This jacket is great for skiing. I wear it for touring and the hood cinches down really well with just a hat on. The brim is pretty firm but not as much as my Helly Hansen jacket. I haven't had a problem with it protecting my face or eyes. The cut is somewhat long but not too long. I have found it to be comfortable and if you need to shorten it, there is a waist cinch that you can tighten. This is the prefect jacket for skiing just make sure you get the right size. It has been absolutely bombproof this year (I skied in Alaska, Austria and my home town in NH). I'm an athletic 6'1 185lbs and the size large is absolutely perfect. This is the best jacket I have ever owned and I highly recommend it.

I'd say your preference depends on your face. I've owned both pairs and I personally prefer the crowbar because I find the crowbar nose piece more comfortable. I felt increased pressure on the cheeks of my face with the splice and I think it was because of its skeletal system. As seen in the video above, the crowbar has some give in the frame and it definitely has more give than the splice. This helps its fit with a hard ear helmet like mine. I wear a POC skull comp helmet and the crowbars go better with that helmet and with my face. You can't really go wrong with either pair but I would recommend going to your local shop with your helmet (if you use one) and trying both models on.

I have owned both Dri3 and eVent. I returned my event jacket because even though it is more breathable than gore-tex it really needs pit zips. I would go with dri3 because it seemed to stand up better to abuse then eVent for me. Also I would go with Norrona. This brand is incredible and I buy all of my stuff from them now. If you are looking for a a good wateproof shell that combines both form and function I would highly recomend this jacket. I have the green with red zippers and the color scheme is pretty sweet too.

You actually might want to consider a medium if your looking for an athletic fit. I have two norrona jackets. One large and one medium. I am 6' 190lbs with an athletic build. The medium fits like an arcteryx jacket with room for layers and the large has a slightly baggy fit but long arms (almost too long for me). Whatever you do don't get the xl it will be way too big for you.