1. Helly Hansen North Marker 3L XP
From manufacturing to distribution, Helly Hansen’s Ekolab garments, like this one, are designed to do minimal environmental damage. The North Marker uses a low-impact polyurethane waterproof membrane instead of a harmful fluorocarbon-based one, as well as recycled hardwear. plus: Lots of skier-friendly features: massive pit zips, a removable powder skirt, and a helmet-compatible hood. minus: Kind of boring-looking. [$325; hellyhansen.com]
2. Arc’teryx Sentry
Arc’teryx fused Gore-Tex’s light, durable, bombproof, and breathable Pro Shell with a thin but toasty layer of PrimaLoft Sport insulation. The result: a jacket that’s warm enough to endure brutal winds on the lift and light enough for athletic inbounds and sidecountry skiing. You get all the warmth of a big puffy with all the maneuverability of a sleek backcountry shell. plus: Pit zips a welcome relief on hikes. minus: The price tag. [$600; arcteryx.com]
3. Powderhorn Gunpowder
The Gunpowder’s high-tech ceramic insulation supposedly adapts to temperature changes, insulating more in lower temps and less in higher ones. Hard to say if that’s true, but we stayed comfortable in a variety of conditions. Add retro styling, a real down hood, and airy pit zips, and you’ve got a puffy that functions just as well as a day-to-day shell. plus: It’s a puffy with a powder skirt, which isn’t easy to find. minus: The zippers tend to stick. [$495; powderhornworld.com]
4. The North Face Jubilee LTD
The Jubilee combines a seam-sealed, waterproof-breathable Gore Performance shell with toasty PrimaLoft Eco insulation, so it’s warm and dry. Though it’s got the usual arsenal of features—pit zips, pockets galore, removable powder skirt, Recco reflector, goggle wipe—it’s chic enough to wear to a martini bar. Maybe. plus: The removable hood fits well over a helmet. minus: A tad heavy for backcountry laps. [$549; thenorthface.com]
