If you’re looking to buy a women’s ski jacket to keep you warm during the winter, you have a wide range of options to choose from. We’ve looked at several different options from one of our favorite brands, Arc’teryx.
Here are the list of the best Arcteryx Womens Ski Jacket.
Table of Contents
Best Arcteryx Womens Ski Jacket: Top Pick
1. Best Overall: Arc’teryx Cerium LT Hoody
The Arc’teryx Cerium LT Hoody is a women’s lightweight down hoody that’s made to be worn in cool, dry conditions. It’s well insulated and provides a lot of warmth, especially considering it’s so lightweight. You can use it as a mid-layer jacket or a standalone jacket in cool and dry weather, which makes it very versatile.
The design is streamlined and minimalist with a zipper down the front and 850 fill-power European white goose down to keep you snug. It also has a durable Arato 10 shell (which is 100% nylon). It features down composite mapping in which Coreloft synthetic insulation is strategically placed in areas that are prone to moisture to help keep you dry.
To keep your head and neck warm, it also comes with an insulated storm hood that’s designed to not obstruct your field of vision. It comes in a range of sizes and colors including black, bioprism, bushwhack, paradox, versa, quantum, robotica, titanite, and wander.
The outer surface of the jacket is moisture-resistant and the whole jacket is breathable and wind-resistant. The jacket has elasticated cuffs to keep the cold from going up your sleeves, and there are two hand pockets with zippers as well as an internal security pocket for storage.
Pros
- It comes in a wide range of sizes and colors.
- It’s well-insulated and made with 850 fill-power European white goose down.
- The Arato 10 shell (which is 100% nylon) is durable, moisture-resistant, and wind-resistant.
- It has elastic cuffs, a storm hood, and three pockets for storage.
Cons
- It’s expensive compared to other jackets.
- It doesn’t have a Gore-Tex shell.
2. Best Budget Women’s Winter Jacket: Arc’teryx Women’s Beta Sl Jacket
The Arc’teryx Women’s Beta Sl Jacket is an ultra-lightweight winter jacket made from N40r Gore-Tex fabric. This jacket was designed to be an emergency weather protection layer for anyone spending time outdoors, making it perfect for hikers, backpackers, or trekkers.
Weighing only 280 grams, this compressible jacket also uses Paclite product technology, which is waterproof and breathable. This is a great jacket to use outdoors in the winter for a variety of activities.
Because this Arcteryx women’s ski jacket is meant to be used for emergencies, it’s not as resistant to abrasion as other jackets, but it does have a mini ripstop construction that gives it extra tear strength.
It has a low-profile hood and a streamlined design with a gusseted underarm to give you a full range of motion. It also has two handy pockets and water-tight zippers.
Pros
- It’s ultra-lightweight.
- It’s made from N40r Gore-Tex fabric.
- It’s both waterproof and breathable.
- It comes with a mini ripstop construction.
- There are gusseted underarms for extra breathability and movement.
- It has two pockets and water-tight zippers.
Cons
- It’s only available in one color: black.
- It’s only available in one size: large.
3. Best Runner-up Women’s Ski Jacket: Arc’teryx Women’s Zeta Sl Jacket
The Arc’teryx Women’s Zeta Sl Jacket is a waterproof, windproof, and breathable jacket that is made with Gore-Tex textiles. It’s suitable for hiking, trekking, and other outdoor pursuits, and it’s made out of durable and protective fabric. The materials that make up this jacket are lightweight, which makes it easy to carry or pack as well as comfortable to wear.
This Arcteryx women’s ski jacket comes in three different colors: flux, antenna, and black. It also has a zipper down the front and a storm hood to protect your head from cold weather and rain.
Pros
- It’s lightweight.
- It’s waterproof, windproof, and breathable.
- It’s made with high-end Gore-Tex fabric.
- It comes in a range of colors.
Cons
- There are limited size options.
4. Best Under $300 Softshell Ski Jacket: Arc’teryx Atom LT Hoody
The Arc’teryx Atom LT Hoody is a women’s lightweight and versatile synthetically-insulated hoody. Whether you’re a backcountry skier, hiker, or climber, this jacket is designed to keep you warm. It has synthetic insulated middle layers that keep the cold weather out. It’s also lightweight, durable, and has a minimalist design which makes it well-suited to a wide range of activities.
This women’s ski jacket dries quickly when wet and retains warmth even when damp. Its stretch fleece side panels are built to provide proper ventilation, and the soft Tyono 20 textile is air permeable for extra breathability. Articulated elbows and gusseted underarms provide good mobility and comfort, and the adjustable hood drawcord is easy to use. It also features an insulated storm hood with a structured mini hood brim to keep your head warm in cold weather.
This Arcteryx women’s ski jacket comes in a wide range of sizes (extra-small, small, medium, large and extra-large) and colors including versa, black, mesmer, momentum, and sugar rush.
Pros
- There’s a wide range of colors and sizes.
- It has moisture-resistant outer face fabric for all-around performance.
- It features excellent breathability and is very lightweight.
- It’s an insulated model with good levels of warmth.
- It’s wind-resistant.
- It has an adjustable hood drawcord with a single pull adjuster and an insulated hood with a structured mini hood brim.
- It has a good-quality front zipper that’s no-slip.
- It has a laminated hem.
- There are two handwarmer pockets and an internal dump pocket (chest pocket) with zips.
Cons
- There’s no sleeve pocket.
- It’s more expensive than other models.
5. Alternative Softshell Jacket: Arc’teryx Thorium AR Hoody
The Arc’teryx Thorium AR Hoody is a women’s all-around down-insulated hoody that’s designed for cold, dry weather. It’s great for alpine skiing on a crisp, winter day. The middle layers are insulated to provide warmth and the outer fabric is moisture-resistant to help keep you dry. It’s also made from breathable and compressible fabric that is lightweight and wind-resistant.
The regular style fit means you can easily move around in this jacket, and the composite down mapping strategically places synthetic insulation layers in areas where moisture typically builds up to help keep you warm. It comes with a synthetically low profile storm hood with an adjustable hem drawcord to help protect your head from the elements.
The Arcteryx Thorium AR Hoody has two side pockets plus an internal zippered storage pocket. The zip down the front has a chin guard and a wind flap.
This jacket is available in three different colors: tatsu, crystal fern, and black.
Pros
- It has elasticized cuffs.
- There’s a zipper with a chin guard and wind flap.
- It comes with three pockets for storage.
- It’s made out of moisture-resistant outer face fabric.
- The fabric is breathable, lightweight, and compressible.
- It’s wind-resistant.
- It has a synthetically-insulated low profile storm hood
- It’s available in three different colors and various sizes.
Cons
- It’s not waterproof.
- It’s more expensive than other models.
Frequently Asked Questions
Whether you’re a casual skier, an expert at downhill skiing, or just a fan of staying at ski resorts, you’ll need a range of ski gear to keep you warm outdoors. This includes an insulated ski jacket for warmth, removable powder skirts to keep you dry, and other layers to keep you comfortable so you can stay on the slopes all day.
There are many different well-known brands of outdoor gear and ski jackets, each with various different models. These include Helly Hansen (e.g. Helly Hansen powderqueen and Helly Hansen Alpha 3.0), Patagonia (e.g. Patagonia snowball, Patagonia snowshot), Norrøna Lofoten (e.g. Norrøna Lofoten GTX Pro), Columbia Mount (e.g. Columbia Mount Bindo and Columbia Mount Bindo II), Trew gear (e.g. Stella jacket and Astoria jacket), Arc’teryx (e.g. Sentinel LT and the Sentinel AR), and Flylow Gear (e.g. Lucy Jacket).
Some soft shells are made for cold Alpine conditions like rain and deep powder snow, while others are not waterproof or windproof. There are jackets that use specialized textiles like Gore-Tex Pro, and there are also jackets that simply use synthetic fabrics. Some jackets are ultra-lightweight (often the non-insulated shells), while others are heavier and more durable. Some soft shells are insulated jackets, while others are not.
You should choose a jacket that best suits your particular needs, whether it’s skiing, snowmobiling, waterproofness, insulation, cool weather, or hiking.
There are a variety of features to look out for and factors to consider when buying a softshell jacket for skiing.
One of the main considerations is the price. Looking for affordable jackets that are within your budget is key. Bear in mind that some of the less expensive designs may not have as many features or may not use the latest fabrics to help insulate your jacket properly.
It’s always helpful to read customer reviews to get a sense of the product and the brand. You can specifically search for jackets that have lots of 5-star customer reviews.
Depending on what you’ll be using the jacket for and what season you’ll be wearing it in, you’ll have to choose the level of insulation and technical performance accordingly. Different needs require different levels of waterproofness and wind resistance.
It’s also good to look at some of the smaller features like accessible pockets, which can be useful on the slopes. Some other small features include whether there are gusseted underarms for extra breathability and mobility, if it has elastic cuffs, and if there’s an insulated storm hood.
You will also want to look at durability and the brand’s reputation for making gear. Investing in proper equipment is better than buying something that’s not likely to last very long.
Finally, you’ll need to decide if you want to buy a 3-in-1 ski jacket or if you specifically need some layers like a softshell or a fleece.
In addition to a warm jacket like a flannel backer for skiing, you will also need some other accessories to keep you warm and dry. These include a removable powder skirt and skiing skins (to attach to the undersides of backcountry skis) as well as touring bindings for uphill enthusiasts.
Good ski boots are a must, although you can usually rent a pair if you don’t have your own. An avalanche rescue kit with a spade and beacon is also a useful safety measure to have on you, and a well-fitting helmet is always a good idea. A lightweight and compact backpack is also useful so you can take some essentials along with you on your runs.
In terms of other clothing that you’ll need in addition to a warm jacket, you should consider thermals and a long fleece top that is insulated enough to keep you warm. It’s also essential to have a good pair of warm socks (preferably wool socks), as well as ski trousers or bibs, gloves or mittens, goggles, and something to keep your neck warm like a neck gaiter or balaclava.
Final Thoughts on Buying Warm Winter Ski Hoodies
If you’re looking for insulated jackets or an insulating layer to provide extra warmth when skiing, then there are a variety of options to choose from. A good jacket should help protect you from the elements. The type of features your jacket will need to have (water resistance, wind resistance, etc) largely depends on what type of activities you’ll be performing and where.
If you’re still undecided, you can’t go wrong with what we think is the best overall women’s ski jacket: the Arcteryx Women’s Ski Jacket, specifically the Arc’teryx Cerium LT Hoody.