The Best Women’s Ski Jackets of 2024

The Patagonia Women’s SnowDrifter Jacket ($488) is a Jill of all trades. Incredibly light but also an armed guard against snow and wind, breathable yet fully waterproof, the SnowDrifter manages to do everything we need, and does it exceptionally well.

Don’t let the name confuse you: This silhouette is a complete makeover, new for winter 23-24, and includes matching ski bibs. With the lineup, Patagonia unveils its debut in-house 3-layer collection that is completely PFC-free including the fabric and membrane in addition to the DWR face treatment. After several years of R&D and the PFC-free 2-layer Powder Town collection, launched in 22-23, here’s the next iteration. This jacket rocks 100% recycled polyester, up from 70% in last year’s model. The product also meets Patagonia’s internal H2No performance benchmark for high waterproofness, breathability, surface repellency, and durability over multiple years.

This 3-layer hardshell feels as buttery as a softshell. The weight-to-performance ratio truly stood out for our testers with this jacket. Coming in at a feathery 510 g, the SnowDrifter is among the lightest of layers we have tested. The SnowDrifter’s malleable feel makes it incredibly comfortable and non-restrictive for dynamic movement while carving big turns, bootpacking, or touring. The overall functionality across weather conditions, and the jacket’s ability to bridge uphill and downhill skiing, placed this jacket as a top performer.

All of our testers were also impressed with the fit and how good it looked. The only downfalls of this jacket are the potential tradeoffs: Lightweight also means the design is not the warmest choice for very cold days. Due to the stellar breathability, the waterproofing might not be stalwart enough against a maritime snow climate for all you Pacific Northwesterners.

If your ski days range from sunny groomers to steep hike-to terrain to backcountry touring, the Patagonia Women’s SnowDrifter Jacket is a true chameleon that performs well in a huge range of conditions. 

Read more details about the Patagonia Women’s SnowDrifter Jacket in our full GearJunkie review. Check out the matching Patagonia Women’s SnowDrifter Bibs review, too.

With applaud-worthy sustainability, function, and style, the new ’23-24 Picture Organic Women’s Seen Jacket ($330) is a 2-layer construction built 100% of Circular polyester: upcycled fabric from factory scraps and used jackets.

The eco-conscious brand’s newest benchmark for sustainability, Circular polyester, first launched in spring and summer technical apparel followed by 80% of all 2023 winter goods. A closed-loop or circular economy uses fewer resources than even recycling while further reducing emissions. 

Picture’s Seen is nicely insulated for super cold, windy days at the resort. On the most frigid days, we typically wore this jacket with a base layer and light fleece midlayer beneath and felt cozy all day. For extra warmth, there are wrist gaiters, too. 

We highly rate the pocket quantity and layout. Both exterior hand pockets are spacious and softly lined. There’s an upper exterior zippered chest pocket — and an elastic band sporting a goggle wipe. Fancy! Inside the jacket is a large mesh dump pocket and a zippered chest pocket. A pass pocket is on the left arm. 

Both this jacket and the matching Seen pants are tailored yet easy to move in and stylish. A super soft chin guard inside the jacket collar is five-star (not all lower-face liners are created equal). The hood’s brim is reinforced. While the hood fits over a helmet, it doesn’t fully extend to block weather from hitting the front of the helmet. And while there’s a powder skirt, it’s fixed. 

This piece also clouts Oeko-Tex Standard 100 and Global Recycled Standard certifications. To help repel water, the seams are fully taped. The front, underarm, and chest zips are all waterproof. The textile also utilizes Teflon Ecoelite, a PFC-free bio-based, non-fluorinated stain and water-repellent treatment.

Ultimately, the Picture Organic Women’s Seen Jacket is extremely protective against all the elements, durable, and warm while looking good. While this kit can get toasty on a warm, sunny, wind-free spring day, there are underarm vents and you can surely drop to a lightweight base layer.

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 Women’s Skytour AscentShell Jacket ($399).

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 Napoleon-style 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 Outdoor Research Women’s Skytour AscentShell Jacket 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.

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 Women’s 3L Deep Shell Jacket ($730) is 100% windproof and provides 20,000mm of waterproofness, which is capable of blocking the heavy rain and snow you typically see in the Pacific Northwest. That’s a good safety investment for a backcountry user.

Yet somehow, the jacket still feels breathable, coming from testers that sweat a lot on the skin track but prefer protection from the elements on the way up. The numbers check out: A whopping 32,000 g / m² / 24h is achieved, which is a huge amount compared to other jackets, especially designs that are this waterproof, and is one reason why we are so comfortable in this kit on the up or down. 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 lean wallet.

ORTOVOX added an integrated mesh pocket to the left chest pocket on the ORTOVOX Women’s 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.) Despite countless days of backcountry use skiing, snowmobiling, and managing a trailer across several seasons, this jacket has yet to see any holes: The investment is worth the price tag.

Read the full review of the matching Ortovox Women’s 3L Deep Shell Bib Pants in the Best Women’s Ski and Snowboard Bibs.

When the snow is pounding and you’re shoveling a cake of flakes off your kit at the top of the lift ride, a super waterproof jacket is warranted. Or when you’re pulling on a robust upper for ski mountaineering, quality is not to be skimped. Fortunately, one such jacket launched in ’23-24. The Rab Women’s Khroma Diffuse GORE-TEX Jacket ($525) is among the most waterproof choices among our top ski jackets for ladies. At 28,000mm of waterproofness, this outer layer kept us dry (and subsequently warmer) in beat-down storms despite plenty of wind. Offering a boost, the face is also treated with Gore DWR for extra repellency.

Netting more gold stars than other jackets is the hood, which easily slides over a helmet and allows us to swivel if we need to ride enclosed. Overall, we dug the fit, which offers a nice upper body reach for pole plants and boot or binding adjustments, thanks in part to the articulated sleeves. The center back length reaches a tad lower (than the front), at 30 inches, which we like for aesthetics plus a bit more protection on the backside. A tapered wrist cuff garnishes off the silhouette.

For such strong fabric, the feel is relatively smooth and lightweight. The 3-layer build hinges on a 70-denier face fabric that’s 100% recycled. A portion of the zippers and trim is also recycled. A measly strip of soft fabric lines the interior fabric in front of the face — just 1.25 x 6 inches. We’d love to see an expanded chin guard. While there is a powder skirt, it’s removable, which is a nice touch.

Managing weight, the pockets are straightforward and spacious. On the chest is a 7-inch long zipper that enters a huge cavity — 12 x 6 inches. Two lower torso pockets, 9 x 13.5 inches, are equally roomy, though are placed a bit high to be hand pockets in the traditional sense. It feels unnatural to hang our wrists that high but the pockets function a bit better with a hip belt clasped — you just need to slide everything inside above the belt. Inside, there’s one dump pocket with a tapered shape to help secure items. One more small pocket rounds out the collection on the upper left bicep.

Of course, you can’t forget underarm zips for a mission-oriented jacket, and Rab doesn’t here. The center zip also has a uniquely wide pyramid-shaped pull tab that’s easy to grab and slide. If you’re on the hunt for a non-insulated jacket with superior waterproofness that won’t bite the dust any time soon and can handle the shellacking of big backcountry days, consider investing in the Rab Women’s Khroma Diffuse GORE-TEX Jacket.

The Halfdays Lawrence Jacket ($365) is among the most fashion-forward and functional pieces we’ve tested. Regardless of size — the layer runs from XS to 2XL — this fit is svelte and attractive while withstanding seriously stormy conditions. For decadent reasons, this jacket is Halfdays’ top-selling ladies’ ski jacket. 

While riding the ski lift in whiteouts and then running errands after leaving the hill, a standout attribute is the jacket’s toasty insulation, which kept us cozy in freezing conditions. Loaded with PrimaLoft Black, the insulation is 100% recycled, provides the equivalent of 550-fill power, and is coated with a water-resistant finish so it doesn’t dampen. 

How could a ski jacket collar be so perfect that it’s dreamy? The Lawrence’s insulated collar stands tall without being cumbersome, keeping the neck and entire face tucked in. In a unique design, the fixed, insulated hood wraps around the collar’s exterior, providing double the warmth. The entire interior of the collar — all 360 degrees from the zipper pull to teeth — is wrapped with super-soft fleece-like fabric: there’s no shortcutting here. 

The arms are long, which we appreciate, and the wide Velcro straps on the wrists are easy to place even with mittens on. Moisture beaded off the jacket’s surface and snow piled up on the lift without the fabric wetting out a bit. Post ski laps, when one of our testers was running errands and bent over, water dripped out of the hood: The snow melted and sat without absorbing.  

On warm spring days, there are underarm vents to help dump heat. The pulls of the narrow Aquaguard zippers are not the quickest to grab but smoothly open, and the length is a bit stunted at 9.5 inches but that also goes with the kit’s svelte style.  

We’re impressed by the small, useful additions to the design. The pass pocket on the left arm has an integrated elastic band that attaches to a goggle wipe, which can be released via a miniature buckle. The chest pocket includes an integrated rubber leash shaped like a lasso to hold your phone, helping to prevent an accident on the lift or in line. The two hand pockets are lined with butter-soft fabric and spacious: 10 by 6 inches. There’s also a zippered interior chest pocket and mesh dump pocket on the left side. 

One critique: We noticed the center zipper on the jacket, which felt stiff in the center, any time we bent over to adjust our bindings or needed to make athletic moves while getting stuck in deep snow. The zipper serves its purpose of blocking the elements but is not nimble. And while the hood does slide over a helmet, we felt it restricted movement side to side, so we didn’t like to descend with it pulled on. 

Overall, the Halfdays Lawrence Jacket is one of the most stylish, functional ski jackets for ladies who need to wear their jackets in a blizzard followed by an evening at the bar.

For the price and quality, this jacket is hard to beat. The plus-sized Columbia Women’s Bugaboo II Fleece Interchange Jacket ($210) comprises two separate pieces: a separate high-pile fleece liner layer and an Omni-Heat-equipped two-layer shell that zip together.

The jacket has a 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. At cost, the price is fair, as is the overall quality. For less than $300, you get three jackets in one.

Critical seams are sealed, and when worn with both layers together, the fleece provides a boost of warmth. The fleece is super soft, too. While simple, it’s stylish with a nice cut.

As you’ll see, the Columbia Women’s Bugaboo II Fleece Interchange 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.

Revamped for the 23-24 season, the Patagonia Women’s Untracked Jacket ($699) sets a bar in sustainable snowwear while maintaining the high-performance standard that we know from this eco-champion brand.

Similar to the SnowDrifter’s in-house 3-layer design, this 3-layer GORE-TEX design eliminates harmful perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) from the fabric, membrane, and water repellency. In a burlier construction, the jacket is made with 80-denier 100% recycled fabric compared to the SnowDrifter’s 50-denier face. The Untracked is a tad heavier and feels more substantial against a storm. You’ll see the price bump.

Additionally, this suit top delivers an integrated powder skirt with grippy material to ensure that the jacket stays planted and attached to your pants, preventing snow from creeping up beneath the hemline on deep days. With a cozy touch, the interior is lined with flannel.

We found that the Untracked allowed us to hunt all of the fresh snow no matter the weather. This layer kept us dry and warm in the windiest, coldest conditions. The flip side is that this jacket is quite heavy for dedicated use in the backcountry and rather bulky when packed down to stash in your pack for the uphill. The only other potential downfall we noted is that the sleet green color, though neutral and sleek, can be hard to pinpoint on overcast days.

To read more about what we loved about the Patagonia Women’s Untracked Jacket, check out the full GearJunkie review here.

Sensitive to arctic blasts and ice-cold bluebird days? Get yourself one of Flylow’s newest designs for the ladies, the Flylow Charlie Coat ($600), a fully waterproof down jacket for ripping the ski hill. This jacket is loaded with 150 grams of 800-fill down, which is Responsible Down Standard (RDS) certified. After testing in extremely cold conditions at Crested Butte Mountain Resort, we can attest, it’s among the warmest choices out there. A squishy 5-inch-tall collar is fully insulated and sits inside a removable puffy hood that’s similarly stuffed. It’s our favorite elements of a sleeping bag and functional ski jacket combined.

The brand was founded in 2005, by Coloradans Greg Steen and Dan Abrams, on the premise that they needed durable apparel for backcountry ventures but didn’t forget style or fit. As telemark skiers, the pair was heckled one day on groomers when someone yelled: “You don’t ski fast — you fly low.” They ran with the tagline.

Indeed, the fabric resists moisture at a high level — with a 20,000mm waterproofness tag — and is also buttered up with DWR for extra repellency. Even while skiing or riding in moisture-heavy storms, this jacket fared well. While the design crowns itself on being breathable, we found the jacket to be pretty toasty, which was perfect for midwinter squalls, but we wouldn’t say the breathability of the fabric offset that toaster level in a noticeable way. If we needed to turn the dial down, we’d open up the 11.5-inch long underarm zips. The pulls are tiny, so we’d often need to pull off our gloves or ask a friend to help.

For toting around goods, the jacket has a fair number of pockets: six total. Two functional hand pockets are roomy at 7 x 10 inches. An exterior upper left chest pocket is a great spot for quickly sliding in a phone. Inside is a mesh pouch on the left, faced by a zippered pocket on the right. On the left arm is a pass pocket: we wish this was on the lower forearm, because an I.D. would get caught in our cubital fossa whenever our arm bent.

While there’s a powder skirt, it’s removable. Without obstructing style, the brand adds snaps along the skirt’s elastic hem, which can be connected with a lineup of snaps along the exterior of the brand’s pants and bibs.

Overall, this jacket offers up a nice range of movement without excess fabric. It has a true middle-of-the-road fit that’s not too tight or baggy. If you tend to get chilled on the ski lift or your home mountain is known for gales or frigid temps, don’t sleep on snagging the stylish, functional Flylow Charlie Coat.

With the Arc’teryx Women’s Sentinel Jacket ($700), this premium brand delivers a tough, flexible shell jacket for tackling big days at the ski resort or in the backcountry. For the 23-24 winter season, the jacket will feature a more relaxed cut than previous years, moving from the previous hourglass shape to a straighter, more modern fit.

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 Arc’teryx Women’s Sentinel Jacket is tough to beat.

If piercing winds and teeth-chattering temps are frequently faced at your home ski hill, check out the upgraded ’23-24 Helly Hansen Women’s Powchaser 2.0 Jacket ($350), which is stuffed with toasty goodness. In this case, what’s sound for morale and energy is also good for the planet. Helly integrated the Powchaser 2.0 with PrimaLoft Ocean Bound, a synthetic insulation that repurposes plastic found near coastlines in an effort to prevent ocean fill. With 100% post-consumer recycled material, the technology is totally new for 2023 and premiered via Helly Hansen as well as the apparel of Isbjörn of Sweden. This insulation extends into the hood and kept us comfortable and warm on freezing, blustery days at Crested Butte Mountain Resort.

Also delivering warmth, the inside of this freeride-style jacket is lined with a cozy fleece along the side of the torso. The left side is a 9 x 13-inch patch and the right side is 5 x 13 inches. Protecting our lower face is a wide, soft chin guard made of brushed tricot fabric reaching 6 inches high and 3.5 inches wide. Thank you, Helly. Surrounding that softness is a 100% recycled polyester liner.

On the workmanship side, this jacket has plenty of pockets. Two lower torso pockets are on the left side and there’s a single, larger pouch on the right. All three of these pockets have top entrances with ground-facing flaps, which we found makes them less ergonomic when we’re trying to quickly grab our phone for photos on the slopes. The two lowermost torso pockets are also lined with a brushed fabric on the side facing the knuckles, while the palm side is not, but we think that’d be a nice addition. However, the lines are aesthetically pleasing and the size is suitable. On the lower left forearm is a small zippered purse with a leashed goggle wipe, one of our favorite features of the jacket.

There’s one interior right-side mesh dump pocket and a single interior zippered chest pocket, which is specially designed to keep your phone warmer using thermal-resistant materials. Dubbed the Life Pocket, the brand claims the fabric keeps a phone two times warmer than pockets without. The pocket certainly seemed protective without losing pliability, and the size is complimentary to carrying a large phone.

As an extra shield against moisture, the fabric’s face is coated with PFC-free DWR. The powder skirt is fixed, but some skiers prefer a removable one. Also, the wrist cuffs are a bit over-the-top with a 2.5-inch width but they didn’t steal our attention while zipping around, and we were still able to secure ’em over undercuff gloves.

Adding a touch of safety, the jacket includes a RECCO detector for rescue teams, in case the wearer gets lost or injured. Of course, such a fireside-esque coat would be risky without underarm zips, which we used many times while riding deep powder and working up heat in the trees. At the end of the day, we don’t think you’d regret snagging a Helly Hansen Women’s Powchaser 2.0 Jacket if you need an extra layer of warmth, some help maintaining your phone’s battery, and enjoy a baggier fit.

Well-built and comfortable, the Norrona Women’s Lofoten GORE-TEX Pro Jacket ($799) 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 for easier and better adjustability.

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, the Norrona Women’s Lofoten GORE-TEX Pro Jacket 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 Helly Hansen Women’s Elevation Infinity 3.0 Ski 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 of 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 Helly Hansen Women’s Elevation Infinity 3.0 Ski Jacket, 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.

One of the best touring jackets out there, the Black Diamond Women’s Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell ($365) 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 waterproof 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 Black Diamond Women’s Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell 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.

The Patagonia Women’s SnowDrifter Jacket ($488) is a Jill of all trades. Incredibly light but also an armed guard against snow and wind, breathable yet fully waterproof, the SnowDrifter manages to do everything we need, and does it exceptionally well.

Don’t let the name confuse you: This silhouette is a complete makeover, new for winter 23-24, and includes matching ski bibs. With the lineup, Patagonia unveils its debut in-house 3-layer collection that is completely PFC-free including the fabric and membrane in addition to the DWR face treatment.

After several years of R&D and the PFC-free 2-layer Powder Town collection, launched in 22-23, here’s the next iteration. This jacket rocks 100% recycled polyester, up from 70% in last year’s model. The product also meets Patagonia’s internal H2No performance benchmark for high waterproofness, breathability, surface repellency, and durability over multiple years.

This 3-layer hardshell feels as buttery as a softshell. The weight-to-performance ratio truly stood out for our testers with this jacket. Coming in at a feathery 510 g, the SnowDrifter is among the lightest of layers we have tested. The SnowDrifter’s malleable feel makes it incredibly comfortable and non-restrictive for dynamic movement while carving big turns, bootpacking, or touring. The overall functionality across weather conditions, and the jacket’s ability to bridge uphill and downhill skiing, placed this jacket as a top performer.

All of our testers were also impressed with the fit and how good it looked. The only downfalls of this jacket are the potential tradeoffs: Lightweight also means the design is not the warmest choice for very cold days. Due to the stellar breathability, the waterproofing might not be stalwart enough against a maritime snow climate for all you Pacific Northwesterners.

If your ski days range from sunny groomers to steep hike-to terrain to backcountry touring, the Patagonia Women’s SnowDrifter Jacket is a true chameleon that performs well in a huge range of conditions. 

Read more details about the Patagonia Women’s SnowDrifter Jacket in our full GearJunkie review. Check out the matching Patagonia Women’s SnowDrifter Bibs review, too.

Launching in October for the 23/24 winter season, the Eddie Bauer Women’s Chair Six Shell Jacket ($249) is a 3-layer shell that’s waterproof, durable, breathable, and fully seam-sealed without breaking the bank. This is a straightforward ski jacket with exactly what’s needed and nothing that’s not. 

We appreciate the pass pocket on the left arm. There are also two exterior hand pockets with zip closures, an exterior zippered chest pocket, and a mesh dump pocket inside. The chest pocket can fit a phone but we found it was compressed against our chest so we moved it to our hand pocket instead. One detail that’s sacrificed with an economic price tag: The interior of each pocket is mesh fabric versus a soft lining, which doesn’t change the function but don’t be surprised. 

On blustery lift rides, the hood does slide over our helmet and there’s an articulated brim. However, there’s not enough mobility and range to keep it pulled up on descents. The velcro cuffs on each wrist stay put though are narrow and take a bit more effort to close. 

The jacket is designed to be paired with the Eddie Bauer Women’s Chair Six Shell Pants, both of which include an optional mid-layer top and bottom that can be integrated with the exterior shells for additional insulation. Up top, the piece is a half-zip pullover with synthetic fill, which we didn’t have an opportunity to test. We used a different fleece midlayer beneath this shell on cold days, which worked well. 

Overall, the fit is semi-athletic and a tad old-school: boxier rather than longer and tailored. For folks with longer torsos, consider sizing up. We noticed a bit of wind chill on the lower back when we’d bend over to tinker with our bindings, which can be helped by tucking in a midlayer. Inside the collar is a tiny column of fleece for comfort: 1 inch by 4.5 inches. (That’s not a typo.) The fixed powder skirt is similarly lean with a 3-inch width. The exterior material is a tad loud but moderately soft underhand. 

While the kit is advertised for both backcountry and resort skiing, we recommend the Eddie Bauer Women’s Chair Six Shell Jacket for inbounds days due to the fit, pocket functionality, and hood design.  

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 Women’s Skytour AscentShell Jacket ($399).

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 Napoleon-style 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 Outdoor Research Women’s Skytour AscentShell Jacket 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.

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 Women’s 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 ORTOVOX Women’s 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.)

Read the full review of the matching Ortovox Women’s 3L Deep Shell Bib Pants in the Best Women’s Ski and Snowboard Bibs.

From fit to functionality, material, and style, we love the new Mammut Women’s Haldigrat Hooded Jacket ($629). An instant favorite among our team, when you zip up this jacket, you feel like you could moonlight as a professional skier. This 3-layer hardshell jacket is super lightweight, buttery soft, quiet, functional, and durable.

Despite hours on the skintrack, loading snowmobiles on the trailer, freeride laps, and blizzardy bell-to-bell resort days, there’s no visible wear and tear. This jacket is at home on the skintrack or chairlift and turns heads. 

Crown-down, the elements of this high-end jacket functioned as we wanted to. With a lengthy European-inspired silhouette, the cut reaches below the backside, which looks stylish and adds protection in stormy conditions. The design and malleable fabric never inhibits movement even while bending over to adjust our bindings. Inside the collar is a lean, moderately soft fleece liner that’s 10 by 12 inches.

A proprietary fabric, the Mammut DRYtechnology Pro is supple yet bars the elements and strikes a huge mark of waterproofing: 30,000 mm, even while maintaining 20,000 mm breathability. The primary zipper pull is bright, robust, wide, and easy to grab. And the seams are fully taped to shield from moisture. 

We love the functional, spacious pockets, which include two very large chest pockets, one of which spans the entire upper half of the torso (13 inches by 8 inches), and two lower hand pockets. A pass pocket on the lower left forearm is well-located and doesn’t get stuck in the elbow crease. There’s one internal mesh dump pocket and one interior zippered chest pocket, which is printed with an emergency checklist for backcountry travel.   

The hood is ginormous (and definitely fits over a helmet) but is semi-floppy and can sink into your view. While touring uphill in a storm, it was cold enough to wear a helmet, which fills out the hood a bit. There is a hood cinch on the back to tighten the fit. We appreciated the integrated elastic hand gaiters for comfort, warmth, and protection from snow sneaking in. While a slimmer fit, the Haldigrat comes in a fairly broad size range from XS to XL. 

A mark was hit with this unique top. The Mammut Women’s Haldigrat Hooded Jacket is a choice pick for skiers and riders who enjoy everything the mountains have to offer from resort laps to uphill pursuits and need top-level protection while wearing a flattering fit.

Check out the full kit with the Women’s Haldigrat HS Bib Pants in the GearJunkie Best Women’s Ski Bibs guide.

With applaud-worthy sustainability, function, and style, the new women’s Picture Seen Jacket ($330) is a 2-layer construction built 100% of Circular polyester: upcycled fabric from factory scraps and used jackets.

The eco-conscious brand’s newest benchmark for sustainability, Circular polyester, first launched in spring and summer technical apparel followed by 80% of all 2023 winter goods. A closed-loop or circular economy uses fewer resources than even recycling while further reducing emissions. 

Picture’s Seen is nicely insulated for super cold, windy days at the resort. On the most frigid days, we typically wore this jacket with a base layer and light fleece midlayer beneath and felt cozy all day. For extra warmth, there are wrist gaiters, too. 

We highly rate the pocket quantity and layout. Both exterior hand pockets are spacious and softly lined. There’s an upper exterior zippered chest pocket — and an elastic band sporting a goggle wipe. Fancy! Inside the jacket is a large mesh dump pocket and a zippered chest pocket. A pass pocket is on the left arm. 

Both this jacket and the matching Seen pants are tailored yet easy to move in and stylish. A super soft chin guard inside the jacket collar is five-star (not all lower-face liners are created equal). The hood’s brim is reinforced. While the hood fits over a helmet, it doesn’t fully extend to block weather from hitting the front of the helmet. And while there’s a powder skirt, it’s fixed. 

This piece also clouts a Oeko-Tex Standard 100 and Global Recycled Standard certifications. To help repel water, the seams are fully taped. The front, underarm, and chest zips are all waterproof. The textile also utilizes Teflon Ecoelite, a PFC-free bio-based, non-fluorinated stain and water-repellent treatment.

Ultimately, the Picture Seen Jacket is extremely protective against all the elements, durable, and warm while looking good. While this kit can get toasty on a warm, sunny, wind-free spring day, there are underarm vents and you can surely drop to a lightweight base layer.

For the price and quality, this jacket is hard to beat. The plus-sized Columbia Women’s Bugaboo II Fleece Interchange Jacket ($210) comprises two separate pieces: a separate high-pile fleece liner layer and an Omni-Heat-equipped two-layer shell that zip together.

The jacket has a 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. At cost, the price is fair, as is the overall quality. For less than $300, you get three jackets in one.

Critical seams are sealed, and when worn with both layers together, the fleece provides a boost of warmth. The fleece is super soft, too. While simple, it’s stylish with a nice cut.

As you’ll see, the Columbia Women’s Bugaboo II Fleece Interchange 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.

Revamped for the 23-24 season, the Patagonia Women’s Untracked Jacket ($699) sets a bar in sustainable snowwear while maintaining the high-performance standard that we know from this eco-champion brand.

Similar to the SnowDrifter’s in-house 3-layer design, this 3-layer GORE-TEX design eliminates harmful perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs) from the fabric, membrane, and water repellency. In a burlier construction, the jacket is made with 80-denier 100% recycled fabric compared to the SnowDrifter’s 50-denier face. The Untracked is a tad heavier and feels more substantial against a storm. You’ll see the price bump.

Additionally, this suit top delivers an integrated powder skirt with grippy material to ensure that the jacket stays planted and attached to your pants, preventing snow from creeping up beneath the hemline on deep days. With a cozy touch, the interior is lined with flannel.

We found that the Untracked allowed us to hunt all of the fresh snow no matter the weather. This layer kept us dry and warm in the windiest, coldest conditions. The flip side is that this jacket is quite heavy for dedicated use in the backcountry and rather bulky when packed down to stash in your pack for the uphill. The only other potential downfall we noted is that the sleet green color, though neutral and sleek, can be hard to pinpoint on overcast days.

To read more about what we loved about the Patagonia Women’s Untracked Jacket, check out the full GearJunkie review here.

The Halfdays Lawrence Jacket ($365) is among the most fashion-forward and functional pieces we’ve tested. Regardless of size — the layer runs from XS to 2XL — this fit is svelte and attractive while withstanding seriously stormy conditions. For decadent reason, this jacket is Halfdays’ top-selling ladies’ ski jacket. 

While riding the ski lift in whiteouts and then running errands after leaving the hill, a standout attribute is the jacket’s toasty insulation, which kept us cozy in freezing conditions. Loaded with PrimaLoft Black, the insulation is 100% recycled, provides the equivalent of 550-fill power and is coated with a water-resistant finish so it doesn’t dampen. 

How could a ski jacket collar be so perfect that it’s dreamy? The Lawrence’s insulated collar stands tall without being cumbersome, keeping the neck and entire face tucked in. In a unique design, the fixed, insulated hood wraps around the collar’s exterior, providing double the warmth. The entire interior of the collar — all 360 degrees from the zipper pull to teeth — is wrapped with super-soft fleece-like fabric: there’s no shortcutting here. 

The arms are long, which we appreciate, and the wide Velcro straps on the wrists are easy to place even with mittens on. Moisture beaded off the jacket’s surface and snow piled up on the lift without the fabric wetting out a bit. Post ski laps, when one of our testers was running errands and bent over, water dripped out of the hood: The snow melted and sat without absorbing.  

On warm spring days, there are underarm vents to help dump heat. The pulls of the narrow Aquaguard zippers are not the quickest to grab but smoothly open, and the length is a bit stunted at 9.5 inches but that also goes with the kit’s svelte style.  

We’re impressed by the small, useful additions to the design. The pass pocket on the left arm has an integrated elastic band that attaches to a goggle wipe, which can be released via a miniature buckle. The chest pocket includes an integrated rubber leash shaped like a lasso to hold your phone, helping to prevent an accident on the lift or in line. The two hand pockets are lined with butter-soft fabric and spacious: 10 by 6 inches. There’s also a zippered interior chest pocket and mesh dump pocket on the left side. 

One critique: We noticed the center zipper on the jacket, which felt stiff in the center, any time we bent over to adjust our bindings or needed to make athletic moves while getting stuck in deep snow. The zipper serves its purpose of blocking the elements but is not nimble. And while the hood does slide over a helmet, we felt it restricted movement side to side, so we didn’t like to descend with it pulled on. 

Overall, the Halfdays Lawrence Jacket is one of the most stylish, functional ski jackets for ladies who need to wear their jackets in a blizzard followed by an evening at the bar.

With the Arc’teryx Women’s Sentinel Jacket ($700), this premium brand delivers a tough, flexible shell jacket for tackling big days at the ski resort or in the backcountry. For the 23-24 winter season, the jacket will feature a more relaxed cut than previous years, moving from the previous hourglass shape to a straighter, more modern fit.

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 Arc’teryx Women’s Sentinel Jacket is tough to beat.

Well-built and comfortable, the Norrona Women’s Lofoten GORE-TEX Pro Jacket ($799) 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 for easier and better adjustability.

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, the Norrona Women’s Lofoten GORE-TEX Pro Jacket 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 Helly Hansen Women’s Elevation Infinity 3.0 Ski 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 Helly Hansen Women’s Elevation Infinity 3.0 Ski Jacket, 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.

One of the best touring jackets out there, the Black Diamond Women’s Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell ($365) 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 waterproof 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 Black Diamond Women’s Dawn Patrol Hybrid Shell 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.