Insulated Jacket vs Shell Jacket

SacZiplock

SacZiplock

Active member
Yo NS !

My choice for my jacket this year is very difficult , because I am not sure about something,

Should i choose an isulated jacket , or a shell jacket . Where I ski it's mostly cold all year long but I always wore a hoodie under my jacket last year but i don't remember if it was a shell .

Are there some major differences between them ?

Steezyyy_Ngt
 
I think a lot of it is preference. I personally love insulated jackets because they are so comfortable and you don't have to wear much underneath. However, there have been a handful of days over the past few years that it has sucked to have such a warm jacket - the sun came out and it was 35 when I thought it would be 20 degrees. That is a big difference. Now, I prefer a thick shell because of its versatility. So if it is super cold where you are often, then an insulated jacket is great. If you need more versatility, then a shell is better. In the end though, it is really what you prefer.
 
Inulated is nice for cold days and you can ski with just a shirt which is nice. If you get a nice shell though that's win and water proof that's the way to go because then you can layer. If you've ever skie anday that warmed up in a down jacket you'll understand the need for layering. Once you start sweating you're fucked gets cold real quick after you stop sweating. Dry is warm!
 
i would go with a shell. you can easily throw a hoodie under if its cold but with an insulated jacket you cant make if cooler for the warm days. Plus shells tend to be less expensive. I got my orage xavier for 148 shipped and i love it!
 
Mainly depends on where you live and your home mountain. I ski tahoe and besides dumpdays its relatively warm for a mountain climate so I stick with a shell that I can layer. Definitely think about the average temp of your mountain.
 
while we are here....

do any big name freeski companies make shell jackets, ie armada, saga, anything else....?

i just can't find anything that says they come in either or..

thnx
 
I don't like insulated jackets, but then again I live in the PNW and a typical high when skiing is usually in the 20s. Plus, with a shell, you can layer light for warm weather, or more for really cold stuff; just more versatile.

If you live in a really bloody cold place, insulated might be nice.
 
shells are the way to go IMO. you can throw on more layers or ditch a couple if necessary. they just allow for a lot more flexibility
 
Armada does make shells! Orage too ( xavier pro shell ) but i don't know about saga though! Thanks for the help! I think im gonna go with shell cuz its more versatile ! /thread
 
sorry bout your name TACO-DOG, im glad you didnt make a thread about it. I thought that you would know that armada and saga both makes jackets that are shells
 
i don't really keep track of outerwear and ski fashion that much. i

usually would walk into a ski shop, find a jacket that looks nice, for

the right price and buy it.

haha for the past two years i haven't even owned a jacket
 
last year i had a 686 jacket that had an inner fleece that you could take off by unzipping it. it was really awesome, look around for something like that. when it was hotter i coud take the fleece out and on those cold days i was fine with just a t-shirt underneath.
 
I'm honestly not a big fan of insulated jackets I wore one two years ago for a season, and while it was nice on the super cold days it just wasn't worth it for the normal temperatures you experience everyday in the season. It's not like throwing a a hoodie underneath your jacket it is that hard when it does get really cold anyway and it's better that than to be sweating all season on the hill.
 
yeah i like those. i use a columbia coat (omg not saga) that had a fleece that zips in and out. I wear the fleece around a lot.
 
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