About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the jacket, which I purchased with my own money in October of 2020.

My take

The Burton Men’s AK 2L GORE-TEX Swash Jacket is warm, waterproof, lightweight, and durable, designed for any type of winter sport.

About the jacket

• Model: 2021 Burton Men’s AK 2L GORE-TEX Swash Jacket
• Size: L
• Fit: Fit runs true to size

About me

• Height: 6’0”
• Weight: 200lbs
• Experience: 20+ years of snowboarding/skiing

Test conditions

• When I bought this: October 2020
• Days tested: 100+
• Where I’ve used it: I primarily board in the PNW, but I’ve used this jacket at Jackson Hole, Lake Tahoe, Park City, Northern Idaho, and Colorado.
• Conditions I’ve used it in: I’ve used this jacket on deep, deep powder days, hot sunny spring days, pouring rain days, in the resort, and while touring all over the PNW in the backcountry.

How it performs

What I was looking for

My previous jacket was from 2008, so I was long overdue for an upgrade. I was getting more into splitboarding and had spent one too many days boarding in the rain, which is what finally made me decide to pull the trigger. I started the search knowing I wanted a GORE-TEX jacket that was lightweight and not a complete shell.

Why I chose this gear

I took a look at a lot of jackets, and my decision boiled down to the following four reasons: 1. It’s lightweight and fits inside my Dakine Team Poacher RAS 26L Backpack that I use for touring. 2. It’s made of GORE-TEX 2L (i.e., extremely waterproof and dries quickly) 3. I can easily zip it all the way up without it feeling suffocating by my mouth or tight around my neck. 4. The hood easily fits over my helmet and is not restrictive while riding with it on stormy days.

There’s much more to like about the jacket past those features too.

What I love about it

• Fit: The overall fit is tapered compared to other jackets on the market. I have an athletic build, and it fits true to size. One season I had a bit of belly, and it did get snug in the torso, but nothing that limited my range of motion. The sleeves are longer than normal but in a really good way. This allows me to move my arms in any direction without the cuff of the sleeve feeling like it’s going to come up/off my gloves. The hood might just be one of my favorite parts of the jacket since it fits over my helmet and doesn't restrict my movement whatsoever.
• Range of Motion: I literally have never once had issues with the range of motion.
• Design: Overall, the design is super sleek. Even though it’s insulated, it’s not bulky, and it looks great. From a functionality standpoint, I have yet to find something I wish this jacket had. It’s got everything: cell phone pocket in the chest, lift ticket on the left shoulder, goggles holder on the inside, multiple waterproof pockets, powder skirt, wrist gaiters, etc. In my eyes, nothing is missing. Top it off with a GORE-TEX 2L membrane for waterproofing, and one gets a truly top-of-the-line design.
• Style: The style of the jacket is tapped compared to other jackets in the market but still loose enough not to restrict any range of motion. It fits true to size. Aesthetically speaking, it’s one of my favorite jacket styles too.
• Quality of Materials: The GORE-TEX 2L membrane kind of speaks for itself. This jacket is made with the highest quality material Burton can find, and the price tag reflects that. It feels great, wicks water great, is lightweight, and is very easy to compact.
• Durability: I bought this jacket hoping to get 100-200 days out of it, and I can already tell it will go FAR past that. If I get a new jacket, it won’t be because this one is old or worn down. Like any boarder pushing their skills, I’ve fallen/slid on my butt/hit trees/etc.
• Pockets: It has five pockets, not including the goggle sleeve inside or the lift ticket pocket in the left sleeve. All of them are waterproof. The two pockets for my hands are lined with a warmer liner that’s really nice to the touch. All of the pockets are DEEP. I’ve ridden with them open (by accident) numerous times. Snow doesn't get in the pockets, and stuff doesn’t fall out. The two chest pockets on the outside of the jacket are placed in the perfect position for access with a backpack fully strapped on. The zippers are centered, so they are not impeded by either the top or bottom buckle of the pack. It’s the small details like this that separate this jacket from the rest.
• Waterproofing: Top-notch. I’ve never had an issue with snow or even rain, for that matter. I stay 100% dry when I wear this jacket, no matter the conditions. I get to ride A LOT of wet snow living in the PNW. Never once have I had any issues.
• Breathability: The jacket breathes really well. I’m never overly warm or cold. The only time I open the vents is on a spring day. It’s great to have that ventilation on those types of days.
• Warmth: It’s not overly warm on spring days. And it's kept me warm when the snow is blowing, and it’s -10°. I’ve never been cold while riding, as long as I have good base layers.
• Features: It comes with an integrated phone/audio pocket on the inside of the chest pocket. It has a helmet-compatible hood and a powder skirt. The sleeves come with a built-in wrist gaiter with thumb holes and a lift ticket pocket in the left shoulder. The only thing missing is an avalanche safety feature like RECCO.

Issues I’ve encountered

• Weight: Since this is an insulated jacket, it won't be the most compactable jacket one can find for splitboarding (i.e., not a shell). I can fit it in my Dakine Poacher RAS 26L pack, but it takes up most of the room. That said, it’s extremely lightweight for being an insulated jacket, and it hardly adds any weight to my pack when I tour or while I ride in the resort.
• Other: The biggest issue I have with this jacket is the price. While one pays for what one gets, it’s extremely expensive, so it might not be accessible to everyone who’s after a jacket with all of these qualities.

Favorite moment with this gear

Obviously, any deep snow day will be my favorite day with this jacket, but there is one day in particular that really made this jacket stand out. I had a ski trip planned to Bachelor during COVID with a group of friends in mid-February 2021. We had to buy our tickets in advance. Unfortunately, we got a warm/wet spell, and the temps were just above freezing, so we got rain instead of snow. I normally try to avoid rainy days, but we were already there and had already purchased our tickets. We hoped it would clear up by noon, but it never did, so we went out anyway. The snow was surprisingly good for it being a rainy day. And I’m not talking about a light drizzle. No, it was dumping.

There were four of us in the group. My first friend bounced after two runs, the second after a few more, and the third held out for another hour or more. I rode for about three hours in the rain before I called it. When I returned to the lodge and met up with my friends, I could see how the water soaked through their jackets onto their underlayers. Their gear was dripping wet and showed no signs of drying out soon. However, when I took my jacket off, I was 100% dry. I’m talking, not a drop of water on my underlayers. I shook my jacket a few times, and the water shook right off. It was almost dry before I even sat down. Fast forward to the next day. The snow was finally falling, and we were pumped. My jacket had dried out completely, but their jackets, which had been by the fire for most of the night, were still damp. At that moment, I realized the jacket I purchased was 100% worth it.

Value for the money vs. other options

I’m a huge value person willing to pay more for higher quality gear knowing that I won’t have to replace it in a year or two. There are 100% cheaper options, such as the Volcom Ten GORE-TEX Insulated Jacket or the 686 GORE-TEX Core Insulated Jacket, that will provide slightly less waterproofing with similar insulation that do not provide the same level of features, such as freedom of movement, convenient pockets, lightweight and compact design, and a limited lifetime warranty. I’d argue that durability and construction will be issues down the line with something cheaper, especially when I see warranties that only last 1-2 years. It depends on how/what one rides, but I know I have something reliable, durable, waterproof, and fits/looks great. I’ll pay extra for that any day of the week.

Final verdict

Overall, the Burton Men's AK 2L GORE-TEX Swash Jacket will last a decade, maybe two. And one that has given me the piece of mind while riding any condition thrown my way.