Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Women’s Ski Ja­cket

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Women’s Ski Ja­cket

If you are new to winter sports, it is important that you invest in quality women’s ski clothes that will keep you warm, dry, and comfortable during your adventure. Wearing the right clothes is key to enjoying your new sport, because they help to protect you from the elements. Furthermore, they allow a wide range of movement, so you are able to perform better and enjoy your time at the slopes more.

Shopping for women’s ski wear can be a bit overwhelming, so let’s start with women’s ski jackets. In this article, you will learn about the different types of women’s ski jackets and their features to help you make an informed decision.

Types of Women’s Ski Jackets

Simple Shell Ski Jacket

This type of ski jacket does not provide insulation, but its waterproof membranes, water-repellent coatings, and windproof technology protects you from the elements. Essentially, this is your first outer layer of protection against the snow, wind, and rain. This very simple garment is typically constructed from single, double, or triple layer material. Because of its minimal technical and comfort features, this type of ski jacket allows you to layer as you please, to suit all seasons.

Insulated Ski Jacket

insulated ski jacket

Women’s insulated ski jacket is the most popular type of jacket on the slopes. The insulation built into the construction of the jacket ranges from light to heavy. This type of jacket usually features an outer shell for waterproofing and a layer of insulation beneath it. There are two types of built-in insulation – down and synthetic. Down jackets are lightweight and very warm, but they are not ideal for skiing because they lose their insulating properties when wet. This means that you could become very cold should you fall. Also, since the movement involved in skiing makes you heat up naturally, a down jacket is not necessary. Jackets with synthetic insulation, on the other hand, are an excellent choice for ski wear. They are less expensive than down, more durable, and will keep you warm even when wet.

3-in-1 Ski Jacket

The 3-in-1 jacket is a combination of a shell outer jacket with a removable fleece jacket inside which provides insulation. You can wear the shell jacket alone during the warmer months. The fleece jacket can be worn as everyday wear. You can also wear both the shell jacket and the fleece jacket zipped together for a combination jacket that is warm, waterproof, and breathable.

Soft Shell Ski Jacket

A soft shell jacket is a versatile ski jacket that is made from a woven material. Unlike conventional jackets, a soft shell jacket does not have a lining. Instead, this type of jacket is made by bonding two layers of fabric together. Most soft shell jackets are not waterproof but are water-resistant. They are highly breathable, warmer, and generally stretchy, which makes them ideal for skiing and climbing. Most soft shells keep you dry by wicking sweat from the lower layers to the outside of your jacket where it spreads out and evaporates.

Waterproof Ski Jacket

The more extreme the weather, the more waterproof your gear needs to be. A waterproof jacket is constructed with waterproof fabric and taped seams. Waterproof fabric is rated in millimetres. Basically, the higher the rating, the more waterproof the fabric. As for taped seams, manufacturers usually seal the seams to ensure that there are no holes from the sewing process.

Adjustable or Removable Hood

womens fur ski jacket

Most snow jackets for women have hoods, but not all of them can be adjusted for a perfect fit. Check if the jacket has an adjustable hood and whether you can remove it. Also, when shopping for a women’s fur ski jacket with a hood that has a fur trim, you would want the fur trim to be removable, so it does not trap snow and ice on stormy days.

Ski Jacket Pockets

womans ski coat

You can never have too many pockets in a ski or snowboard jacket, but everyone has their own specific requirements, so choose a ski jacket that has the right pockets based on your needs. Typically, women’s ski coats have two outer hand pockets and one inner pocket. Other additional pockets you may find would chest pockets, more inner pockets, pockets designed just for containing mobile gadgets with headphone ports, sleeve pockets, and pass pockets.

Snow Skirt or Powder Skirt

On the inside women’s ski sweater or jacket at waist level, there is an extra piece of material with elasticated edge and snaps called snow skirt or powder skirt. This can be integrated into the jacket or detachable which means it can be removed when not required. The main purpose of a snow skirt is to prevent wet or powdery snow from getting in underneath your jacket, so you don’t get wet while out skiing or snowboarding.

Ski Jacket Underarm Vents

Zippered underarm vents allow greater breathability. Even breathable fabrics in women’s ski jackets need some venting when you’re skiing, as the body heat you create during these activities can be immense. Even when the temperature is down below zero, your body can generate an incredible amount of heat, especially if you are breaking trail.

Wrist Gaiters

Wrist gaiters are built in hand liners that go over your hand with a hole for your thumb. These are sewn inside the cuff of the jacket to help keep snow, rain, and cold from entering through the sleeves. These are typically made of a thin stretchy material with a thumb hole, so they fit easily under your gloves.

Types of Fabric Used for Women’s Ski Jackets

Waterproof Ski Jackets

Waterproof rating lets you know how quickly your women's ski jacket will become saturated and begin allowing water to penetrate the layers beneath it. Waterproof ratings are measured in millimetres. The higher the number, the more waterproof the ski jacket is and the longer it will be able to withstand snow and rain. The minimum standard is 1,500mm rating, but women's ski jackets can be rated as high as 30,000mm. The average rating is typically between 5,000mm and 10,000mm. Keep in mind that, as the rating goes higher, so too will the price.

Breathable Ski Jackets

Breathability rating represents how much water vapor can move through one square meter of fabric, from inside to out, within a 24-hour period. If your skiing and snowboarding is lift-served, there is no hiking to out-of-the-way lines, and you take regular breaks in the lodge, you will require a breathability rating of 5,000 to 8,000 grams. However, if you are a backcountry skier, you should look for ski jackets with breathability of at least 20,000 grams.

Windproof Ski Jackets

Windproof ski jackets are made from tighter weaved fabrics which prevent wind from penetrating the fabric. Windproof ratings are often measured in the amount of cubic feet per minute (CFM) or metres squared per second (m²/sec) of about a 30-mile-per-hour wind that can pass through one square measurement of the material. As such, a lower number show that the garment is more effective when it comes to blocking wind. A women’s ski jacket is one of the most important pieces of your ski outfit, so it is imperative that you choose the right one for you. As you go through your options, you need to take into account the type of skiing you want to do, your skill level, as well as your style preferences.