Ski jackets can be shockingly expensive, and there’s a reason for that. These jackets are made to keep you comfortably warm and dry when you’re literally sitting out in the weather all day. There’s a lot of engineering that goes into ski jacket fabrics and insulations. Branded fabrics and insulation like Gore-Tex, Pertex, and RDS-Certified water-resistant down all cost more than waterproof fabrics a company develops itself. If you only ski once a year and you’re comfortable with renting, many ski resorts partner with rental companies that offer outerwear as well as skis, boots, helmets, and more. If you have a great jacket that’s waterproof and breathable—even if it’s not ski-specific—wear that instead of getting something that might be cheap or cute but lacks technical properties.