Free Soldier Review

This jacket delivers solid performance across the board at a low price that's hard to ignore.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

This jacket is pretty warm! With lots of polyester synthetic insulation and a soft fleece lining, this jacket delivers enough warmth for most days at the ski resort. We felt warm enough in this jacket to wear it without layering on average winter days. Paired with a mid-layer, this jacket is plenty warm for the coldest days of winter in most climates. Highlights like stretchy wrist cuff gauntlets and a fleece-lined collar help deliver a warm and cozy feeling.

Weather Resistance

The Free Soldier ski jacket is moderately weather resistant and keeps inclement winter weather at bay for a while. We can't figure out what the waterproof membrane is made from, but it seems to be relatively effective. Still, water eventually gets inside this jacket, coming in through the hood and pockets during our shower test. That said, this inexpensive jacket is weather-resistant enough for most winter conditions. The full-coverage, removable, and adjustable hood fits a ski helmet and the collar closes around the face effectively.

Comfort and Fit

This jacket is moderately comfortable to wear. The fleece lining and collar add soft touches to the skin, and the stretchy wrist gauntlets create a snug fit around the hands, sealing out the cold when worn underneath gloves. The cut is boxy and un-tailored, but it doesn't ever feel like it restricts motion. This is one of the more comfortable jackets to wear, but this metric is where the Free Soldier can't compete with the more expensive and refined jackets on the market.

Ventilation

Without armpit vents, the Free Soldier doesn't provide much in the way of breathability. The synthetic insulation and fleece lining trap air effectively, but doesn't let that warm, moist air escape. Even when not pulled over the hand, the wrist gauntlets trap air inside the sleeves. It helps that the hood is removable, but this isn't a good jacket for warm spring days. If you spend a lot of time skiing bumps or hiking for your turns, this isn't the jacket for you.

Style

We don't think this jacket looks particularly good. It has a wide, boxy cut that isn't tailored to the contours of the human body. The two-tone color scheme looks lazy rather than refined. The cargo pockets on the front of the torso aren't very stylish either. On the upside, the jacket comes in a wide variety of colors.

Features

The Free Soldier ski jacket has many useful features that we'd only expect to find on more expensive jackets. There are two zippered chest pockets, two handwarmer pockets, and two cargo flap pockets on the outside of each handwarmer pocket. Inside, there's an internal zippered chest pocket with a headphone port and one internal mesh drop-in pocket. The jacket also has a powder skirt and a removable, adjustable hood. On the sleeves, there's a ski pass pocket and stretchy wrist gaiters with thumb loops. All of the features are well-designed and add usefulness to the jacket.

Should You Buy the Free Soldier Ski Jacket?

This jacket is perfect for anyone who wants a high-performance jacket at a low price. It's not the cheapest jacket on the market, but it's close and has more performance than the most budget-minded options. If you are looking for an affordable ski jacket and are willing to pay a few dollars more than the cheapest options, the Free Soldier is worth the upgrade.

What Other Ski Jackets Should You Consider?

If you are looking for the bargain basement option, the GEMYSE Men's Mountain Fleece Lining is the best jacket on the market for penny-pinchers. The REI Co-op First Chair GTX is the best deal for a shell-only jacket, and the Columbia Whirlibird V Interchange includes both a shell component and an insulated sweater component at a low price. The REI Co-op Powderbound Insulated is still fairly affordable, but slightly more refined.