REASONS TO BUY
Inexpensive
Warm
REASONS TO AVOID
Doesn't look good
Minimal features
No vents
Poor fit
Moerdeng Waterproof Ski Jacket Review
This incredibly inexpensive jacket lacks the performance of most others on the market
Credit: Moerdeng
RELATED: Best Ski Jackets for Men of 2024
Our Verdict
The Moerdeng Waterproof Ski Jacket is a budget model that provides good warmth, but not enough performance in other metrics for us to recommend it to most users. It isn't fully waterproof, doesn't have much style, lacks many useful features, and doesn't have any ventilation. Its fit is also boxy and untailored. Unless your budget for ski gear is super tight, we wouldn't recommend this jacket. It is, however, a decent budget winter and ski jacket for those who don't spend too much time in cold winter climates, and who want a cheap option for the occasional cold weather trip.
Our Analysis and Test Results
Performance Comparison
The boxy Moerdeng Waterproof Ski Jacket on the slopes during testing.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
Warmth
The Moerdeng offers surprisingly good warmth, thanks to its layers of synthetic insulation in the torso and sleeves, as well as a thick and soft fleece lining around the torso. We stayed toasty in this jacket on cold testing days in early winter. This performance makes this jacket a good choice for anyone looking for a cheap all-around winter jacket that can also pull double duty on the slopes during the occasional ski trip.
A thick fleece lining adds warmth and coziness to the Moerdeng's interior.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
Weather Resistance
Unfortunately, despite the marketing claims, the Moerdeng isn't as weather-protective as we expected. The manufacturer claims to have a waterproof insert in the shell material, but with no further information about what kind of membrane is included, it's hard to trust. In our shower test, we noticed some water leaking in through the seams, and the hood doesn't effectively cover a helmeted head. This jacket will fend off some inclement weather, but we don't trust it to keep us dry and protected in major winter weather.
It was a struggle to close the front of the Moerdeng's hood around our lead tester's average sized head, even without a helmet.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
Comfort and Fit
The Moerdeng has a comfortable fleece lining that is nice against the skin and body. Unfortunately, that's about the only comfortable part of this jacket. The cut is boxy and straight, without any tailoring to make it form-fitting. It feels generic and sometimes restricting. The worst part is that the hood is way too small to fit a helmeted head. We tried to fasten the hook-and-loop closure that secures the hood around the front of the face, and we could barely get it to close across our face. That makes the hood unusable.
The boxy fit on the Moerdeng had our testers longing for a tailor.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
Ventilation
The Moerdeng lacks armpit zip vents, and with a thick fleece liner in the torso, this jacket doesn't offer any ventilation for aerobic skiers or those seeking hike-to terrain. Fortunately, the boxy fit and poor hood design allow plenty of air to escape, adding some incidental ventilation.
No pit zips here. Fortunately for those in need of ventilation, the boxy fit allows plenty of air to escape elsewhere, in a bad way.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
Style
The Moerdeng doesn't win any style points. With a boxy, straight cut, wide shoulders, and flappy hood straps, we don't think the jacket looks good. It does come in an astounding array of colors, so there is some potential for customization. Most of our testers thought the jacket made them look like a beginner or someone who doesn't ski much. It has a generic look that doesn't win any fans on the ski lifts or at the après bar.
That's right kids, turns are cool! You'll fit right in with the slow skiers in this jacket.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
Features
The Moerdeng is short on useful features. It covers the basics, with two external handwarmer pockets, an external chest pocket, and an internal zippered chest pocket. That's it for pockets, which gets the job done, but most other ski jackets on the market have more pockets. Notably, there is no sleeve pass pocket, which is super useful for quickly scanning RFID turnstiles, and there is no internal mesh stash pocket, which has become standard on top-of-the-line ski jackets. The hood is removable, which is good because we didn't find it very functional.
One zippered chest pocket is all you get on the inside of the Moerdeng.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
Should You Buy the Moerdeng Waterproof Ski Jacket?
At such a low price, this jacket could be a good purchase for a very occasional skier or someone just dipping their toes into the sport. It also doubles as a winter jacket. If you are decking out a large family for a rare ski trip, this jacket could fit the bill. Otherwise, we think most skiers are better off spending a little more money on a higher-performance jacket.
The Moerdeng is good enough for the occasional ski trip, but we wouldn't recommend it to regular skiers.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
What Other Ski Jackets Should You Consider?
The low price of this jacket is intriguing, but for anyone who spends more than a few days on the ski hill each year, there are better options. If you are shopping on a tight budget, we recommend the REI Co-op Powderbound Insulated for a warm ski jacket that won't cost much. If you want an inexpensive shell and are willing to layer underneath, the REI First Chair GTX is a good deal. The The North Face ThermoBall ECO Snow Triclimate is an excellent deal as well, because it includes a removable insulating mid-layer. If you don't mind spending money, the Helly Hansen Alpha Lifaloft is the best insulated jacket out there.
—
Jeff Dobronyi
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