What we like: Wide range of quality resort and backcountry options strong focus on sustainability and social responsibility. Popular products: Snowshot, Powder Bowl, PowSlayer

For committed resort-goers and avid backcountry enthusiasts and ski mountaineers, it just doesnвЂ™t get any better. In the end, most skiers just starting out might be better off saving with more budget-friendly offerings from brands like Columbia or The North Face below, but thereвЂ™s a reason that ArcвЂ™teryxвЂ™s ski apparel consistently ranks at the top of our ski jacket and ski pant round-ups. The company also offers more resort-friendly designs including the Sabre AR Jacket and Macai, although those will set you back a steep $675 and $999, respectively. For example, the aforementioned Alpha SV comes in at a staggering $799. Like most ArcвЂ™teryx builds, the jacket has a high-end fit and finish, seals out weather exceptionally well (they use Gore-Tex for all of their waterproof clothing), and looks great to boot.ДЄrcвЂ™teryxвЂ™s shells are undeniably high-quality and attractive with fantastic fits and useful features, but theyвЂ™re also some of the most expensive on the market. One of our long-time favorites and the brandвЂ™s flagship jacket is the Alpha SV shell (short for вЂњsevere weatherвЂќ), a bombproof and premium design intended for serious alpine expeditions and multi-day ski tours. In many ways, theyвЂ™re the gold standard among backcountry enthusiasts, with a wide range of high-end and technical shells that excel in harsh conditions and mountain environments (this comes as little surprise given the companyвЂ™s proximity to the rugged and demanding Coast Mountains). What we donвЂ™t: Incredibly pricey with no budget-oriented options.ДЇounded in the late 1980s as a climbing company, British Columbia-based ArcвЂ™teryx is one of the most venerable brands in the ski industry today. What we like: Top-notch quality, performance, fit, and styling. Popular products: Sabre AR, Macai, Alpha SV For more information and our top picks in each category, see our ski gear reviews. Below we break down each brand individually, including a brief history and background, each companyвЂ™s most popular models, and what sets them apart from the competition. From budget-oriented companies like Columbia to high-end, touring- and ski-mountaineering-focused brands like ArcвЂ™teryx and NorrГёna, the picks on our list represent the most well-known and respected players in the world of ski apparel. And whether youвЂ™re doing laps at your local resort or skinning deep into the backcountry, youвЂ™ll need a quality jacket and pant combo to keep you comfortable. ItвЂ™s no secret that skiing is an expensive and gear-intensive sport.

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