Ski jackets & anoraks for women

Ski Jacket vs. Winter Jacket

Not every winter jacket is suitable for skiing. A ski jacket is specifically designed to allow for freedom of movement and quickly wick away sweat. The outer layer of a women's ski jacket is windproof and water-repellent. Ski jackets often feature ventilation panels to help release excess body heat. These ventilation panels can generally be opened or closed with a zipper, so you can control whether you want them open or closed.

Pay Attention to Your Base Layers

A women’s ski jacket performs best when the base layers are also carefully chosen. If you dress according to the 3-layer system, you'll be well-prepared for the slopes. The first layer consists of thermal clothing designed to keep your body warm and dry. The second layer provides insulation and wicks away sweat from the first layer. A ski pullover, sweater, or fleece is suitable as an insulating second layer. The third layer, the outer layer, protects you from snow, rain, and wind while also wicking away sweat from the first two layers. This third layer is the ski jacket.

Even if your ski jacket is breathable, if your base layers aren't, you will still get wet from perspiration, and your body will cool down quickly.

Extras

Women’s ski jackets come with extra features that are useful during skiing. Many ski jackets have a small pocket on the sleeve where you can keep your ski pass. You don’t need to remove the pass to scan it at the gate. Most ski jackets have an (optional) snow gaiter on the inside of the jacket to keep snow out. An (optional) hood can be useful during a snowstorm or when it's extremely cold, as you lose a lot of heat through your head. Some women’s ski jackets have thumb holes in the sleeves to prevent them from riding up while skiing.

Waterproofness of Ski Jackets

When skiing, you obviously want to wear a ski jacket that is warm and waterproof. The waterproofness of ski jackets is measured in water column, and you can refer to the following guide to understand the different values:

From 0 mm: The ski jacket is water-repellent but not waterproof.
From 1,000 mm: The ski jacket will repel water, but it’s not pressure-resistant. For example, if you sit on a wet chair, the jacket will eventually leak.
From 2,000 mm: The ski jacket remains waterproof even in longer snow showers but will leak under pressure.
From 5,000 mm: The ski jacket can withstand long and intense weather, and remains waterproof even under high pressure. However, prolonged high pressure may cause leaks.
From 15,000 mm: The ski jacket can withstand heavy snowstorms, and will keep you dry even underwater.

Make sure the ski jacket you choose is breathable and provides good ventilation. This ensures that you don’t overheat too quickly, and if you do, the sweat will be transferred to the outside. In short, the waterproof layer should allow moisture to escape from the inside but not let water in from the outside.

Tip

Don’t opt for a very thick ski jacket. You’ll naturally warm up during your descent, and the three layers will ensure you stay warm even when you’re standing still.