Budget-Friendly Shells That Send: Columbia Sportswear Platinum Peak II 3L Women’s Ski Pants Review

If you’ve been shopping for ski kits over the past few years, you know that three-layer waterproof ski pants for women often come with heart-stopping price tags. However, Columbia Sportswear aims to shift that narrative with its redesigned Platinum Peak II 3L Pant, part of its high-performance Titanium line. These pants deliver storm-day protection and an impressive feature set for half the price of many competitors — and that’s not an exaggeration.

I tested the Platinum Peak II pants during late-season storms at Aspen and some warm spring days in Tignes, France. I also took them into the backcountry and put them through their paces with a few uphill skiing laps in bounds.

They held up impressively to wet chairlift seats, driving wind, and varying snow conditions each time. While the fit gave me a bit of trouble, these pants proved to be a reliable, comfortable shell at a shockingly reasonable price point.

In short: The Columbia Sportswear Platinum Peak II 3L Ski Pant ($250) is a waterproof, storm-worthy pair of snow pants that punches well above its price point. These pants will make most skiers happy with a relaxed fit, durable construction, and enough comfort to wear from backcountry skin tracks to resort groomers. 

See how these ski pants for women line up next to our favorites in the Best Women’s Ski Pants buyer’s guide.

Columbia Sportswear Platinum Peak II 3L Women’s Ski Pant Review

Columbia’s redesigned Platinum Peak II 3L women’s ski pant continues to deliver more than you’d expect for the price. It’s weatherproof, comfortable, and surprisingly feature-rich for a $250 shell snow pant. These are worth a serious look if you’re looking for dependable, uninsulated ski pants that won’t blow your gear budget.

I wore these pants while bootpacking Highland Bowl in Aspen, grinding uphill in spring heat in the Col des Fours area of Tignes, France, and skiing through gusty, wet days at Snowmass. They kept the elements out in each setting and stayed comfortably dry inside.

The PU-coated zippers and internal leg gaiters worked like they should — no snow got in, even after a few full-on powder wipeouts in France that left me half-buried. The pants never wet out, soaked through, and never left me regretting my choice.

Weatherproofing on a Budget

Let’s start with the obvious win: These are fully seam-sealed, three-layer shell pants for $250. That’s a standout spec in a world where comparable pants often retail for twice as much (or more!). The Platinum Peak’s Omni-TECH waterproof membrane may not carry the name recognition of GORE-TEX, but it held its own in various nasty weather scenarios.

As for breathability, I’d call it comparable to other three-layer membranes in this price range. I’m skeptical about the whole “waterproof-breathable” promise — it usually leans more toward waterproof than breathable — but these handled warm touring days better than expected.

I didn’t overheat while skinning, and it wasn’t swampy after lift laps in wet spring conditions. For resort days, sidecountry missions, and most backcountry skiing, the Platinum Peak II performs well above its price tag.

Versatile & Comfortable

Comfort and mobility are where the Platinum Peak II pants shine. Columbia gave them a relaxed cut through the legs, making a noticeable difference whether you’re riding lifts, breaking trail, or booting straight up a mountain.

I wore these while climbing Highland Bowl in Aspen — a notoriously steep boot pack that requires high knee lift for the kick steps— and never once felt the pants tug or restrict my movement, even on my quad-heavy legs. The fabric moved with me, not against me.

The same held during an uphill skin at Tiehack, a local’s favorite at Buttermilk Ski Resort that climbs roughly 1,800 feet in just under 2 miles. It’s a sustained effort with plenty of significant strides, and the pants delivered all the mobility I needed.

Whether I was motoring uphill, sitting on a chilly chairlift, or crouching to buckle boots, the Platinum Peak II felt comfortable and never bunchy or awkward. That versatility makes them an easy choice, whether you’re heading to the resort or the backcountry.

That said, sizing may require some trial and error, especially if you’re like me and think of Columbia as a brand with a slightly generous fit. At 5’5” and 145 pounds, I usually wear a medium. Still, these silhouettes ran trimmer than I expected from Columbia — especially when layered over base layers and my knee brace. (Yay, knee surgery!)

I tried the large, but I was swimming in them. Ultimately, I stuck with the medium, but the knee brace chewed away on the inside of the pants. The pants are true to size, but if you’re in between sizes or like a little extra room for layering, consider sizing up. 

Fully Featured Without the Fuss

You might expect Columbia to cut corners at this price point — but they didn’t. The Platinum Peak II has a smart feature set that feels dialed in for lady skiers. The waist-adjustable tabs were a lifesaver as I debated between sizes. Since the medium ran snug and the large was too roomy overall, those tabs let me fine-tune the fit until I was most comfortable.

My favorite feature, though, is the bottom leg zips. These don’t seem like a huge deal, but many ski pants don’t include them anymore, which can be a struggle if you toggle between resort skiing and the backcountry.

On resort days, I zipped them down for a slightly slimmer fit, and on backcountry tours, I appreciated the extra room to accommodate my bulkier boots in walk mode.

The two zippered hand pockets are just the size to stash a car key, lip balm, and a snack. Combined with reinforced cuffs, internal snow gaiters, and waterproof zippers, these pants feel deliberately built for skiers who need gear that works.

Room for Improvement

I feel like I’m beating a dead horse here, but my struggles with nailing the fit were the only drawback — and it’s a stretch to count that as a negative worth noting.

Sizing up gave me way too much extra fabric through the legs and hips, but I initially felt the mediums were too trim through my legs. Ultimately, I stayed with the mediums and have been happy, so this is just a minor complaint. 

Final Thoughts

The Columbia Platinum Peak II 3L women’s ski pants punch way above their weight class, especially for lady shredders who want one pair of snow pants to do it all. For $250, you get a fully waterproof, articulated, and mountain-ready pant that looks clean and performs better than expected. 

It’s not perfect, but this women’s ski pant stands out as an everyday resort shell or a budget-friendly option for hybrid skiers.