Hey Joe. The Kramer has a few benefits over a Gore-Tex shell. The Kramer has a bit of insulation on the upper arms and shoulders in the form of flat-back Monkey Phur. It helps to hold the warmer air on your shoulders a little bit better than a typical shell would. There is also a body-mapped micro fleece backer on the jacket which provides extra breathability under the arms but provide a little but of heat retention across the back. Insulation aside the only other benefits the Kramer has stem from it's ski/snowboard centric design. If you're not going to use it for skiing or boarding, then there are better jackets out there. Simply put, the removable snow skirt, goggle pocket, lift pass holder, and oodles of pockets are suited best for spending a day on the hill. I have the Kramer and a Gore-Tex shell. For skiing, the Kramer is sweet. It's my fair weather ski shell, since I find it fits a little slimmer than most ski shells. The breathability can't be beat. In my opinion MHW makes some of the most breathable proprietary alternatives to Gore-Tex. That being said, this jacket is not for activities such as ice climbing. That's where the Gore-Tex shell proves its worth. Alpine pockets, unbeatable waterproofing, super hardy face fabrics, and a fit that you can seriously layer under make my hardshell my best friend with heading outside at -25 C. So to answer your question in short. The Kramer is better for skiing, in my opinion, than typical hardshells. However, keep it on the hill. It has a few shortcomings when adapting to other activities.