We all love chasing cold smoke and staying dry while we do. For decades, we’ve donned apparel treated with carcinogenic fluorocarbons (PFCs/PFAs) to do just that. Known as forever chemicals, PFAs are defined by their virtually indestructible carbon and fluorine bond, whose high surface tension makes them durable and water repellent. It’s why they’ve been the gold standard in waterproofing for decades. It’s also why they linger in our environment centuries after their lifetime as a ski jacket.
In April, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced regulations on PFAs. Half the states adopted legislation restricting PFAs and five enacted phase-out bans on all PFAs in textiles. Some brands, like Picture Organic Clothing, had already transitioned to a plant-based waterproofing treatment,
Teflon EcoElite, in 2017. Other brands are just now making the switch (look for Gore-Tex’s new PFA-free membrane, ePE, and Patagonia’s PFA-free H2No).
The result was our most eco-friendly apparel test ever. Modern science suggests a new PFA-free shell won’t outlast your great grandkids generation. After six weeks of practically scientific testing, we suggest it will still do the trick for at least half your lifetime. —Liam McGee
Categories
Men’s and Women’s Shells
This year, we split our reviews of editors’ choice shells into our three categories of touring: free, sport and speed. While these reviews are loosely sorted into men’s and women’s kits, the outerwear our testers loved tended to be gender fluid.
Free Tour: The apparel equipped for in and out of bounds.
With an emphasis on keeping you warm and dry, these jackets and pants prioritize weather proofness and durability to ensure you can enjoy endless deep powder and endure soggy chairlift rides.
Helly Hansen Verglas Infinity Shell Jacket 2.0
hellyhansen.com | $350 | S-XXL
A lightweight, affordable workhorse featuring Helly Hansen’s waterproof, breathable Lifa Infinity membrane, the three-layer Verglas suits four-season uphill athletes. Between breezy pit zips and the fabric itself, a Tahoe splitboarder reported, “I was able to comfortably wear this on the skintrack without heating up or sweating.” The harness-friendly fit and 100% polyester (half of which is recycled) face fabric’s noteworthy durability inspired multisport use. “Not an in-your-face ski jacket—it works well as a rain- and wind-proof jacket when hiking or mountaineering,” our splitboarder said. However, a few aspects limited touring efficacy, including front pockets blocked by backpack hip belts, a short waist and a hood that made the jacket ride up when wearing a helmet. Testers recommended sizing up—or trying the men’s model.
“The fabric is breathable, durable and waterproof. I could wear this on the uphill when there was a breeze and still feel comfortable.” —Katie Botwin
Where to buy
Helly Hansen Verglas Infinity Shell Jacket 2.0
Marmot Women’s Gore-Tex Orion Pant
marmot.com | $400 | XS-XL
If you need ski pants with a laundry list of features, keep skinning. The Orion keeps it simple, pairing three-layer GoreTex C-Knit fabric with a no-frills design. The recycled fabric and waterproof zippers supply what one Wasatch splitboarder called “high-quality waterproofing.” Cordura cuffs ensure stray
crampons won’t cramp your style. Beyond that, features are minimal: upper-thigh outer leg vents (you might wish they’re longer on spring tours), zippered thigh pockets our tester reported bunched when full, an adjustable waist and articulated knees. After the fabric itself, tailoring and overall fit were the
major highlight. The Orion offered a “great, comfortable, slightly loose fit” for hiking and riding, per our tester, although she warned minimally flared legs fit tightly over snowboard boots.
“The combination of simplicity and durability makes it clear these pants are quality backcountry gear.” —Jerrica Lavooy
Where to buy
Marmot Women’s Gore-Tex Orion Pant
Jones Men’s Shralpinist Gore-Tex ePe Recycled Jacket
jonessnowboards.com | $800 | S-XL
The Shralpinist is the jacket for battering storm days, our tester says. Made with 40D Gore-Tex Pro Most Breathable fabric in the torso and 70D Gore-Tex Pro Most Rugged in the hood and arms, it strikes the right balance: “At the cost of being a bit stiff, it will block out wind and moisture, while still venting.” Packed with features like big chest pockets, an effective powder skirt, interior stretch pouches for skins and smooth-sliding zippers, the Shralpinist had “all the features you want (other than hip pockets for me) and nothing extra,” according to our tester. Though not quite as packable as other options, he said, it still “packs down small enough to always be worth having with you.”
“Clearly designed by a snowboarder. There’s actually enough room under this jacket for a layer or two and all your steez.” —Will Sardinsky
Where to buy
Jones Men’s Shralpinist Gore-Tex ePe Recycled Jacket
Sport Tour: These kits want to live in the backcountry all season long.
Light and breathable while remaining poised to fight snow and wind, these jackets and pants aren’t built to keep you cozy on the lift, but if you’re moving, you’ll be comfortable.
Picture Acidic 3L Xpore Jacket
picture-organic-clothing.com | $450 | XS-XL
Picture sticks to its guns with the Xpore, which was gender fluid for those who like bright colors and ecofriendly, durable fabrics. “Joey-Gloewy! You’ll never get lost with this shell on,” said a Vermont lady who tested the men’s. Of the recycled polyester fabric with an Xpore waterproof membrane, she said, “The material is really nice and light yet durable.” Another tester in the women’s model agreed, calling it “perfect for skinning,” but “crunchy.” The pockets were simple, yet effective, both said, and the cuffs and
helmet-compatible hood easily adjusted. Our Vermonter liked the baggy fit for wiggling and spinning, though she said the cut was “a tad short for my liking. Deep pow can shoot up there.” On this feature-rich jacket, Picture includes a removeable pow skirt for that exact scenario.
“Overall this jacket was awesome! Plenty of pockets in the perfect locations and very versatile.” —Caitlyn Kelly
Where to buy
Picture Acidic 3L Xpore Jacket
Mountain Hardwear High Exposure Gore-Tex C-Knit Bib
mountainhardwear.com | $550 | XS-XL
Thanks to a thin, knitted backer laminated directly to the Gore-Tex membrane, C-knit technology purportedly boosts outerwear breathability and slashes weight by double-digit percents. Our tester didn’t prove those claims in the lab, but she co-signed the High Exposure Bibs after alpine analysis in the Tetons and Wasatch. “I loved the material. It was light enough to skin in, but still waterproof and windproof,” she reported. She recommended the pants for backcountry purists or resort-to-backcountry shredders, warning that chairlift diehards may overwhelm the featherweight fabric and suspect zippers. In addition to a faultless beacon pocket, she dug the bib’s chest pockets, finding them accessible through jacket pit zips, although midlayers made such rummaging more difficult.
“The elastic beacon pocket was chef’s kiss. The pocket was articulated enough that the beacon sat comfortably on my thigh—not so low it gets whacked while skiing, or so high it gets in the way of your stride.” —Betsy Manero
Where to buy
Mountain Hardwear High Exposure Gore-Tex C-Knit Bib
Mammut Haldigrat Air HS Jacket
mammut.com | $499 | S-XXL
“Lots of awesome going on here,” raved a compact shredder. The awesome: a snug transceiver pocket, glove friendly cinch and zipper tabs and a mesh hood liner that fits around a ball cap (a “genius move,” he added). Best of all, it’s light (474 grams). “Awesome to have a three-layer, taped seams piece that protects you from the wind but doesn’t call for immediate removal on the skintrack,” this splitboarding
fiend found. That performance is the result of a lightweight polyamide bonded fabric and Pertex Shield Air membrane which offers weatherproofness and breathability. The Haldigrat also has armpit vents and a handful of pockets—two backpack compatible on the chest, one on the sleeve, and mesh and zipped interior options. Our tester’s one recommendation: size up for a little extra space for puffy loft.
“For general spring touring in the Sierra this jacket is my new go-to. For everything from light snow to wind to hot days, it’s a great option. The hood/hat thing blew my mind.” —John Lauer
Where to buy
Mammut Haldigrat Air HS Jacket
Flylow Smythe Bib
flylowgear.com | $475 | XS-XXL
Smythe Bib testers agreed on the top feature: Flylow’s Intuitive PHD Stretch three-layer waterproof fabric. “It offers a lot of protection and durability for such a lightweight fabric,” one said, while the other found it “stretches and breathes well.” Simplistic, the Smythe has four slim pockets (chest, hip and two thigh), which both testers thought was enough storage, though one said the beacon pouch/attachment in the chest pocket was tight and uncomfortable. The thin fabric is well-suited for touring, both said, and the Smythe is just warm enough to be a crossover bib. However, they cautioned that the narrow cut works for tall, skinny folks, but weightlifters and other barrel-chested athletes should try them on first.
“A lightweight, stretchy bib that punches well above its weight as long as you can squeeze into the tighter fit.” —Will Sardinski
Where to buy
Flylow Smythe Bib
Speed Tour: The light, packable gear you want for those long spring epics.
With a preference for softshell materials and euro fits, these kits take up minimal space and weight. Still, on windy summits or in unexpected storms they’ll keep the elements out.
Black Diamond Equipment Factor Shell
blackdiamondequipment.com | $625 | XS-XL
The new Factor should captivate powderhounds like an orange OpenSnow forecast—although testers appreciated Black Diamond’s quieter colorways. The threelayer shell sandwiches a BD.dry waterproof, breathable membrane between two-way-stretch nylon and wool backing. The fabric isn’t impressing gram counters, but hard-charging front-to-backcountry skiers will dig the 30K/30K waterproof, breathability ratings. “On hotter days, it doesn’t feel like you are wearing a plastic bag,” voiced a Vermont ski racer. “This jacket was really easy to move in, especially while touring,” she continued, appreciative of a women’s fit that actually “has room in the shoulders and isn’t restrictive while layering.” Plentiful, spacious pockets also helped earn Editors’ Choice honors, despite the mauve colorway collecting dirt like a welcome mat.
“I used this jacket on 10-degree days with a puffy underneath, and as a raincoat on 40-degree days. I was surprised how well it performed across different conditions.” —Hazel Howard
Where to buy
Black Diamond Equipment Factor Shell
Scott Explorair Dryospun 3L – Remix Pant
scott-sports.com | $300 | XS-XL
If skimo became a pant, it would be the Explorair Dryospun. “So lightweight and stretchy,” said a college student who cruises on the skintrack. “They’re extremely comfortable going uphill and very breathable while still keeping you dry.” Scott’s Dryospun lightweight, waterproof membrane makes these pants supple, soft and weatherproof, she said. While Cordura abrasion-resistant panels do help keep the ankle hems from fraying, our tester recommended these strictly for backcountry use, as they are too chilly and flimsy for the resort. She loved how the fabric breathed but wasn’t sold on the small pockets and vents. She worried the waist cinch could loosen during the day, but admitted that so far, the belt-loop-less design has held up well.
“They’re so comfy that you can forget you’re wearing them, and they still keep you pretty dry through most touring conditions.” —Maggie McGee
Where to buy
Scott Explorair Dryospun 3L – Remix Pant
La Sportiva Supercouloir GTX Pro Jacket
lasportivausa.com | $699 | XS-XL
If Marvel runs out of characters, “Supercouloir” could play. He bootpacks faster than a speeding tram, has ice axes permanently fixed to nubs and wears this flashy Sportiva uniform so Mont Blanc climbers and skiers can flag him down. Jokes aside, this Gore-Tex Pro armor made our Teton tester feel like he had skintrack superpowers. “It’s a fast and light jacket that’s extremely packable considering the features, and highly waterproof without feeling like a trash bag,” he raved. He loved the “well-thought-out, minimalistic” zippered pockets, a stashable hood and mountaineering-ready cuffs. The shoulders are reinforced with abrasion-resistant inserts, ensuring backpack friction isn’t the Supercouloir’s kryptonite. Be warned: The athletic fit doesn’t accommodate many layers—or brawnier builds, for that matter.
“Light, packable and excellent in adverse weather, the Supercouloir is ideal for alpinism mixed with ski mountaineering.” —Ian Halderman
Where to buy
La Sportiva Supercouloir GTX Pro Jacket
Rab Equipment Khroma Tour Pant
rab.equipment/us/ | $165 | 30 Regular-38 Regular
The Khroma Tour is Rab’s spring skiing pant, and our tester said the company nailed it: “These are the perfect sunny day, volcano pants.” He judged the slim-tailored, thin softshell offering as mountaineering pants with ski features, like ankle gaiters, cuff zippers and a beacon-specific thigh pocket. Rab’s Durable Matrix fabric holds up to quick spurts of snow and wind, and it breathes well, he said, though he still wanted vents. “I’ll definitely choose these over my pastel-colored shorts,” he joked, “but even skimo athletes and volcano sprinters get hot.” Though he never imagined he’d want a pants quiver, he concluded, “These are for hot pant spring, and I’ll be stoked the few weeks a year I need them.”
“Just enough to be warm in the predawn hours when the snow is frozen but not so hot when the sun’s out.” —Tom Hallberg
Where to buy
Rab Equipment Khroma Tour Pant
Puffies
Elevenate Cirrus Down Jacket
elevenate.com | $400 | XS-XL
“The perfect warmth for any mid-winter backcountry day,” said a Colorado tester of the Cirrus Down Jacket. Stuffed with responsibly sourced, 750-fill goose down, the Cirrus weighs a few feathers over a half-pound. “It’s easy to pack into its chest pocket and slip into any pack,” she reported, although she made sure to clarify that it’s more of a daily driver than an emergency layer. She dug the gram-shaving zipless handwarmer pockets, as well as the practical hood design. “It has a larger box shape with a stiffer rim to hold it out of your eyes,” she applauded. Her biggest gripe: the thin, matte-finished, 100% recycled polyamide shell, which held dirt and wore quickly.
Where to buy
Stellar Ultralight Down Hood 2.0
stellarequipment.com | $399 | S-XXL
“Marie Kondo must have designed this puffy,” our tester said. “No frills, but nothing useless; everything brings joy.” Weighing 335 grams and packing 850-fill, hydrophobic down, this hooded puffy went everywhere with our tester: big tours, short bootpacks, work. “I’ve been rocking a pretty bulky puffy,” he said. “This is half the weight and size, but just as warm.” A medium in most brands, he tested a large and recommends sizing up. The hood worked well over a helmet, and the cut was a rare combo. Even the ultralight face fabric, which he worried would be fragile, held up to both spring bramble lines and midwinter sandpaper winds.
Where to buy
Midlayers
Helly Hansen W Versalite Hybrid Fleece
hellyhansen.com | $120 | XS-XL
“My favorite midlayer ever,” gushed a Vermonter of Helly Hansen’s Versalite Hybrid Fleece. Made primarily from a polyester blend with a touch of elastane for stretch, the front torso sports a 100% polyamide panel for light weatherproofing. Inside, the 100% polyester liner earned this piece a permanent spot in our tester’s touring kit. “Super cozy fleece, thick but not overly warm,” she reported. As a shorter skier, she liked the boxier fit and semi-high waist, which “looks as good with jeans as it did with my bibs,” she said. Additional award-earning elements: enough storage for the holy trinity of touring (snacks, phone and keys) and a practical hoodless design.
Where to buy
Ortovox Swisswool Piz Boé Jacket
ortovox.com | $300 | S-XXL
Ortovox’s alpine alchemists, known for favoring merino, struck gold with the Piz Boé Jacket. Four-way-stretch merino softshell inserts provide breathability and range of motion along the pits and back. “It moves with you,” affirmed a Teton tester. Beneath the wind- and water-resistant Pertex Quantum shell, a merino-blend lining adds warmth. “Cuts wind well,” reported our impressed tester. He loved the minimalistic dual chest pockets and a slim fit that welcomes puffies and shells. All told, he called it a “versatile piece great for all types of skiing. Better for mild to cold days.” Nonetheless, he wished Ortovox scrapped an elastic hemline that made the jacket ride up.
Where to buy
Baselayers
Mons Royale Cascade Merino Flex
us.monsroyale.com | $130 Top | $130 Bottom | XS-XL
“Perfect anti-stink touring layers,” a college professor said of the Cascade. Mons Royale’s four-way-stretch fabric is a merino-heavy blend that includes nylon and elastane, and with flat seams, the Cascade offers full-day comfort. A Tahoe bootfitter noted that he liked the cut and called the fabric “the best merino in the biz.” Two female testers called out the large, flat waistband as comfortable and effective. “No issues with riding up or bunching anywhere,” the professor said. Mons’s fanciful patterns garnered appreciation from all testers, though muted, safe-for-work options are available, too. After a spring spent in the Cascades, the bootfitter said, “I’m a Mons fanboy.”
Where to buy
Published here are 17 of 33 pieces of apparel we reviewed in our 2025 Gear Guide. To check out the comprehensive range of apparel we wrote about pick up a copy of the 2025 Gear Guide, available in print and PDF versions.
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At Backcountry Magazine, we are committed to providing you with honest and informative gear coverage. To support our work and continue delivering quality content, we are including affiliate links in our reviews. Partnerships with retailers are separate from coverage, ensuring that our reviews remain unbiased. These links help us earn a small commission if you make a purchase through them, at no additional cost to you.
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