REASONS TO BUY
Athletic fit
Good packability
Plenty of venting options
Decent weather protection
REASONS TO AVOID
Pricey
Relatively heavy
Limited durability
Fabric seemed to get dirty quickly
Ortovox 3L Ortler Review
This model is a slim-fitting hardshell that's designed for backcountry skiing and offers ample stretch
RELATED: Best Hardshell Jackets of 2024
Our Verdict
Some jackets can do it all, others can do one thing really well. The Ortovox 3L Ortler lives up to the latter description because it's really good for backcountry skiing but a poor choice for other winter activities. Our testers that choose to earn their turns raved about its athletic fit, stretchy fabric, and impressive breathability for backcountry skiing. However, other folks found the same attributes to be irrelevant or even drawbacks for lift-access skiing. Our alpine climbing testers also griped about its additional weight and bulk, along with the fabric's propensity to attract dirt. Despite these flaws, this jacket undoubtedly fills an important niche, and it gets our full endorsement as an excellent jacket for dedicated backcountry skiers. Our review of the best hardshell jackets shows each model that we've tested in a head-to-head fashion.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Ortovox 3L Ortler | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Overall Hardshell Jacket | Best for Harsh Conditions |  Best Lightweight Hardshell |  Best Bang for the Buck | |
| Price | $302.50 at Amazon Compare at 2 sellers | $649 List $649.00 at Backcountry | $625.00 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $549 List Check Price at Backcountry | $449.00 at REI Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A backcountry skiing jacket that is slim-fitting and stretchy | A great hard shell for a variety of winter activities, with a steep price tag | A durable and protective jacket that is one of our favorites | A quality hardshell that offers great weather protection, with a few minor flaws | This hard shell is easy on the wallet, and provides as much protection as the best jackets, although it lacks refinement |
| Rating Categories | Ortovox 3L Ortler | Norrona Trollveggen... | Mammut Nordwand Adv... | Norrona Falketind G... | Patagonia Triolet |
| Weather Protection (30%) | |||||
| Weight (20%) | |||||
| Mobility and Fit (20%) | |||||
| Venting and Breathability (20%) | |||||
| Features and Design (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Ortovox 3L Ortler | Norrona Trollveggen... | Mammut Nordwand Adv... | Norrona Falketind G... | Patagonia Triolet |
| Pit Zips | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Measured Weight (size large) | 15.7 oz | 16.8 oz | 16.0 oz | 14.1 oz | 19.8 oz |
| Material | 100% Polyamide face fabric, 100% polyester inner face fabric, DERMIZAX NX membrane | 100% recycled 40D Gore-Tex Pro with 160D reinforcements on shoulder, forearm, and hood | 100% Polyamide 30D Gore-Tex Pro | 30D Gore-Tex with C-Knit backer | 100% recycled polyester 75D Gore-Tex |
| Pockets | 1 front | 2 front, 1 internal zippered chest, 1 zippered electronics pocket inside front chest pocket | 2 front, 1 internal zippered chest | 2 hand, 1 internal zippered | 2 chest, 2 hand, 1 internal mesh |
| Helmet Compatible Hood | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Hood Draw Cords | 3 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 3 |
| Adjustable Cuffs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Two-Way Front Zipper | Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No |
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Our Analysis and Test Results
Ortovox is a German company that specializes in ski clothing and avalanche safety gear. Their Ortler jacket is a lightweight, slimmed-down model that's ideal for backcountry skiing or other wintry human-powered pursuits.
Performance Comparison
The Ortovox 3L Ortler is a fantastic option for backcountry skiing.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
Weather Protection
This jacket is made with a Dermizax NX membrane. In our tests, we found this material to be every bit as waterproof and windproof as advertised. The membrane is sandwiched inside a mixture of polyester and merino wool that feels especially stretchy and supple compared to the materials used on other hardshell jackets.
The material of the Ortler is decent, but it doesn't compare with some of the top-tier models in terms of weather protection.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
To keep precipitation out, the Ortler is fitted with a tall hood that easily accommodates a ski helmet. The hood's trio of drawcords supply plenty of adjustability, and a swatch of soft merino wool at the collar does an excellent job at preventing any chafing. Our biggest complaint when it came to weather protection is that the DWR treatment seems to wear off quickly, which means the exterior fabric begins to wet out sooner than some competitors. Be ready to frequently apply your own DWR treatments to keep this jacket beading water and keeping you dry.
We are fairly pleased with the mobility and fit of this jacket for winter climbing, but the fabric seemed to cling to dirt more than others.
Credit: Jack Cramer
Weight
The newest version of the Ortler weighs in at a mere 15.7 ounces, making it one of the lightest models that we've tested. Our team also found it to be exceptionally packable for a jacket designed for backcountry skiing – something that many manufacturers don't even consider in this category. That's good news when you're skiing uphill on dry days because it's easy to throw this jacket in your pack and avoid sweating it out.
The Ortler is light enough to stuff into a pack on the climb but performs well enough for powdery descents.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
Mobility and Fit
One of the more distinguishing characteristics of this model is the suppleness and stretchiness of the fabric. Unlike many other hardshells, this waterproof fabric doesn't feel crinkly at all. The stretchiness, at the same time, ensures that this layer hardly provides any resistance to your body's movements. Fit-wise, we should note that this jacket is a bit slimmer-fitting than many others. This slimness can help you feel less encumbered by high-output activities. However, it doesn't leave much room to accommodate larger folks or anyone hoping to wear several warm layers underneath. It's a great shell when you're moving fast but less ideal on slower or colder days.
The 3L Ortler fit is a bit on the slim side, but fit most of our powderhounds just fine.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
Venting and Breathability
It's almost always better to vent excess heat and moisture rather than to rely on a waterproof layer's breathability. With this attitude in mind, the Ortler features a few venting possibilities. It includes a pair of pit zips that are fitted with quality waterproof zippers. We only wish these zippers used longer pull tabs so that they would be easier to grab with gloves on.
The main zipper is rigged for two-way opening and closing. This makes it slightly easier to vent on a stormy day or while wearing a backpack waistbelt. In the breathability department, the Dermizax NX material does a great job. That's great news because the stretchiness of this fabric makes it more likely that you'll keep it on during strenuous activities.
The large pit zips use waterproof zippers to ensure those tiny snowflakes don't make their way in.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
Features and Design
When it comes to features, we are pleased with some and disappointed by others. Our testers appreciated the pair of waist drawcords because they were sized well, easy to operate, and effective at sealing the hemline to stop snow from sneaking inside. They also liked the zippered pocket on the left arm for storing a ski pass while they were searching for powder stashes on sidecountry days.
On the other hand, we are disappointed with the reliability of the wrist closures. These closures utilize a patch of velcro to stay closed; however, an excess of fabric means that the closure fabric is prone to snagging on stuff and coming undone. There also aren't very many pockets — only the left arm pocket and another on the breast. This is an inconvenient arrangement if you like to carry an extra pair of gloves or a hat inside your jacket.
In terms of features, the 3L Ortler doesn't offer anything outside of the basics.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
Value
The Ortler is priced a fair bit below the priciest hardshells, but it's still an expensive piece of clothing. We think the cost should be worth it for passionate backcountry skiers because the performance is excellent for that specific activity. Shoppers who are also looking for a shell for mountaineering or resort skiing are likely to be less satisfied. In other words, the value that you will receive from this jacket depends on your interests.
Conclusion
People use their hardshells for a wide range of activities. There are lighter models that we prefer for alpine climbing and loose-fitting styles that perform better for resort skiing. But the Ortovox Ortler performs extremely well for the activity it was designed for — backcountry skiing. We think it's a great choice for anyone searching for a quality jacket to wear while they earn their turns.
—
Jack Cramer
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