The Best Women’s Ski Pants

The Best Women’s Ski Pants of 2024-2025

From first chair to après, ski pants are an integral piece for staying warm and embracing style. Women’s ski pants are also utilitarian tools for the snow-season from running errands around town to sledding, shoveling, and walking the dog. And the evolution of snow pants for women means you don’t have to give up function or fashion.

Women’s ski pants need to fit well, move well with zero restriction, and work year after year. From smart, useful pockets to leg vents and waterproofing, we’ve found the most standout details of each design. For a non-insulated ski pant that serves skiers on sunny days and through wild winter storms, don’t overlook the very well-made Rab Women’s Khroma Diffuse GORE-TEX Pants, which come in at a mid-tier cost. For a nicely articulated but more basic build at half the price, look at The North Face Women’s Freedom Insulated Pants, which focus on insulation over blizzard-worthy windproofing, waterproofing, and breathability.

To learn more about ski pants for women and how to choose the perfect pair, scroll through our Buyer’s Guide tips or jump to the Price & Value summary. You can also consult the Comparison Chart to help steer your decision process. Otherwise, read our full gear guide and check out our awarded picks.

Women’s Ski Pants Comparison Chart

Scroll right to view all of the columns: Price, Shell, Insulation, Fit, RECCO.

How We Tested the Best Women’s Ski Pants

The GearJunkie team is made up alpine and backcountry skiers testing women’s ski pants in-bounds and hut-to-hut all over North America. Since this guide was first published in 2020, we’ve updated it eight times.

Our Expert Testers

GearJunkie Snowsports Senior Editor Morgan Tilton has more than 30 years of snow pant experience as a lifelong skier and snowboarder. Contributing gear tester Kaylee Walden is an American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) Advanced Ski Guide and avalanche course instructor. Contributors Mary Murphy and Jessi Hackett are skiers based in Colorado.

Our Testing Grounds

Our testing has included bell-to-bell resort powder days, ski-to-surf trips on Vancouver Island and in California, and backcountry hut adventures.

Hackett works and plays in Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley. She tests ski pants at Aspen Snowmass, in local SkiMo races, during sunrise and moonlit skins, laps in Highland Bowl, and top-to-bottom turns on Aspen Mountain. Off-piste, she Nordic skis or ski tours in the surrounding Elk Mountains.

Tilton is based in Crested Butte, Colorado, one of the coldest, windiest, snowiest places possible for ski gear testing. Walden is based in Southwest Colorado, and goes home to Montana each winter, too.

Our Testing Process

We test ski pants while skiing and ski touring in sub-zero temperatures, blizzards, blustery wind, intense sun, and even rain.

While testing women’s ski pants, we assess the durability, material, overall fit, ease of movement, density, protection against the elements (including waterproofness, windproofness, and insulation) fabric feel, breathability, ventilation, and functionality. We look at specific details, including the pocket size, quantity, function, and placement, as well as the zippers, zipper pulls, vents, gaiters, waistband, belt loops, and cuff.

When we examine ski pants, we also consider the size range, including the inseam lengths. We do groundwork, research, and interviews to find and test the most innovative, sustainable, legacy, popular, and bestselling women’s ski pants on the market. These ski pants represent a broad range of price points and designs for a variety of applications and needs.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Women’s Ski Pants

Snow pants aren’t hard to find, but finding the right pair can be harder than you think. Designs for winter sports like backcountry or downhill skiing each have different features, fit, and style that make those pants more comfortable and functional. Many ski pants work splendidly for other winter activities, from sledding to shoveling or fat biking and ice skating — you name it.

First, you’ll want to decide if you need insulated ski pants or non-insulated ski pants. We tend to prefer insulated snow pants for days at the ski resort that are in the teens or less with windchill. If we’re backcountry skiing or downhill skiing when its warm and sunny, we definitely only need a basic shell that’s not insulated.

From that point, you can spend more on ski pants that are more waterproof and breathable, which we recommend for Pacific Northwesterners or zones that get heavy or wet snowstorms you plan to ski bell-to-bell in. Of course, the general fit and style play a huge role in which ski pants you’ll choose.

Waterproofing & Breathability

Two-layer and three-layer fabrics have different weights, waterproofness, and breathability ratings. Three-layer textiles are generally the benchmark of weather protection, offering more waterproofness and windproofness.

For powder days, riding lifts during a snowstorm, or while skiing in a wet snow climate, it makes sense to invest in a fully waterproof fabric that has a GORE-TEX membrane or a similar integrated layer of protection sandwiched inside that 3-layer design. Otherwise, pants can be water resistant: The face fabric is treated with DWR, which repels water but wears off over time and needs to be reapplied. DWR can also be applied to 3-layer waterproof layers to further enhance protection.

Climate & Weather

The climate where you ski is an important variable for selecting the appropriate waterproofness. There are three snowpack climates:

• Maritime: Closer to the ocean, has higher water content, and the snow is wetter, such as in coastal B.C., Alaska, or Washington
• Intermountain
• Continental: Lower humidity, more sun, and typically colder temperatures, like in Colorado, which typically has less water content and is generally much dryer and sunnier

Waterproofness

Waterproofness is often measured by millimeters, based on the amount of water a 1-inch diameter of fabric can withstand over 24 hours before being soaked. So, 5,000 mm would suggest resistance to light rain or dry snow, whereas anything greater than 20,000 mm would imply waterproofing in heavy rain and dense, wet snow. Our picks for a wetter climate would be a more waterproof hardshell GORE-TEX pant, like the Arc’teryx Sentinel.

Breathability

Breathability is the fabric’s ability to encourage perspiration and excess heat to move through it to equalize temperature. With more breathability, you inevitably sacrifice some waterproofing capability and protection from the wind. Breathable fabrics, like DWR-coated softshells, are ideal for backcountry skiing in dry climates where the snow isn’t as wet. Pants like the La Sportiva Excelsior softshell have maximum breathability, for instance. 

The metric for breathability is based on how many grams of moisture can pass through the inside to the outside of a square meter of fabric in 24 hours. For high-output days on the slopes, pants with breathability of 10,000-15,000 grams do the trick. Backcountry skiers and uphill athletes will need to expel more water vapor through the fabric and should aim for 20,000 grams or more.

Breathability can also be measured using the Thermal Evaporative Resistance (RET) coefficient measuring a fabric’s ability to stop water vapor from getting through. The lower the number, the more breathable the fabric. 

Here’s how the waterproofness and breathability compare across our favorite women’s ski pants:

Leg Vents

Most of our favorite ski pants have leg ventilation. When you ski from one season’s end to the next, chances are you’ll face a wide temperature swing, so it’s great to have the option to vent. That said, not all ski pants inherently have vents, so if it’s important to you, double-check.

Usually, the zippers are located along the interior thigh, and you simply tug the zipper pull to open each one. Vents can also be located on the external side of the legs. Some have a layer of mesh inside, while others are open to your leg. The length of the vent varies widely from pant to pant.

For instance, the interior leg vents on the Rab Women’s Khroma Diffuse GORE-TEX Pants are a whopping 9.5 inches in length: This is great for backcountry skiing, when you’re working up a sweat on the climb. The Arc’teryx Sentinel Pant is 14 inches long, lacks a mesh insert, and is located on the exterior leg. On the other hand, the insulated Halfdays Alessandra Pant has 6-inch-long vents that are very slender, so those pants are really made for the heart of cold temps.

Fit & Waist

Ski pants can range between four general fits:

• Baggier freeride silhouettes
• Slightly relaxed, regular, middle-of-the-road fit
• Slightly trimmer, more athletic fit
• Performance, hugging fit; Usually this material is very stretchy or a softshell

The most form-fitting ski pants we have on this list is the La Sportiva Women’s Excelsior Pant, and Halfdays Alessandra Pant is likewise rather trim and form-hugging. A relaxed but still athletic silhouette would be the Arc’teryx Sentinel Pant. On the baggier end, we really like the Helly Hansen Women’s Powderqueen Ski Pants.

While fit is a personal preference, a slightly more streamlined fit is often more comfortable and ergonomic for skinning uphill as well as activities like fat biking. But if you want an unencumbered range of motion, maybe go with a relaxed fit. If you run cold and wear more or thicker base layers, consider an insulated pant or sizing up — but always check the size charts, because sizing varies from one brand to the next.

Most of the ski pants on our list have a snap closure and zipper fly, plus an adjustable waist like a velcro belt or integrated elastic belt. But you may find that pants that sit at the waist aren’t what you want on the slopes or that you’d like more coverage, in which case, Women’s Ski Bibs may be a better option.

Ski Pant Pockets 

Pockets are a must-have on ski pants: They need to be functional, deep, wide, and easy to open and close. The majority of our favorite ski pants have two traditional hand pockets, which have angled access. Some pants, like the North Face Women’s Freedom Insulated Pants, feature fleece-lined hip pockets to quickly warm up your hands. 

Other designs have one or two cargo pockets on a thigh, which have a top entrance. While some pockets have a fabric flap, which protects the zipper and adds style, it requires more time to access the pocket, which can be annoying if it’s cold and snowy outside. Among our choice ski pants, the Arc’teryx Sentinel and Helly Hansen Cargo Switch Pants have roomy, useful thigh pockets that are made with enough space to store a snack bar, cellphone, or other essentials.

Some thigh pockets are tall and deep enough to accommodate larger devices like a cell phone or even a backcountry beacon or avalanche transceiver for ski touring like the Black Diamond Recon Stretch LT. As backcountry-focused pants, the Recon has beacon-specific pockets on the thigh, making accessing a beacon easier, more secure, efficient, and safer.

There’s a trend of brands putting stretchy pockets inside the thigh pockets, which are intended to hold a cell phone. But in our experience, those elastic hammocks are frequently too small to slide our phone in and out easily, or our phone snags on the hem when we’re trying to use the pocket, blocking us from quickly putting our phone away when we’re on the go.

Reinforced Cuffs

The hem of your ski pants is more important than you think. Reinforced cuffs provide massive returns in durability by protecting the base of the pants from your ski boots, sharp ski edges, walking, or climbing in the backcountry. Sharp metal edges or crampons can easily slice into pant fabric.

To prevent cuts and tears that ruin your pants, most ski pants integrate kick patches or reinforced cuffs, which are made from a more robust material than the rest of the pants. One of the most common textile reinforcements is Cordura, which is an incredibly durable, abrasion-resistant synthetic material made from nylon. Cordura ranges in weight and, at its most robust, is used for military-grade body armor. Gear like the Marmot GORE-TEX Lightray Pants will expertly integrate Cordura, making the fabric tough against abrasions while keeping a low profile. These patches are usually sewn along the interior hem and lower pant leg and can extend all the way to the top of your ski boots.

Gaiters

Integrated gaiters are a fairly standard feature on ski pants. When pulled down over your ski boots, they prevent snow from getting in at the cuff, especially when you’re bootpacking or on a powder day. Ski pant gaiters are integrated inside the pant, so they’re invisible from the outside. They’re made from nylon then finished with an elastic band, which keeps the bottom of the gaiter (and pants) cinched down around your boots.

Gaiters can also help block snow and ice from building up on the upper boot buckles, compression strap, BOA dial, or on some snowboard boots, laces. 

We’ve noticed that the circumference of gaiters can vary from pant to pant, so don’t be surprised if some are snugger than others, especially with a boot that has a larger shaft circumference, like a snowboard boot.

Fully Taped Seams

Fully taped seams may seem like a minor detail, but they’re an important design feature to look for in your ski pants. The name is self-explanatory: all of the seams on the pants are backed up with additional tape to increase waterproofing and wind protection so that the elements can’t sneak through any of the thousands of tiny holes where the pants are sewn. 

Seam taping is an important feature of any waterproof gear, and you can find this manufacturing technique employed on everything from rain jackets to backpacking tents. Fully taped seams mean that every part of the garment is sealed so that you can expect superior waterproofing and protection. 

RECCO

An upgrade in ski pants is an integrated RECCO, a small reflective patch which consists of a diode and an antenna. The device is sewn into your ski pants and is used by search and rescue personnel to help find you in the event of an avalanche burial or getting lost.

Keep in mind that RECCO is not a replacement for an avalanche transceiver. RECCO reflectors are searchable beneath the snow — but only when used in conjunction with a professional radar detector (imagine a beam from a flashlight). When the signal hits the reflector, it bounces back to the rescuer, letting them know the location of a person in need. The range is a total of 80m by air (262 feet) or a 20m burial (65 feet) under snow.   

If there is elevated avalanche hazard and you plan on riding steep terrain — especially in a place like the Alps where anything ungroomed is often not explosive mitigated — RECCO is a good additional piece to add to your gear to increase your chances of being found in the event of an accident. RECCO provides additional security for in-bounds use or near a ski area. Also, a reflector doesn’t age and doesn’t need activation. 

These days, you’ll find RECCO in ski pants as well as ski jackets, ski boots, ski packs, and ski helmets. 

Sustainability

In the past, the ski industry hasn’t been the most environmentally friendly. But today, many brands are implementing new environmentally sound practices, such as utilizing Fair Trade certified sewing, recycled materials, or toxic-free materials. 

The Halfdays Alessandra Pant, for example, is constructed with 100% recycled Primaloft insulation. Meanwhile, the Marmot GORE-TEX Lightray Pants and Helly Hansen Legendary Insulated Pants use PFC-free DWR treatments to lower chemical exposure.

PFCs (Perfluorinated Compounds)

Patagonia leads the charge with 2-layer and 3-layer ski apparel constructed without harmful PFCs — including the membrane, material, and topical treatment — with ePE GORE-TEX, which integrates 100% recycled materials. 

Recycled Insulation

Some insulated ski pants have proprietary insulation, like Flylow’s Greenloft, which is made from 100% recycled, post-consumer plastic. Halfdays Alessandra Pant is constructed with 100% recycled PrimaLoft insulation.

The Future: GORE-TEX ePE Fabric

GORE-TEX ePE membrane is a new waterproof, breathable material that’s very lightweight — it even feels a bit feathery compared to traditional textiles. But, it’s extremely durable and made without PFCs (perfluorinated chemicals), which are often found in technical outerwear. PFCs are pesky, because they don’t break down, are toxic, and can leach into humans, soil, and water systems.

There’s been a legal push in recent years to reduce or eliminate the use of PFCs in consumer products, including outdoor gear and outerwear. Many companies are now seeking alternative technologies that offer similar performance without the environmental risks associated with PFCs. To that end, GORE-TEX ePE fabric was awarded Gear of the Year in 2023 by GearJunkie staff for its innovation in sustainability. 

Patagonia was the first to launch a GORE-TEX ePE 2-layer shell in 2022. In 2023, Patagonia debuted a 3-layer collection with GORE-TEX ePE. This season, more products are now hitting the scene with ePE as it rolls out across the industry with apparel from brands like Marmot, Mammut, and Mountain Hardware. The Arc’teryx Sentinel Pant was updated (along with the rest of the Sentinel family) for 2024/2025 with an 80-denier face fabric and a GORE‑TEX ePE construction.

Price & Value

Depending on how often you hit the slopes, price can be a big factor. You may find that an affordable non-insulated pant like the Eddie Bauer Chair Six Pants ($229) is the way to go because you’re getting a shell pant that can do the work without breaking the bank. But, perhaps some more technical features like a beacon pocket or a lighterweight, breathable fabric are what you’re looking for, in which case something like the Black Diamond Recon LT Pant ($350) will be worth the extra spend.

Budget

Quality snow pants with a classic, simple fit and basic waterproofness range from $120 to $250. That starter kit includes options like the Columbia Bugaboo II Pants ($120) and the North Face’s Freedom Insulated Pant ($200). Offering a bit more durability and adaptability the Eddie Bauer Chair Six Pants ($229) costs a bit more.

You’ll also find athletic, softshell designs for performance and workouts, like the La Sportiva Excelsior Pant ($179).

Mid-Tier

Next, you’ll see higher quality snow pants that are more robust for weekend warriors of the ski area, like the Flylow Faye Insulated Pant ($350) and the Helly Hansen Women’s Powderqueen Ski Pants ($300). These pants offer a bit more style, articulation, and robustness, as well as additional pockets, RECCO reflectors, lightweight insulation, and excellent stretch. Typically, these pants are made with more sustainable materials like a PFC-free DWR finish. Some of these designs are good hybrid options for the resort and backcountry, but we don’t recommend wearing an insulated pair of ski pants while touring.

Premium

Pulling out all the stops, the most premium ski pants are constructed for backcountry, mountaineering, and the stormiest bell-to-bell resort days. These ski pants look incredible, feel incredible, and last season after season. Take the Arc’teryx Sentinel Pant ($600), which has benchmarks of superior design, protection, fit, feel, long-lasting quality, and uses the new PFAS-free GORE-TEX ePE membrane.

Frequently Asked Questions

From first chair to après, ski pants are an integral piece for staying warm and embracing style. Women’s ski pants are also utilitarian tools for the snow-season from running errands around town to sledding, shoveling, and walking the dog. And the evolution of snow pants for women means you don’t have to give up function or fashion.

Women’s ski pants need to fit well, move well with zero restriction, and work year after year. From smart, useful pockets to leg vents and waterproofing, we’ve found the most standout details of each design. For a non-insulated ski pant that serves skiers on sunny days and through wild winter storms, don’t overlook the very well-made Rab Women’s Khroma Diffuse GORE-TEX Pants, which come in at a mid-tier cost. For a nicely articulated but more basic build at half the price, look at The North Face Women’s Freedom Insulated Pants, which focus on insulation over blizzard-worthy windproofing, waterproofing, and breathability.

To learn more about ski pants for women and how to choose the perfect pair, scroll through our Buyer’s Guide tips or jump to the Price & Value summary. You can also consult the Comparison Chart to help steer your decision process. Otherwise, read our full gear guide and check out our awarded picks.

Editor’s Note: We updated our Women’s Ski Pants buyer’s guide on October 4, 2024, to spotlight recently tested and launched products, including the Marmot Light Ray GORE-TEX Pant and Black Diamond Recon LT Pant, and updated awards.

The Best Women’s Ski Pants of 2024-2025

Women’s Ski Pants Comparison Chart

Scroll right to view all of the columns: Price, Shell, Insulation, Fit, RECCO.

How We Tested the Best Women’s Ski Pants

The GearJunkie team is made up alpine and backcountry skiers testing women’s ski pants in-bounds and hut-to-hut all over North America. Since this guide was first published in 2020, we’ve updated it eight times.

Our Expert Testers

GearJunkie Snowsports Senior Editor Morgan Tilton has more than 30 years of snow pant experience as a lifelong skier and snowboarder. Contributing gear tester Kaylee Walden is an American Mountain Guides Association (AMGA) Advanced Ski Guide and avalanche course instructor. Contributors Mary Murphy and Jessi Hackett are skiers based in Colorado.

Our Testing Grounds

Our testing has included bell-to-bell resort powder days, ski-to-surf trips on Vancouver Island and in California, and backcountry hut adventures.

Hackett works and plays in Colorado’s Roaring Fork Valley. She tests ski pants at Aspen Snowmass, in local SkiMo races, during sunrise and moonlit skins, laps in Highland Bowl, and top-to-bottom turns on Aspen Mountain. Off-piste, she Nordic skis or ski tours in the surrounding Elk Mountains.

Tilton is based in Crested Butte, Colorado, one of the coldest, windiest, snowiest places possible for ski gear testing. Walden is based in Southwest Colorado, and goes home to Montana each winter, too.

Our Testing Process

We test ski pants while skiing and ski touring in sub-zero temperatures, blizzards, blustery wind, intense sun, and even rain.

While testing women’s ski pants, we assess the durability, material, overall fit, ease of movement, density, protection against the elements — including waterproofness, windproofness, and insulation — fabric feel, breathability, ventilation, and functionality. We look at specific details, including the pocket size, quantity, function, and placement, as well as the zippers, zipper pulls, vents, gaiters, waistband, belt loops, and cuff.

When we examine ski pants, we also consider the size range, including the inseam lengths. We do groundwork, research, and interviews to find and test the most innovative, sustainable, legacy, popular, and bestselling women’s ski pants on the market. These ski pants represent a broad range of price points and designs for a variety of applications and needs.

Buyer’s Guide: How to Choose the Best Women’s Ski Pants

Snow pants aren’t hard to find, especially if you live in a colder climate. But finding the right pair can be harder than you think. So here are a few tips to get you started.

Consider Activity & Usage

Chances are, if you’re looking for a pair of snow pants to wear for a specific winter sport such as backcountry skiing, alpine skiing, or snowboarding, they’ll each have slightly different design features, fit, and style that make those pants more comfortable and functional for the day’s winter activity.

That being said, many ski pants do work for other winter activities such as sledding, shoveling, fat biking, ice climbing, snowmobiling, snowshoeing, winter hiking, dog walking, building snow caves, snowball fights, pow surfing, ice skating — you name it.

As you narrow down your top activity, consider the average temperature, conditions, and your personal body heat. Do the temperatures hover at 0 degrees Fahrenheit or up toward 30 degrees, and is there often windchill? Do you expect dry or wet snow? Will you be consistently moving, or do you anticipate being sedentary such as on the ski lift or while watching the kids play in the snow outside? And do you generally tend to run hot or cold?

Depending on the activity and output, you’ll want either insulated or uninsulated pants and ventilation as well as waterproofness. Each of those factors influences the price tag.

Type of Fit

Do you prefer a relaxed or more athletic fit? While this is a personal preference, a more streamlined fit is often more comfortable and ergonomic for skinning uphill as well as activities like fat biking.

If you want an unencumbered range of motion, maybe go with a relaxed fit. And if you run cold and wear more or thicker base layers, consider an insulated pant or going up a size.

It’s also important to note sizing sometimes differs depending on the pant’s style. And fit will also depend on your frame — if you’re taller or shorter than average or wear plus sizes, look for pants that offer accommodations or sizes for those builds.

Most of the ski pants on our list have some form of adjustable waist. But you may even find that pants that sit at the waist aren’t what you want on the slopes or that you’d like more coverage, in which case, Women’s Ski Bibs may be a better option. 

Waterproofing & Breathability

Two-layer and three-layer fabrics have different weights, waterproofness, and breathability ratings. Generally, three-layer textiles are the benchmark of weather protection. For powder days, riding lifts during a snowstorm, or while wearing in a particularly wet snow climate, it makes sense to invest in a fully waterproof fabric that has a GORE-TEX membrane sandwiched inside that 3-layer design, or a similar integrated layer of protection.

Otherwise, pants can also be water resistant or treated on the face of the fabric with DWR, which repels water but wears off over time and needs to be reapplied.

Climate & Weather

The climate where you ski is an important variable for selecting the appropriate waterproofness. There are three snowpack climates:

• Maritime, which is closer to the ocean, has higher water content, and the snow is wetter, such as in coastal B.C., Alaska, or Washington
• Intermountain
• Continental, which has lower humidity, more sun, and typically colder temperatures, like in Colorado, which typically has less water content and is generally much dryer and sunnier

Waterproofness

Waterproofness is often measured by millimeters, based on the amount of water a 1-inch diameter of fabric can withstand over 24 hours before being soaked. So, 5,000 mm would suggest resistance to light rain or dry snow, whereas anything greater than 20,000 mm would imply waterproofing in heavy rain and dense, wet snow. Our picks for a wetter climate would be a more waterproof hardshell GORE-TEX pant, like the Arc’teryx Sentinel.

Breathability

Breathability is the fabric’s ability to encourage perspiration and excess heat to move through the fabric, in order to equalize temperature. With more breathability, you inevitably sacrifice some waterproofing capability and protection from the wind. Breathable fabrics, like DWR-coated softshells, are ideal for backcountry skiing in dry climates where the snow isn’t as wet. Pants like the La Sportiva Excelsior softshell have maximum breathability, for instance. 

The metric for breathability is based on how many grams of moisture can pass through the inside to the outside of a square meter of fabric in 24 hours. For high-output days on the slopes, pants with breathability of 10,000-15,000 grams do the trick. Backcountry skiers and uphill athletes will need to expel more water vapor through the fabric and should aim for 20,000 grams or more.

Breathability can also be measured using the Thermal Evaporative Resistance (RET) coefficient measuring a fabric’s ability to stop water vapor from getting through. The lower the number, the more breathable the fabric. 

Here’s how the waterproofness and breathability compare across our favorite women’s ski pants:

Ski Pant Pockets 

Every pair of ski pants has different features, but we have two must-haves for snow pants: They need to have internal gaiters that secure well over boots (gaiters with boot adjustment access are a plus) and functional, deep, wide, easy-to-open-and-close pockets. 

Thigh pockets are especially great if you don’t like pocket items (like a cellphone or beacon) bunching up near your hips. Some designs have a well-constructed beacon pocket that comfortably fits an avalanche transceiver, and we didn’t feel it inhibited movement on the uphill, which can be especially useful for backcountry skiing. 

Unfortunately, pockets on women’s pants are often an afterthought and are not the most functional. Ladies, you know what we’re talking about — that inch-wide chapstick pocket just doesn’t cut it. The utility of pockets depends largely on their placement.

The Arc’teryx Sentinel, and Helly Hansen Cargo Switch Pants among others have roomy and useful thigh pockets that are made with enough space to store a snack bar, cellphone, or other essentials. Some pants, like the North Face Women’s Freedom Insulated Pants, feature fleece-lined hip pockets to quickly warm up your hands. More backcountry-focussed pants, like the Black Diamond Recon Stretch LT will feature beacon-specific pockets, generally located on the thigh, making accessing and handling your beacon easier, more secure, efficient, and safer.

Reinforced Cuffs

The hem of your ski pants is more important than you think. Reinforced cuffs are what set ski pants apart from alpine mountaineering pants or snowboard-specific pants, and they provide massive returns in the durability department by protecting the base of the pants from your sharp ski edges. 

Often, when skiing downhill, skinning, or climbing with crampons, sharp metal ski edges can easily slice into your pants, causing hundreds of tiny cuts over time. Snowboarders can also occasionally experience edge dashes while skating in the lift line or when their board swings on the lift.

To prevent these tiny cuts from being tears that ruin your pants, most ski pants integrate “kick patches” or reinforced cuffs made from a more robust material than the rest of the pants. The most common reinforcement is a fabric called Cordura, which is an incredibly durable and abrasion-resistant synthetic material made from nylon. Cordura ranges in weight and at its most robust is used for military-grade body armor. Gear like the Marmot GORE-TEX Lightray Pants will expertly integrate Condura to be both tough against abrasions while still keeping the pant’s low-profile.

These patches are usually sewn into the inside bottom hem of your pant legs, to protect the cuffs from your inside ski edges, and usually extend to the top of your ski boots. Look for ski pants with reinforced cuffs to reduce wear to vastly increase the longevity of your pants.

Gaiters

Integrated gaiters are a fairly standard feature on all ski pants, and are an essential piece for helping prevent snow from getting in the top of your boots — especially when bootpacking or on a powder day.

Rather than outer gaiters that can be added to pants to help keep snow and debris out, ski pant gaiters are integrated on the inside of the pant, invisible from the outside. The gaiter is inside the exterior of each ski pant leg and slides over the top of the boot. 

Gaiters are made from elastic, which keeps the bottom of the pants cinched down around your boots. Gaiters help block out the elements and help keep your legs dry when snow might otherwise sneak into the tops of your boots. 

As a bonus, they can block snow and ice from building up on a portion of the boot’s buckles, compression strap, BOA dial, or on some snowboard boots, laces. 

We’ve noticed that the circumference of gaiters can vary from pant to pant, so don’t be surprised if some are snugger than others, especially with a boot that has a larger shaft circumference. 

Fully Taped Seams

Fully taped seams may seem like a minor detail, but they’re an important design feature to look for in your ski pants. The name is self-explanatory: Fully taped seams note that all seams on the pant are backed up with additional tape to increase waterproofing and wind protection, so that the elements can’t sneak through any of the thousands of tiny holes where the pants are sewn. 

Seam taping is an important feature of any waterproof gear, and you can find this manufacturing technique employed on everything from the best rain jackets to backpacking tents. Fully taped seams means that every part of the garment is sealed, so that you can expect superior waterproofing and protection. 

RECCO

A feature to consider when buying ski pants is an integrated RECCO, a small reflective patch — which consists of a diode and an antenna — sewn into your ski pants that search and rescue personnel can use to help find you in the event of an avalanche burial or getting lost.

Keep in mind that RECCO is not a replacement for an avalanche transceiver. RECCO reflectors are searchable beneath the snow — but only when used in conjunction with a professional radar detector (imagine a beam from a flashlight). When the signal hits the reflector, it bounces back to the rescuer, letting them know the location of a person in need. The range is a total of 80 m by air (262 feet) or a 20m burial (65 feet) under snow.   

If there is elevated avalanche hazard and you plan on riding steep terrain — especially in a place like the Alps where anything ungroomed is often not explosive mitigated — RECCO is a great additional piece to add to your gear to increase your chances of being found in the event of an avalanche burial. RECCO is a great backup option for additional security for both in-bounds and in the backcountry. What’s helpful, is that the reflector doesn’t age and doesn’t need activation. 

These days, you’ll find RECCO in ski pants as well as ski jackets, ski boots, ski packs, and ski helmets. 

Sustainability

In the past, the ski industry hasn’t been the most environmentally friendly. But today, many brands are implementing new environmentally sound practices like utilizing Fair Trade certified sewing or recycled materials. The Halfdays Alessandra Pant, for example, is constructed with 100% recycled Primaloft insulation. Meanwhile, the Marmot GORE-TEX Lightray Pants and Helly Hansen Legendary Insulated Pants use PFC-free DWR treatments to lower chemical exposure.

Patagonia leads the charge, launching 2-layer and 3-layer ski apparel constructed entirely without harmful PFCs (including the membrane, material, and topical treatment) with Patagonia’s proprietary fabric or the ePE GORE-TEX, which integrates 100% recycled materials. 

Some insulated ski pants have proprietary insulation, like Flylow’s Greenloft, which is made from 100% recycled, post-consumer plastic. Halfdays Alessandra Pant is also constructed with 100% recycled Primaloft insulation.

The Future: GORE-TEX ePE Fabric

GORE-TEX ePE membrane is a new waterproof, breathable material that’s very lightweight — it even feels a bit feathery compared to traditional textiles — durable, and made without PFCs (perfluorinated chemicals), which are often found in technical outerwear. PFCs are pesky, because they don’t break down, are toxic, and can leach into humans, soil, and water systems. There’s been a legal push in recent years to reduce or eliminate the use of PFCs in consumer products, including outdoor gear and outerwear. Many companies are now seeking alternative technologies that offer similar performance without the environmental risks associated with PFCs. To that end, GORE-TEX ePE fabric was awarded Gear of the Year in 2023 by GearJunkie staff for its innovation in sustainability. 

Patagonia was the first to launch a GORE-TEX ePE 2-layer shell in 2022. In 2023, Patagonia debuted a 3-layer collection with GORE-TEX ePE. This season, more products are now hitting the scene with ePE as it rolls out across the industry with apparel from brands like Marmot, Mammut, and Mountain Hardware. The Arc’teryx Sentinel Pant was updated (along with the rest of the Sentinel family) for 2024/2025 with an 80-denier face fabric and a GORE‑TEX ePE construction.

Price & Value

Depending on how often you hit the slopes, price can be a big factor. You may find that an affordable non-insulated pant like the Eddie Bauer Chair Six Pants ($229) is the way to go because you’re getting a shell pant that can do the work without breaking the bank. But, perhaps some more technical features like a beacon pocket or a lighterweight, breathable fabric are what you’re looking for, in which case something like the Black Diamond Recon LT Pant ($350) will be worth the extra spend.

Budget

Quality snow pants with a classic, simple fit and basic waterproofness range from $120 to $250. That starter kit includes options like the Columbia Bugaboo II Pants ($120) and the North Face’s Freedom Insulated Pant ($200). Offering a bit more durability and adaptability the Eddie Bauer Chair Six Pants ($229) costs a bit more.

You’ll also find athletic, softshell designs for performance and workouts, like the La Sportiva Excelsior Pant ($179).

Mid-Tier

Next, you’ll see higher quality snow pants that are more robust for weekend warriors of the ski area, like the Flylow Faye Insulated Pant ($350) and the Helly Hansen Women’s Powderqueen Ski Pants ($300). These pants offer a bit more style, articulation, and robustness, as well as additional pockets, RECCO reflectors, lightweight insulation, and excellent stretch. Typically, these pants are made with more sustainable materials like a PFC-free DWR finish. Some of these designs are good hybrid options for the resort and backcountry, but we don’t recommend wearing an insulated pair of ski pants while touring.

Premium

Pulling out all the stops, the most premium ski pants are constructed for backcountry, mountaineering, and the stormiest bell-to-bell resort days. These ski pants look incredible, feel incredible, and last season after season. Take the Arc’teryx Sentinel Pant ($600), which has benchmarks of superior design, protection, fit, feel, long-lasting quality, and uses the new PFAS-free GORE-TEX ePE membrane.

Frequently Asked Questions