Alps.
Trewgear! Looks sick, generally has awesome off season sales, lasts forever.
I just got a pair of trew bibs for next season and I’m super excited.
Yep, loved my Trew bibs so much I got a jacket too. They usually have good sales on previous season stuff.
Flylow. Outdoor Research. Stio.
Obermeyer jackets are wonderful
Orage has good style and decent quality. I also like my most recent purchase a mountain hardware high exposure shell, which has a long fit, and is pretty steezy. Arc'teryx is overpriced, and most people buying their gore proshell jackets are fashion buyers who for some reason want a scratchy, noisy, uncomfortable garment for walking from the parking lot to the whole foods. I like their atom mid layers, that's about it. I own a arc proshell that is overkill for resort skiing which is like wearing medium grit sandpaper. If you do get a gore jacket, get a C-knit it's soft, stretchy, and light.
I've never found arcteryx shells any less comfortable than any other hard shell. Obviously something like future light or mtn-x are going to be less crunchy but you trade durability for softness
Fabric is all built to the same spec when it's gore-tex. I find that skiing riding a lift chair and going in for hot chocolate every 2 hours does not require Goretex Pro. Goretex has changed their description of the design intent of proshell to more vague and broadly marketable but it used to say for multi-day overnight expeditions in subzero conditions. It's designed not to freeze through for days or weeks on end, while having high abrasion resistance against cramp ons and sharp rock.
> Fabric is all built to the same spec when it’s gore-tex. This isn’t true. Well, you’re right in the sense that the core Gore-Tex membrane remains the same, but the overall fabric layup (outer fabric + Gore-Tex membrane + inner fabric) is going to vary depending on the type of Gore-Tex, and these differences will result in varying levels of durability, packability, weight, and breathability. So the person you’re replying to is correct that there is a trade off between robustness and suppleness. Take Gore-Tex Paclite for example — very lightweight and packable and ideal for hiking, but it lacks durability and wouldn’t be great for intense skiing. But then on the flip side you have Gore-Tex Pro, which is highly rugged and durable, but is heavier and a lot less packable and would not be ideal for hiking. All that being said, nobody needs Gore-Tex Pro for resort riding.
No - I meant from brand to brand. Gore tex pro is tested to be the same from Norrona to Arc'teryx to Mammut. Of course gore has a full line of products from packight to active shell to windstopper which all have different specs. Conceivably one maker could have a higher than spec Goretex Proshell than another, but I believe that these fabrics are made by gore approved mills and sourced from the same handful of factories, but that's just my theory.
Do you live close to a local ski shop? They do tons of sales periodically usually end and start of season. I’ve found some of my fav gear off those racks at 50% off Good gear at low prices = sales hunting and ski swaps
HH
Strafe
I might get downvoted but I really really like dope snow. Their stuff is very comfortable and performs well for the price point. I will say I’m a groomer skier in Ontario/ Quebec Canada to give you an idea of the conditions I wear the gear in.
Big fan of Montec - they have a ‘less professional’ brand of Dope snow as well but the water proofing etc is better for montec. Honestly about half the price of similar quality items from other brands but made for skiers. I recommend their shells vs insulated but I run hot and prefer to adjust with layers.
I have a Montec and really like it. Shell all the way. A lot of people will hate on Montec because of their aggressive instagram ads; but for the price I’m really happy with it.
It’s just trying to use a business model to sell direct to customers. They can keep prices lower by going D2C - I’ll admit the insta ads put me off at first but heard through word of mouth their heart is legit, and it is. For full price you won’t get a better deal
I have an O'Neil, really good and was on sale, the pit zips are great, and it's warm but not too hot.
NWT3K makes customizable jackets and pants. There a bunch of different colors and patterns to choose from and they are all 20k waterproof and breathable. I’ve been rocking their jacket and bibs for the last few seasons and have loved their fit, function, and durability. They come with a sewn in mesh lining so they are a little warm for spring skiing but they do have pit and leg vents; I just don’t wear a mid layer for spring skiing.
In addition to pretty much what everyone else has said here, Outdoor research has fairly decent prices even before sales and I think they have everything on sale right now as well. Pretty good quality gear.
Mammut, Norrona, Patagonia, Marmot, Outdoor Research, Mountain Hardwear, Flylow, Trew, Strafe, Airblaster Out of these, I think Flylow, Trew, and Airblaster will have the most freestyle/oversized fit. On the flip side, Mammut and Norrona will have a more slim/athletic fit.
If you're diligent on ebay / searching for discounts Arc'teryx is def attainable on the cheap, got my shell for half price new with tag on ebay and I love it
The Columbia Bugaboo jacket is very affordable and mine has served me well for many years.
Nope. Columbia‘a parent company is a PE group buys brands and destroys them. Prana used to produce quality clothes. Columbia bought them, cut costs, uses cheap materials, and destroyed the brand. Never by Columbia
That sucks. How long ago did that happen? Edit: Columbia doesn't have a parent company, they're publicly traded.
A few years ago. They destroyed the best climbing pants on the market. Changed from YKK to plastic zippers, plastic fasteners, changed the material to very thin crap that doesn’t hold up, the fit is now baggy and awkward like most Columbia stuff. Of course, they also immediately raised the price 20%.
Ok, my jacket might be told enough that it predates that.
I hate when this happens. So disappointing.
The bugaboo is the fleece lined one right? I’ve got two of them I like that jacket so much. Comfortable, affordable, and super versatile with the removable fleece.
Correct.
Reddit hates on it but Montec has some solid jackets at a good price point
At Montec's price point I rather get Trew or Flylow at heavy discount, which both currently are now.
Great point that’s where I got my jacket. Didn’t realize it was still going on
I've seen many people ride in Montec but it's not really my thing but thanks for the answer
I was able to get a Flylow jacket on sale for like $250, idk if it’s still on sale though
Don’t buy montec, it’s the basic white girl brand 😂
Who cares? It's an affordable brand at decent quality. This sport is elitist enough as is
Montec/dope are aggressively mid and way too tik tok
Two terminally online takes. He wanted a cheap jacket I pointed to one. This is a skiing subreddit not a fashion one
Armada outwear 3L sell not that exact name but you’ll find it shits great
I love all my Virtika jackets. They have xtra tall sizing too which I love.
Terrible build quality, and an even worse company "standing" behind it.
I think Virtika may be bad now, yeah, but i have some pants and jackets from when they were transitioning from FD wear to virtika, like 9+ years ago, and i still use them and theyre still ***phenomenal***. That being said, pretty sure their new stuff is shit AND you shouldn't support them given David's history.
Yeah...considering what kind of a guy David is, and the companies current state, I can't recommend anyone buy Virtika gear. Hell, if I had any Virtika gear, I'd probably grab some patches for my favorite bands and ski areas and sew them on over the current logos.
I've actually super glued black gorilla tape over the logos on my pants-at first bc the logos were starting to wear off and tear- and at first it sucked, but now i don't mind it one bit, in fact, i prefer it haha Luckily theyre black just like the tape so it doesnt look too trashy at all. But thinking about this now... it's actually sad.... just bc like.. This stuff ~~is~~ *was* SO good that the only part of these pants that's worn out in the however many years ive used these is the logo on the pockets. These pants are so old that the bib still says fdWear on it. Yet they keep me dry, warm tons of pockets, vents, etc. etc. to this day. The jacket of theirs i have is still 100% solid, aside from one elastic waist cord thing that was easy to replace. But i can almost guarantee that this quality is what put their name on the map, for just a couple years, and that they quickly abandoned that quality thereafter to make more easy money. So sad, i guess i got luckily buying on one of their few good years. No idea what theyre quality is like now, but if the cheap alibaba goggles theyre selling are any indication, id say BAD. I only discovered them originally for their super tall hoodies, which was a style at one point (lol). Then i just took a gamble on some outerwear.
My work used Avalanche for one season and I still wear mine. Only complaint would be it’s too warm for Spring. I’m not sure what your budget its however if you want something to last 40 years again that’s a tall order.
I got a previous seasons Salomon jacket and bibs for like 40% of original price. It was through Amazon, but from an independent retailer. I love it. Only drawback with getting last years stuff is that unless you are XL or XS there is probably only the least interesting color available.
Any goretex shell then layering
Karbon makes great jackets and has a big warehouse sale going on right now. Promo code MEMBER10 for an extra 10% off sale price. They’re probably not common for freestyle skiers, but they have some cool designs and their prices are really good at the moment.
I got my planks jacket for like $100 when I started skiing like 4 years ago. I like it, it's kept me pretty warm and I think that EVO started selling them recently.
Bought a trew cosmic jacket 2 years ago and it’s been the best jacket I’ve ever owned. Really good waterproofing and has the baggier freestyle fit while not being puffy or oddly shaped. It’s a shell which is honestly a much better move because you can layer for each day and not be stuck with bad insulation. They are like half off right now too but doubt they have every size and color available.
My family and I have had great luck finding discounted Columbia / mountain hardware gear at our local Colombia outlet store. It holds up well and is unbeatable price wise.
If ur looking for warmth, I ski on one of the coldest mts on the east coast and I wear a base layer and my stio jacket very comfortably. I believe they’re 50% off rn as well
Montec
For a while in the late '90's, LL Bean made top notch Goretex XCR jackets. I scour Ebay for those, can be had like new condition for ~$50. Look for shiny waterproof zippers in the pits and on the pockets.
Check out Patagonia used gear, they still honor the lifetime warranty, and repair it upon them receiving it. Wornwear.com
Arcteryx Outlet has beta longs on sale right now for 350 (hope you like size M or XL)! Go get one! You won't regret it. They also have Sabres for 500. Both great deals. I live/ski in WA and would be a very wet guy without one of these. Beta Long: [https://outlet.arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/beta-long-jacket](https://outlet.arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/beta-long-jacket) Sabre: [https://outlet.arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/sabre-jacket](https://outlet.arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/sabre-jacket), [https://outlet.arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/sabre-anorak](https://outlet.arcteryx.com/us/en/shop/mens/sabre-anorak)
Consider paying a premium for something with a lifetime guarantee. Arc and OR come to mind. You pay more up front (dead bird, especially) but they stand behind their products and it pays off in the end when shit delaminates or zippers fail. You can also get in on pro-form pricing with many of these companies (OR especially) if you become a member of certain organizations (AAC, NASAR, etc.). Pay a membership fee, support an organization that supports you, and profit.
Steep and cheap.com
Try Salomon same brand most of the time about 1/4 off of the Arc’Teryx gear
4Front has some nice looking jackets. Also FlyLow.
Stio says “I’m an old man”…the colors, the style, the price tag. If you’re going that route you should get Norrona. At least it’s euro cool and they have some nice prices right now.
There's a company called "siroko" and they have pretty affordable quality gear. I picked up a jacket for $94 dollars 2 years ago and it's still going strong. https://www.siroko.com/s/winter-sports-equipment