Fighting the wind, I struggle to stay on my feet while walking a ridgeline above Montezuma Bowl at Arapahoe Basin. Skis on my shoulder, I lean into the bitterly cold wind, feeling the sandblaster of icy snow sting any exposed skin on my face. But beneath The North Face Summit Series Verbier GORE-TEX Jacket, I feel warm, dry, and protected from the blast of arctic air cresting the ridge.

The jacket, it seems, is up to almost any task on the ski hill.

I put the Verbier GORE-TEX Jacket to the test for the last 3 months across Colorado ski resorts, plus a day at Palisades Tahoe. From harsh, stinging winds to heavy powder days, the jacket held up to everything winter has thrown at it. But this excellent ski shell won’t be for everyone.

In short: The North Face Verbier GORE-TEX Jacket is a very capable ski jacket with most of the bells and whistles you’d expect from a top-tier shell. If a ski resort or even backcountry can throw it at you, this shell should handle it. But it comes with two big caveats — fit and price. With a very long cut and somewhat tight chest, this jacket is best suited to taller, more slender body shapes. It also costs a hefty $700.

Editor’s note: I tested the 2024-25 edition of the Verbier Jacket. For 2025-26, The North Face said it will adjust the fit slightly to make it shorter, roomier, and straighter. While I have not tested the new version yet, I suspect it will improve the fit for most users.

Compare it with the best ski jackets here.

The North Face Verbier GORE-TEX Jacket Review: A Do-All Ski Shell

I recognize that any quiver-of-one product will make compromises. But with modern fabrics, ski shells are one place where it really is realistic to own one product to do everything from resort laps on higher temperate days to full-on storm skiing in the backcountry.

With the Verbier Jacket, the proof is in the pudding. Yes, there are compromises. And no, this jacket is not perfect. But if it fits your body and style, this jacket is a very versatile layer.

But let’s back up and discuss the fit immediately. It will exclude some folks and save you time.

The Verbier Jacket is very long. And by that, I mean as a 5’8″, 155-pound man, I wear a small. It’s a little snug in the shoulders and chest. And the hem hits me just above the middle of the thigh. I’m not kidding. It’s not a trench coat, but it feels a little over the top in length.

If you have a shorter, wider build, this jacket is probably not for you. I’m an average athletic build, and it fits, but not with much room to spare. It should fit tall, slender folks quite well. Now, if this jacket fits you, it’s pretty awesome. So, let’s jump into the details of my testing.

Style, Function

The long fit is the first thing you’ll notice when trying on this jacket. I have no other word than “steezy.” And in brighter colors, this kit is pretty darned flashy, too. If your skiing stands out, and you like that, this kit is also extroverted. It does not try to blend in.

But that can certainly be a good thing. With bold, blocky styling, it looks pretty darned good ripping down the slopes. I rode with a group of several expert skiers for a day in Palisades Tahoe, all wearing this kit, and I must admit that it looked sharp, if distinctive.

I put this out there because once you get into the functionality, the Verbier Jacket is top-notch. Styling is of the beholder, but it’s hard to argue with its performance.

Starting with the three-layer GORE-TEX fabric, this jacket packs premium ingredients into a shell with all the bells and whistles. First off, the material is tough and extremely wind- and water-resistant. As noted in the lead sentence, I wore this jacket in extremely windy and cold conditions and was regularly impressed with its ability to keep me comfortable and dry.

I skied on a couple of powder days in this kit and even with consistent heavy snow and working up a sweat skiing hard, I didn’t notice any condensation. Full transparency: This was in Colorado, where conditions were cold and the air was dry. But the jacket performed flawlessly.

Pockets

If you like big pockets, you’re going to love this jacket. It has huge chest pockets, plenty large enough to hold a pair of gloves. There are also two smaller pockets just above the waist. Between these, you should have plenty of room to carry lunch, an extra set of goggle lenses, sunglasses, and a hat. For a day inbounds, you really shouldn’t need much more room unless you plan to carry extra layers.

The Verbier Jacket also has two good-sized dump pockets on the inside. They’re stretchy mesh and don’t close on the top, so they aren’t suitable for super valuable items like car keys. But they should hold a pair of skins for the descent on a cold day if you’re trying to keep them from freezing up. There’s also a small pocket for electronics with a cord port.

Finally, the pass pocket is located on the left wrist. It’s in the perfect location, in my opinion, making it very easy to swipe into chairlifts. The pass pocket even has an attached goggle wipe, something I’ve used quite a few times this year and really appreciated after taking a head-first fall into a powder field during testing.

Zippers

While sometimes ignored, brand-name zippers greatly improve jacket performance. However, they also increase the cost of a jacket.

So it’s fortunate that the Verbier Jacket uses top-tier YKK zippers across the board. The primary front zipper is a heavy YKK model. And while it isn’t waterproof, the other smaller zippers are. It’s the right approach, as a heavy waterproof zipper would be cumbersome and not needed.

All the pockets use YKK Aquaguard zippers, which operate smoothly even under the armpit for venting. The heavy primary zipper runs nicely up under the chin. It gives you plenty of room to close over your face, and a soft brushed-tricot chin guard keeps your skin happy.

The North Face Verbier Jacket Review: Who Should Buy It

At $700, The North Face Verbier GORE-TEX Jacket reviewed here is a big investment. And it has a long fit that will not feel right on everybody. (Note, the fit of this jacket will change for 2025-26. I will update this review once I’ve had a chance to try the newer version on.)

But if it fits and looks the way you want, it’s an excellent product. It shows no signs of wear after a dozen days of skiing, so I’d expect it to last several seasons for the average skier.

With a long fit, permanent powder skirt, plentiful pockets, and a nice, helmet-compatible hood, the Verbier Jacket is at home on ski resorts and side-country. It has plenty of breathability, venting, and protection to function as a backcountry jacket, although it’s on the heavy side for the skin track.

This one is for serious skiers who want a stylish, protective shell for mostly in-bounds days. It will keep harsh weather at bay, and it looks good doing it.