If there’s one brand I’d trust to take care of me in the snow it’s Shackleton. The first time I wore its gear was a couple of years ago I travelled to Finse with Shackleton Expeditions and skied out into the Norwegian wilderness, traversing snowy plains and camping in freezing temperatures with winds that hit 45mph.
Shackleton’s polar jackets have taken explorers on expeditions to the South Pole, withstanding some of the most extreme weather on the planet, and they’re engineered with high-grade materials following years of research and testing. My experience of Shackleton gear is that it's high performance, comfortable and incredibly warm. Plus, it looks good.
I have been waiting impatiently for the brand to bring out ski pants and a jacket – but they finally arrived in stores at the end of 2025, and I’ve been wearing the jacket through the winter season. This included a trip to Greenland in the icy depths of January, followed by two weeks in Finland during one of the coldest winters of the past few years. I wore the jacket during long days reporting outdoors in Nuuk, as well as husky sledding and snowmobiling in Sisimuit, and crossing a frozen lake in southeastern Finland where the temperature dropped to -22C.
The Fortuna hardshell ski jacket directly evolved from the brand’s polar jacket and Shackleton says it has been tested in seven different countries during two years of development. At £745 it’s at the higher end of the price range in terms of what you’d expect to pay for a ski jacket, but this does reflect Shackleton’s reputation for superior outdoor wear.
It can be paired with the Fortuna shell bib pants, which also share Shackleton’s polar heritage and are developed to be expedition-grade. Having worn the jacket through the past winter, this is my honest review of its performance.
Read more: I just got back from the slopes – this is the best tried and tested skiwear
Shackleton Fortuna hardshell ski jacket
Material: Recycled polyester (main fabric)
Sizes: XS-XL
Colours: Black or black/brown
Waterproof rating: 20,000mm
Breathability: 20,000g/m²/24h
Why we love it
- Warm
- Breathable
- Waterproof (to a very high level)
- Machine washable (hand wash cycle)
Take note
- Expensive
- Men's sizing only
My expectations for the Fortuna jacket were certainly high – but it certainly delivered. It’s the jacket I’ve reached for as soon as I’m headed for cold, challenging climates, but I’ve also found it ideal for wearing through airports, and even out to restaurants or après-ski bars on winter trips.
It’s a shell jacket, so designed as an outerwear with space for layering. In the coldest conditions I added the Shackleton Fuchs jacket underneath to completely beat the chill (this down jacket is unbeatable in terms of insulation). But for the most part, even in Greenland’s winter, I only needed a fleece mid-layer underneath to stay warm thanks to the wind-proofing and warmth from the Fortuna.
It’s incredibly hard-wearing and breathable. Wearing this jacket I scrambled up mountains and threw myself on and off a moving sled pulled by a team of huskies. You can really tell that this jacket is expedition-grade: it’s waterproofing was lawless (it has a 20,000mm waterproof rating) and the ventilation allowed strenuous exercise without being restrictive or overheating.
The outer pockets are large enough to hold a pair of large gloves or mittens, while the smaller breast pockets are convenient for items like credit cards, a phone, a ski map and passport (I also used them for a pair of lighter gloves, as they’re sufficiently spacious). I was also a fan of the soft-touch microfleece at the neck, a small detail but one that is greatly appreciated when wearing a jacket for up to 18 hours a day.
My only snag was that it does feel like the jacket is designed for men – something that has come up when I’ve worn Shackleton gear in the past – which isn’t a huge problem but worth noting.
As a petite woman that usually wears a size 8-10, the small jacket was certainly oversized, which I actually liked as it felt roomy without drowning me. It allowed room to fit the Fuchs jacket underneath, but I could happily have sized down too.
As a side note, sizing was slightly more of an issue with the matching pants – I had to roll up the bottoms of the pants and pull the Velcro tight at the waist.
Buy now £745, Shackleton
Is the Shackleton fortuna hardshell ski jacket worth it?
At close to £750 the Shackleton fortuna is undoubtedly an expensive jacket, but for the quality, performance and versatility I would argue it is good value. Springtime skiers or those taking the occasional on-piste ski trip may not need the technical features this jacket provides, but for a warm, reliable, high performance piece of clothing, I think it’s worth the investment.
How I tested the Shackleton fortuna hardshell ski jacket
This ski jacket has been worn in snowy, sunny, cold and sometimes wet conditions, considering everything from breathability and insulation to style and comfort. I travelled to Greenland, where I tested the performance jacket from Shackleton in Arctic conditions, from dog sledges across frozen lakes to exploring on snowmobiles.
Why you can trust IndyBest reviews
Annabel Grossman is the global travel editor at The Independent and has spent more than a decade reporting from countries across the world, frequently travelling to regions with extreme climates. The gear she wears gets tested in real-world conditions; this includes mountaineering in Iceland, cycling across Patagonia, hiking Moroccan mountains and husky sledding in mid-winter Greenland. Annabel has been reviewing products for IndyBest for more than four years and she keeps on top of new developments in research and technical performance in outdoor wear to help find the best gear.
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