Volcom Jackets

Volcom Jackets at Behind The Pines Amsterdam

Volcom has been making snowboard outerwear since 1991 and the range has settled into a clear shape: a GORE-TEX shell line at the top, insulated jackets for people who ride cold and slow, and a set of stretch pieces for anyone who spends the day in the park. What runs through all of it is Zip Tech — the zipper that joins the jacket to the pant so snow cannot get in at the waist, which is Volcom's own idea and still the reason a lot of riders stay with the brand.

We carry the Longo, Guide, L GORE-TEX, Guch Stretch and Dua alongside the insulated Stone 91 and Fawn. Below is how to work out which line you belong in, because the differences between them are real and not cosmetic.

Shell, insulated, or stretch

GORE-TEX shells

The Guide, Longo and L GORE-TEX are uninsulated shells. All the warmth comes from what you put underneath, which means you control it: a base layer and a fleece on a cold day, just a base layer in spring. Shells are the right choice if you ride hard, sweat, or ride across a wide temperature range. They are the wrong choice if you sit on a lift in the cold and want to be warm without thinking about layers.

Insulated jackets

The Ins models — Stone 91, Fawn, Dua Ins — have synthetic fill built in. Warm immediately, no layering decisions, and noticeably less versatile: on a mild day there is nothing to remove. If your riding is mostly resort days in genuinely cold weather, this is the simpler jacket.

Stretch shells

Guch Stretch and the V.Co pieces use a stretch face fabric. They move more than a rigid shell, which matters for park riding and anything where you are folding at the waist and reaching. Slightly less durable against edges and rock than a stiff two-layer shell, so it is a trade rather than an upgrade.

How to choose

Answer two questions. First, do you run hot or cold on the hill? Hot riders should buy a shell and layer; cold riders are happier in an insulated jacket. Second, is your jacket also your winter coat in town? If so, an insulated model earns its keep off the hill, where a bare shell does not.

Then check the fit. Volcom runs from a modern trim cut through to genuinely oversized on some models, and the name does not tell you which. The product page states the fit. If you plan to wear a hoodie and a fleece underneath, size for that, not for the jacket alone.

What to expect

• GORE-TEX models are fully waterproof with taped seams; non-GORE-TEX models use Volcom's own coating and are water-resistant to a lower standard — the product page says which.
• Zip Tech only works with a Volcom pant or bib fitted with the matching zip.
• Insulated models are warm out of the box but leave you no way to cool down beyond opening the vents.
• Fit varies widely across the range — check the stated fit rather than assuming your usual Volcom size behaves the same on every model.

Why buy from Behind The Pines

We are a snowboard shop in Amsterdam that rides. We stock the pants and bibs that pair with these jackets, so if you want the Zip Tech connection to work we can tell you exactly which combinations do it. Orders ship from Amsterdam and we will talk you out of a jacket that is wrong for how you ride.

Frequently asked questions

What is Zip Tech?

A zipper running around the inside hem of the jacket that mates with a matching zip on a Volcom pant or bib, sealing the two into one piece. It stops snow entering at the waist in deep days and on hard falls. Both garments need the system for it to work.

Shell or insulated — which should I buy?

Shell if you ride hard, sweat, or ride in varied conditions, because you set the warmth with layers. Insulated if you run cold, ride lift-served resort days, and want to stop thinking about it.

Is every Volcom jacket GORE-TEX?

No. The GORE-TEX models say so in the name. The rest use Volcom's own membrane and coatings, which handle snow and light rain well but are not held to the same waterproof standard.

Can I wear one in the city?

The insulated models work well as winter coats. A bare GORE-TEX shell is excellent in rain but has no warmth of its own, so it needs a layer under it.

How do I keep it waterproof?

Wash it. Dirt and body oils in the face fabric are what makes a jacket wet out, not membrane failure. Use a technical wash, no softener, then a warm tumble or a low iron through a cloth to reactivate the DWR.

Shop Volcom Jackets at Behind The Pines Amsterdam

Match a jacket to Volcom Pants or Volcom Bibs for the Zip Tech connection, see the full Volcom collection, check Volcom Sale for reductions, or compare across brands in Snowboard Jackets.