Getting ready to hit the pistes? The right women’s ski clothing makes all the difference, keeping you warm, dry and comfortable whether you’re cruising in sunshine or pushing through a whiteout.
A good snow sports jacket and a reliable pair of salopettes or bibs form the foundation of any mountain wardrobe, making cold days in the mountains much more enjoyable.
There’s no escaping it: quality ski clothing is an investment. But well-made jackets and trousers should last you for years, and can double up as hiking kit during cold snaps at home. The most important thing to check is that your women’s ski clothing is properly waterproof. Look for a hydrostatic head of at least 1,500mm, ideally 3,000mm or more for casual on-piste use and 10,000mm to withstand falling snow on off-piste adventures.
Ski-specific features matter: for jackets, look for inner wrist gaiters with thumb holes, a lift-pass pocket, a snow skirt, inner stash pockets and a snug hood. For salopettes and bibs, seek out high waistbands to keep snow out, plus adjustable braces, stretchy fabric for comfort and built-in gaiters that seal over ski boots. If you’re heading off-piste, a RECCO reflector (a chip that helps rescuers to locate you in case of an accident) is a smart safety addition.
Former World Cup alpine ski racer Chemmy Alcott says “no ski clothing is truly 100 per cent waterproof — if it was, it would feel like skiing inside a plastic bag! I aim for a membrane with a solid hydrostatic head rating (between 10,000 and 20,000mm) paired with equal or higher breathability.” If you’re unsure what to invest in, Chemmy recommends rental platforms like EcoSki.
How to find stylish women’s ski clothing
Style matters, too, especially if you want to look the part at après — and you’ll be more likely to wear waterproofs you like the look of when you’re back home from the mountains. Bright colours and bold patterns make you easier to spot on busy slopes, and Chemmy says: “fit is important to me, I like to feel and look good when I ski. A longer jacket is brilliant for keeping the draft out, but shorter-fit jackets can look super stylish and are great when you want more freedom of movement, so I drift between the two.”
Round things off with gloves, thermal base layers (merino wool is always a winner), goggles and ski socks, and you’ll be ready for anything the mountain throws at you.
Best ski clothing for women at a glance
- Best ski jacket: Arc’Teryx Rush Jacket – £750, Arc’Teryx
- Best anorak: DC Technical Snow Anorak – £295, DC Shoes
- Best piste jacket: Roxy Snow Winter Rebel Snow Jacket – £195, Roxy
- Best warm jacket: Marks and Spencer Stormwear Padded Reflective Puffer Jacket – £190, M&S
- Best for pros: Fjallraven Bergtagen GTX Pro Jacket – £785, Fjallraven
- Best for luxury: My Sunday Ski Apricity Jacket – £395, My Sunday Ski
- Best for beginners: H&M Down Jacket – £152, H&M
- Best ski bottoms: Dope Notorious B.I.B – £192, Dope Snow
- Best style: Marks and Spencer Softshell Stormwear Flared Ski Trousers – £80, M&S
- Best for pros: Fjallraven Bergtagen Trousers – £650, Fjallraven
- Best for freeriding: Arc’Teryx Sentinel Bib – £650, Arc’Teryx
- Best for advanced skiers: Peak Performance Whitelight Insulated Pant – £430, Peak Performance
- Best mittens: Roxy Chloe Kim Leather Mittens – £90, Roxy
- Best for waterproofness: Sealskinz Langley Mittens – £63, Sealskinz
- Best baselayers: Falke Baselayers – from £67, Falke
- Best for cosy feet: Smartwool Full Cushion Snowcopalypse Socks – £21, Smartwool
- Best for comfort: BAM Sudbrook baselayer top and leggings – from £39, Bamboo Clothing
- Best merino: Polarn y Pyret Wool Thermal Merino Layers – £45, Polarn y Pyret
We tested out all of these jackets, ski pants and accessories in the great outdoors and looked for reliable warmth, waterproofing and comfort. While we couldn’t take them to the Alps, we did wear them on walks over snow-covered mountains in the Lake District, and looked for a good female-specific fit, snow protection and all-day comfort at zero degrees.
#womens #ski #clothing #conquering #pistes
