REI Co-op First Chair GTX Ski Jacket Review

REI Co-op is a consistent leader when it comes to value, and their First Chair GTX Jacket is a case in point. Boasting proven 2-layer Gore-Tex protection and a full suite of resort-ready features, the First Chair proved to be a great match for downhill use in the Pacific Northwest, where it saw its fair share of wet weather. It’s not the most refined piece and wouldn’t be my first choice for bringing into the backcountry, but it’s a solid all-around option for resort riders who don’t need—or want to pay the premium for—top-end performance. Below are my thoughts on the First Chair GTX Jacket. To see how it stacks up in the market, check out our article on the best ski jackets.
 

Table of Contents

• Weather Protection
• Breathability
• Comfort and Mobility
• Build Quality and Durability
• Weight and Packability
• Key Features
• Fit and Sizing
• What We Like/What We Don't
• Comparison Table
• The Competition

Performance

Weather Protection

As its name suggests, the REI First Chair GTX Jacket features a proven 2-layer Gore-Tex membrane that’s adept at sealing out moisture. Combined with the durable water repellent (DWR) coating on the exterior for fending off light moisture, the First Chair was a great match for a very wet ski season in the Pacific Northwest. REI also equipped the jacket with several protective features, including a tall collar that reaches above my chin, hook-and-loop cuff adjustments that pair well with bulky ski gloves, a functional powder skirt, and a drop-back hem with a single toggle for cinching things down at the waist. I did find the hood a bit shallow for accommodating my Smith Quantum ski helmet (which has since been replaced by the Nexus), resulting in some side-to-side restriction, but I was able to make it work—and a lower-profile lid would likely fare better. 
 

All that said, it’s a different story with wind protection. The first time I donned the First Chair GTX was on a very windy day, and upon unloading from the chairlift, I felt a noticeable chill and reached for the pit zips to close them. To my surprise, they were already zipped shut. The shell has been similarly drafty when skiing downhill at speed, often requiring me to add another layer underneath to combat the chill. But to be fair, waterproofing is often the bigger concern for most, and the First Chair is solid in that regard.
 

Breathability

As expected for the price, the First Chair isn’t particularly well suited for active use. Gore’s 2-layer construction isn’t a standout in terms of breathability, and the extra lining covering the interior certainly doesn’t help. On the bright side, REI equipped the jacket with easy-to-access pit zips that have been effective at dumping excess heat on short sidecountry hikes. But for longer ski tours into the backcountry, I’d recommend opting for a more breathable (and unlined) 3-layer design like the Rab Khroma Kinetic or Outdoor Research Carbide.
 

Comfort and Mobility

While not a standout in breathability, the First Chair scores decently high marks for comfort. The taffeta lining is relatively smooth and slides nicely over baselayers and midlayers, and the generous fit means it’s easy to move around in the shell. As I touched on above, the hood did fit pretty snugly over my Smith Quantum helmet, resulting in some restriction when looking over my shoulder, but I’ve otherwise had zero issues with mobility.
 

Build Quality and Durability

In general, the First Chair’s build quality lines up with its relatively low price. While REI doesn’t provide a denier specification to denote how thick the nylon face fabric is, it feels notably less robust and confidence-inspiring than what you get with burly—but much pricier—competitors like Patagonia’s Storm Shift (which uses 150D polyester) and Arc’teryx’s Sabre Jacket (which is thinner but still very hardwearing at 80D). Touch points like the zipper pulls and hood cinches also feel middling in terms of quality, and the DWR coating wore off quickly along the shoulders, which was likely due to frequent contact with my ski pack straps. To be fair, however, it’s easy to revive the coating by ironing the jacket or throwing it the dryer. And importantly, everything else is holding up well despite frequent resort use.
 

Weight and Packability

At 1 pound 10.5 ounces for the men’s version, the First Chair GTX is competitively light among resort shells but not a standout in the market. For comparison, Trew Gear’s similarly built Jefferson Jacket clocks in a little heavier at 1 pound 14 ounces, Patagonia’s more premium Powder Town is 1 pound 8.7 ounces, and Flylow Gear’s cheaper Patrol Jacket is 1 pound 9.6 ounces. Committed backcountry riders can shave weight and bulk with trimmed-down designs like Rab’s Khroma Kinetic (1 lb. 2.9 oz.) or Black Diamond’s Recon Stretch LT Shell (1 lb. 1 oz.), but the First Chair has never felt overly burdensome or even noticeable on lift-served terrain.
 

It's a similar story with packability: The REI First Chair GTX Jacket is fine for resort use but too bulky for frequently hauling into the backcountry. There are several culprits here, including the fabric flaps over the pockets and pit zips (rather than sleeker waterproof zippers), as well as the taffeta lining along the interior. Removing the powder skirt will help trim off a little weight and reduced packed size, but there’s no getting around the fact that the First Chair is on the bulkier end. Combined with the lack of breathability outlined above, it’s simply not an ideal touring companion.
 

Key Features

Hood

A hood can make or break a ski shell, and I did have some issues with the First Chair’s design. Most notably, I found it restrictive over my Smith Quantum helmet (now called the Nexus), which is admittedly pretty bulky but not out of the ordinary for a high-end ski lid. This was most noticeable when looking over my shoulder to check for other riders coming down the slope, resulting in me leaving it off most of the time and sacrificing protection as a result. Looking at user reviews, it seems this isn’t a common complaint, and most folks don’t don their hood unless conditions are truly gnarly, but it’s worth noting nonetheless. Otherwise, I’ve had no complaints about the hood and appreciate that it’s easy to fine-tune with two drawcords at the front and a single toggle at the back.
 

Storage: Pockets

The First Chair GTX Jacket leaves nothing to be desired in terms of storage with nine total pockets. Starting at the outside, you get two zippered hand pockets with a soft tricot lining inside, along with two dual-entry chest pockets that boast two separate spaces: one that can be accessed via a Velcro closure from above and the other via a zipper along the side. There’s also a small zippered pocket on the left forearm for stashing a ski pass. Inside, you get a drop-in goggle stash on the right and a final zippered pocket on the left that’s nice for stowing a low-profile wallet or car keys. Personally, I think REI could have done away with the Velcro-equipped cargo pockets due to their lack of security, but otherwise, the layout is very generous and entirely functional. 
 

Powder Skirt

Like most ski jackets, the First Chair comes equipped with a powder skirt for sealing out snow at the waist in deep powder or in the event of a fall. In terms of design, the skirt attaches via snaps at each side and features a silicone-like band along the bottom for keeping it in place. All told, it’s a practical all-around design that has gone largely unnoticed in testing.
 

Fit and Sizing

The First Chair GTX has a generous, layering-friendly fit that worked well for me in my typical size medium (for reference, I’m 5’11” and 165 lb.). My typical layering system consists of a short- or long-sleeve baselayer plus a fleece midlayer and either a synthetic vest or full down puffy on particularly cold days, and the First Chair was able to accommodate various combinations with no restriction to movement. Additionally, the 32-inch center back length was perfect for keeping snow out (the powder skirt certainly helps), and the sleeves provided enough coverage for my long arms. All in all, it’s an accommodating but versatile fit that never felt overly bulky. And it’s nice that REI offers the jacket in a healthy range of sizes, including tall options for men and plus sizes for women.
 

Sustainability

In addition to being high on value, REI products are often made with a keen eye toward sustainability. The First Chair GTX Jacket is no exception, featuring recycled and bluesign-approved materials that have been deemed safe for workers, consumers, and the environment. The jacket also uses a nonfluorinated DWR treatment that forgoes the use of harmful chemicals, and the Gore-Tex ePE membrane is also PFAS-free and more environmentally friendly than their standard ePTFE membrane. Finally, REI is a Climate Neutral Certified brand, which indicates they’re making active strides to reduce and eventually offset greenhouse gas emissions.
 

Other Versions of the REI Co-op First Chair GTX

My review above covers the men’s First Chair GTX Jacket, and it’s also sold in a women’s version for the same price. Stacked up against the men’s version, the women’s is largely similar but checks in a little lighter at 1 pound 8 ounces, comes in different colorways, and has a 31-inch center back length (the men’s jacket is 32 in.). To complete your kit, REI offers the First Chair GTX Bibs in both men’s and women’s styles, which cost $269 and boast the same 2-layer Gore-Tex ePE membrane for sealing out moisture. Rounding out the lineup, there are First Chair GTX gloves for men and women, along with unisex mittens for maximum warmth.
 

What We Like

• Reliable Gore-Tex waterproofing at a solid value.
• Very full feature set, including a whopping nine pockets and plenty of protective details for battening down the hatches.
• Generous fit makes it easy to layer underneath without feeling (or looking) overly bulky.
• Strong sustainability focus, including the use of recycled and bluesign-approved materials, a nonfluorinated DWR coating, and Gore’s latest ePE membrane.

What We Don't

• Not particularly light, packable, or breathable—backcountry skiers should steer clear.
• While water resistance is solid, I was able to feel cold drafts through the shell on windy days and when skiing downhill at speed.
• Shell fabric lacks the robust, confidence-inspiring feel of pricier competitors (although it’s held up well thus far).
• I found the hood a little shallow over my Smith Quantum helmet and restrictive when looking over my shoulder.
   

Comparison Table

The Competition

REI’s First Chair GTX is a solid value for a quality Gore-Tex ski jacket, but there are other well-priced options to consider. One is Trew Gear’s Jefferson Jacket, which costs the same at $319 and offers a step up in refinement over the REI. Specifically, the Jefferson has a more tailored fit that’s still layering-friendly, features higher-end components (e.g., zipper pulls and hood cinches), and boasts a softer lining along the interior. On the flip side, the First Chair wins out in storage with nine pockets compared to the Jefferson’s five, and its Gore-Tex build is a step up in protection from the Trew Gear’s in-house membrane. But overall, the Jefferson feels more premium than its price tag would suggest, making it the stronger all-around value. 
 

For $30 more than the First Chair GTX, Patagonia’s Powder Town Jacket has a lot of appeal for frequent resort-goers. Like the First Chair, the Powder Town uses a 2-layer construction for sealing out moisture (in this case, Patagonia’s in-house H2No membrane) and boasts a nice assortment of resort-ready features. These include an adjustable and helmet-compatible hood, easy-to-access pit zips for releasing excess heat, and a powder skirt for sealing out snow at the waist. Again, the First Chair wins out in storage with three more pockets than the Powder Town, but the latter is lighter by around 2 ounces. Neither option is particularly breathable for venturing into the backcountry, but that’s par for the course with 2-layer designs. In the end, unless you’re on a very strict budget or able to score the First Chair at a discount (or use your yearly member dividend), we think the Powder Town is the better buy.
 

Next up is an even more wallet-friendly design to consider: Flylow Gear’s $230 Patrol Jacket. Despite costing around $90 less than the First Chair, the Patrol checks most of the boxes for casual resort riders, including a practical storage layout (five total pockets), a “regular” cut that makes it easy to layer underneath, a ski helmet-friendly hood, and a trustworthy 2-layer waterproof membrane. It also checks in around the same weight as the REI at 1 pound 9.6 ounces, although breathability falls short due to the Flylow’s in-house waterproofing tech and lack of pit zips. The REI also gets the edge in comfort with its taffeta lining. But if those aren’t dealbreakers for you, the Patrol offers very well-rounded performance for the price.
 

A final alternative to consider is Outdoor Research’s Carbide Jacket, which crosses over well for both resort and backcountry use. For just $10 more than the First Chair, the Carbide is around 5 ounces lighter and packs down significantly smaller due to its upgraded 3-layer membrane, which features an attached—rather than hanging—liner for reduced bulk (for more on the differences, see our article on 2L vs. 3L ski jackets). Another benefit to the OR’s construction is improved breathability, although it does use a relatively thin (40D) face fabric that’s not the most confidence-inspiring for frequent resort use. If you like to split your time between inside and outside the ropes, however, the Carbide is far and away the more versatile option.

Editor’s note: We usually provide a live price comparison table below our outdoor gear reviews, but the First Chair is sold exclusively by REI Co-op. You can see the First Chair GTX Jacket page here and support us in the process. Thanks!