Columbia Whirlibird IV Interchange Review

This jacket keeps you warm and dry and has enough features to enhance your day on the slopes. It won't provide the same style, features, or comfort as the more advanced options on the market.

Performance Comparison

Warmth

The Columbia Whirlibird IV is a moderately warm ski jacket compared to other jackets we reviewed. It can't compete with the high-end down or synthetically insulated jackets. Still, it gets the job done with a burly outer shell jacket with a hanging mesh lining and a synthetically insulated inner sweater layer with an "Omni-Heat" thermal reflective material on the inside of the inner layer.

This jacket combines multiple layers into one product, with plenty of room for warm air to be trapped inside. Still, in full configuration, this jacket is not warm enough for the coldest days at the ski resort, in which case another layer has to be worn underneath. The shell jacket alone is warmer than the shell-only jackets that we reviewed because of the hanging mesh liner, which traps some air. The inner puffy sweater layer, worn alone, has a boxy fit that is drafty and warm enough only for some fall and spring days.

Weather Resistance

The Whirlibird III is moderately weather resistant. It features Columbia's OmniTech waterproof membrane, which works well. The jacket's zippers are not waterproof, including the long chest pocket zipper, which is located in an area most likely to get wet.

The Whirlibird IV uses a less expensive and lower quality DWR treatment. In the shower test, the DWR wore off fairly quickly, which led to the fabric getting soaked. No water made it through to the jacket's interior, but when the outer shell is wetted out, everything feels wetter and less protective.

The Whirlibird IV's hood is fixed but can be cinched down around the face in bad weather, though it's on the small side. A powder skirt helps keep snow from getting up into the jacket through the hem. The affordability of this jacket shows in its weather resistance, as it lacks the refinement and high-quality design of the more expensive models.

Comfort and Fit

Our testers did not fall in love with the Whirlibird IV fit. It feels boxy, unrefined, and generic. Furthermore, the 3-in-1 construction produces a bulky feel, with friction that leads to restricted movement. A fleece chin guard protects skin from the shell material and zipper closure.

Other 3-in-1 jackets are more comfortable and well-tailored, but not much more so. Still, our testers disliked the fit of this jacket. It is probably the weakest aspect of this piece. However, those who find the Whirlibird IV sticker price appealing are probably willing to discount this shortcoming.

Ventilation

All 3-in-1 jackets have the ability to adjust to their surroundings with more versatility than single-piece ski jackets. If you get too hot, you can take off one of the layers and voilà. Alternatively, the Whirlibird IV offers average-length pit zips without mesh backing that allows good airflow. The pit zips help, but they do not continue through the inner layer.

The outer shell, if worn alone, breathes well enough, but if worn with the synthetic sweater layer, it does not breathe all that well, even with the vents open. The culprit may be the Omni-Heat thermal reflective fabric on the inside of the insulated sweater. The fabric traps heat well but does not feel that breathable.

Style

Style is not this jacket's strong suit. It features a neutral style with a non-specific fit, standard length, and straight cut. Still, something about this jacket is not that appealing. One tester mentioned that they felt like a middle-schooler wearing this jacket. The wide, boxy cut even suggests that this jacket is not styled specifically for skiing, and compared to the competition, the Whirlibird IV seems to scream "beginner skier."

The Whirlibird IV has a wide array of color options, including some bright options. Furthermore, the jacket will match the style of a variety of winter situations, from cold trips to town to blustery bus stops and train platforms, to the occasional cold day at the ski area. It seems like the style of this jacket takes into account that the user will probably wear the jacket more often on the streets than on the ski slopes.

Features

The 3-in-1 system is a great feature on its own. Additionally, the Whirlibird IV features two fleece-lined handwarmer pockets, a large external chest pocket, a sleeve pass pocket, an adjustable hood, and a powder skirt. These are enough to earn our stamp of approval for ski features. Other jackets have more refined features, but we never remember how many pockets we had at the end of the day. We remember the skiing.

The shell's interior has a mesh pocket for goggles or snacks, and the interior of the insulated sweater has a zippered chest pocket that is accessible when using the jacket in its combined configuration. The jacket also has a drawstring hem and velcro cuff closures.

Should You Buy the Whrilibird IV Interchange?

The Whirlibird IV has the best value of any ski jacket we have ever tested, and for this, it wins our Best Buy Award for insulated jackets. 3-in-1 jackets are highly versatile to start with because they include two layers that you would have to buy separately anyways. These two layers, worn in three different configurations, may not perform as well as other stand-alone pieces in any one regard, but together, they offer a lot of bang for the buck. This jacket, in particular, offers all of the above at an unbeatable price.

What Other Ski Jackets Should You Consider?

For a fraction of the price, the Columbia Whirlibird IV Interchange comes pretty close to matching the warmth, weather resistance, and ski features of other top-of-the-line jackets. But this jacket is not very stylish, nor does it fit very well, and is one of the least breathable jackets we reviewed. For a bit more money, you can buy a quality shell like the REI Co-op First Chair GTX or a better-fitting modular jacket like the The North Face ThermoBall ECO Snow Triclimate. And for backcountry skiers on a budget, the Outdoor Research Skytour AscentShell is a great option.