The Best Womens Ski Jackets And Ski Pants Of 2022
Catch a chair or ski uphill with our six favorite ski kits for women this season.
Heather Balogh Rochfort| Published December 9, 2022
Whether youre arcing turns down freshly groomed corduroy or skinning uphill through secret stashes of snow, its important to have the best ski kit for the job. Crunchy zippers, ill-fitting pants and leaking seams are just a few problems that can ruin a good ski day. We believe the old adage: There is no bad weather, just bad clothes. So, lets get you in the good stuff.
Both mens and womens ski jackets and pants typically have the same performance technology, but women-specific gear is designed to accommodate female-identifying bodies. The jackets are usually wider in the chest and hips, and bibs are looser in the quads and booty. Can you wear a mens ski kit? Of course, but you may not like the cut.
Were confident we have a ski kit on this list for you. Before making your choice, consider your skiing style. Do you stick to resorts and chairlifts? If so, youll want an insulated kit that will keep you warm while sitting. If youre a backcountry shredder, opt for a ski jacket and pants that are highly breathable and lightweight. To help you make those choices, we enlisted the help of 21 testers across the country who put this years top ski kits through the powdery paces. From Alaska to Colorado and Utah to Vermont, our crew logged hundreds of ski days to bring you the six best womens ski jackets and pants of 2022/2023.
Scaled To Fit Smaller Frames
Sizes: XS Petite-XXL Petite | Colors: Black, Forest, Shaded Sumac| Materials: Nylon, polyester
Many ski pants seem sized for men, but REI offers its Powderbound Ski Pant in petite lengths, with an inseam of 29.5 inches. The Powderbound packs performance, too, with a durable water repellent finish, 40 grams of low-bulk insulation and a water-resistant recycled polyester lining.
The 4 Best Ski Pants Of 2022
We have been buying and comparing ski pants for the last 8 years, having tested 46 pairs along the way. This review covers 12 of the best ski pants available, based on in-depth testing in wintery ski climates from Jackson Hole to Lake Tahoe to the Colorado Rockies. Sometimes the powder gods delivered, and other times we made tracks on corduroy. The ideal ski pants should function to fit comfortably, keep you dry, vent excess heat, keep you warm on the lifts, and have handy features, all while offering style points, preferably. We score each pair on these merits, resulting in a detailed assessment to guide you to your next pair.
See our detailed assessment of the best ski pants for women that was authored by our expert female testing team. If you need a new ski jacket to go with your pants, our review can help. We’ve tested a multitude of ski categories to take the guesswork out of your purchases, whether it’s a new pair of ski goggles or a brand new pair of skis.
Editor’s Note: We updated our ski pants article on November 3, 2022, sharing more info on our testing metrics and removing a few discontinued products.
You May Like: No Bull Women’s Shoes
Why You Should Trust Us
The GearJunkie team is made up of amateur to expert alpine and backcountry skiers. Weve skied runs in-bounds and hut-to-hut all over North America, including bell-to-bell resort powder days, ski-to-surf trips such as on Vancouver Island, backcountry hut adventures, skimo races, and cross-country laps on the nordic trails. Womens ski pants are essential for staying comfortable and dry while in motion, riding the lift, or taking a snack break. Over the years, weve tested many different ski pants, and this list comprises the best of the best.
While testing womens ski pants in the field, we assessed durability, overall fit, ease of movement, protection, fabric feel, breathability, ventilation, and functionality. Weve tested ski pants while carving turns in ice-cold temperatures, blizzards, blustery wind, intense sun, and even rain from far-out tours to parking lot tailgating.
Beyond our teams experience, we also considered the most popular and bestselling womens ski pants on the market as well as a broad range of price points and a variety of features and applications.
Helly Hansen Whitewall Lifaloft Jacket
Fully featured stylish jacket for resort days.
The ladies in the office loved pretty much everything about this jacket, from the longer, freeride length to the stylish corduroy detailing on the shoulders, upper arms, and hood. The Whitewall is insulated with 80-gram LifaLoftHHs patented synthetic insulation technology that offers incredible warmth to weightwhich makes it at once toasty warm and not bulky in the least. With features galore, including roomy pockets, underarm vents, detachable powder skirt, the Whitewall fits the bill for women looking for a resort jacket with all the bells and whistles.
- Helly Hansen Whitewall LifaLoft Jacket MSRP: $400, hellyhansen.com
Find the Helly Hansen Whitewall LifaLoft Jacket online: REI | evo
Recommended Reading: Women’s Lee Dress Pants
Best Womens Ski And Snowboard Kit With Sustainable Features
Picture Organic Clothing Seen Insulated Jacket
Waterproofing 2-layer DRYPLAY
Insulation Thermal STD synthetic fibers
Notable Features on Jacket Body-mapped construction drop hem for full coverage wrist gaiters double pit zips attached powder skirt zippered chest pocket, zippered wrist pocket and two zippered hand pockets
Notable Features on Pants Stretch waist gaiter inner thigh vents two zippered hip pockets
Weight 2 lbs. 4 oz. 1 lb. 9 oz.
Test results: Historically, high-performance ski gear relied on fossil fuels for its techy synthetic fibers, but Picture Organic breaks that record by emphasizing plants instead. Their designers wanted to reduce their reliance on the traditional polyester fiber derived from petroleum, so the Seen acket and Exa pants use a bio-based polyester that comes from sugarcane waste. This creates a hybrid fabric on the shell: 58% comes from the sugarcane fiber while the remaining is recycled traditional polyester. According to Picture Organic, that adds up to a 30% decrease in carbon emissions for this particular pairing.
Fit was a favorite for our testing crew, too: Just enough room for layers underneath but not so loose that I feel like a marshmallow woman. Buy the Picture Organic Clothing Seen Jacket and Exa Pants.
Bottom line: PFC-free waterproofing and bio-based fibers make the Picture Organic Clothing Seen Jacket and Exa Pants our favorite pick for a ski kit with features you can feel good about.
Other Ski And Snowboard Pants We Tested
While we found plenty of winners for our list of best snow pants, several almost made the cut but fell short during testing.
Black Diamond Recon Stretch Pants: The pants proved to be water-resistant with waterproof pockets after our tester stood in the shower with the pants on, but the four-way stretch didnt impress us, as they felt a bit tight.
Outdoor Research Skyward II AscentShell: These pants have various technical features for backcountry skiers like a slim fit, lightweight materials, and an avalanche beacon pocket, but because they arent insulated, they’re not the warmest pant you can get or the most impressive shell we tested.
Flylow Baker Bib: Our tester thought these pants were breathable during a winter hike, but the waist bunched up around the bottom of the bib, which was awkward.
Recommended Reading: Women’s Plus Size Palazzo Pants
The North Face Womens Tsirku Futurelight Bibs
Sizes: XS to XLPros: Outer and inner leg venting suspenders secured through a sliding buckle in the backCons: Fits a little snug cuffs expand but dont unzip
Made for big-mountain skiers, The North Faces Womens Tsirku Futurelight Bibs regulated temperature better than anything else we tested. The hyper-articulated fit flexed comfortably whether we were ripping a line through the trees or hammering through a bump run. The bibs use light and flexible fabric with ultra-durable Spectra woven in. It resisted tree snags and kept this kit looking new despite hard use. The mostly recycled-fabric pants have clever adjustments: Suspenders tighten with a spring-loaded locking cam pull one side and the straps self-equalize. We also love the built-in side-pull belt. All exposed zippers are waterproof, and they open and close effortlessly. A right-side waist-to-knee zip let us pee without stripping. Vents on the inner and outer thighs dump heat, and low-profile leg pockets hold a beacon, snacks, and other relatively flat things. The perfect bibs for big missions, the Tsirku didnt feel like overkill for everyday skiing, said Vermont tester Berne Broudy.
Helly Hansen Legendary Pants
There are high expectations for the Helly Hansen Legendary Pant because of the brands long history. They are legendary after all, arent they?
I think these ski pants are truly great because they offer everything you could possibly desire or need in a pair of ski trousers. They are adaptable as well, coming in a variety of colors and sizes for both male and female skiers.
The pants provided lots of flexibility and comfort while effectively shielding my bottom half from snow and wind. They provide adequate insulation, and you will not overheat if run hot. Also, these pants never become overly saturated or wet on a powder day.
The 60-gram Primaloft insulation, which combines the required insulating qualities with a lightweight design to block out the cold without weighing you down, provides warmth.
Its also vital to note that people who dont usually work up a sweat will love the 2-layer waterproof shell. The pants construction isnt very excellent, and they will gradually become worn out. But for their price of roughly $200, these pants provide all you require.
Features
Recommended Reading: Plus Size Women’s Swimsuits
Iconic Brand Tested By The German Ski Team
Net-A-Porter
Sizes: FR 33 – 44 | Colors: Black | Material: Polyamide, elastane
German brand Bogner is credited with inventing the modern stretch ski pant as we know it, pioneering the design in the 1950s. Today, their skiwear is tested by the German ski team for performance and fit. This iconic Elaine pair has a sleek cut, comfortable elasticated waistband and stirrup cuffs to keep them in place.
Patagonia Stormstride Jacket And Pants
A setup for dedicated backcountry skiers, the Stormstride is Patagonias lightest jacket and pant made for days in the skin track. The fabric is the brands H2NO technology made from 100 percent polyester54 percent recycled. The cut is designed to accommodate layers, and every feature on the Stormstride kit is made with the touring process in mindfrom the jackets internal drop-in pockets designed to fit skins to the pants secure gaiters to lock out snow to bomber scuff guards to protect the insides of the legs. If youre looking for a premium outfit for uphills and their accompanying descents, the Stormstride belongs high on the list. Also available in mens.
- Patagonia Stormstride Jacket MSRP: $499
- Patagonia Stormstride Pants MSRP: $449
Read Also: Old Navy Hoodies For Women
Best Petite Ski Pants: The North Face
The North Face is a cult favorite for outdoor and everyday cold weather apparel for a reason.
These ski pants vent excess heat so you can stay on the slopes all day without overheating, and are made from a tri-layer technical fabric that provides waterproof protection, durability and moisture permeability.
Fit wise, these insulated pants have a standard comfortable fit not too fitted and not too loose
Finally, The North Face makes its ski pants in a great range of sizes and inseams, so those petite or tall can find the perfect length for them. It should be a given, but varying ski pant lengths are relatively hard to find!
The North Face Freedom Insulated Ski Pants
Check the latest reviews and see all color options here
Ski Pants Or Snow Bib
Choosing between ski pants and a snow bib ultimately comes down to personal preference. Many skiers prefer the comfort and protection that bibs offer since they do a great job of keeping snow out and wont slide down like regular ski pants. But other skiers may prefer the simplicity of regular pants .
Bibs are often an excellent option for ski touring since they offer comfort in the waist and wont ride up or down. Ski pants are easier to use and a great choice for resort skiers who love to spend time on groomed runs instead of deep powder when you may not need the protection of a full bib. If you opt for ski pants, choose a ski jacket with a good powder skirt to keep snow out.
Treeline Review author and gear tester Josette Deschambeault in her happy place. Loveland Ski Resort, Colorado.
You May Like: Women’s Leather Ankle Boots
Mountain Hardwear Powder Quest Pants
Pros: Available in various lengths high-cut backCons: Color and print not to everyones liking hip pockets gape when open
When tall and short, straight and curvy testers alike love the same pair of pants, you know youve got a winner. With features like mesh-lined thigh vents that give the pants temperature flexibility, the Powder Quest is adjustable, featured yet uncluttered, and as comfortable as a favorite pair of sweats. The boot gaiters slide easily over ski boots, and the cuffs have a zipper to make the gaiters easily accessible. Testers loved the fleecy hand pockets, the phone-/snack-sized thigh pockets, and the Velcro tabs at the waist, which provide substantial adjustment. In biting cold, we were toasty the gently stretchy pants are well insulated. But we wore them on warmer days, too, and stayed totally comfortable. Vermont tester Alix Klein said, The high waist was snug and warm. The length was perfect and the stretch fabric made moving around easy. The Powder Quest is available in multiple lengths. They fit tester Grace Simmons, who is 6 feet tall, and Klein, who is 5 feet, 3 inches.
Iconic Ski Suit Thats Worth The Investment
Bogner
It feels really good to move in this simple, sleek, lightweight and warm one-piece, says Alkalay. The stretchy softshell fabric has an extra sporty edge and makes me feel like I am flying, even though I definitely am not. The materials are breathable, warm and provide the most water-wicking in my experience.
Read Also: Are Luna Bars For Women
Consider Bib Or No Bib
Ask any skier or snowboarder their preference for a bib or no bib, and they will have a strong opinion. Bibs can be nice for skiing in deep powder, as the suspenders can prevent snow from making its way into places snow has no place getting into. A bib also adds an additional layer of warmth and insulation with the top of the bib usually rising to the chest area. However, the suspenders are a slight inconvenience for going to the bathroom, but thats already a nuisance with so much outdoor gear on anyway.
- What should I wear under ski pants?
Generally, youll want to wear a pair of thermal underwear under ski pants for adequate. Consider opting for a base layer made with moisture-wicking synthetic materials like nylon or polyester instead of cotton which will absorb moisture and make you colder in return. Merino wool is also a great choice for its natural thermoregulation and moisture management. Youll also want a pair of wool socks for regulating heat and keeping your toes warm.
- How do I wash snow pants?
The tag on a pair of snow pants should recommend the best way to wash them, but in the event that it does not, separate your ski pants from other clothing and wash them on delicate with cold water to prevent damage.
Bass Creek Outfitters Womens Ski Pants
Next up for the best womens budget ski pants are the Bass Creek Outfitters Womens Ski Pants Insulated Waterproof Snow Bib Overalls!
These premium snow bibs are constructed with high-quality materials and feature reinforced heavy canvas knees for durability.
The D-ring is perfect for securing gloves, and the overalls are adjustable for the best possible fit without restricting movement.
Insulated and water-resistant, these pants will keep you nice and warm all winter.
These are the perfect warm pair of pants!
The waterproof membrane is perfect for all outdoor activities.
Choose from multiple sizes to find the perfect fit for your shape and enjoy a fun day at the slopes with family and friends.
Also Check: High Top Sneakers For Women
Patagonia Storm Shift Pants
Sizes: Womens XXS to XLWeight: 1.5 lbsPros: Fluoro-free Gore-Tex membrane, fabric, and DWR body-mapped fleece liningCons: Muted colors only not available in multiple lengths
If you care about having snow to ski on, choosing a kit that strives to minimize its impact on the planet makes sense. The Storm Shift is the culmination of a six-year partnership between Patagonia and Gore-Tex. Theyre the first Patagonia pants to use Gore-Texs Guaranteed to Keep You Dry non-fluorinated membrane, 100-percent-recycled face fabric, and PFC-free DWR thats durable enough to meet both brands standards. After four days of ripping up the slopes in Montana, tester Sam Berman proclaimed it a solid one-kit quiver: Thanks to body-mapped fleece and great ventilation, it excelled in a variety of conditions, from storm skiing to sunny groomers. Berman was impressed by the soft and silky fabric. She said that it skied like any great Gore-Tex kit. The powder skirt is self-tensioning, zips are waterproof, and the pants clip to Patagonias matching jacket for extra weather protection. Outer-thigh zips vented on command.
Arctix Womens Sarah Fleece
The Arctix Womens Sarah Fleece-Lined Softshell Pants are perfect for any winter activity, thanks to their light weight and flexibility.
Theyre also wind and water resistant, with reinforced seams and articulated knees for added protection.
Whether youre hitting the slopes or just exploring the great outdoors, these pants will keep you comfortable all day long.
This is great for both backcountry skiers and resort skiers!
So dont let the cold weather slow you down, grab a pair of Arctix Womens Sarah Fleece-Lined Softshell Pants and enjoy your winter to the fullest!
Don’t Miss: Best Black Pants For Women
