Women’s Ski Jacket Comparisons
Welcome to our website about womens ski jackets! Think of this article as a mini womens ski wear, gear, and clothing buying guide. You can find a great selection of styles from top brands and models.
Brands, such as…Karbon ski jackets for women, women’s ski jackets from Bogner, such as the Charge, Descente ski jackets, North Face with their Women’s Apex Jacket, Obermeyer’s Niki, Spyder Breaker Women’s Jacket, the Women’s Council by Helly Hansen, Bogner also has the Vega-D, Tiuu-T and the ever-popular Fire & Ice. They are made with a variety of materials, including polyester, fleece, and down.
Insulated or Non-insulated Womens Ski Jackets…what to choose.
Basically, you have two choices, either insulated or non-insulated (womens softshell jackets). The womens insulated ski jacket will come in better for those days in the bitter cold, or rain, snow, high winds, or sleet conditions, or possibly for those from a very warm climate (wimps). Shell jackets are more functional in milder conditions and for those out to break a leg. As with all womens ski apparel, you will find ski jackets for women as fashionable as they are functional.
Ski jackets, or parkas, are needed to help keep you warm, dry and away from the elements we mentioned above. Some wonder why a ski jacket can cost thousands and others, far less expensive. Well, there is a difference, and many of the jackets, especially the top-of-the-line models, are treated with chemicals to help aid in keeping you warm and dry; the chemicals act like waterproofing, come with fur, and many other features.
You want a ski jacket that is also durable, and this is not only for the double black diamond followers, but for all. Not all your runs will have the sun shining, keeping you warm. Many times, there will be heavy winds, with speeds reaching 30-plus MPH. It is here that you want a durable jacket that will cut down on wind penetration and at the same time, still provide you mobility.
So far, we discussed keeping the elements out, but what about the perspiration developed during a ski run? For this, you will want to check that it is made with technical fabrics that allows the jacket to breath, or escape and has as many technical features as possible.
If you insist on wearing multiple layers, start with a liner jacket, or shell variety ski jacket; same goes for ski pants. With several layers, you will keep warm, you just know need something to keep the wind off you, and that is where the shell comes into play. Think of a shell as simply a wind-breaker, keeping that bitter, biting wind off your skin, even when riding the board.
Women’s Ski Jacket Materials
The insulated jackets we mentioned earlier are developed with a couple different types of materials …technical fabrics, polyester and down. In addition to the materials, you want to pay attention to the accessories provided, such as zippered pockets, ski tag holder, or loops, hoods, etc. The zippered pockets should have easy-to-grab pulls on them so it would not be necessary to remove your gloves to open the pocket.
Next, check how the jacket is made…are the seams around zippered areas sealed? If they are not, then any type of waterproofing chemical will not work. The seams will leak and you will get wet. Check if the liner can be removed. In many cases, you will requiring a bit more warmth in the morning, only to shed the liner by mid-day. Have a zippered liner will come in handy to make a quick change. You will want to see how it fits; using a good sizing guide will help in your selection process.
In terms of which brands…that is all up to you, and we would recommend almost any model in their line. Top brands of ski jackets for women include North Face, Spyder, Arc’teryx, Oakley, Karbon, Bogner, Mountain Hardwear, Salomon, Marmot, TAIGA, Patagonia, Columbia, Obermeyer, Market, Burton and Cloudveil. Again, remember to use buying guides to help narrow your selection and sizing guides for proper fit.
As mentioned earlier, women’s ski jackets are not cheap; if you cannot find womens ski jackets on sale, you can find basic models for around $200; you could spend over $3,000 for a jacket. Throughout our website, you will find informative reviews about brands that are most popular. To make this review helpful, you probably need a baseline, right?
The best? That is a tough call; there are many excellent brands. It is a good thing that there is a good selection of jackets, because you know how discriminating you gals can be. In order to be a good buy, the model will need to be as functional as it is fashionable. Take for example, the Arc’teryx Women’s Alpha SL Jacket; it is lightweight and sleek looking, yet it offers excellent quality and functionality, at a decent price, $250.
If you are in the market for a less expensive, discounted model, or like to shop around, then you may want to check out the North Face Inlux Insulated. Ladies truly love this jacket because it come sin eye-catching pink. It is comfortable, warm, and yet very durable and lightweight. Another alternative, is an Amazon favorite called the Columbia Sportswear Women’s Bugaboo Parka. It comes in several colors, such as Intense Red, Black, Blue Yonder, and Bark (brown). It is one of the most popular jackets because it too, is lightweight, yet will keep you warm and comfortable.
I hope you have enjoyed this article on womens ski jackets! Here are a few ski resort resource links…lake tahoe skiing resorts, alta ski, ski winter park, ski snow valley, and check out insulated ski jacket 2011 at amazon. Make certain to flag this review.