Review: Airblaster Puffin Full Zip Insulator
By Ski Expert
Ryan Waldbillig
7 photos
The Curated Take
3.5/5
The Airblaster Puffin Full Zip Insulator is an excellent choice for budget-conscious individuals and entry-level snow sports enthusiasts. This stylish jacket offers exceptional heat retention and a loose fit, allowing for layering on cold days and unrestricted movement on the slopes. While its waterproofing may not match high-end options, it excels in average mountain conditions and keeps one dry throughout the day. The Puffin's nostalgic baggy style appeals to those seeking a retro look. However, the jacket's limited breathability makes it more suitable for resort skiing than backcountry adventures. Overall, it's a warm and affordable choice for casual riders.
Ideal for
- Loose fit is great for layering
- Great heat retention
Not ideal for
- Low breathability, not suited for hiking or backcountry
Aesthetics
I have always had a deep appreciation for the style of ski gear from the late 1990s and 2000s, from tall tees to baggy pants. I grew up skateboarding and...Read more
Waterproofing
Compared to 25k GORE-TEX shell jackets designed purely to withstand a hurricane, this jacket doesn't hold up, but that isn't what it was designed for. It was made for the...Read more
Durability
The material used in this jacket feels and looks solid. The zipper is smooth and durable, but areas like the arm cuffs may not withstand wear and tear over time....Read more
Comfort
Comfort is really important to me. I don't like going back and forth to the car if my gear isn't comfortable. This jacket has a great loose fit, making it...Read more
Warmth
This jacket is quite warm by itself. I often wear just a T-shirt as a base layer because I get too warm in this jacket when riding. I generally wear...Read more
Breathability
This is not a jacket I want to take into the backcountry. It was designed for riding lifts and cruising down the hill. There is no ventilation besides the main...Read more
Curated Experts are not sponsored by brands. Their reviews are based on their honest experiences testing products.
Ryan Waldbillig
About the jackets
- Model: Airblaster Puffin Full Zip Insulator
Test conditions
- When I bought this: September 2023
- Where I’ve used it: In the city on rainy days just above freezing temperatures, and at Snoqualmie Pass in the snow, with temperatures just below freezing.
- How many times I've used it: 35
Expert Reviews of the Airblaster Puffin Full Zip Insulator
Ryan Waldbillig The Airblaster Puffin is a great entry-level stylish jacket. The Puffin comes in at a low price compared to most snow jackets on the market but packs a ton of warmth, making it a great option for those just getting into snow sports or someone on a budget. The loose fit is great for adding extra layers on those cold days and for free range of movement on the mountain.
The biggest drawback of wearing this jacket is the lack of breathability. With no vents, this jacket holds in all of my heat, which is great when I'm sitting on a cold ski lift but is not ideal if I'm hiking in the backcountry. Living in the Pacific Northwest, I see almost as much rain as snow when I am on the hill, and while the Puffin doesn't have fancy GORE-TEX in it, it does keep me dry all day.
To each their own, but I love the style that Airblaster went with for this jacket. It takes me back to the days of my youth with baggy jackets and pants roaming the hills and is exactly the fit I look for in a jacket. Lastly, Airblaster uses recycled materials for its products. It makes me smile when I put this jacket on.
Product Specs
| Gender | Unisex |
| Age Group | Adult |
| Model year | 2022 |
Review Ratings
Aesthetics
5/5
Ryan Waldbillig gave 5 of 5 stars. I have always had a deep appreciation for the style of ski gear from the late 1990s and 2000s, from tall tees to baggy pants. I grew up skateboarding and love seeing the style crossover between the sports, and this jacket brings back that nostalgia for me. It's not oversized but still has a loose fit and a bit of puff. This isn't the European ski aesthetic, but as a born and raised West Coast skier, I love seeing it.
Waterproofing
3/5
Ryan Waldbillig gave 3 of 5 stars. Compared to 25k GORE-TEX shell jackets designed purely to withstand a hurricane, this jacket doesn't hold up, but that isn't what it was designed for. It was made for the average day on the mountain, for which it performs very well. In a light to mild rain, it stays dry all day, and I can't complain.
Durability
3/5
Ryan Waldbillig gave 3 of 5 stars. The material used in this jacket feels and looks solid. The zipper is smooth and durable, but areas like the arm cuffs may not withstand wear and tear over time. The jacket material feels strong, but if caught on rocks or trees, it may tear or wear down over time. The material does not feel cheap by any means; it just seems average.
Comfort
4/5
Ryan Waldbillig gave 4 of 5 stars. Comfort is really important to me. I don't like going back and forth to the car if my gear isn't comfortable. This jacket has a great loose fit, making it comfortable with just a T-shirt underneath, but it also leaves enough room to layer a fleece under it if needed. The jacket has a smooth liner, allowing my base layer to move freely, which means no more munched-up sleeves caught between my layers. The only reason this jacket doesn't get a perfect score is the lack of armpit vents, as it is sometimes almost too warm. Some ventilation would be helpful.
Warmth
4/5
Ryan Waldbillig gave 4 of 5 stars. This jacket is quite warm by itself. I often wear just a T-shirt as a base layer because I get too warm in this jacket when riding. I generally wear this in temperatures from 20-40°F, and it keeps me very warm. When it gets colder, there is plenty of room underneath the jacket to layer up to stay even warmer.
Breathability
2/5
Ryan Waldbillig gave 2 of 5 stars. This is not a jacket I want to take into the backcountry. It was designed for riding lifts and cruising down the hill. There is no ventilation besides the main zipper, so it stays very warm and can lead to sweating. That said, I would not recommend it for any form of hiking, but then again, that's not what it was made for.
FAQs
What do you love about this product?
Ryan Waldbillig I love this jacket a lot, but to name just a few reasons why, I'm impressed by the price point, the sustainability, the fit, and the warmth.
As far as ski jackets go, it provides a lot of warmth on those cold winter days. I've been almost too warm while wearing this jacket, with just a base layer underneath on the mountain. While I have yet to test it in extreme conditions, it has been a great addition for temperatures as low as 20°F.
Airblaster is one of my favorite outerwear companies because of its sustainability. While it might not be on buyers' minds, the outdoor industry has a bad habit of using plastics in most products. Airblaster has been changing this and uses recycled materials for their outerwear without sacrificing quality or comfort.
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Ryan Waldbillig I've only had this jacket for a couple of months, but one of my favorite moments was on a rainy day hiking the terrain park at my home resort in Washington. It was pouring rain but still chilly out, and to my surprise, the 5k waterproofing held up all day. We had a blast and took advantage of the soft snow, so it was great staying dry all day to keep the session going.
Why did you choose this product?
Ryan Waldbillig As a skier in the Pacific Northwest, I typically stick to GORE-TEX shell-style jackets to stay dry all day, but when I saw this jacket, I loved the style and knew I had to have it. It was something different than I usually wear, but the gamble paid off, and it's now my favorite jacket in the arsenal.
What is the value for the money versus other options?
Ryan Waldbillig Compared to brands like North Face or Patagonia, the jacket stands out as a great deal. It comes in at a low price point but rivals the quality and comfort of those same brands.
While there are similar jackets from companies like Dope or Montec, I find the quality of those brands is quite lacking. They don't stay dry all day or last more than a season of riding. Airblaster repeatedly has quality gear at a reasonable price point.
![Burton [ak] Swash](https://curated-upload.imgix.net/AgAAAB0AR4-3xJ7_N-uD8c-Wc6EVJQ.jpg?auto=compress%2Cformat&ch=Width%2CDPR%2CSave-Data&ar=16%3A9&fit=crop&ixlib=react-9.4.0)
