The Best Ski Pants of 2024-2025

When suiting up for winter, it can be hard to find a ski pant that checks all the boxes. From style and function to pocket design and fit, we made rounds across all weather conditions to find our favorite pairs. Our selection of the best ski pants includes traditional hardshells, insulated options, and backcountry-oriented designs for a range of skiers and budgets.

In our guide, you’ll find moderately-priced pants like the Flylow Men’s Chemical Snow Pants that serve skiers well nationwide most days of the season. Other pairs are hybrid designs for backcountry use, including the Stio Men’s Environ Pant, have great breathability, range of motion, and are a bit pricier.

Whether you’re looking for a ski pant that’s warmer for the coldest days at the ski resort or breathable for ski touring, we have recommendations to suit your needs. At the end of the list, read the Buyer’s Guide or jump to the Price & Value summary. Still weighing your options? Consult our Comparison Chart to see how ski pants stack up. Otherwise, take a look at our awarded goods for the 2024-2025 season.

Editor’s Note: We updated our Ski Pants buyer’s guide on November 12, 2024, adding the Mountain Hardwear Cloud Bank GORE-TEX Pants and awarding the Outdoor Research Cirque III the Most Versatile designation.

The Best Ski Pants of 2024-2025

• Best Overall Ski Pants: Flylow Chemical Pants
• Best Budget Ski Pants: Eddie Bauer Chair Six Shell Pants
• Most Comfortable Resort-Backcountry Hybrid: Stio Environ Pant
• Most Lightweight & Sustainable Ski Pants: Patagonia Storm Shift Pants
• Best Ski Pants for the Backcountry: Black Diamond Recon LT Stretch Pants
• Most Durable Ski Pants: Rab Khroma Diffuse GORE-TEX Pants
• Most Versatile Softshell Ski Pants: Outdoor Research Cirque III Softshell Pants

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Ski Pants Comparison Table

Scroll right to view all of the columns: Price, Fit, Material, Insulation.

Pants	Price	Fit	Material	Insulation
Flylow Chemical Pants	$365	Regular	Polyester with 3-layer Intuitive waterproof breathable membrane	None
Eddie Bauer Men’s Chair Six Shell Pants	$229	Regular, Straight	3L WeatherEdge waterproof stretch fabric	None
Patagonia Men’s Storm Shift Pants	$399	Regular	2-layer GORE-TEX PFC-free ePE membrane and fabric, 150-denier 100% recycled polyester, 100% recycled polyester tricot mesh liner	None
Black Diamond Recon LT	$350	Standard	BD.Dry 3L waterproof breathable four-way stretch shell fabric with DWR	None
The North Face Insulated Freedom Pants	$200	Slim	Nylon blend with 2-layer DryVent construction	Heatseeker Eco 90% post-consumer recycled polyester
Outdoor Research Cirque III	$179	Narrow	50% Nylon, 43% Polyester, 7% Spandex 90D Stretch Double Weave	None
Rab M’s Khroma Diffuse  & W’s Khroma	$445	Regular	3-layer GORE-TEX shell with 100% recycled face fabric	None
Picture Naikoon Pants	$275	Regular, a bit baggy	2-layer 100% circular polyester, Teflon Ecoelite stain repellent technology, PFC-free DWR	Coremax tricot liner
Stio M’s Environ Pants & W’s Environ	$419	Regular	PeakProof 3-Layer membrane	None
Rab Men’s Khroma Kinetic Waterproof Pants	$340	Regular	Polyamide and elastane blend, 3-layer waterproofing with polyurethane membrane	None
Norrona Lofoten GORE-TEX Pro Plus Pants	$899	Regular	200D partially recycled face fabric with GORE-TEX Pro membrane	None

How We Tested Ski Pants

Our crew of GearJunkie gear testers includes backcountry skiers, ski racers, and ski builders. This guide has been updated eight times since 2021.

Our Expert Testers

Gear tester Bergen Tjossem is a ski fanatic born, raised, and currently based in Vail, Colorado, at the foot of his favorite mountain range, the Gore. Tjossem is a known destroyer of gear and a sharp critic when it comes to apparel breathability and fit.

Albert Kim, one of our lead GearJunkie testers, is based in Southern Utah. He cut his teeth in the snowsports industry working as a ski builder for Wagner Custom Skis in Telluride, Colorado.

GearJunkie Senior Editor Morgan Tilton specializes in snowsports and has lived in Colorado’s Rocky Mountains for more than three decades, where she grew up, learned to ski at her home mountain of Telluride Ski Resort, and lives today in Crested Butte. She’s been an outdoor industry journalist including covering snowsports for more than a decade.

Other contributors have included Ryan Baker and Austin Beck-Doss.

Our Testing Grounds

Tjossem tests gear primarily in Colorado’s backcountry but also on ice climbing routes and deep days at the resort. Bergen has clocked in nearly 150,000 feet of human-powered backcountry vert in 2023-2024, testing this season’s new gear, as well as 25 days at the resort.

Despite the desert environment of Southern Utah, Kim regularly spends time skiing at Brian Head Resort and the surrounding backcountry near an elevation of 10,000 feet. Constantly changing conditions have Kim putting his outerwear through its paces, which demands top-tier protection and durability.

Tilton manages nearly two dozen gear testers across the country and field tests between the desk shuffle. In 2023, she tested gear for 114 hours across 35 days. To date in 2024, she tested apparel for 216 hours throughout 62 days of recreation from the ski area to the backcountry. Those days exclude the countless hours of shoveling.

The GearJunkie team meets for an annual on-snow test week to grind out turns and swap notes, including two previous gatherings at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, which is known for its expert terrain.

Our Testing Process

When testing ski pants, we pay careful attention to fit, durability, waterproofing, breathability, and overall value. In recent years, we’ve put dozens of ski pants through the wringer in just about every kind of snow and weather condition.

As new snow pants hit the market, we’ll be sure to give them a thorough assessment in consideration for this list. At any given time, our roundup includes the best ski pants on the market.

Buyers Guide: How to Choose Ski Pants

Ski pants come in a huge variety of categories and styles. While some options on this list are built to prioritize burly weather resistance for resort-oriented skiing, other pants are geared toward breathability, minimal weight, and restriction-free movement for ski touring.

This buyer’s guide carefully breaks down all the factors that differentiate one pair of ski pants from the next. With the information provided, we hope you’ll be able to easily identify the perfect pair for you.

Types of Ski Pants: Hardshell vs. Softshell

There are two traditional major categories of ski pants: hardshell and softshell. But more and more, we’re seeing pants like the Black Diamond Recon LT Stretch Pants that blur the lines between these two types. Major companies, including Arc’teryx and Black Diamond, have been working to create softshell pants that offer plentiful mobility without sacrificing waterproofing. Choosing between these ultimately comes down to personal preference, intended use, and your typical skiing climate. One category is not strictly better or worse than the other.

Hardshell Ski Pants

Because hardshell pants are generally more popular and more common than softshells, most of the pants we’ve included on this list are hardshell.

Hardshell ski pants feature a waterproof barrier between you and the surrounding conditions. Just like hardshell jackets, pants in this category often include taped seams and tend to feel thick and hardy to the touch. In a good pair of hardshell pants, you can sit down directly on the snow without worrying about a soggy bottom. If you’re going to be out in snowy weather for extended periods of time or live in a place with high water content in the snowpack, you’ll likely want a completely waterproof layer. Skiing in the Pacific Northwest? You’re going to want a hardshell.

The main downside to hardshell pants is they are not very soft and pliable, which can feel limiting or uncomfortable when you’re making big moves. They’re also crunchier and create more noise. Hardshells are by far the more common choice for resort skiers. On this list, the Rab Men’s Khroma Kinetic Waterproof Pants are a fantastic hardshell option.

Softshell Ski Pants

Softshells don’t have that waterproof barrier and, as a result, are generally more breathable. The fabric feels lighter and more flexible, and they’re often more form-fitting. A softshell might feel good on an ascent in the backcountry but it won’t offer much insulation or protection from wind, either. Perhaps the best part of softshell pants is the stretch factor. The stretchy fabric offers constriction-free movement, comfort, and versatility across outdoor activities. The Outdoor Research Cirque III softshell pants, for example, easily transition from ski touring to rock climbing to hiking. Some of our testers exclusively use softshell pants in the backcountry.

Lightweight, Chemical-Free Hardshells

Hardshells are also becoming notably more malleable as textiles are being overhauled to be free of PFCs. The movement has been pioneered by GORE-TEX’s launch of the revolutionary ePE membrane, which is replacing the brand’s membrane technologies, which are utilized across brands in the outdoor industry.

From a skier’s perspective, the fabrics that are incorporating this new membrane are becoming super lightweight, smoother, more buttery, softer, and quieter. A robust 3-layer textile now feels like a 2-layer softshell fabric.

The ePE membrane, which stands for expanded polyethylene, is free of PFCs of Environmental Concern (PFCEC). The membrane launched in 2-layer outerwear in winter 2022. In winter 2023, the first-ever 3-layer winter outerwear products were introduced with the membrane. Now, Patagonia launched its own iteration of a proprietary PFC-free membrane in 3-layer outerwear, too, alongside incorporating the GORE-TEX ePE membrane in kits. Brands like Norrøna started to roll out ePE in 3-layer ski wear alongside Patagonia for 2023-24.

Pants vs. Bibs

To ski in pants or to ski in a bib? This is a fundamental outerwear question that divides the skiing world into two camps. Ski pants need little explanation, as they’re worn just like any other pair of pants — waist-high and secured with a button.

The primary downside of wearing pants while skiing is that cold and snow can find their way up the back of your jacket or down your pants, especially during a fall. Some of the best standard-style ski pants we’ve included are The North Face Insulated Freedom Ski Pants and the Flylow Chemical Pants.

Enter ski bibs. With a high waistline held up by shoulder suspension straps, bibs eliminate the fatal flaw of ski pants. When skiing deep powder, the joy of knowing you won’t get snow down your pants offers valuable peace of mind. If you’ve never skied in a bib, just know they do take a little getting used to. Also, bibs tend to be warmer than pants, so they may not be the best choice for those balmy spring days. For more information on bibs, check out our favorite options for men and women.

The ski bibs versus ski pants debate is even sharper in the backcountry. One of our testers runs too warm to ever wear bibs in the backcountry, even on deep powder days. Others appreciate a little extra warmth.

Ski Pant Styles: Resort vs. Backcountry

While many ski pants are versatile enough for both resort and backcountry skiing, certain styles and features are better suited for one setting or the other.

For in-bounds skiing, we recommend pants with burly fabric, reliable waterproofing, and a semi-relaxed fit that allows room for layers underneath. Since you won’t often be traveling uphill while resort skiing, it’s generally okay to wear pants that mildly restrict hiking movement, as well as insulated pants to help you stay warm on the lift ride or in the lift line.

On this list, our favorite ski pants for resort use include The North Face Insulated Freedom Ski Pants. But the articulate knees and pliable materials of the Stio Environ make it an ideal crossover ski pant that excels in the front and backcountry.

Breathability is also an elevated priority in the backcountry. Hiking can be strenuous, and large leg vents can help prevent overheating in addition to wearing a more breathable textile that’s also highly waterproof. While a 10K or 15K level of waterproofness is adequate for most ski resort storms, if you’re in the backcountry miles away from the trailhead, you’re going to want 20K of waterproofness or more. Ideally, the breathability matches that number. Fit-wise, backcountry styles tend to be more form-fitting so that there isn’t extra fabric you’re lugging uphill or getting caught when you pull on your heavy ski pack.

Warmth & Insulation

Our list of recommendations includes both insulated ski pants and non-insulated shells. Ultimately, the choice between these categories comes down to your personal preference. If you tend to run cold or frequently ski in frigid temps, you may want to seek out a warm insulated option like The North Face Insulated Freedom Pants.

For most skiers, we recommend going with shell-style pants due to their unmatched versatility. Shells can be worn on their own or combined with a variety of underlayers. Depending on the conditions of the day, you may choose to combine your pants with thin baselayers, fleece pants, or both to attain the perfect level of warmth and comfort.

Durability

Ski pants will inevitably take a beating. After many days of skiing through trees, rubbing against boot buckles, and sitting on chair lifts, pants are going to show signs of wear. For backcountry skiing and touring, thinner and lighter ski pants are more common.

On this list, the Mountain Hardwear Cloud Bank GORE-TEX pants stand out for their durability in the resort – they’re the kind of ski pants that will stand up to season after season of use. Heavy-duty softshells, like the Outdoor Research Cirque III ski pants, can withstand the rigors of backcountry skiing and ski mountaineering thanks to their reinforcement in high-wear areas. Lighter-weight shell pants can be really nice in the backcountry where every ounce matters. They can also suffer in the durability department if they’re not made with tenacious fabrics like the GORE-TEX in the Rab Khroma Diffuse GORE-TEX Pants.

Waterproofing

While wearing ski pants, you’ll sit on wet surfaces and move through falling rain and snow. For this reason, reliable water resistance is an absolute must. Many of the styles included on this list come with high-end waterproof membranes and outer fabrics.

GORE-TEX

Within the outerwear industry, GORE-TEX is generally considered top-tier waterproof protection. GORE-TEX fabrics use membranes with millions of microscopic pores that allow air to flow through but are too small for water to penetrate. They’re also among the most expensive. Many companies have their own proprietary waterproof fabrics, like Black Diamond’s BD.Dry.

How Waterproofness is Measured

Waterproofing is measured in millimeters of water per 24 hours — that is, how many milliliters of water can pass through the membrane over the course of a day. 20,000mm and higher waterproofing can withstand heavy rainfall and any other weather you’ll encounter while skiing. GORE-TEX Pro’s 28,000mm waterproofing will protect you in virtually any weather and possibly even underwater. Anything below 10,000mm will only withstand rainfall and wet snow for a limited time.

Taped Seams

All well-made waterproof ski pants have taped seams that stop water from creeping into the garments around the stitches, waterproof zippers, and a DWR coating that makes water bead off the fabric before it encounters the inner membrane.

Backcountry Use

In the backcountry, outerwear must protect you from the elements but also keep you cool. Because skiing in the backcountry involves more hiking and fewer lift rides, breathability and mobility are often considered more important than full waterproofing.

On this list, waterproof/breathable pants like the Black Diamond Recon LT Stretch Pants are worth considering for backcountry riders and skiers. They sport a 20,000mm waterproof rating and 20,000 g of breathability, which is well balanced for resort and backcountry applications.

Here’s a list of the waterproofness of our favorite ski pants:

• 28,000 mm
  • Norrøna Lofoten GORE-TEX Pro Plus Pants
  • Rab Khroma Diffuse GORE-TEX Pants
  • Mountain Hardwear Cloud Bank GORE-TEX Pants
• 20,000 mm
  • Black Diamond Recon LT Stretch Pants
  • Flylow Chemical Pants
  • Eddie Bauer Men’s Chair Six Shell Pants
  • Stio Environ Pants
  • Patagonia Men’s Storm Shift Pants
  • Picture Naikoon Pants
  • Rab Khroma Kinetic Pants
• Unrated
  • Outdoor Research Cirque III
  • The North Face Insulated Freedom Pants

Breathability & Ventilation

Every skier has a different comfort zone when it comes to temperature regulation and layering. For those who tend to run warm, breathable and well-ventilated outerwear may be absolutely essential.

While running laps on groomers at the resort, less breathable pants like The North Face Insulated Freedom Pants will suit most skiers. If you prefer more temperature control, The Mountain Hardwear Cloud Bank GORE-TEX Pants come with zippered vents and less insulation to shed excess heat on the go. Fabric breathability has a standard measurement — Moisture vapor transmission rate (MVTR), measured by how much moisture can pass through a meter of fabric in a day (g/m2/24hrs). The higher the number, the better the breathability. The Black Diamond Recon LT Stretch Pants’ MVTR of 20,000g, for example, is good for ski touring.

Fit & Cut

When selecting ski pants, a comfortable fit is all-important. Personal preference is the most important variable here. If you don’t know what kind of fit you’re after, we absolutely recommend trying on pants before buying them.

Most resort skiers go with a standard fit that’s semi-loose but not overly baggy. Conditions at the resort vary from frigid and stormy to sweaty and spring-like throughout the season, and slightly loose-fitting pants allow for versatile layering options underneath. On this list, the Flylow Chemical is a top-notch resort skiing design that conforms to the body, looks stylish, and feels great.

For backcountry skiing and touring, slim-cut pants are common because there’s less material to get snagged. While testing a baggier option in the backcountry, one of our testers continued to snag a crampon point on the inside of his pant leg, which can easily tear the pant and presents a dangerous tripping hazard. It’s also easier to add a hardshell, puffy belay pants, or a harness for glacier travel over slim-cut touring pants compared to something baggier.

Stretch

Stretch can have a pronounced impact on how ski pants perform and your ability to move in them, but not all ski pants are the stretchiest. In many cases, stretch has an inverse relationship with waterproofness. But most ski pants offer adequate stretch for the average skier taking turns down a groomed slope. When you’re backcountry skiing, snowmobiling, or skimo racing and hiking up a steep hill, that’s when you’ll want greater stretch everywhere, including the seams and groin area. That’s why backcountry-focused ski pants, like the Black Diamond Recon LT Stretch Pants, employ stretchy fabrics.

When buying ski pants, you can test the restriction by lunging, squatting, and taking long strides.

Price & Value

The cheapest pair of ski pants on our list is the Outdoor Research Cirque III at $175, but these are an outlier and relatively niche product. They are stretchy softshell pants best suited to the backcountry that do not come with a waterproof membrane or insulation. 

Budget

The entry-level price for ski pants that have some level of waterproofing and insulation is between $200 and $300, like the North Face Insulated Freedom Pants ($220), and Eddie Bauer Chair Six Pants ($229). These can be excellent ski pants for weekend warriors or those who are just getting into the sport. We wouldn’t recommend going any cheaper than this price point for a solid pair of ski pants. Cheaper options don’t last long and will struggle to keep you warm and dry. Your legs and your ski day will thank you!

Mid-Tier

As you go up in price, you’ll get more advanced and often recycled fabrics, higher durability, and better features. The next price tier is between $300 and $400. Pants in this range, like the Rab Men’s Khroma Kinetic Waterproof Pants ($340), often employ two to three-layer waterproof fabrics in the 20,000 mm waterproof range that breathe better than cheaper options. Some options may even include two-layer GORE-TEX membranes, like the Patagonia Storm Shift Pants ($399), which are both plentifully waterproof and breathable. Insulated versions typically come with high-quality third-party insulation, like Primaloft, which is designed to trap more warm air against your body. Most skiers will be able to find an excellent pair of ski pants in this price range that strike a great balance of durability, style, and protection from the elements. 

Premium

Ski Pants that cost more than $400 employ premium fabrics, like GORE-TEX Pro, which offer a higher level of waterproofing, breathability, and durability. They’ll also include high-end features like waterproof zippers. The Rab Khroma Diffuse ($445) is an example of a solid pair of ski pants at this higher price point. Bibs are also typically more expensive than ski pants and tend to fall into this category.

The most expensive ski pants, like Norrøna’s Lofoten GORE-TEX Pro Plus Pants ($949), also tend to have higher sustainability ratings and often employ recycled materials, as well as the most breathable, most waterproof, most durable fabric available on the market. But still, that’s pretty darn expensive for a pair of pants — but they do convert into bibs and we did really enjoy wearing them in the backcountry.

Frequently Asked Questions