Plus-Size Women’s Ski Kit, No Fluff: Outdoor Research Women’s Carbide Jacket-Plus Review

No matter how hard I looked, outdoor gear just wasn’t made for me. While so many folks donned attractive technical outerwear, I was relegated to so-so products with basic protection against the elements. So I built a brand for plus-size outdoor adventurers.

That was 2019. My company, Alpine Parrot — which had a size run of 14 through 30 — helped make outdoor gear more inclusive across more sizes. And fortunately, the release of the plus-size Outdoor Research Carbide Jacket and Bibs took ski outerwear to the next level.

It offers a non-insulated option for folks who have traditionally been limited to either only insulated options or men’s offerings. The Carbide Jacket is a top seller in straight (XS-XL) sizes, so bringing it to plus sizes (1X-4X) was a very smart move. Now, after my on-snow tests, I can verify that the designers did an excellent job with the snow kit.

In short: The Outdoor Research Women’s Carbide Jacket-Plus ($329) for plus sizes 1X-4X offers a fully technical, non-insulated option that lives up to the hype for folks in larger bodies. This durable, functional ski and snowboard jacket is suitable for the ski resort or backcountry. The design has a helmet-compatible hood, wired brim, and smart hood cinch. The design includes spacious and various pockets, underarm ventilation, and Bluesign-approved material. Take a peek at our review for the Carbide Bibs, which make for an excellent kit with the jacket.

Read the full review or see how this jacket lines up in the Best Plus-Size Ski and Snow Gear for Women buyer’s guide and the Best Women’s Ski Jackets guide.

Outdoor Research Women’s Carbide Jacket-Plus

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Specifications

• Features: Helmet compatible, underarm zips, double-separating center front zipper
• Waterproofing: Yes
• Insulated: No
• Plus sizes: 1X, 2X, 3X, 4X

Pros

• Deep pockets
• High-quality construction
• Easy to zip/unzip with gloves

Cons

• Not great for pear-shaped bodies (big in shoulders, snug in hips)
• Limited colors in plus sizes (1X-4X) compared to mainstream straight sizes (XS-XL)

Raquel Vélez

Outdoor Research Women’s Carbide Jacket-Plus: Review 

Now, bigger brands like Outdoor Research (OR) have taken notice and elevated their own sizing options. With OR’s announcement of a plus-size apparel line — expanding with 1X through 4X in fall 2021 — I and other outdoor athletes with bigger bodies shared a similar reaction: a mix of rejoicing and appreciation with a a little bit of side-eye. Too often, brands have made promises that they would be more inclusive in their sizing, often falling short of expectations when putting the gear to the test

As a resort skier, this winter season was my first time wear-testing the plus-size offering of the Carbide Jacket. Based in California, I wore this layer and the matching bibs on ski resort outings. North of Lake Tahoe, I went out in the Sierra Mountains — at Palisades Tahoe and Heavenly Ski Resort — for a few weeks at the start of the 2024-2025 ski season.

The conditions were spring-like, with blue skies and soft snow. I only needed lightweight base layers underneath the kit. And I had an absolute blast exploring blue groomers over the course of several days. That’s thanks in part to how functional, comfortable, and lightweight the construction of this outfit felt.

Fabric

The first thing I noticed when I put on the Carbide Jacket was the fabric: It’s top of the line. Despite the lightweight hand feel, the shell is made with a Pertex Shield three-layer that has a 40-denier nylon face and tricot knit backer. Let’s break that down to make sense to the non-fabric nerds among us.

Pertex is well regarded as an excellent brand for waterproof gear. And the fabric’s triple-layer (3L) construction means it’ll keep the water out while still letting some of the body heat out.

The 100% nylon 40D face means the outer layer is extremely durable. It’s unlikely to rip after hitting a branch while ripping through the trees. And the tricot knit body-facing layer gives the fabric just enough stretch. So, it moves with the body without sacrificing the structure that’s needed to keep the jacket looking stylish in the lift line. 

There isn’t any insulation in the jacket, and I think that’s a good thing. Leaving out insulation lets me choose my own insulation in the form of women’s base layers and midlayers. That way, I can regulate heat on my own, depending on my activity level and the weather that day. 

Pockets

The Carbide Jacket has five mesh-lined pockets; both of the front hand pockets are generously sized for mittens, glove liners, snacks, and more. There are also two front chest pockets on either side, which can be used for air ventilation or carrying sunglasses.

An interior left-side chest pocket can fit a phone and even includes a headphone wire slot for cable routing inside the jacket. Finally, an additional small pocket on the left arm is perfect for that resort pass. It’s located on the inside of the arm instead of the outside. But I didn’t notice any issues getting through the RFID gates on the hill.

Hood

The combination of the fabric and size of the hood made it really easy to wear with my ski helmet without feeling too constricted while descending the slopes or navigating the lift lines. I appreciated being able to look around with the hood on and know that I can shred during a snowstorm without cold snow going down my neck. 

I also really liked the clever shape of the back hood cinch. The clasp can be hooked into the hanger loop on the backside of the jacket’s neck, which reduces the volume of the hood. This simple design detail enabled me to remove my ski helmet at the end of the day. But, I could still use the jacket’s hood during a snow or rain shower without compromising visibility due to an excessive parachute of fabric.

Topping off the design with a wired brim creates stability in the hood, too. Especially if it’s snowing or raining, the brim helps to keep precipitation from drizzling into my goggles or line of vision.

Critiques

Bigger bodies come in a variety of shapes and sizes. So, fit will always be very dependent on the brand’s choice of fit models. In the case of the Carbide Jacket, I found that the 1X-4X sizing is more suitable for apple-shaped adventurers.

I’m a pear-shaped tester, and I was able to make do. But I found that the shoulders, chest, and arms were overly roomy while the hips were pretty snug. The result is that the hem often rode up when I was charging down the slopes.

I stopped wearing the powder skirt entirely, because adjusting it was more trouble than it was worth — especially when the jacket is paired with the Carbide Bibs, rendering the powder skirt moot. Either providing a jacket option specifically for pear-shaped folks or adding a little more room in the hip region would be more comfortable for me as a gear tester.

Conclusion

There aren’t a lot of non-insulated outerwear options for bigger bodies, meaning we often have to make do with what we can. Fortunately, the Outdoor Research Women’s Carbide Jacket-Plus is better than good enough: It’s a game-changer for those of us who want a non-insulated option for our winter adventures.

I had a blast running laps at the ski resort in spring-like conditions during the early season, and I look forward to long snowshoe hikes in the backcountry. But perhaps most exciting of all, I’m ready to use this non-insulated jacket to explore backcountry skiing, where insulated gear is more likely to make you overheat and ruin the experience.

Having real options for gear when you’re in a bigger body isn’t just a nice-to-have — it’s an explicit invitation to participate in activities that were previously unavailable or simply too uncomfortable to enjoy. Thanks, Outdoor Research, for opening the door with a solid option for ladies who enjoy winter adventures.

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