Stio Skyrider Jacket Review | GearJunkie Tested

The Stio Skyrider gives homage to the brand’s Western heritage — and at less than half the price of Stio’s other ski jackets, it comes at a value. Many hardshells on the market look nearly identical to each other: sleek, technical, and potentially a little blocky. Not all, of course, but quite a few.

But the Skyrider leans into a different vibe. With a slightly Western, workwear-inspired style and a textured canvas face fabric, it manages to feel both rugged and a little fun.

After a week of testing across Aspen Snowmass — including downhill days at Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, and Highlands, plus two uphill sessions totaling about 4,000 feet of climbing — I came away stoked by how comfortable and versatile the Skyrider felt on the mountain. The friendlier price tag doesn’t hurt, either.

It’s not the lightest or most breathable shell I’ve tested this season. But what it offers instead is durability, personality, and a cozy, soft feel that makes it a jacket I don’t mind grabbing from the closet.

In short: At less than half the price of Stio’s premium women’s ski jacket (the $800 Objective Pro), the Stio Skyrider Jacket ($349) is a stylish three-layer ski shell that blends Western-inspired design with modern technology. It’s comfortable, decently featured, and built with a soft-feeling fabric that stands out from typical crinkly hardshells. It’s not the most packable option out there, but the Skyrider works as a dual-purpose shell for folks at the resort and the backcountry.

Check out our esteemed collection in the Best Women’s Ski Jackets.

Stio Skyrider Jacket Review

Stio’s home is in Jackson, Wyo., so it’s no surprise that the brand designed a ski jacket with design nods to its roots. 

I tested the Skyrider during a full week of skiing at Aspen Mountain, Snowmass, and Aspen Highlands, along with two uphill ski days totaling about 4,000 vertical feet of climbing. That mix of lift-served skiing and skinning offered a good look at how the jacket performs across different conditions.

A Ski Jacket With a Little Western Flair

There’s something about the chill workwear aesthetic that makes this jacket feel different from most ski shells. It reminds me of a worn-in work jacket, like something you might throw on to split wood or fix a fence — except this version happens to be fully technical and built for skiing.

Fit-wise, the jacket lands in what I’d call a relaxed but true-to-size cut. I tested a medium, which is the size I most often choose for ski jackets. I can sometimes wear a small, depending on the brand, but I generally prefer a medium because it leaves room for layering. 

The fit felt slightly roomy, but not in an over-the-top way. I had no trouble layering a fleece or lightweight puffy underneath without the jacket feeling bulky. The sleeves also have a bit of articulation built in, which helps keep movement natural while skiing.

I also fully appreciate that the arms aren’t too short. I’m only 5’5”, but I must have slightly long arms for my body type because sleeves are often too short, just not on the Skyrider. The longer back length is another nice touch. It provides extra coverage when bending over to buckle boots or attempting to crawl into our daughter’s snow fort.

Breathability for When the Climb Gets Hot

Because the Skyrider is a non-insulated shell, I tested it in two different ways: downhill skiing with midlayers and uphill skiing with only base layers beneath.

For resort laps, it performed exactly as expected. With a fleece or light puffy underneath, the jacket felt comfortable and weatherproof while riding lifts and skiing.

During uphill skiing, however, its breathability showed some limits. On one sunny skin up at Aspen Highlands, temperatures were hovering around the mid-20s Fahrenheit. I started the climb wearing the Skyrider, thinking the conditions were cold enough to justify a shell.

Dumb idea. Within minutes, I was cooking.

Most of that heat built up along my back while climbing, which is not uncommon with hardshells. To Stio’s credit, the jacket does include two pit zips measuring roughly 6–8 inches long, and opening them helped dump a decent amount of heat. Still, this isn’t the most breathable shell I’ve worn for uphill travel.

Likewise, packability isn’t really a highlight. It easily fits inside a ski backpack, which was nice on my tours. But compared to other backcountry-specific shells I tested this season, such as the Arc’teryx Rush Jacket, it definitely feels bulkier and less compressible. 

Pockets and All the Small Things

The pocket layout is excellent. The Skyrider includes two lower zippered cargo pockets and two zippered hand pockets, which give you plenty of storage for snacks or other small items. I especially liked the lower cargo pockets because they sit slightly higher than typical hand pockets, making them easy to access while wearing a backpack hip belt.

There’s also a zippered pass pocket on the left wrist, which I love. Personally, I much prefer wrist pass pockets over interior ones because they make scanning through lift gates much easier. Instead of twisting your torso toward the scanner, you can simply hold your wrist up and cruise through.

One feature I did miss slightly was a chest pocket. I tend to stash my phone there for quick access, and the Skyrider doesn’t include one. That said, the lower pockets still worked fine; it just took a little adjustment. Beyond pockets, the Skyrider includes the usual lineup of ski jacket essentials: a helmet-compatible hood, adjustable powder skirt, adjustable cuffs, and a two-way water-resistant zipper.

My favorite aspect of the jacket, though, is the fabric feel. Stio describes the interior as feeling like pulling on a cozy sweatshirt. I wouldn’t quite go that far, but it’s definitely noticeably softer than many hardshells. The jersey knit backer helps give the interior a smooth, comfortable feel against the skin, and the fabric itself avoids that classic hardshell crinkle. You know, the one where every step sounds like you’re walking around in a bag of potato chips? Yeah, that. None of that here.

Final Thoughts

The Stio Skyrider Jacket is a solid pick for a one-jacket quiver because it checks all the boxes. Among all of GearJunkie’s favorite women’s ski jackets on the market, the majority cost more than this one, and it’s increasingly challenging to find a three-layer, tenacious ski jacket in the $300 range.

Stio created one without cutting corners. It’s durable and comfortable enough to wear during all-day resort sessions, but reasonably light enough to work for ski tours or uphill mornings. 

Sure, it’s heavier than other ultralight shells out there, but it strikes a really nice balance for skiers wanting one jacket to do it all. 

Plus, it looks pretty darn cute, too.