Obermeyer Foundation Insulated Ski Jacket Review
The best affordable men's ski jacket you can get anywhere
Updated February 25th, 2025
Our verdict
The Obermeyer Foundation Jacket offers the best value for its price for most skiers, providing everything a resort skier needs without unnecessary flourishes. The simple design keeps the price down, which is why we dubbed this jacket our Best Affordable Ski Jacket in our Best Men’s Ski Jackets guide.
The Foundation Jacket is warm, comfortable, and includes ski-specific features like a large mesh inside pocket for ski gloves and a left arm pocket for maps and other items you might want easy access to. It’s weatherproof and still breathable enough for most conditions.
Based in Aspen, Obermeyer has been building mountain clothing for over 70 years and knows what most skiers need in gear. The Foundation is their most popular men’s model and comes in more size offerings than most ski jackets we’ve tested (it comes in a tall version, and up to 3XL).
After testing this jacket on the slopes for three years, and using our expertise as a ski guide in Alaska (in summer) and ski shop employee in Colorado (in winter), we’ve written a long-term, in-depth review of this budget-savvy favorite.
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Specs
Type: Hardshell
Insulation: 100 g (body), 40 g (sleeve/hood)
Sizes: XS to 3 XL (plus tall versions)
Number of Pockets: 7
Waterproofing: 15K HydroBlock Pro
Pit Zips: Yes
Powder Skirt: Yes
Best Use: Resort Skiing
Comparison Table
| MEN'S SKI JACKET | MSRP* | BEST USE | TYPE | INSULATION | SIZES | # POCKETS | SEAM SEAL | WATERPROOFING | PIT ZIPS | POWDER SKIRT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Obermeyer Foundation | $279 | Resort | Hardshell | 100g (body), 80g (sleeve/hood) | XS - 3XL (+tall ) | 7 | Critical | 15K - HydroBlock Pro | Yes | Yes |
| Outdoor Research SkyTour Ascentshell | $379 | Backcountry | Hardshell | None | S - XXL | 7 | Full | 3-Layer AscentShell Electrospun Membrane | Yes | No |
| Patagonia Insulated Powder Town | $399 | Resort | 3-in-1 | 60g Full Range | XS - XXL | 8 | Full | H2No 2-layer | Yes | Yes |
| Arc'teryx Sabre | $750 | Everyday | Hardshell | Light Flannel Backer | S - XL | 5 | Full | 3-layer GORE-TEX ePE Gen 2 | Yes | Yes |
| Outdoor Research Carbide | 329 | Everyday | Hardshell | None | S - XXL | 7 | Full | Pertex 3L | Yes | Yes |
What we liked
Value for the price
Size availability
Everything you need, nothing you don’t
Higher quality construction and materials than other budget jackets
What could be better
Zipper hits against chin
Boxy fit
Features
Hood
The hood is helmet-compatible, removable, and two-way adjustable. This flexibility is handy as conditions change on the slopes.
Pockets
The pockets are thoughtfully and generously placed in this jacket. There are two zippered chest pockets, zippered handwarmer pockets, a zippered pass or map pocket, an interior electronics pocket, and an interior goggles pocket. We also found the interior mesh pocket handy for stashing ski gloves.
Fit
The fit is a little on the larger side, but we found this nice for layering and recommend ordering your usual size. The adjustable hem and adjustable wrist cuffs with gaiters also allow you to adjust the fit to your preferences.
However, the updated version of this jacket has a boxier fit than the previous model, which we don’t love.
Pit zips
The Foundation has pit zips to allow you to dump heat as you work up a sweat or the temperature rises.
Powder Skirt
This jacket comes with Obermeyer’s proprietary Snap-Away powder skirt, which is water-resistant and removable. This effectively keeps snow out of your jacket and aids in warmth.
Fleece Chin Protector
The fleece chin protector is a nice feature for added warmth and comfort, particularly on really cold and windy days.
Detachable Goggles Cloth
This feature allows for ease of cleaning your goggles while on the go. The detachable goggles cloth is included in the chest pocket.
Cord Routing Guide
This is a helpful feature if you’ll have headphone cords or other wires, as it helps keep them out of the way while you’re moving.
Performance in the Field
Since the Obermeyer Foundation Insulated Jacket runs a little large, it’s easy to layer underneath. We still recommend ordering your usual size.
Materials
The Obermeyer Foundation Insulated Jacket is made of 55% polyester and 45% REPREVE polyester 2-way stretch fabric. The REPREVE fibers are made of traceable and recycled material, and each Foundation jacket contains 11 plastic bottles-worth of recycled material. The shoulders are reinforced for extra durability.
Weatherproofness
For waterproofing, Obermeyer uses their proprietary HydroBlock Pro coating, designed to be both waterproof and relatively breathable. The jacket also uses Obermeyer’s proprietary Skier Critical seam sealing for more water and windproof protection – this isn’t as effective as fully-taped seams, but it gets the job done in most skiing applications.
HydroBlock Pro is a 15,000 mm/15,000 g waterproof laminate, a measurement that refers to a common lab test gauging how much water and pressure a fabric can repel without seeping. For comparison, high-end waterproofing like GORE-TEX measures around 28,000. Waterproofing of 15,000 is reliable for most skiing conditions. For a budget jacket, 15K is definitely better than 10K. For more explanation on waterproofing, check out this section on waterproofing in our Best Men’s Ski Jackets guide.
Since this is on the lower end of the waterproof spectrum, the Foundation isn’t the most weatherproof jacket out there. We also don’t recommend it as a crossover option for true backcountry skiing. But for the price, it gets the job done.
Suitability for Layering
Since the Obermeyer Foundation Insulated Jacket runs a little large, it’s easy to layer underneath. We still recommend ordering your usual size.
Warmth
This jacket is insulated with 100% polyester and is plenty warm for most conditions. With a powder skirt and wrist gaiters to help you stay dry and a fleece chin protector for added warmth, this jacket is designed to provide just what you need in cold weather.
Ventilation
Obermeyer’s proprietary CZV Control Zone Ventilation helps with thermal regulation by allowing heat to escape and letting fresh air in. Internal mesh inserts also help keep out the elements while providing airflow. This jacket also has pit zips so you can dump heat as you warm up.
Should I buy the Obermeyer Foundation Insulated Jacket?
While you can find less expensive ski jackets from Amazon and other online retailers, you’d be hard-pressed to find one that matches the quality of the Obermeyer Foundation Insulated Jacket. We've tested some of those other jackets and they start delaminating after a season. At this price, the Obermeyer can’t be beat for the value.
The biggest drawback to this jacket is Obermeyer is more of a niche brand than others, like The North Face for example, so it’s not as easy to find as other competitors. You may have to search several sites to find it in the size and color you want. However, we think it’s worth the effort.
If you’re an avid skier, you can probably find better ski jackets with better insulation, waterproofing, breathability, and more ski-specific features. However, you will not find one better in the same price range as the Obermeyer Foundation.
If you aren’t out on the slopes all season and aren’t spending a lot of time in the backcountry, the Foundation is perfect as a solid ski jacket for occasional resort trips.
Similar Ski Jackets to Consider
Columbia Whirlibird IV
Type: 3-in-1
Insulation: Thermarator synthetic
Sizes: S-6XL
Pockets: 4 (shell), 2 (liner)
Waterproofing: Omni-Tech
Pit Zips: Yes
Powder skirt: Yes
Best Use: Resort
The Columbia Whirlibird IV Interchange 3-in-1 jacket is a decent budget option, though we think the Obermeyer Foundation is still a better value for the price. However, one benefit of the Whirlibird is that it’s available in Big sizes and Big and Tall sizes, making it a quality option if the Obermeyer isn’t available in your size.
Columbia Whirlibird IV
Type: Hardshell
Insulation: 60g synthetic 3M Thinsulate Insulation
Sizes: XS-XL
Pockets: 3 (2 hand pockets, 1 chest pocket)
Waterproofing: 20k 2-layer GORE-TEX
Pit Zips: No, but has an Underarm Ventilation System
Powder skirt: Yes
Best Use: Resort
The Spyder Chambers is a quality active, 3-in-1 jacket. It’s a little more expensive than the Obermeyer Foundation and offers GORE-TEX waterproofing, which is more protective than the Foundation’s waterproofing. If you want to spend a little more for the GORE-TEX and fully taped seams, this is a solid option.
Spyder Chambers
Type: Hardshell
Insulation: High pile fleece lining and cotton padding
Sizes: S-3XL
Pockets: 5 (2 hand pockets, chest pocket)
Waterproofing: 10000mm/H2O
Pit Zips: No
Powder skirt: No
Best Use: Everyday
The Camel Crown is about half the price of the Obermeyer Foundation, but doesn’t quite keep up with the Foundation’s waterproofing and features. The waterproof level of the Camel Crown is only 10,000mm, and breathability is 3000 g/m²/24 hours — much less impressive than the Obermeyer. The Crown’s waterproofing is simply not enough for most skiers (read more about why in the waterproofing requirements for a ski jacket section of our Best Men’s Ski Jackets guide).
Camel Crown
Where to buy the Obermeyer Foundation
As mentioned above, the Obermeyer is more of a niche brand than others, like The North Face for example, so it’s not as easy to find as other competitors. Still, we think it is absolutely worth the extra work to find this jacket.
You may have to search several sites to find it in the size and color you want. Here are places where we've found it:
REI
Pros: 100% satisfaction policy for 1 year; 10% dividend for members.
Amazon
Pros: Free 2-day shipping with Amazon Prime membership
Zappos
Pros: 365-day free shipping on returns, fast delivery with free VIP program
Evo
Pros: 365 day returns, store locations in ski towns for easy last-minute pick-up, may offer rentals if you want to try before you buy, earn 10% back in Rewards
About the Author / Why you should trust us
The author, Matt McDonald, on a bluebird day. Photo by Mindy Lundy.
Matt McDonald has written for various outdoor-industry publications like Outside, Freeskier, Powder, Mountain, and various smaller outlets in the outdoor and travel space.
He works by day at Powder7 Ski Shop in Golden, Colorado, and skis 60-90 days per season.
Recently, he’s skied in far-flung places like Alberta and the Yukon, Canada; Hokkaido, Japan, Chile, and Argentina, in addition to domestic haunts like Colorado and New England.
He’s also the author of Treeline Review’s Best Men’s Ski Jackets and Best Ski Helmets story.
You can read all of Matt's stories on his author page.
