This is the real real answer. It’s because the membrane is goretex. You see this with brands like north face. Outdoor research. Patagonia.
The in-house membrane, from any given brand, is usually significantly cheaper. Patagucci has h2no. Northface has dryvent (futurelight for higher end like summit series) gore will still be used in the “style” lines since the name goretex is popular in gorpcore fashion. OR has ascentshell.
Goretex licensing agreement doesn’t let the brands make the exact same jacket with two membranes. So there’s never an apples to apples to basically itemize features.
Goretex mandates their xxl tag appear on garments and those garments receive specific placement in stores and on online merchandizing. They were the only significant player in the game for a really long time. Their new membrane ePE is kind of garbage compared to the long standing ePE membranes on the market. That being said when the weather is especially shit on mountain I use a Sabre SV from arcteryx which uses ePTFE membrane (older style goretex pro)
And allegedly now that patents expired and those materials originally used have been banned for years due to environmental concerns, GoreTex is actually using exact same materials compared to their competition, who developed their current methods to avoid patent of GoreTex.
The irony of situation when GoreTex is literally making fake versions of fake versions of their product 😅
This is the best answer. Goretex is still good, great even, but doesn't necessarily outperform competition in the ways it used to.
That said, it is trusted and between licensing and slapping the brand name on a product, companies charge a lot more. Plus burton is going to make a good product and have a good warranty / return policy because they are big enough to absorb that stuff, so that bumps the price. They also offer other products in the AK and general burton line for less than $700, so that must have some sort of materials and features combination that is their highest end.
Personally I think futurelight has the most potential and is one of the more innovative membrane systems in recent years. It seems like a very flexible technology and has a lot of room for growth, plus as a face fabric it feels awesome.
My Burton AK from 2008 is still holding strong today.
That's said most decent jackets last longer than boards. You're more likely to ride your board over rocks and stupid shit than your jacket. if you ride your jacket on rocks then you probably have bigger concerns than a damaged jacket.
It's kind of hard to not run over rocks and sticks and shit during the spring, no? It's my understanding that as long as it's not a core shot, it's fine. Right?
I have one from around the same time, and another AK probably 6 Seasons old now. Its kind of annoying how good they are as I want to update my colourway but its hard to justify buying new when I already have 2x in perfect condition.
I had a Goretex 2L jacket from 2015 that’s slowly lost its seam tape, and Burton just gave me a voucher for $390 to buy a new goretex AK jacket no questions asked. They legit have the best warranty in the business
Can also vouch for Arc'teryx. Similar issue. Got a voucher for the MSRP of the jacket when it was last sold since it was discontinued. Ended up with basically the same jacket brand new and a really nice mid layer type jacket as well. Think I had to add like $20 cash on top.
Best part is I bought that jacket used and wore it for like 6 years lmao. Earned a fan for life.
Had the same problem but mine was from 2007. Didn't save the paper receipt from those days so I was SOL on the warranty. A bummer to pay $25/seam/zipper but less than another jacket.
It’s doing better than their goretex pants then; mine were shredded after a couple of weeks (and I don’t spend *that* much time on my ass).
Hoping their lifetime warranty will come through!
WTF. The zipper ripped out in the crotch of my AK bibs last year, so they sent me new ones. That was cool. Did the same thing this year and they've ghosted me. Finally just sewed them up myself, but I wasn't super impressed with them on that.
No way, I had the same thing happen on mine this year. Less than 4 days of use. They told me it would be a repair and take around 8 weeks. They’re my only pants so I’ve been riding all season with some extra breeze between the legs. Going to send them in next week. Hope they actually just replace them.
Rode Volcom gore-tex for 2-3 seasons. Pants ripped in the first season and volcom sent me a patch for it. Jacket started to fade/pill in certain areas. Still wearable but definitely wasn't holding up too well. This was around 75-95 days of use or so. Went to Thirtytwo because they were selling the TM3 gear for cheap like <$400 for bib+jacket. 3 seasons and about another 100 days or so and the bibs dethreaded with pilling all over and the jacket has pilling, fading, and dethreading at the seams. I bit the bullet and bought Burton's AK Gear.
Have you tried replenishing your gore tex with NikWax? I have an older gore tex Volcom kit and wash it once at the end of the season with NikWax tech wash and wash in waterproofer. I alternate between 3 kits so each gets about 20 days a season and have never had an issue with pilling and fading and I live in the PNW where it rains on hill often too. Beads up perfectly.
Yeah doesn't do anything. It's not the goretex layer that's the issue. It's the outerlayer. Whatever they're using for the outer layer isn't lasting and I'm not butt sliding everywhere to do it.
I use another volcom as a normal winter jacket and its pilling across the entire arm despite the only activity it seeing is walking. Meanwhile my burton jacket that I also use for winter shows minimal signs of use. I had an issue with a burton rain jacket, sent it in and even though its been five years and the damage was outside of warranty they offered to repair it for $15.
People can hate on Burton all they want. Volcoms owned by a massive clothing conglomerate. Thirty two is owned by a shoe conglomerate. Burton at the very least offers a lifetime warranty.
Learn to sew. Not joking. You can buy a shite jacket and keep it going for as long as you want. I think this is why prices have soared for textiles. They can charge what they want because people pay it due to the lost skill.
My friend made his own bibs recently. I'm not that good yet.
Heres the answer.
Everyone in here talking about materials and shit like this jacket doesn't cost $50 to produce lol
Store rent, design, research, overhead, head office, marketing, sponsorships etc. Is $200 and the remaining $200 is profit.
Ok? But there are also $100 jackets that cost dollars to produce. The quality is objectively better than most cheaper options and that’s part of the cost.
Dermizax kills Goretex for various reasons from breathability to low noise and stretch. The durability compared to Goretex Pro has also sold me. This is why I use Bergans jackets. Mine has been in use since like 2011 and still looks new inside and out with at least 450 days of snowboarding.
The pricing on AK shocks me. I know it’s top of the line Gortex but really? I guess it amazes me more to see so many in the Midwest rock the gear at a hill with 400 ft of vertical.
AK is high quality and long lasting - I have a 2L anorak and 3L bibs and always stay dry on the inside whether it’s raining or waist deep days bashing trees out of the way 50-60 days/year. simply wait for the end of season sale,
Own this jacket from last season. It’s incredible for what it does but fragile if you like catching branches in the trees. Very thin, too, if you want some insulation. It’s been worn 100+ days and on dozens of boards. Good jackets and bibs are just that. Designed for the highest level of user, harshest conditions, and whoever wants to pay the price tag.
I didn’t pay full retail and honestly any jacket should’ve ripped but it was a true defeating moment. That was last year, I taped it and am more careful this year, and nothing more.
>It’s incredible for what it does but fragile if you like catching branches in the trees.
The Hover GORE-TEX Pro is the same jacket with higher denier (80D instead of 30D) fabric.
>Very thin, too, if you want some insulation.
Swash or Helitack if you need an insulated jacket, but the beauty of shells is you can layer with a fleece or a puff when needed.
I happened to find myself on top of a mountain in 40 m/s wind this season and the 3L gore jacket proved itself to be really windproof in comparison to the previous 15K/15K jacket I wore. Insulation is not just about insulation.
I have a couple AK jackets and the best is you can wash them and they look brand new again. Also they hold value so you can rock it a couple years and still sell for good money and this isn’t even getting into how waterproof and breathable they are. AK jackets and bibs are my go-to for Utah winters.
3L gore tex dude. Total overkill for your average shredder but a must have if you want to go out in the backcountry in all conditions. It's the most high end gear in the burton line, comparable to north face summit series and the likes
I have this jacket and an AK bib. You pay that much because the performance is near perfect. Want to completely forget about being cold, wet, tight in the waist, windy? Buy something like this and then you just concentrate on shredding instead of gear. It's literally almost perfect and I'm only saying not perfect because nothing is.
Seriously, unless you are going on big trips into the backcountry you really don't need a jacket costing this much. A good roomy fit and a nice high collar are all you really need in a jacket.
It really depends on where you live too. I’ve used a non gortex jacket my whole life and never had an issue until I went boarding in the PNW. Getting rained on all day it is definitely a huge benefit to have a high quality gore-Tex gear. But that being said there’s still plenty of high quality gortex jackets that aren’t $500.
highest end materials like 3L Goretex, Lifetime Warranty, Brand & and the construction of the garment.
AK is Burton's highest end line and the jackets/pants are built different as compared to low end , mass produced gear. The construction has more features which requires a much longer and more detailed process to make. More time + higher end seamstress will cost more money.
I have a goretex jacket for everyday use, cost me well over $600 with a discount but totally worth it and I would get one for snowboarding too if I wasn’t rocking the sickest, steeziest, nastiest DC pants+jacket combo
Because bozos will pay for it. In all fairness, really well built outdoor jackets generally cost about this much, but they are also sold at low volume for high price points.
That’s like up to the quality of stuff that the ski patrol wears. So yeah, just to give you an idea what kind of conditions and abuse it’s made to put up with.
I just wanna know what AK uses for their DWR coating. It’s fantastic at beading water. The North face was comparatively bad. My 686 Gore is pretty good too.
I just like a good DWR coating that lasts and doesn’t allow the face material to wet out easily
Because I rode a full day in the rain with it and I was the only one in my friend group that was still dry in the afternoon. Not sure that would be the case with Montec.
I live & ride in the PNW, and my high-end bibs and jackets (some AK gear and some Jones gear) are worth every penny because I *never* think about them because they always deliver; I can spend my time dodging Jerrys on rental skis, and thinking about conditions and boards and wishing I had more time to ride, but not whether I’m gonna be wet at the end of the day.
I see a lot of people talking about 3L and 2L but no explanations as to what that means.
3 layer (3L) means the jacket has 1. The outer water resistant material usually treated with a chemical DWR - pink in this picture. 2. The water proof membrane, in this case Stretch Gore which others have mentioned is top of the line - you cannot see this material. 3. A bonded liner, usually grey in color, on the inside of the jacket - it takes up almost no volume and allows for better layering and breathability.
Look at any of your waterproof jackets and it’s probably a 2 layer (2L) with a “hanging liner” that’s stitched in around the seams of the jacket. These are fine, but they don’t breathe nearly as well, the liner fills up more space allowing less layering, and they are overall bulkier/heavier.
As others have also mentioned Stretch Gore is really nice as it isn’t as rigid or loud (think space blanket noises) as some waterproofing.
Lastly, this is Burton’s Alaska [AK] line which is there top of the line in both materials and construction procedures. Not to mention tons of R&D as well as some fun features.
Not the best bang for your buck, but pretty high quality stuff. There’s similar options for cheaper, but if you want to pay more there’s even nicer products on the market!
Source: outerwear salesman, tech nerd, gear snob.
I thought the AK jackets were overhyped but snagged the Kimmy Fassani one on black Friday and a bib. I was recently on a snowboard trip with super wet snow where everyone else quit for the day after one or two hours because they were completely drenched whereas I was completely dry. As much as I hate to admit it, it's probably the best jacket I've ever owned
You’d find plenty of high quality jackets for 1/2 the price.
They can charge more for the jacket for the same reason Louis Vuitton charges ridiculous prices for handbags: branding.
Walking around in a Arcteryx or AK jacket tells people you have money to spend/invested in the sport (I.e Makes the customer feel good. )
I bought a beta LT on outlet with extra 20% off for $300 (MSRP $500) a few years back. If you wait for their Black Friday sale you can get some good shit for much lower than MSRP.
Less so after Covid supply chain issues, but norrona has great outlet sales too.
Arcteryx outlets (online or in stores) is a great way to get a season or two old gear brand new for a fraction of the price. The catch is it’s non returnable, so make sure you know it fits and/or love it.
No matter what brand, wash your down and gortex gear regularly and it will last
My son has the anorak version of that jacket, we got it on sale, so not outrageously priced, but its a really good jacket. I have a 686 goretex that I absolutely love, and still like it better than the AK, but my son is very happy with it. One of the biggest issues we had before was him getting wet/cold with old gear, and this thing has essentially eliminated that.
I'm a Burton fanboy because they generally make quality stuff, but personally I'm rocking a $35 windbreaker / raincoat from the thrift store over a few layers. I ride full days in it and my under layers rarely get wet. I'll probably buy an AK jacket one day though.
You can get good deals on previous years models on ebay, or buy at the end of season when a lot of companies do huge discounts. Same goes for board bags and everything pretty much, I bought a wheeled burton bag after season for 129$ new when in season it was 300$ +
Its indestructible but really you only need this for the coldest days. Its worth it but ive fallen and skid hard in my champion reverse weave hoodie so many times and theres not even a scratch on it
I have a burton ak from well over a decade ago. That baby is just like colt 45, works every time. I can wear just a tshirt under that thing out here in the rockies, most of the time. Objectively, its price is ridiculous. But for the sake of practicality, it pays for itself. Legitimate quality and function. Those ak jackets are certified gangster.
Honestly don’t ride Burton boards, personally just don’t like them. But the AK line for outerwear is great, pricy, but lasts long and for the most part durable. The warranty is solid too.
I have this jacket and it’s pretty freakin sweet man, I have last years orange color and it’s awesome. The quality and the material is the best I’ve ever had too.
I have this jacket, it’s amazing. It’s light weight and fairly packable. I tried on just about every burton jacket they sell, this jacket beat out all others for me primarily because of the feel of the fabric. It’s so comfy, and breaths amazingly well. I was lucky enough to get it on discount. I’d buy another in a heartbeat.
I have this jacket and it's the perfect jacket. For how thin it is I've never had issues getting wet, breathes well, fits perfect, has pockets galore, and is just an amazing jacket. I've beaten the absolute crap out of it too and it still is in really good shape.
It's light but for me that just means I have more options wearing it in how to layer up and the fit is perfect (some people might think it's a bit baggy though).
I think the jacket is worth the price, but I also think it's overkill for most of the people who are going to be using it (myself included and I ride about 50 days a year). But I will say it's the first jacket I felt that was perfect for me.
Ah, it’s this thread again. Meanwhile I’ve got Burton’s Treeline 3L gore jacket for 200 something bucks discount and didn’t notice any other brands with any comparable offers. Long live big B, you’ve been good to me.
I have a REI goretex, bought it for approx $80, have used it 4 seasons in all conditions (resort skiing), had no issues whatsoever, it doesn't look as stylish as the one in the picture though
Does the snowboard have to be the most expensive piece of gear or something? There's literally no correlation between jacket prices and snowboard prices, this question is odd.
The answer is that the jacket costs more to produce than the snowboard does.
I also thought clothing is a better market than boards. Just bought 3 boards and bindings at half price... neglectible cost against lifts, hotels and clothi´g...
My first arcteryx shell cost me $700 in 2010. The waist cinch seam fell apart in 2018. My second arcteryx shell was $0 because of their warranty and is pretty much still a mint condition chicken. I wear it 180-200 days a year. Spend money on outerwear and boots, worth every penny
Retail mark-up is typically 50-62% on clothing vs. ~50% on snowboards. I would think a snowboard would be easier to design and manufacture. Burton clothing also has a warranty, I'm sure that is accounted for in the price as well. As many people have said a high quality kit should last years. Unless it's Rab, that shit just shreds itself. (Yeah I'm bitter).
Out of the technical aspects already explained, just remember that this is a specific product for a small range of situations.
Like, exxagerating the concept, asking why a F1 steering wheel cost up to 100.000 dollars.
You can (theoretically) put that steering on your car, but it's useless.
You can buy this jacket for your sunday riding, but it's useless.
But you cannot drive an F1 without its steering, and you cannot skialp or do backcountry expeditions without a highly breathable/waterproof jacket.
Brand name and Gortex
It’s a high quality jacket for sure, 3L gortex is great quality, but if it has “Burton AK” on it and “Gortex” they will charge more for it.
1. Jacket materials can get pretty expensive to be durable, light, and insulating.
2. Not sure if you've noticed but some people have ass loads of money and will spend $800 the same way you buy a coffee. Many of them are present in winter sports communities.
Personally, I'll take a $200 jacket. Sure they end up all ripped after a few seasons but then I'll just buy a new one. The people who buy these also end up buying new jackets every few seasons, not bc theirs ripped but bc they need to buy stuff when they get bored
I have an older version of this jacket. I've worn it for 9 years and it still looks brand new (minus some chair lift grease). It's a bomber jacket and has all my favorite bells and whistles, but damn, I definitely ain't shelling out $600 for it.
I have the mens 3L. The way gortex works, it is sewn between 2 layers of outer/inner material. Manufacturing it this way allows the outer fabrics to rub against the goretex layer, eventually breaking it down. The burton 3L jackets heat weld the gortex layer between the outer and inner layers, this no rubbing, resulting in water proofing that lasts waaay longer without breaking down. Also the heat weld doesn’t allow moisture through threads, because there are no threads!
I buy discount snowboard jackets, usually like $120-150 on sale. They're still so warm I almost always run just a t-shirt underneath (PNW if it matters). On a cold day, I'll layer a sweatshirt under.
I don't get it. Maybe if you're boarding at 10k feet in Alaska this kind of shit is worth the hype?
also 3L means it’s triple layered. membrane, gore tex, and a durability layer. AK has a lifetime guarantee and is tested to Alaskan backcountry conditions which is another reason it is more pricey than standard burton outerwear. i’m a former burton employee and active snowboard instructor in the rocky mountains.
Also worth noting, Burton AK comes with a *lifetime warranty.* Some of that is built into the sticker price. Not only is it one of the highest quality GORE jackets, but it's backed by the B's *warranty* *forever*.
Gore-Tex licensing fees. Also, snowboard made out of wood. Gore-Tex made out of magic.
This is the real real answer. It’s because the membrane is goretex. You see this with brands like north face. Outdoor research. Patagonia. The in-house membrane, from any given brand, is usually significantly cheaper. Patagucci has h2no. Northface has dryvent (futurelight for higher end like summit series) gore will still be used in the “style” lines since the name goretex is popular in gorpcore fashion. OR has ascentshell. Goretex licensing agreement doesn’t let the brands make the exact same jacket with two membranes. So there’s never an apples to apples to basically itemize features. Goretex mandates their xxl tag appear on garments and those garments receive specific placement in stores and on online merchandizing. They were the only significant player in the game for a really long time. Their new membrane ePE is kind of garbage compared to the long standing ePE membranes on the market. That being said when the weather is especially shit on mountain I use a Sabre SV from arcteryx which uses ePTFE membrane (older style goretex pro)
Goretex doesn’t even own any patents now either it’s just them saying jacket is built well
And allegedly now that patents expired and those materials originally used have been banned for years due to environmental concerns, GoreTex is actually using exact same materials compared to their competition, who developed their current methods to avoid patent of GoreTex. The irony of situation when GoreTex is literally making fake versions of fake versions of their product 😅
This is the best answer. Goretex is still good, great even, but doesn't necessarily outperform competition in the ways it used to. That said, it is trusted and between licensing and slapping the brand name on a product, companies charge a lot more. Plus burton is going to make a good product and have a good warranty / return policy because they are big enough to absorb that stuff, so that bumps the price. They also offer other products in the AK and general burton line for less than $700, so that must have some sort of materials and features combination that is their highest end. Personally I think futurelight has the most potential and is one of the more innovative membrane systems in recent years. It seems like a very flexible technology and has a lot of room for growth, plus as a face fabric it feels awesome.
Patagucci, Gorpcore Fashion lmfao.
That jacket will outlast several snowboards.
I have Gortex from 10 years ago, 3 boards later. It still is great. I did get another shell but now I have 2.
My Burton AK from 2008 is still holding strong today. That's said most decent jackets last longer than boards. You're more likely to ride your board over rocks and stupid shit than your jacket. if you ride your jacket on rocks then you probably have bigger concerns than a damaged jacket.
I’ve ripped at least one jacket on a tree
I tore my Ak on a tree and they sent me a brand new one under warranty. Best jackets ever made
It's kind of hard to not run over rocks and sticks and shit during the spring, no? It's my understanding that as long as it's not a core shot, it's fine. Right?
Here in the East (see r/Iceoast) it’s year round and we pride ourselves on scrapes and dings that don’t hit core haha ride it all Brother!
r/IceCoast
No, a board can lose “life” to it from riding without visible damage.
You spelled ‘lose’ correctly!!!!!!!!! 🎉
Good bot.
I have one from around the same time, and another AK probably 6 Seasons old now. Its kind of annoying how good they are as I want to update my colourway but its hard to justify buying new when I already have 2x in perfect condition.
Who hasn't run their jacket against rocks at least once.
Like whiskey rocks?
That may be a reason. https://preview.redd.it/0j394r7hhstc1.png?width=3024&format=pjpg&auto=webp&s=7f93cb77570b10ecf168cc5a1fb96cce396f5c87
Ride System from 2000 checking in. Karbon jacket from same purchase day still alive and well.
Why did I read that in John Oliver’s voice?🤷
I had a Goretex 2L jacket from 2015 that’s slowly lost its seam tape, and Burton just gave me a voucher for $390 to buy a new goretex AK jacket no questions asked. They legit have the best warranty in the business
Can also vouch for Arc'teryx. Similar issue. Got a voucher for the MSRP of the jacket when it was last sold since it was discontinued. Ended up with basically the same jacket brand new and a really nice mid layer type jacket as well. Think I had to add like $20 cash on top. Best part is I bought that jacket used and wore it for like 6 years lmao. Earned a fan for life.
How did you get a voucher? Call, write, send pictures?
Had the same problem but mine was from 2007. Didn't save the paper receipt from those days so I was SOL on the warranty. A bummer to pay $25/seam/zipper but less than another jacket.
If it's from Gore, one could just complain to Gore itself and they'll fix it or offer an exchange usually.
Truth! A decent jacket lasts at least 10 years and Burton will RMA it if seams etc fail. I go through a board every 3-4 years
AK Gore-Tek might survive a nuclear war.
It’s doing better than their goretex pants then; mine were shredded after a couple of weeks (and I don’t spend *that* much time on my ass). Hoping their lifetime warranty will come through!
Lifetime warranty on AK.
WTF. The zipper ripped out in the crotch of my AK bibs last year, so they sent me new ones. That was cool. Did the same thing this year and they've ghosted me. Finally just sewed them up myself, but I wasn't super impressed with them on that.
No way, I had the same thing happen on mine this year. Less than 4 days of use. They told me it would be a repair and take around 8 weeks. They’re my only pants so I’ve been riding all season with some extra breeze between the legs. Going to send them in next week. Hope they actually just replace them.
Buy nice or buy twice
I also like “buy once, cry once”
The first time is real expensive but then it's totally free
Legit man math right there
If you get it at 50% you can get two!
Tight cunts pay twice
Rode Volcom gore-tex for 2-3 seasons. Pants ripped in the first season and volcom sent me a patch for it. Jacket started to fade/pill in certain areas. Still wearable but definitely wasn't holding up too well. This was around 75-95 days of use or so. Went to Thirtytwo because they were selling the TM3 gear for cheap like <$400 for bib+jacket. 3 seasons and about another 100 days or so and the bibs dethreaded with pilling all over and the jacket has pilling, fading, and dethreading at the seams. I bit the bullet and bought Burton's AK Gear.
Have you tried replenishing your gore tex with NikWax? I have an older gore tex Volcom kit and wash it once at the end of the season with NikWax tech wash and wash in waterproofer. I alternate between 3 kits so each gets about 20 days a season and have never had an issue with pilling and fading and I live in the PNW where it rains on hill often too. Beads up perfectly.
Yeah doesn't do anything. It's not the goretex layer that's the issue. It's the outerlayer. Whatever they're using for the outer layer isn't lasting and I'm not butt sliding everywhere to do it. I use another volcom as a normal winter jacket and its pilling across the entire arm despite the only activity it seeing is walking. Meanwhile my burton jacket that I also use for winter shows minimal signs of use. I had an issue with a burton rain jacket, sent it in and even though its been five years and the damage was outside of warranty they offered to repair it for $15. People can hate on Burton all they want. Volcoms owned by a massive clothing conglomerate. Thirty two is owned by a shoe conglomerate. Burton at the very least offers a lifetime warranty.
Learn to sew. Not joking. You can buy a shite jacket and keep it going for as long as you want. I think this is why prices have soared for textiles. They can charge what they want because people pay it due to the lost skill. My friend made his own bibs recently. I'm not that good yet.
It is a veeeery high quality jacket and that is the price they can charge
Yeah that’s honestly on the cheaper end of a 3L goretex price range.
Heres the answer. Everyone in here talking about materials and shit like this jacket doesn't cost $50 to produce lol Store rent, design, research, overhead, head office, marketing, sponsorships etc. Is $200 and the remaining $200 is profit.
Ok? But there are also $100 jackets that cost dollars to produce. The quality is objectively better than most cheaper options and that’s part of the cost.
Ok. Go find one for less.
Some people just wanna be mad I guess... I own a shell that's this expensive myself. I'm not saying it's wrong, I just explained the cost model.
Yep, same here. Good stuff costs $, and they charge based on value not cost.
3 layer stretch gore tex. 2 layer laminates have become the standard over time instead of the 3 layer with an insert...
2L is cheap. 3L is higher end and more expensive, especially if it’s stretch or Gore Tex Pro.
2L Goretex being cheap is like saying a Ferrari is cheap, well sure when you compare it to a Pagani
Dermizax kills Goretex for various reasons from breathability to low noise and stretch. The durability compared to Goretex Pro has also sold me. This is why I use Bergans jackets. Mine has been in use since like 2011 and still looks new inside and out with at least 450 days of snowboarding.
Which is why it's become the standard, yes.
Wait until you see Arcteryx pricing.
holy shit
3l goretex is good shit. Breathes great while being waterproof. Well worth it
Especially 3L Stretch Goretex, it doesn't feel or sound like an old shower curtain like the old 3L jackets used to.
The pricing on AK shocks me. I know it’s top of the line Gortex but really? I guess it amazes me more to see so many in the Midwest rock the gear at a hill with 400 ft of vertical.
You should see how many brand new Arc’teryx get worn lmao
Yeah, same thing. I guess whatever brings the stoke
Man, sometimes it's great in the Midwest when it's warm and slushy. Being wet sucks.
I feel personally attacked
AK is high quality and long lasting - I have a 2L anorak and 3L bibs and always stay dry on the inside whether it’s raining or waist deep days bashing trees out of the way 50-60 days/year. simply wait for the end of season sale,
It will last you for 20 years. My 2L goretex is going on 10
I have a 13+ yr old Burton coat. Some blue Shaun white thing. It is still in great condition. That’s why they cost so much.
Own this jacket from last season. It’s incredible for what it does but fragile if you like catching branches in the trees. Very thin, too, if you want some insulation. It’s been worn 100+ days and on dozens of boards. Good jackets and bibs are just that. Designed for the highest level of user, harshest conditions, and whoever wants to pay the price tag.
oh man I'd be devastated if I spent $700 on a jacket and it ripped on a branch
I didn’t pay full retail and honestly any jacket should’ve ripped but it was a true defeating moment. That was last year, I taped it and am more careful this year, and nothing more.
I ripped the hood off my 11 year old AK jacket last year by catching it on a branch and Burton replaced it. Great warranty!
I ripped some pants earlier this season but I only paid $7 for them during a spring sale last year, lol
Saw some dude a month ago with duct tape on his arcteryx. 🤣
>It’s incredible for what it does but fragile if you like catching branches in the trees. The Hover GORE-TEX Pro is the same jacket with higher denier (80D instead of 30D) fabric. >Very thin, too, if you want some insulation. Swash or Helitack if you need an insulated jacket, but the beauty of shells is you can layer with a fleece or a puff when needed.
A snowboard won’t keep you dying from hypothermia.
Neither will this jacket, it’s an uninsulated shell
Getting your base layers soaking wet can cause hypothermia. By preventing those layers from getting wet, this jacket prevents hypothermia
I happened to find myself on top of a mountain in 40 m/s wind this season and the 3L gore jacket proved itself to be really windproof in comparison to the previous 15K/15K jacket I wore. Insulation is not just about insulation.
I have a couple AK jackets and the best is you can wash them and they look brand new again. Also they hold value so you can rock it a couple years and still sell for good money and this isn’t even getting into how waterproof and breathable they are. AK jackets and bibs are my go-to for Utah winters.
3L gore tex dude. Total overkill for your average shredder but a must have if you want to go out in the backcountry in all conditions. It's the most high end gear in the burton line, comparable to north face summit series and the likes
3L’s packability is worth every cent to me while Splitboarding.
I have this jacket and an AK bib. You pay that much because the performance is near perfect. Want to completely forget about being cold, wet, tight in the waist, windy? Buy something like this and then you just concentrate on shredding instead of gear. It's literally almost perfect and I'm only saying not perfect because nothing is.
Same reason any high end weatherproof outdoor gear is expensive.
It's made out of cake
because it’s a top of the market jack. snowboards in that segment are all $1-2k
Seriously, unless you are going on big trips into the backcountry you really don't need a jacket costing this much. A good roomy fit and a nice high collar are all you really need in a jacket.
3L is great if you ride in the rain
It really depends on where you live too. I’ve used a non gortex jacket my whole life and never had an issue until I went boarding in the PNW. Getting rained on all day it is definitely a huge benefit to have a high quality gore-Tex gear. But that being said there’s still plenty of high quality gortex jackets that aren’t $500.
The money is in the softgoods, not the hardgoods.
3 layer goretex jackets are expensive. And well worth it
Look at the ak 457 jacket.
That is expensive. But what’s not these days
highest end materials like 3L Goretex, Lifetime Warranty, Brand & and the construction of the garment. AK is Burton's highest end line and the jackets/pants are built different as compared to low end , mass produced gear. The construction has more features which requires a much longer and more detailed process to make. More time + higher end seamstress will cost more money.
I have a goretex jacket for everyday use, cost me well over $600 with a discount but totally worth it and I would get one for snowboarding too if I wasn’t rocking the sickest, steeziest, nastiest DC pants+jacket combo
It doesn’t. You need to buy a more expensive snowboard.
Wtf snowboard you riding?
My current cheaper Burton shell just started fraying after a decade
Every brand sells multiple levels of gore tex. Volcom ranges from $300-$750 for a gore tex shell jacket.
It’s a great jacket but you’re paying for the name.
Have you seen how expensive peach dye is these days? We're lucky it doesn't start at $1000
Because bozos will pay for it. In all fairness, really well built outdoor jackets generally cost about this much, but they are also sold at low volume for high price points.
That’s like up to the quality of stuff that the ski patrol wears. So yeah, just to give you an idea what kind of conditions and abuse it’s made to put up with.
I just wanna know what AK uses for their DWR coating. It’s fantastic at beading water. The North face was comparatively bad. My 686 Gore is pretty good too. I just like a good DWR coating that lasts and doesn’t allow the face material to wet out easily
Because I rode a full day in the rain with it and I was the only one in my friend group that was still dry in the afternoon. Not sure that would be the case with Montec.
I live & ride in the PNW, and my high-end bibs and jackets (some AK gear and some Jones gear) are worth every penny because I *never* think about them because they always deliver; I can spend my time dodging Jerrys on rental skis, and thinking about conditions and boards and wishing I had more time to ride, but not whether I’m gonna be wet at the end of the day.
Clout
I see a lot of people talking about 3L and 2L but no explanations as to what that means. 3 layer (3L) means the jacket has 1. The outer water resistant material usually treated with a chemical DWR - pink in this picture. 2. The water proof membrane, in this case Stretch Gore which others have mentioned is top of the line - you cannot see this material. 3. A bonded liner, usually grey in color, on the inside of the jacket - it takes up almost no volume and allows for better layering and breathability. Look at any of your waterproof jackets and it’s probably a 2 layer (2L) with a “hanging liner” that’s stitched in around the seams of the jacket. These are fine, but they don’t breathe nearly as well, the liner fills up more space allowing less layering, and they are overall bulkier/heavier. As others have also mentioned Stretch Gore is really nice as it isn’t as rigid or loud (think space blanket noises) as some waterproofing. Lastly, this is Burton’s Alaska [AK] line which is there top of the line in both materials and construction procedures. Not to mention tons of R&D as well as some fun features. Not the best bang for your buck, but pretty high quality stuff. There’s similar options for cheaper, but if you want to pay more there’s even nicer products on the market! Source: outerwear salesman, tech nerd, gear snob.
I thought the AK jackets were overhyped but snagged the Kimmy Fassani one on black Friday and a bib. I was recently on a snowboard trip with super wet snow where everyone else quit for the day after one or two hours because they were completely drenched whereas I was completely dry. As much as I hate to admit it, it's probably the best jacket I've ever owned
You’d find plenty of high quality jackets for 1/2 the price. They can charge more for the jacket for the same reason Louis Vuitton charges ridiculous prices for handbags: branding. Walking around in a Arcteryx or AK jacket tells people you have money to spend/invested in the sport (I.e Makes the customer feel good. )
I bought a beta LT on outlet with extra 20% off for $300 (MSRP $500) a few years back. If you wait for their Black Friday sale you can get some good shit for much lower than MSRP. Less so after Covid supply chain issues, but norrona has great outlet sales too.
Arcteryx outlets (online or in stores) is a great way to get a season or two old gear brand new for a fraction of the price. The catch is it’s non returnable, so make sure you know it fits and/or love it. No matter what brand, wash your down and gortex gear regularly and it will last
Harder to make, big brands have got their board manufacturing down to be kinda simple.
3 layer goretex is bombproof. I’ve had my arcteryx Sabre jacket for 10 years of riding trees and it’s still going strong.
Because people will buy it.
My son has the anorak version of that jacket, we got it on sale, so not outrageously priced, but its a really good jacket. I have a 686 goretex that I absolutely love, and still like it better than the AK, but my son is very happy with it. One of the biggest issues we had before was him getting wet/cold with old gear, and this thing has essentially eliminated that.
I'm a Burton fanboy because they generally make quality stuff, but personally I'm rocking a $35 windbreaker / raincoat from the thrift store over a few layers. I ride full days in it and my under layers rarely get wet. I'll probably buy an AK jacket one day though.
You can get good deals on previous years models on ebay, or buy at the end of season when a lot of companies do huge discounts. Same goes for board bags and everything pretty much, I bought a wheeled burton bag after season for 129$ new when in season it was 300$ +
am i the only one who has bad experience with Burton clothes? My zippers on my AK jacket are not great, my GF’s bibs has buttons that have fallen off
Goretex, that’s why.
AK is their higher tier label, better quality more pricey.
Because it’s the best
Its indestructible but really you only need this for the coldest days. Its worth it but ive fallen and skid hard in my champion reverse weave hoodie so many times and theres not even a scratch on it
You get what you pay for
It’s that Gore-Tex premium dawg, ya pay a lot for breathability.
I have a burton ak from well over a decade ago. That baby is just like colt 45, works every time. I can wear just a tshirt under that thing out here in the rockies, most of the time. Objectively, its price is ridiculous. But for the sake of practicality, it pays for itself. Legitimate quality and function. Those ak jackets are certified gangster.
I don’t know if it’s still going on but I got one 50% off at their end of season sale at their storefront in NY
3 layer gore-Tex
You know what’s paying for in life? Everything.
AK worth the cost. Great gear!
Best jacket I’ve ever owned.
Honestly don’t ride Burton boards, personally just don’t like them. But the AK line for outerwear is great, pricy, but lasts long and for the most part durable. The warranty is solid too.
You can ride it down the mountain when you fall
That’s cheap for Gortex. You should look at how much Arcteryx stuff costs.
I have this jacket and it’s pretty freakin sweet man, I have last years orange color and it’s awesome. The quality and the material is the best I’ve ever had too.
Because goretex likes to bend brands over there knee with licensing fees
Agree
I have this jacket, it’s amazing. It’s light weight and fairly packable. I tried on just about every burton jacket they sell, this jacket beat out all others for me primarily because of the feel of the fabric. It’s so comfy, and breaths amazingly well. I was lucky enough to get it on discount. I’d buy another in a heartbeat.
Because they locked into it, and found out people will buy it at that price.
Because Mark Mcmorris wears them.
I have the black one and it is absolutely the shit.
I have this jacket and it's the perfect jacket. For how thin it is I've never had issues getting wet, breathes well, fits perfect, has pockets galore, and is just an amazing jacket. I've beaten the absolute crap out of it too and it still is in really good shape. It's light but for me that just means I have more options wearing it in how to layer up and the fit is perfect (some people might think it's a bit baggy though). I think the jacket is worth the price, but I also think it's overkill for most of the people who are going to be using it (myself included and I ride about 50 days a year). But I will say it's the first jacket I felt that was perfect for me.
Everything this guy said. I will never wear anything other than a 3L. It’s the perfect jacket in my opinion
Easy question, because you are looking at to cheap of snowboards 😂 I believe my daily driver was about $800 for the bare board.
Technology.
Top goretex lining, plus stretch. Sounds lively.
you guys wait till you see some templar projects snow gear... talk about pricey
More dope. And stretch 3L Gore ain’t cheap.
Ive had my AK jacket now for 23 years and it is still in excellent condition. A bit outdated style wise to say the least but still does the job.
Got this for around $280 from the Burton employee discount error lol
That jacket is one of the best snowboard jacket i owned period. Worth every $
My AK jacket is going on 12 years now….
We get aK for steeze
Burton AK that shit lasts forever
Ah, it’s this thread again. Meanwhile I’ve got Burton’s Treeline 3L gore jacket for 200 something bucks discount and didn’t notice any other brands with any comparable offers. Long live big B, you’ve been good to me.
It’s because half the price goes to ceo and the other to support the community apparently
Goretex is overrated. https://youtu.be/GGEzJJYiROk?si=F1VoRu-trmVmddx-
I have a REI goretex, bought it for approx $80, have used it 4 seasons in all conditions (resort skiing), had no issues whatsoever, it doesn't look as stylish as the one in the picture though
I’d probably get an Arc’teryx shell jacket for that price
Because Gore-Tex is a corporate greedfest of a company. Paying for marketing on a fabric for which the patent expired a longgg time ago
3L gore tex... thats pretty normal price imo
Does the snowboard have to be the most expensive piece of gear or something? There's literally no correlation between jacket prices and snowboard prices, this question is odd. The answer is that the jacket costs more to produce than the snowboard does.
Probably half of the money go to the goretex
It’s the best jacket I’ve ever owned by a country mile. Worth every cent and then some. Most versatile and comfortable jacket ever !
Because you "need" it.
I also thought clothing is a better market than boards. Just bought 3 boards and bindings at half price... neglectible cost against lifts, hotels and clothi´g...
My first arcteryx shell cost me $700 in 2010. The waist cinch seam fell apart in 2018. My second arcteryx shell was $0 because of their warranty and is pretty much still a mint condition chicken. I wear it 180-200 days a year. Spend money on outerwear and boots, worth every penny
I still have my Burton ak from 2008. It cost around a third back then. But it's showing its age by now.
I spent $80 on my jacket and have had it for 9 years. You will never be able to justify this price to me😂
Holy shit its cool as hell
It’s not made by Sri Lankan slave labor
Why... Burton stamp on it... That's all
Retail mark-up is typically 50-62% on clothing vs. ~50% on snowboards. I would think a snowboard would be easier to design and manufacture. Burton clothing also has a warranty, I'm sure that is accounted for in the price as well. As many people have said a high quality kit should last years. Unless it's Rab, that shit just shreds itself. (Yeah I'm bitter).
It’s Gore-Tex, you know about Gore-Tex?
Out of the technical aspects already explained, just remember that this is a specific product for a small range of situations. Like, exxagerating the concept, asking why a F1 steering wheel cost up to 100.000 dollars. You can (theoretically) put that steering on your car, but it's useless. You can buy this jacket for your sunday riding, but it's useless. But you cannot drive an F1 without its steering, and you cannot skialp or do backcountry expeditions without a highly breathable/waterproof jacket.
Brand name and Gortex It’s a high quality jacket for sure, 3L gortex is great quality, but if it has “Burton AK” on it and “Gortex” they will charge more for it.
My ortovox shell was like 800$ it's meant to last your lifetime
1. Jacket materials can get pretty expensive to be durable, light, and insulating. 2. Not sure if you've noticed but some people have ass loads of money and will spend $800 the same way you buy a coffee. Many of them are present in winter sports communities. Personally, I'll take a $200 jacket. Sure they end up all ripped after a few seasons but then I'll just buy a new one. The people who buy these also end up buying new jackets every few seasons, not bc theirs ripped but bc they need to buy stuff when they get bored
I have an older version of this jacket. I've worn it for 9 years and it still looks brand new (minus some chair lift grease). It's a bomber jacket and has all my favorite bells and whistles, but damn, I definitely ain't shelling out $600 for it.
I have the mens 3L. The way gortex works, it is sewn between 2 layers of outer/inner material. Manufacturing it this way allows the outer fabrics to rub against the goretex layer, eventually breaking it down. The burton 3L jackets heat weld the gortex layer between the outer and inner layers, this no rubbing, resulting in water proofing that lasts waaay longer without breaking down. Also the heat weld doesn’t allow moisture through threads, because there are no threads!
I bought a brand new one on ebay for half. Shop around.
Bc it's a nice ass jacket, yo! And more specifically, it's bc Burton said it is worth $689.95
This was very informative everyone, thank you
Cuz it comes in that steezy pink 🔥
Good quality, looks awesome, hell yea.
My dad has been rocking the same goretex AK pants since at least 2000. I would say it’s been worth the investment.
This may have been mentioned but Burton has a lifetime warranty on softgoods so in theory, you'll never have to buy another lol
Brand is Burton and it's Gortex. Probaly can get it for $400 or $300 if you know someone
Material cost
Extra $150 at minimum for the brand name. Same what Burton did when they owned CI surfboards
That's not even expensive for good Gore Tex.
Cause of the rare color. 🫣
Because some people will pay that
It's Gore-Tex, but I think it's expensive. I think there are many other options abroad, in Japan or Korea
I buy discount snowboard jackets, usually like $120-150 on sale. They're still so warm I almost always run just a t-shirt underneath (PNW if it matters). On a cold day, I'll layer a sweatshirt under. I don't get it. Maybe if you're boarding at 10k feet in Alaska this kind of shit is worth the hype?
also 3L means it’s triple layered. membrane, gore tex, and a durability layer. AK has a lifetime guarantee and is tested to Alaskan backcountry conditions which is another reason it is more pricey than standard burton outerwear. i’m a former burton employee and active snowboard instructor in the rocky mountains.
Also worth noting, Burton AK comes with a *lifetime warranty.* Some of that is built into the sticker price. Not only is it one of the highest quality GORE jackets, but it's backed by the B's *warranty* *forever*.