Burton’s new Kalausi jacket and pants will help bring efficiency in the backcountry with a barely-there feel while still keeping you protected from the elements. Photo: Lindsay Gough / The Inertia
Innovations in snowboard outerwear don’t come every day. That’s why when something new does come onto our radar, it’s exciting news. This year, Burton did just that and dropped a new jacket and bib pants combo that, at the risk of sounding incredibly cliché, is a game changer when it comes to backcountry outerwear. The Burton [AK] Kalausi line offers something no other piece of outerwear can provide: a super lightweight, waterproof/breathable kit redesigned from the ground up to move with you and take backcountry performance to a whole new level.
Burton’s AK line has always been about high performance and giving riders what they need. Now, with the Kalausi jacket and bibs, it’s taking another step up the ladder of excellence by offering a GORE-TEX shell that you hardly even notice when moving through terrain. Read on for the review of the jacket, and check out the bib review here. To see how this jacket stacks up against the competition, read our review of The Best Snowboard Jackets.
The Burton [AK] Kalausi Jacket
| Pros | Cons |
| Lightweight | Expensive |
| Waterproof | No lining |
| Wears like a soft/natural material | Pockets are hard to reach on the fly |
Best for: Backcountry purists who want the unmatched protection of 3-layer GORE-TEX but want freedom of movement in a light package.
Maybe not for: People on a tight budget who spend more days on chairlifts than in the backcountry.
First Impressions
The Burton Kalausi jacket is a brand-new design from scratch, which is a pretty big deal. Starting with the material, the new GORE-TEX C-Knit fabric has an entirely different feel compared to other 3L GORE-TEX shells I’ve tried (and I’ve tried many). It’s lighter and with much less “crinkle”. While that isn’t an official or scientific term to describe the sensation, anyone who has used a 3L GORE-TEX shell probably knows what I mean. The material is fairly rigid and you can feel (and hear) every crease as you move. Not so with this new version – it felt almost as though I was wearing a thin nylon warm-up suit but it’s waterproof and windproof, and yet still breathable so that I wasn’t overheating during the day.
The pattern and design of the jacket puts movement to the forefront, with all-new 3D modeling tools in the Burton lab that allowed them to design the kit with what they call “kinetic construction.” As such, you don’t feel restricted in any way, shape, or form. It’s one of those things where you really have to try it on to feel the difference. Having tested dozens of premium jackets over the years, I’m not one to fall for marketing gimmicks, and can say that this is a new feeling for a jacket that is this lightweight and still waterproof.
Notable Features
The jacket certainly takes a minimalist approach, which is what you need to travel with efficiency in the backcountry. As such the pockets are only lined with mesh, which helps for keeping the weight down but not so good for keeping a greasy sandwich away from your underlayers. But, the two chest pockets are massive and can fit an extra set of goggles or a snow study kit with ease. Rather than the pockets going from the center outward, you unzip near the armpit and the pockets trend inward, as they’re also used for ventilation. It takes a bit of getting used to but the design actually works here, and allows for much more room than the average chest pocket.
An internal mesh pocket on the left size allows for you to store skins or other extras while keeping close to the body for warmth. It’s got a good size to it but again, is only a thin mesh, so you don’t want to hold anything sharp or too heavy in there which could wear out over time.
The side zip pockets are massive and double as vents. Photo: Lindsay Gough / The Inertia
Drawbacks
It’s impossible to not discuss the price, and unfortunately the reality is that it might be a hard stop for many. It’s not easy to set aside a rent check for some gear that you’ll only need when touring the backcountry. But if you’re one of the lucky ones that gets more than a few backcountry days a year, it very well could be a good investment considering this will add to comfort and performance in a very good way.
Other than the hefty price tag, there honestly aren’t too many limitations to this jacket. It does lack some features that many people expect to be a standard component of a jacket such as hip pockets to warm the hands, pit vents, and a powder skirt. That said, the side pockets double as vents should things get a bit too heated inside. Furthermore, this jacket is not a be-all, do-all piece of equipment. It has a very specific purpose (efficiency in the backcountry) and serves that purpose quite well.
The hood holds its shape even without a helmet – something that means a big deal when it’s storming in the backcountry. Photo: Lindsay Gough / The Inertia
Final Thoughts
The Burton [AK] Kalausi jacket is pricey, but what you get is protection from the elements without the added weight or rigidity that a normal GORE-TEX shell offers. Its minimalist design will serve those who count grams in their backcountry setup, and the freedom of movement allowed is unparalleled. This is not a jacket sporting bells and whistles. The main selling point is the fabric that will offer you protection from the elements.
If you value efficiency in the backcountry, then this jacket will leave you excited to be an early adopter of this new tech. If budget is more of a concern, as it is to most of us these days, it might be worth sitting this one out a few seasons for the price to drop. For more options, check out our guide to the Best Snowboard Jackets, and while you’re at it, here’s our guide to The Best Snowboard Pants.
Editor’s Note: For more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here. If you’re looking to build out the rest of your kit, read our reviews on The Best Snowboard Mittens, Best Snowboard Goggles, Best Snowboard Boots, Best Ski and Snowboard Helmets, Best Snowboard Bags and Best Snowboard Brands.
The Best Snowboard Pants of 2024
