Warm, Budget-Friendly Women’s Ski Pants: The North Face Freedom Insulated Snow Pants Review

Not every resort day calls for uber-technical women’s ski pants. This is especially true when warmth and comfort at a ski resort matter more than breathability or weight. On those days, that’s when I reached for The North Face Freedom Insulated Snow Pants, designed for skiers who want reliable warmth and protection without a premium-shell price tag.

After a whole weekend of testing the Freedom snow pants at Aspen Snowmass, it was clear these pants aren’t chasing high-end technical performance. But that’s not a bad thing. Instead, they’re aimed at recreational skiers (like most of us!) who want dependable warmth in cold conditions, dry legs, and all-around comfort while sitting on a chairlift.

The North Face has spent decades building technical gear for mountaineers and expedition athletes. But over the years, the brand has also expanded into more accessible products for recreational skiers.

The Freedom Insulated Pants are not designed to compete with high-end shells or touring-focused pants — but they still benefit from The North Face’s long history with cold-weather design. And you get all that knowledge at a price that’s far more approachable than many premium options.

In short: The North Face Freedom Insulated Women’s Ski Pants ($200) are a warm and comfortable resort ski pant that delivers solid performance for everyday skiers. They’re not the most breathable or refined option out there, but for cold chairlift rides and casual ski days, they offer strong value.

To see how the Freedom pants stack up against the competition, check out our buyer’s guide to the Best Ski Pants for Women.

The North Face Women’s Freedom Insulated Ski Pants Review

We’ve had an incredibly rough start to the ski season here in Colorado, with warm temperatures and next to no snow. Still, my local chairlifts at Aspen Snowmass are open and turning, so I loaded up the Freedom Insulated Snow Pants for a weekend of testing at Buttermilk and Highlands ski areas.

Temperatures hovered around 30 degrees Fahrenheit on the coldest day, but strong winds pushed the “feels like” temperature into the low to mid-20s. This was especially noticeable on the chairlift, where I found myself hiding my exposed cheeks from the gusty winds.

The second day was sunnier and warmer, with temperatures in the low 30s. This contrast made it easy to see where these insulated pants shine. All told, I wore these pants for about 15 hours of testing.

Built for the Chairlift Chill

Warmth is where the Freedom Insulated Pants clearly shine. I don’t usually ski in insulated pants. Since I ski both in bounds and out, I gravitate toward shells only. But I know plenty of skiers who prefer some warmth on the thighs, and it was easy for me to see why after cozying up in the Freedoms. For this crowd, they deliver.

The insulation setup combines a two-layer DryVent shell with 60 g of Heatseeker, a type of synthetic insulation. On the coldest day of testing, I was genuinely grateful for the insulation, though I’ll be the first to admit it wasn’t polar conditions. Sitting on the chairlift, I never felt that creeping chill that often seeps through into your thighs and butt.

I also saw a light sprinkling of snow on day one, and the pants handled that dainty bit of moisture just fine. I didn’t experience heavy precipitation (sigh, early-season reality), but I did spend a surprising amount of time crawling around in the snow at the base area with my daughter.

When the snow is this bad, you’ll do whatever it takes to have a good time. Knees. Butt. Sitting. Scooting. None of it wetted out my snow pants, which is a reassuring sign for everyday use in “normal” winter conditions.

That said, day two told a different story. Temperatures climbed into the low 30s with sun, and I was absolutely sweltering. Even cruising mellow groomers at Buttermilk, I could feel heat building quickly. The thigh vents helped, but only to a point. This is where the reality of a two-layer insulated pant really kicks in.

In technical terms, a three-layer construction will always breathe better and weigh less, but it usually costs a pretty penny more. Personally, I’d wager most everyday skiers are willing to take the breathability ding in favor of saving a few hundred dollars.

Comfortable and Forgiving Fit

Once I got the right size, the overall fit of the Freedom Insulated Ski Pants was comfortable and easygoing. This is a general-purpose cut designed to work for a wide range of body types. It’s not streamlined or particularly sleek, but it’s forgiving, functional, and easy to move in.

The wider legs fit easily over ski boots, and I appreciated how the internal gaiters weren’t overly tight. Occasionally, I’ll run into gaiters that require brute force, but these thankfully didn’t. Pulling them over my bulky boots didn’t call for any wrestling or creative language (IYKYK).

But, there is a tradeoff: The sizing is tricky. At 5’5″ and 145 pounds, I am almost always a size medium. I’ve been a medium for 8 years, since the birth of our daughter. Before that, I was always a size small (thank you, birthing hips). In the Freedom pants, the medium didn’t even come close to fitting. I couldn’t zip them, couldn’t button them, and I could barely pull them over my hips.

Surprised but undaunted, I sized up to a large. The good news is that I could easily pull them on; no issues there. But while the thighs are only slightly roomier than usual, the waist is comically generous. I cinched the adjustable waist tabs down to their tightest setting and still had a little extra room to spare.

So yes, sizing is off in these snow pants, and there is a significant jump between medium and large. Once you find the sweet spot, the fit works well. But be prepared to size up.

Thoughtful, Practical Features

While you won’t find the fanciest bells and whistles on the Freedom Insulated Ski Pants, you will find a lot of functionality. Feature-wise, they stick to the basics — but that’s not a bad thing.

I was grateful for the inner-thigh vents (one on each side) during my hot day of skiing. They’re mesh-backed, so the pants don’t completely fall open, but they do allow some heat to escape. On warm spring days, they won’t be enough to save you from completely overheating. But, they do help more than nothing and are a nice feature to have in an insulated snow pant.

Storage is simple and effective with everything you really need. There’s one large cargo pocket on the right thigh and two zippered hand pockets. I stashed my phone and lip balm in the cargo pocket and kept my car key in one of the hand pockets. It was plenty for an average ski day without feeling bulky or overbuilt. And, I appreciated that the cargo pocket had plenty of space, so the phone didn’t feel mashed against my leg.

The adjustable waist tabs deserve special mention. They ended up being essential once I sized up, allowing me to take roughly an inch or more off the waist circumference. Without them, the pants simply wouldn’t have worked for me.

Reinforced kick patches, internal gaiters, and articulated knees all round out a basic yet functional design — just what you need to enjoy a day on the slopes.

Room for Improvement

There is no surprise here! For me, the biggest drawback of the Freedom Insulated Snow Pants is sizing. While the relaxed fit works well once you’re in the right size, the jump between sizes is significant. (Note: I never tried on a size small, so I cannot speak to that sizing.)

If you’re between sizes or have wider hips, I’d strongly recommend trying these on in person if possible. The adjustable waist tabs help, but they can only compensate so much. If ordering online is your only option, I’d recommend sizing up.

Breathability is another limitation, but that is to be expected given the screaming price point. A two-layer insulated pant simply won’t vent like a premium three-layer shell, but you can expect to save hundreds of dollars in the process.

Final Thoughts

The North Face Freedom Insulated Women’s Ski Pants aren’t perfect, but they offer a lot of value. For me, that’s a win in an era where gear prices are reaching unattainable heights.

They’re warm and comfortable, with enough weather protection to handle everyday resort skiing. For newer skiers, cold-natured skiers, or anyone who wants to stay cozy without dropping a mortgage payment, they make a lot of sense.

Bottom line: The Freedom snow pants deliver solid performance where it matters most. If you go in with realistic expectations, they’re a genuinely good deal for most recreational skiers.