Hi Frankie,

I wear my Arc'teryx Theta AR 3-ply Gore-tex XCR hard shell everytime I go snowshoeing.

I've never really experienced what you describe, the outside of the jacket does not show frost or any kind of buildup whatsoever. The inside of the jacket is slightly damp (because of the heat generated by my body), but in my opinion is performs as it should. Be sure to open your pit zips if you have some (I highly recommend this feature). Keep in mind that the Gore-tex is only a shell and does not care what the temperature is, your insulating layer is what will keep you warm.

If you haven't purchased a hard shell yet, you might wish to take a look at the new Gore-tex Pro Shell, which is the successor of Gore-tex 3-ply XCR. It's supposed to be more breathable, and much lighter. Arc'teryx make some which are definately overpriced, but MEC (www.mec.ca) has some around 400 CAD$.

As for your last question, 3-ply is better in all conditions, and more expensive.