REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Warm
Comfortable
Good features
REASONS TO AVOID
Not that stylish
Compromised weather protection
Doesn't breathe well
Obermeyer Foundation Review
This jacket packs lots of performance into an inexpensive package, creating great value
Credit: Obermeyer
RELATED: Best Ski Jackets for Men of 2024
Our Verdict
The Obermeyer Foundation is a warm and comfortable ski jacket at a great price. It keeps us warm in most winter weather and has a great tailored fit. With pockets and features galore, it makes a day of wrangling kids at the ski hill easier. And, it comes at a price that is very attractive for such high performance. It lacks some key weather protection elements and doesn't ventilate well when the temperatures rise or when you have to carry all your gear to and from the parking lot, and we think the style could be better. There are better jackets on the market, and there are less expensive jackets to choose from, but this one delivers a good value for what you get.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Obermeyer Foundation | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best 3-in-1 Ski Jacket |  Best Bang for the Buck | | Best Ski Jacket Under 100$ | |
| Price | $279.00 at REI Compare at 4 sellers | $289.95 at Evo Compare at 4 sellers | $319 List $223.29 at REI | $229 List $160.29 at REI | $80 List $64.98 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A good jacket at a great price | A favorite 3-in-1 jacket with good protection, pockets, and slouchy style | This shell nearly matches the performance of much more expensive products | This jacket doesn't excel in any attribute, but it doesn't fall short either | This inexpensive and warm jacket ticks all the boxes for a solid ski jacket |
| Rating Categories | Obermeyer Foundation | 686 Smarty 3-in-1 F... | REI Co-op First Cha... | REI Co-op Powderbou... | GEMYSE Men's Mounta... |
| Warmth (20%) | |||||
| Weather Resistance (20%) | |||||
| Comfort and Fit (20%) | |||||
| Ventilation (20%) | |||||
| Style (10%) | |||||
| Features (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Obermeyer Foundation | 686 Smarty 3-in-1 F... | REI Co-op First Cha... | REI Co-op Powderbou... | GEMYSE Men's Mounta... |
| Main Fabric | 45% Repreve Polyester, 55% Polyester | Nylon | Recycled polyester | Nylon | Unknown |
| Insulation | 100g synthetic body, 80g sleeves, 40g hood | Synthetic 160g | None | 60g polyester sleeves, 80g polyester body | Synthetic and faux-fleece |
| Pockets | 2 zipppered chest, zippered pass pocket, interior electronics pocket | 2 handwarmer, 2 chest, 1 internal mesh | 2 handwarmer, 2 chest flap, 2 chest zipper, 1 internal zipper, 1 intenal mesh, 1 sleeve | 2 zippered hand, 1 zippered chest, 1 sleeve, 1 internal zippered chest, 1 internal mesh | 2 handwarmer, 1 chest, 1 internal zip, 1 internal stash |
| Weight (size large) | 2.62 lbs | 3,15 lbs | 1.73 lbs | 1.81 lbs | 3.63 lbs |
| Water Resistance | HydroBlock Pro with critical seams sealed | infiDRY | Gore-Tex | 2-layer waterproof breathable laminate | Unknown |
| Hood | Adjustable and removable | Adjustable | Adjustable | Adjustable | Removable |
| Pit-Zips | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Cuff construction | Velcro, inner sleeve with thumb loop | Elastic strap with velcro | Velcro | Interior wide hook-and-loop adjustments and external velcro | Stretchy wrist gaiters and external velcro |
| Powder skirt | Yes | No | Yes | Yes | No |
| RECCO | No | No | No | No | No |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
Some jackets deliver excellent performance across the board and cost a lot. Others are cheap but don't deliver great performance. This jacket scores squarely in the middle of the pack, but it is priced on the lower end, making it a great value.
Performance Comparison
The Obermeyer Foundation on the slopes during early season testing.
Credit: Sam Willits
Warmth
The Obermeyer Foundation is a warm jacket. With tons of synthetic insulation throughout the torso and sleeves, it kept our testers warm in cold winter weather. Stretchy wrist gaiters and hook-and-loop straps seal the cuff openings, and a fleece-lined neck rib adds a cozy feeling to the chin and neck area. The hood doesn't contain any insulation, but rather it has a thin hanging nylon liner that traps some warm air. This jacket is warmer than most others on the market.
The Foundation uses lots of synthetic insulation in the torso and sleeves to provide plenty of warmth.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
Weather Resistance
The Obermeyer Foundation lacks key weather resistance features. With a proprietary waterproof and breathable membrane, a hood that doesn't seal all the way around the neck, and front zippers that aren't waterproof, the jacket can't stand up to the wettest winter weather. In the cold and dry winter climates of many ski areas, this jacket is just fine at repelling wind and light snowfall, but if you live or ski where it dumps snow and sometimes rain, this jacket isn't going to protect you all the time.
The removable hood doesn't seal all the way around the neck, creating access points for water and wind.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
Comfort and Fit
The tailoring on this jacket is excellent. The fit contours gently to the body without feeling constricting. The jacket feels light compared to other heavily insulated options. The fleece-lined neck rib and soft, stretchy wrist gaiters add an element of luxury, while the sleeves and hem are the perfect lengths. The hood also fits over helmeted heads nicely. Overall, this jacket fits very well and is a pleasure to wear.
This jacket fits great and is comfortable to wear both on and off the slopes.
Credit: Sam Willits
Ventilation
The Overmeyer Foundation has armpit vents, but they aren't very long, and they are lined with mesh. This prevents the free flow of air through the vents, and we prefer vents without mesh. That said, this jacket is designed for cold weather and resort skiing, not aerobic activity. The material doesn't feel like it breathes very well. The focus here is clearly on warmth, not ventilation.
The Foundation has vents, but they are short and mesh-lined, which limits the movement of air.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
Style
This jacket has a classic resort “family” look. It doesn't try to be stylish, and some of our testers called this garment the “classic dad jacket.” It blends in with the crowd on the ski slopes, and doesn't stick out. We think it looks okay, though we prefer jackets with a more freeride style or jackets that take chances to catch looks at the après bar.
We don't love the Foundation's style, but you might.
Credit: Sam Willits
Features
The Obermeyer Foundation has a full set of features that makes your day at the ski resort easier. There are two handwarmer pockets, two zippered chest pockets, one sleeve pass pocket, one internal zippered chest pocket, and one internal mesh stash pocket. This creates plenty of storage space for your necessary belongings. The Foundation also boasts a removable hood and a powder skirt. Few jackets on the market can match the set of features found on this jacket.
A sleeve pass pocket is crucial for avoiding delays at RFID turnstiles and having to do the Macarena to get on the ski lift.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
Should You Buy the Obermeyer Foundation?
We like this jacket a lot for day-in and day-out use at the ski area. It is the perfect jacket for busy parents who need to store lots of electronics, snacks, keys, and other trinkets while wrangling a family around the resort. It also functions well enough in most winter weather. For the price, this jacket packs in lots of value, but there are cheaper options on the market that get the job done as well. If you want a good jacket that performs well above its price tag, this is a good option.
The Obermeyer Foundation is a good jacket for a great price, with lots of performance in a comfortable package.
Credit: Sam Willits
What Other Ski Jackets Should You Consider?
This jacket outperforms our top choice for users on a budget, the REI Co-op Powderbound Insulated, but it's a little more expensive. Another great deal is The North Face ThermoBall ECO Snow Triclimate, which combines a hard shell with a removable insulating jacket underneath. If you are looking for an even higher-performance insulated jacket, our top pick is the Helly Hansen Alpha LifaLoft. The Arc'teryx Macai is also a top contender, though it costs several times more than the Obermeyer Foundation.
—Jeff Dobronyi
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