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Reading time: 8 min | Category: Gear Guides
The outerwear question comes up every time someone is planning their first serious overseas snowboard trip. They have been riding Buller or Falls Creek in a mid-range jacket for a few seasons. It has been fine. Now they are going to Japan or Whistler and they want to know whether they need to upgrade, and if so, what to buy.
The honest answer: it depends on what you have, where you are going, and how you ride. But for riders heading into genuine overseas conditions — Hokkaido in January, a storm week at Whistler, sidecountry in the Tyrol — the difference between adequate gear and proper technical outerwear is immediate and real.
What Changes Overseas
Australian resort conditions are generally mild by global standards. Buller at its coldest runs around -5°C to -10°C. Both are manageable in mid-range waterproof outerwear.
Hokkaido in January runs -15°C to -25°C on cold days, with wind. Whistler in a storm week can hit -20°C at elevation. At these temperatures, the gap between a 10,000mm waterproof jacket and a 3-layer GORE-TEX shell is not about brand snobbery — it is about whether you are dry and comfortable or wet and cold by noon.
Breathability matters as much as waterproofing. When working hard — hiking a sidecountry line, skinning, riding aggressively — you generate significant heat. Moisture from sweating needs to move through the jacket rather than condensing on the inside. GORE-TEX solves this: waterproof from outside, allows water vapour to pass from inside out.
Burton AK — What It Is and Why It Exists
AK stands for Alaska — the proving ground where big mountain snowboarding was invented. Every jacket and pant in the AK range uses a genuine GORE-TEX membrane. Three configurations:
2-Layer (2L): GORE-TEX membrane bonded to the face fabric with a separate hanging liner. The most affordable AK entry. Good for resort days and riders not doing high-output touring.
3-Layer (3L): All three layers bonded together. Lighter, more durable, better breathability. Recommended for active touring, sidecountry or high-output backcountry days. The Cyclic Anorak and Swash Jacket are 3L builds.
Pro 3L: GORE-TEX Pro — heavier duty face fabric, more abrasion resistance. Built for riders in technical terrain regularly who need outerwear that lasts through demanding seasons.
Beyond the membrane, AK jackets have helmet-compatible hoods that actually work with a helmet, articulated patterning for full arm movement, pit zips, YKK water-resistant zippers, goggle wipe pockets and powder skirts that seal properly.
We stock the AK range as an authorised Burton dealer — Cyclic, Swash and Acamar in men's; Upshift, Embark and Kimmy in women's. We will tell you which jacket suits your destination and riding style.
Jones Outerwear — Built for Freeride and Backcountry
Jones outerwear comes from the same philosophy as Jones snowboards — engineered specifically for riders who go beyond the resort boundary.
The Shralpinist collection is the technical flagship: 3-Layer GORE-TEX, designed for touring and aggressive freeride movement demands, built with sustainability front and centre — recycled face fabrics, Protect Our Winters alignment. The Shralpinist Bibs are one of the most technically capable and sustainably produced bibs in the market.
Jones also runs the Peak and Storm lines at lower price points — solid waterproof construction with a freeride focus. The right entry for riders who want Jones quality without the full Shralpinist budget.
As the Jones EPICenter for Australia, we carry the deepest Jones range available.
Bibs vs Pants for Overseas Powder Riding
Bibs for Japan. Full stop. When riding waist-deep powder in Hokkaido, snow comes over the top of pants on every turn. Bibs eliminate the waistband gap entirely — your torso is covered from shoulder to boot with no entry point for snow. The warmth improvement from continuous core coverage is significant.
Beyond powder management, bibs are more comfortable for high-output riding. No waistband pressure when bent over or hiking. More freedom of movement through the back and hips.
Burton AK bibs (Tuvak and Ballast) and Jones Shralpinist Bibs both use GORE-TEX and are stocked at Twelve.
How to Choose the Right Kit for Your Trip
Japan, resort-focused week: AK 2L shell or Jones Storm. GORE-TEX waterproofing without paying for the most technical construction.
Japan, powder hunting and tree riding: AK 3L shell and bibs, or Jones Shralpinist. This is the kit Hokkaido actually demands.
Canada, Whistler resort days: AK 2L or Jones Storm. 3L if getting into sidecountry or doing touring days.
Canada, BC interior — Revelstoke, Whitewater, Red Mountain: 3L shell and bibs. These conditions demand the technical end of the range.
Europe, Alpine resort: 2L to 3L depending on how active your riding is. 3L for sidecountry, touring or technical freeride terrain.
Come in and talk to us before you go. We have been on these mountains and know what these conditions demand.
The Investment Perspective
For riders who go every year, premium outerwear pays for itself in longevity and performance. A Burton AK 3L jacket maintained properly lasts many seasons. On the storm days, the deep powder days, the days you tell stories about for years — being in the right gear rather than adequate gear changes the experience completely.
Shop Burton AK outerwear →
Shop all outerwear →
Shop Jones →
Layering guide for overseas trips →
Complete overseas trip guide →
Ask our team →
Last updated: July 2026 | 435A Bridge Rd, Richmond VIC 3121 | 03 9421 2293
Frequently Asked Questions
Yes, for riders heading into genuine Hokkaido conditions. Hokkaido in January runs -15 to -25 degrees on cold days with wind. At these temperatures the gap between a 10,000mm waterproof jacket and Burton AK GORE-TEX is not about brand snobbery — it is about whether you are dry and comfortable or wet and cold by noon. For a Japan resort week with some powder days, AK 2L is the entry point. For serious powder hunting and tree riding, AK 3L and bibs.
2-Layer (2L): GORE-TEX membrane bonded to the face fabric with a separate hanging liner. Most affordable AK option. Good for resort days and occasional sidecountry. 3-Layer (3L): all three layers bonded together — lighter, more durable, better breathability. Recommended for active touring, sidecountry and high-output backcountry days. Pro 3L: GORE-TEX Pro membrane with heavier duty face fabric — for riders in technical terrain regularly who need outerwear that lasts a full demanding season.
Bibs. Full stop. When riding waist-deep powder in Hokkaido, snow comes over the top of pants on every turn. No powder skirt stops this completely. Bibs eliminate the waistband gap entirely — your torso is covered from shoulder to boot with no entry point for snow. The warmth improvement and powder management advantage are significant. Burton AK Tuvak and Ballast bibs and Jones Shralpinist Bibs are both stocked at Twelve.
The Jones Shralpinist is the technical flagship of Jones outerwear. 3-Layer GORE-TEX construction designed for the movement demands of touring and aggressive freeride. Built with sustainability at the centre — recycled face fabrics, responsible manufacturing, aligned with the Protect Our Winters philosophy. The Shralpinist Bibs are one of the most technically capable and sustainably produced bibs in the market. Available at Twelve Board Store as the Australian Jones EPICenter.
BC's coastal ranges get wetter, heavier snow than Hokkaido — a 3-layer GORE-TEX shell performs meaningfully better in sustained wet Pacific weather than a 2-layer construction. For Whistler resort days, AK 2L or Jones Storm covers most conditions. For BC interior — Revelstoke, Whitewater, Red Mountain — 3L shell and bibs. You will be working hard and the conditions demand the technical end of the outerwear range.
Yes. We are an authorised Burton dealer and the Jones EPICenter for Australia. We carry the AK range in men's and women's — the Cyclic, Swash and Acamar in men's; the Upshift, Embark and Kimmy in women's. The full Jones Shralpinist collection plus the Peak and Storm lines. All available at our Richmond store and online. Come in and we will tell you which specific jacket suits your destination and riding style.
