Best Backcountry Ski Touring Jacket

in search of ideal ski touring jacket - 

Focus: weather bomb proof (touring in PNW - heavy moisture, winds, lotta snow); breathability; weight.

Thoughts on fabrics - Goretex (Pro, Paclite etc) vs OR Ascentshell, BD Dry, TNF Futurelight... 

Harder rain jacket vs light Hardshell?

Norrona Lofoten jacket in Gore Tex Pro. Yeah GTX is overrated, but it's bombproof and has the best pockets and pit zips of any hardshell. Even a front-vent pocket that gives you easy access to the inside of the jacket without unzipping. Huge pit zips. Pockets to fit skins. Removable powder skirt. cuffs cover the top of your wrists well. 

Check out the Dawn patrol hybrid, then layer according to the days weather/temps. That will give you a good breathing vs. waterproof combo.  

any goretex pro, but seriously people tour in all sorts of stuff up here. patagonia pluma jacket. if it's truly miserable out then it's probably also high avy, and i'm just staying home or inbounds.

I’ve found some very good deals on OR’s website for ascentshell stuff in the past and love it 90% of the time. It’s not as windproof as I’d like is my only complaint hence the 10% I’d rather not use it

Jon Browher wrote:

Norrona Lofoten jacket in Gore Tex Pro. Yeah GTX is overrated, but it's bombproof and has the best pockets and pit zips of any hardshell. Even a front-vent pocket that gives you easy access to the inside of the jacket without unzipping. Huge pit zips. Pockets to fit skins. Removable powder skirt. cuffs cover the top of your wrists well. 

That thing is $900.  JFC

James C wrote:

any goretex pro, but seriously people tour in all sorts of stuff up here. patagonia pluma jacket. if it's truly miserable out then it's probably also high avy, and i'm just staying home or inbounds.

rain jacket or couch conditions currently. 

opted for BD Helio Active Shell - lightest (one of?) goretex (more breathable and remains weather bombproof) shells out there.. can layer under as needed. ideal for off highway touring and longer traverses. 

Eric Roe wrote:

That thing is $900.  JFC

The Pro Plus model is 899. Major overkill and too many pockets for touring. 

Regular GTX Pro model goes for 699 but it goes on sale occasionally at online retailers. Some on geartrade sell for 500. I didn't pay full price

Stuart Hatlen wrote:

opted for BD Helio Active Shell - lightest (one of?) goretex (more breathable and remains weather bombproof) shells out there.. can layer under as needed. ideal for off highway touring and longer traverses. 

The Helio looks great, I have a Pataguch Ascentionist with almost identical spec that I like a lot.