The Best Women’s Ski Jackets of 2023

If you need a lightweight, breathable, windproof, and waterproof shell for laps at the resort as well as backcountry adventure, here’s our superstar choice — the Outdoor Research Skytour AscentShell Jacket ($379).

At 20% lighter than its predecessor, the hardy 65-denier nylon and Spandex face fabric is paired with a 50-denier knit back, making this jacket a stalwart against harsh conditions and a loaded pack. The cut is roomy (but not baggy) and long — below our hips — and even longer in the back, covering most of our glutes.

Though strong, the fabric is breathable, pliable, and buttery soft. The jacket feels good to move in whether we’re planting our poles on steep groomers or ascending a skin track. We appreciate that the hood is wire-brimmed so it doesn’t collapse. The brushed tricot chin guard feels smooth and comfortable against the face.

We also love the pockets. There are two lower hand pockets and two exterior upper chest pockets that open towards the opposite hand, so they’re ergonomic to slide into and access. There’s one internal mesh pocket and another internal pocket with zipper access and a headphone port.

Dual two-way zipper access on the front and in the armpit vents makes the jacket highly adaptive to weather changes. And the wrist cuffs are the ideal width — sturdy but not too beefy.

As our top pick, we reach for the Skytour AscentShell for resort days, backcountry skiing, ski mountaineering, snowmobiling, and pow surfing. It’s a top-notch all-around winter shell, and may be the best women’s ski jacket available today.

Another great budget option is Mountain Hardwear’s Firefall Insulated Jacket, which is full of synthetic insulation that retains warmth even if the jacket gets hampered beneath fresh snowfall. The range of 80 to 100 grams of insulation is stuffed throughout the body, sleeves, and hood. Flexibility and stretch are not sacrificed in the construction, either.

Designed for the inbounds skier, the Firefall/2 Insulated Jacket ($289) is a stellar pick for weekenders, ski vacations, and anyone who wants a great ski coat at a decent price. Our tester wore it in the Montana mountains, and she loved the overall design, fit, and coverage.

It’s on the lighter side for a ski coat, so it might not be your go-to for very cold days. However, the parka length is a huge bonus for skiers who might find themselves sitting on the hill, a snowy lift chair, or a patio chair at any point.

Zip vents allow easy ventilation. Pockets — including two on the chest, two hand pockets, and a ski pass pocket — are thoughtfully placed on the Firefall/2. The cuffs on the sleeves keep snow out and warmth in. The waterproof shell is also treated with DWR for extra moisture blockage. This design even includes 55% recycled polyester in the insulation, which we commend.

With the Sentinel Jacket for women ($700), Arc’teryx delivers a tough, flexible shell jacket for tackling big mountain ski lines at the resort or in the backcountry.

The silhouette features a stable yet supple and flexible 70-denier nylon face fabric, making it comfortable, but also ultra-durable. From blustery conditions to blower powder, the three-layer GORE-TEX fabric is waterproof and breathable, and it blocks wind well. The design is also Fair Trade Certified.

The seams are fully sealed to block moisture, and if you build heat on deep-snow laps, the underarm vents are a lifesaver, while the powder skirt helps keep base layers dry.

A soft, flannel backer provides a bit of warmth for cooler days on the chair lift. But if it’s really cold, we’ll throw on a fleece midlayer, too. The hood fits nicely over a helmet with a stout, laminated brim.

To hold your goods, there are two generously sized hand pockets with exterior zipper access. The zippers do sit a tad higher than traditional hand pockets on the hips, so walking with your hands in your pockets feels a bit awkward.

There’s one small sleeve pocket for an ID or lift pass, an internal mesh pocket, and one (small) internal pocket with a zip closure. Given the internal pocket is too small for our phone, we wish there was a chest pocket on the outside of the jacket that could hold our phone up higher and off our hips.

Mostly, this streamlined, athletic jacket simply feels good to wear. If you’re looking for a comfortable shell that withstands season after season of abuse while managing variable conditions from spring sunshine to winter storms, the Sentinal is tough to beat.

New for fall 2022 and back in the 2023 lineup — ready for a powder day, delivering excellent waterproofness — is Patagonia’s Powder Town Jacket ($349).

Beyond the overall fit, which Patagonia nailed in the comfort department, the jacket is completely free of PFC chemicals, a multiyear development the brand is rolling out across every product in the All Mountain lineup. The 75-denier shell, liner, and lower body of the jacket are all 100% recycled polyester blends, and the 100% recycled polyester tricot mesh lining is Bluesign approved while the product is Fair Trade Certified sewn.

We really appreciate the pockets on this jacket, which are each ergonomic and functional. There’s a small pass pocket on the left forearm, a large left exterior chest pocket, a wide interior dump pocket with a zip closure, a wide-mouthed interior mesh pocket, and two softly lined hand pockets.

Or, if you tend to get a bit chilled on the lift ride or your home mountain is frigid or gusty, push the insulated option to the top of your wish list. Patagonia recently launched the Warmth Index, a new metric that measures the warmth of each of the brand’s products. That way, skiers can compare jackets side by side for their own insulation needs. The insulated Powder Town is the warmest all-mountain snow jacket that the brand makes.

If insulation isn’t the goal, the regular Powder Town Jacket is among our favorites for shredding the resort day in, day out.

Regardless of how harsh the wind gets above treeline or if it’s dumping wet snow, this jacket protects us from cold and damp conditions. The fabric of the ORTOVOX 3L Deep Shell Jacket ($730) is 100% windproof and provides 20,000 mm of waterproofness, which is capable of blocking heavy rain and snow you typically see in the Pacific Northwest. That’s a good safety investment as a backcountry user.

But the jacket still feels super breathable (coming from testers that sweat on the skin track). The brand uses SwissWool for insulation and odor-neutralizing properties as well as Tasmanian merino wool in the chest and collar.

In addition to the spacious, ergonomic underarm zippers, the wool helps manage moisture and temperature. The cuff tabs are wide and easy to grab, and the powder skirt is removable, which is a bonus for some.

One aspect of the 3L Deep Shell we rave about is the pockets. ORTOVOX nails pocket size and functionality. The two large chest pockets are still accessible while wearing a heavy pack with a hip belt. We’ve also used the small arm pocket to hold a ski pass at the resort, and it’s a good spot for a whistle or wallet.

ORTOVOX added an integrated mesh pocket to the left chest pocket on the 3L Deep Shell Jacket that’s well-angled and articulated, so you can easily secure your phone, even if it’s a larger size. (Note: If you wear your backcountry beacon in a chest harness, be sure to separate the beacon a minimum of 20 inches from your phone.)

For the price and quality, this jacket is hard to beat. Columbia’s Bugaboo II Interchange Jacket ($240) comprises two pieces: a separate high-pile fleece liner layer and an Omni-Heat-equipped two-layer shell that zip together.

Critical seams are sealed, and when worn with both layers together, the fleece provides a boost of warmth. The fleece is super soft, too.

Several hundred reviewers rave about the jacket’s heat-holding ability, thanks to the fleece liner as well as the Omni-Heat thermal-reflective technology, which coats the inside of the shell. The technology features silver dots that retain and reflect body heat to help maintain temperature. Folks also celebrate the good price and overall quality. For less than $300, you get three jackets in one.

The majority of reviewers said this jacket fits well overall and in the chest, arms, and hips. Plus, it was stylish and flattering. Some reviewers thought the fit felt a bit tight when sitting and bending.

This jacket comes in 1X, 2X, or 3X sizing. To get the best protection possible, the jacket also has an adjustable hood, adjustable cuffs, and adjustable hem.

While the unisex Raymer has a straight cut, the Stio Women’s Raymer Jacket ($399) has a more feminine silhouette without being tight — and quickly became one of our favorites to date.

The design was launched in 2019, and recently received several updates. That includes a one-way center zip in the front, increased circumference around the torso and arms, and a more tailored hood. After backcountry skiing in 45 mph gusts, we can attest to how well the hood and helmet cinch work.

Aside from nailing a slight, but not snug, hourglass fit and the buttery fabric that we so appreciate, we give huge kudos to the pockets on this jacket. There are two deep chest pockets (one has an extra mesh pocket) and two hand pockets, all with zip closures, that are spacious for all kinds of goodies including a large phone. An interior chest pocket has a zip closure. We like that there’s not a pass pocket on the arm, because sometimes those can be uncomfortable, especially if we’re bending our arm on a tour or sliding a pack on and off.

At the wrists, the cuff is slightly tapered for a feminine touch and the velcro closures are just wide enough to grab with mitts. However, the openings are not wide enough to easily slide over a large gauntlet glove. The underarm vents work well though are not the longest for seriously dumping heat on a spring ascent. The zip pulls are small, so they’re not the easiest to grab, but they haven’t snagged on us. That hits the mark given there are YKK water-resistant zippers at the front, on the chest pockets, and for the vents.

Overall, the Women’s Raymer Jacket performs extremely well in all conditions, from snowstorms to mega gusts to powder days and uphill laps in negative temps. As a non-insulated jacket, we definitely learned to add a midlayer on days that dropped below 10 degrees or with serious windchill. Most of the time, and for most activities from the backcountry to the resort, we easily reach for this stylish, extremely well-designed ski jacket.

Well-built and comfortable, the Norrona Lofoten GORE-TEX Pro ($549) reached the upper tier of our favorite jackets given its functionality and simple style.

As a leader in sustainable design, the brand outfitted this jacket with eco-friendly manufacturing choices. Namely, more than 50% of the synthetic fibers used in the jacket are recycled. The 40 to 200-denier GORE-TEX Lofoten is both Bluesign and Oeko-Tex certified for sustainable, safe production. The factory where the goods are manufactured is also third-party inspected to ensure a sound work environment and open factory listed by the brand for transparency.

While riding the lift, taking backcountry powder laps via snowcat with Irwin Guides (a fun, luxurious experience we highly recommend), or skinning slopes, this jacket manages moisture well, keeping wet snow and wind out — it’s 100% windproof. The seams are taped, underarm vents let you dump heat, and the outer material is fairly breathable.

We also like the articulation on the elbow and tapered wrist cuffs, which are slightly longer along the outer edge of the hands. The outermost seam of the interior wrist guards are a bit tight but feel OK once we pull them on all the way — the Lofoten would be better without that element.

Those two upper chest pockets are a great size and in a nice location on the jacket. A mesh dump pocket is on the right side, and a small mesh pocket with a zip closure is on the interior left side. There’s also a small exterior pocket on the left bicep — but there are no hand pockets. We’d also like to see the Velcro tabs on the wrist cuffs lengthened.

With a unique touch, there’s a goggle and sunglasses wipe that attaches via a buckle on an elastic band, which is super handy. And the YKK zipper toggles feel ergonomic and easy to pull.

If sustainability is a priority in addition to wearing a svelte, tenacious, and buttery-smooth jacket, this might be the best women’s ski jacket for you.

If you’re looking for an environmentally friendly jacket for the resort, consider the non-insulated Elevation Infinity Shell Jacket ($750). Helly Hansen’s resort jacket for women features the Lifa Infinity Pro, a waterproof-breathable and wind-resistant textile that nixes the need for a toxic chemical DWR treatment.

Life Infinity Pro utilizes the brand’s proprietary hydrophobic Lifa fiber, which it’s been using for 50 years. Helly pairs the Lifa fiber with a polypropylene membrane, which has microscopic holes that allow vapor out yet prevent water from seeping in. The waterproof qualities are permanent.

A chin guard height has never impressed us more. We can even tuck our nose down for cozy protection from the wind. The soft interior liner not only covers the interior side of the zipper but wraps all the way to the edge of each cheek — a super nice touch we’ve never seen on another ski jacket.

Overall, the fit is functional, including shoulders with great range of motion and a long, tailored silhouette. The arms are pretty lengthy too, reaching our knuckles when pulled completely straight. When wearing gloves with a plusher gauntlet, we wish the circumference of the cuffs was wider so they could slide over our gloves and we could take advantage of that extra real estate.

The other super cool feature in this jacket is the brand’s Life Pocket+ design, which helps save the battery life of your phone in cold conditions. The left chest pocket features the advanced version with PrimaLoft Gold Insulation Aerogel — which was developed by NASA to protect electronics in space — to preserve a temperature three times warmer compared to a traditional jacket pocket, according to Helly Hansen.

We kept our phone in the pocket on extremely cold days ranging from -10 to 10 degrees F with windchill. We never noticed our phone battery drop, which was a good sign the pocket helps protect the phone battery and overall lifespan.

On the Elevation Infinity, we also like the whole pocket roundup: another exterior chest pocket, two super spacious zip-entry hand pockets, an interior zippered pocket, a wide mesh stash pocket, and a small ski pass pocket on the arm. The jacket includes a RECCO transponder, too.

The North Face’s ThermoBall Snow Jacket system is another great option for female skiers everywhere. The TNF ThermoBall Snow Jacket ($360) has the brand’s two-layer DryVent fabric tech with a DWR coating and a three-in-one jacket interchange system.

The inner layer is an insulating zip jacket made with recycled polyester. The outer thigh-length shell is nylon.

We love the jacket for multiple reasons, especially its versatility, warmth, and fit. The insulating shell and layer are true to size, and they’re long enough in the arms for even us taller folks. This jacket system offered warmth even on the coldest days inbounds — we can get away with wearing a fairly thin base layer underneath.

With package and interchange jacket systems, sometimes the insulating layer doesn’t live up to performance as much as the outer layer. What we love about this ThermoBall jacket is the insulating layer doesn’t fall short. It’s got great warmth, is super easy to zip into and out of the outer shell, and also works great by itself.

This jacket is a great option for a starter kit — get an insulating layer, shell, and ski jacket system all in one. Also, the zippers work well. Another perk we like with this jacket? The easy goggle stash pocket in the shell.

One of the best touring jackets out there, the Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell ($350) has won accolades from several of our testers and many skiers around the globe. The shell is what Black Diamond calls a “high-output piece,” designed for moving uphill.

The hybrid part of the shell refers to the combo of materials: a waterproof-breathable membrane shell in the chest, shoulders, and hood, with more breathable material in key spots like the torso, underarms, and back.

Black Diamond uses its in-house, stretch nylon 3L membrane with a DWR finish as well as a four-way stretch double weave for the softshell. It’s got a 20,000 mm water column rating.

Additional features that make this jacket fantastic for touring are the center dual zipper with a built-in mesh panel for venting on the climb. It also sports a perforated panel on the collar for breathability up top. The jacket has an embedded RECCO reflector to aid in search and rescue situations.

Our tester noted this four-way stretch jacket is the perfect layer for backcountry skiers. It lets the sweat out when you’re skinning uphill, and it won’t restrict your movement. A full-length mesh panel along the zip can open for additional venting. The eco DWR treatment that beads water is highly effective and won’t ever wash out. And the spacious pockets are harness-compatible.

The Dawn Patrol has wrist gaiters, an internal media pocket, and a hood that’s compatible with a ski helmet. This is also among the lightest shells on our list, at just 455 g.