This article provides reviews of my choices for the best ski and snowboard jackets for women.
A good jacket is so important when it comes to having an awesome day skiing or snowboarding and staying warm, dry, and comfortable. With what may seem like endless options and all the technical marketing hype and jargon, finding the best women’s ski or snowboard jacket can be a big challenge.
Don’t worry though! I’ll give you some quick tips to help you choose the best ski or snowboard jacket.
As I put together this review the most important aspects to look for in a great ski or snowboard jacket came to light. I also noticed three key things to look out for which I’ll share below.
One of the biggest things that I realized as I researched is that I can’t help but be drawn to the most stylish and attractive designs and immediately judge how cute the model is as I mentally switch out my face for her’s.
This is human nature. But it can lead to a poor purchase when it comes to choosing the best ski or snowboard jacket for you.
If you buy with this as your only criteria you could end up soggy and frozen to your core which will put you fireside in the lodge.
Another thing I noticed is that some of the jackets I researched were not specifically designed for women. They seemed like scaled down versions of mens jackets or scaled up versions of boys jackets. This may work for certain body types but for most women we need a jacket that is specifically tailored to our curves.
The third thing to look out for is a jacket that is an impostor for a ski or snowboard jacket. On the outside it may look like a nice warm jacket but it is missing the ski or snowboard specific design features and/or be manufactured with inferior materials that don’t offer adequate waterproofing or breathability.
So as I put together the pros and cons for each jacket and made my overall ratings I made sure to only include those jackets that are specifically designed for women and strike a balance between style, fit, length, waterproofing, breathability and warmth. I also paid special attention to items like hoods, pockets, vents, powder skirts and the overall versatility of the jacket.
As you read on I’ll introduce my top selections in a Feature Comparison Table. Then I’ll share my quick tips to be aware of while shopping for jackets and for the technical minded I’ll link to some of our resources for more detailed information. Then I’ll go through my detailed reviews of the 6 best ski and snowboard jackets for women.
Read on to check out my buying tips and reviews!
Feature Comparison Table: Best Ski and Snowboard Jackets for Women
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Photo |
Brand/ Model |
Waterproof/ Breathability |
Warmth |
Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
  |
10k/10k |
Medium |
||
  |
20k/20k |
Low (Shell) |
||
  |
15k/15k |
Medium |
||
  |
10k/5k |
Medium |
||
  |
10k/10k |
Medium |
|
|
|
|
Our Rating |
|
|
Waterproof/ Breathability |
10k/10k |
|
Warmth |
Medium |
|
|
|
|
Our Rating |
|
|
Waterproof/ Breathability |
20k/20k |
|
Warmth |
Low (Shell) |
|
|
|
|
Our Rating |
|
|
Waterproof/ Breathability |
15k/15k |
|
Warmth |
Medium |
|
|
|
|
Our Rating |
|
|
Waterproof/ Breathability |
10k/5k |
|
Warmth |
Medium |
|
|
|
|
Our Rating |
|
|
Waterproof/ Breathability |
10k/10k |
|
Warmth |
Medium |
Quick Tips for Choosing Ski and Snowboard Jackets for Women
I’ve compiled the following quick tips to help you understand the important aspects to be focused on while researching women’s ski and snowboard jackets.
- Fit: Jackets come in slim, regular, and relaxed fit. Consider your personal style and body type. Slim fit jackets are more sleek but have less room and will feel tighter and possibly restrictive especially if you want to layer. Relaxed fit may feel too baggy unless you have a big and tall body type. Regular fit usually gives the best compromise of freedom of movement and ability to wear layers without restricting movement.
- Length: Jackets come cropped at waist or above; hip length that sit at the hip bone or slightly below; and thigh length extending to the thighs. Shorter length jackets have the advantage of not interfering with leg movement but do not cover as much so are not as warm. Thigh length cover more and are warmer, but they can restrict movement depending on the fit. Hip length are the compromise that gives good warmth and little restriction to movement.
- Waterproof and Breathability: Generally you should purchase the most waterproof and breathable jacket you can afford. The bare minimum is 5k/5k but 10k/10k and above is preferred. For detailed information on how these are rated check out our Buying Guide: How to Choose Waterproof and Breathability Ratings for Outerwear.
- Insulation: Decide if you want just a simple shell or an insulated jacket. If you like to wear a lot of layers to adjust warmth then a shell may be right for you. If you are usually cold then you may prefer the extra warmth of an insulated jacket. Consider that an insulated jacket can’t really be made “less warm”. The degree of warmth varies by the type and amount of insulation used. So you can choose anywhere from low to heavy warmth. For detailed information check out our Buying Guide: How to Choose Insulated Outerwear.
- Design Features: Pay attention to the features that are most important to you like hoods, pockets, vents, powder skirt…etc. If you like to have your phone easily accessible then pay special attention to media pocket options.
- Try it On: Set up all your gear ahead of your snowboard trip. Put on your layers you expect to wear and make sure you have enough room to move your arms and legs around freely with little restriction.
For more detailed information about jackets check out our complete Buying Guide: How to Choose Ski and Snowboard Jackets.
Product Reviews: Best Ski and Snowboard Jackets for Women
Roxy Andie Jacket Review
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Our Rating |
|
|
Waterproof/ Breathability |
10k/10k |
|
Warmth |
Medium |
OVERVIEW
Roxy’s Andie jacket is a medium warmth jacket with a tailored fit and slightly longer length for a bit more coverage. It has a 10k/10k waterproof/breathability rating that will keep you dry in light to moderate wet conditions. There’s a nice soft material at the face area to make it comfortable when closed.
PROS
- Adjustable helmet compatible hood
- Sleeve pass pocket makes passing through the gates easier
- Internal mesh goggle pocket
- Externally accessible media pocket with headphone cord pass-through hole
- Insulated with 80g on body and 40g on sleeves & hood making it medium warm but not bulky on the sleeve/hood
- Waterproof rating of 10,000 mm and breathability rating of 10,000 g (10k/10k) offers light to moderate dry performance when the weather is wet
- Well ventilated with underarm zippered vents
- Wrist gaiters to keep snow out of your sleeves
- Powder skirt equipped with strap/button pants attachment system
- Bottom hem is adjustable
CONS
- Drawstring hood adjustment can sometimes leave strings where they can get in the way
BOTTOM LINE
The Roxy jacket is built with all the ski/snowboard specific performance features you should look for along with a subtle style and a tailored thigh high fit. The powder skirt and wrist gaiters help make this a good performing jacket in powder conditions. The use of 3M Thinsulate insulation provides solid warmth while not being too bulky and the waterproof/breathability rating is acceptable for moderately wet conditions.
Flylow Billie Coat Jacket Review
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Our Rating |
|
|
Waterproof/ Breathability |
20k/20k |
|
Warmth |
Low (Shell) |
OVERVIEW
The Flylow Billie Coat is a very well-designed shell jacket that includes many essential features you should look for in your next ski or snowboard jacket. The jacket is built for performance with articulated shoulders and sleeves and is extremely waterproof and breathable (20k/20k). This is a regular fit jacket that won’t feel too baggy and comes in multiple colors ensuring style with purpose.
PROS
- Adjustable helmet compatible hood
- Lots of pockets store your items including a sleeve pass pocket to make it easy getting through gates
- Multiple colors help ensure style
- Fully taped seams keep moisture out and help block wind
- Removable powder skirt to keep snow from going up the back
- Waterproof rating of 20,000 mm and breathability rating of 20,000 g (20k/20k) will keep you very dry
- Underarm vents for adjustment of airflow
CONS
- Powder skirt snaps to pants directly with buttons rather than a more widely adaptable strap/button system. So it may not be compatible with a wide variety of pants.
- No wrist gaiters which help keep snow out of your sleeves
BOTTOM LINE
The Billie Coat is a high-performance shell jacket designed to move with you as you shred your way down the mountain. You won’t have to worry about staying dry given the superior waterproof/breathability rating. Designed with an ample supply of pockets there are many options for carrying your cargo. So if you are a fan of layering for warmth then this is an excellent jacket that is unlikely to disappoint.
Volcom Shadow Jacket Review
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Our Rating |
|
|
Waterproof/ Breathability |
15k/15k |
|
Warmth |
Medium |
OVERVIEW
The Volcom Shadow is a regular fit but slightly longer length jacket. It is insulated to provide medium warmth and has a good waterproof/breathability rating. A nice design touch is the included soft material (similar to suede) on the internal chin area which doesn’t feel scratchy on your face when you’ve got the jacket all zipped up.
PROS
- The hood of the jacket has drawstrings and a rear cinch for adjustability and the fur is removable
- Sleeve pass pocket to make it easy to get through gates
- Externally accessible media pocket
- 60g of insulation to keep you warm
- Large internal mesh pocket to stash your goggles
- Powder skirt to help keep snow from going up your back
- Waterproof rating of 15,000 mm and breathability rating of 15,000 g (15k/15k) will keep moisture out while being quite breathable
- Mesh-lined underarm vents to allow better airflow during warm weather
- Bottom hem equipped with cinch cords accessible from front pockets to adjust the fit
CONS
- Powder skirt attaches to pants with Volcom’s zipper system. This works great with Volcom pants but is not compatible with most other pants brands.
- The hood is on the smaller side so doesn’t work perfectly with larger helmets
BOTTOM LINE
The Shadow strikes a nice balance between fit, form, and function. It is equipped with a solid waterproof/breathability rating for dry performance and insulated to provide medium warmth. There are plenty of pockets for storage and it has a little longer length for more coverage.
Burton Jet Set Jacket Review
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Our Rating |
|
|
Waterproof/ Breathability |
10k/5k |
|
Warmth |
Medium |
OVERVIEW
The Burton Jet Set is a lightly insulated ski or snowboard jacket with good waterproofing performance. One of the great things that set it apart from most of the competition is that it is available in a huge variety of colors and prints ranging from basic black to colorful prints. It is a hip length slim fit jacket. There are carefully designed pockets and a powder skirt with a pants connection system too.
PROS
- Insulated with 80g providing medium warmth
- Waterproof rating of 10,000 mm and breathability rating of 5,000 g (10k/5k) to help keep you dry
- Underarm zippered vents
- Pass pocket
- Internal mesh goggle pocket
- Media pocket with headphone cord pass-through hole
- Powder skirt with strap/button pants attachment system
CONS
- No wrist gaiters so the jacket will not be quite as good in terms of keeping snow out of your sleeves in heavy powder
- Jacket breathability could be improved
BOTTOM LINE
The Jet Set is a solid jacket with ski and snowboard specific features that perform well on the mountain but with a style that can work off the mountain too (especially in black). But if you’re looking for a style that pops they have got you covered with a wide selection of colors and prints.
Salomon Fantasy Jacket Review
|
Our Rating |
|
|
Waterproof/ Breathability |
10k/10k |
|
Warmth |
Medium |
OVERVIEW
The Salomon Fantasy jacket is a good all-around jacket made in a more neutral style so that you can wear it on and off the mountain. It is equipped with basic ski and snowboard specific design features and has a good all-around waterproof and breathability rating to keep you dry. It comes in several solid color options. The fit is regular so there is extra room for layering when it gets very cold.
PROS
- Fully taped seams keep moisture out and block wind
- Removable powder skirt to keep snow from going up the back
- Wrist gaiters to help keep snow out of sleeves
- Waterproof rating of 10,000 mm and breathability rating of 10,000 g (10k/10k) will keep you dry in moderate conditions
- Insulated with 100g providing medium warmth
- Underarm vents to increase breathability when it gets warm
- Sleeve pass pocket, zippered internal media pocket, and internal mesh goggle pocket
CONS
- Hood is on the smaller side so it may be a tight fit with larger helmets but the hood is removable
- Wrist gaiters do not go over the thumb so they may move around on you and require more frequent readjustment
- Powder skirt does not attach to pants
BOTTOM LINE
The Salomon Fantasy is a solid all-around jacket. It works well on the slopes and off. It does have ski and snowboard specific design features and weather protection to keep you warm and dry. On the other hand it does fall just a bit short considering the helmet compatibility, wrist gaiters without thumb holes, and the lack of a pants attachment system. But overall the versatility of the jacket puts it among the best ski and snowboard jackets for women available at an appropriate price point.