Finding the perfect ski pants for backcountry adventures can significantly enhance your experience. This guide focuses on softshell pants, known for their versatility in everyday touring. While hardshell pants have their place, softshells generally offer superior breathability, stretch, and comfort, making them ideal for daily touring. Some options even utilize "soft" hardshell fabrics, providing full waterproof protection with enhanced stretch and breathability.
Many of these pants can serve as your primary touring pant, eliminating the need for multiple options. They provide ample protection in various conditions, from snow squalls to ridge-top winds. Layering underneath allows for adaptability to changing temperatures. It should be noted that there are a few hybrid pants in this mix.
Hybrid pants offer waterproof fabric from the top of the knees down to the leg hems and more breathable stretch woven fabric above, providing great versatility for those who like to get in the trenches while digging pits or just want more overall waterproof protection and durability.
Infinium is used in a few of these pants. It is the new name for Gore’s old Windstopper category of fabrics. In lay person’s terms, this is actually the same base technology as Gore-tex without all the special sauces and thicker versions that make a Gore hardshell more durably waterproof.
That said, Infinium is waterproof, yet it is highly breathable and can provide way more stretch than a Gore-tex hardshell. It is optional whether the seams are taped but in most versions, you’ll see they are either fully, or at least partially taped, enough for ski touring either way. If you’re looking for a fabric and pant to take you from the backcountry to resort-accessed side country and the occasional laps at the resort, this fabric is the bomb.
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Key Considerations for Choosing Ski Pants
When selecting ski pants, keep the following factors in mind:
- Fabric: Look for breathable and water-resistant materials. Stretch-woven fabrics offer flexibility, while waterproof membranes like Gore-Tex Infinium provide protection from the elements.
- Fit: A good fit allows for layering without restricting movement. Consider the cut and adjustability of the pants to ensure comfort.
- Features: Essential features include vents for temperature regulation, pockets for storage, and gaiters to keep snow out of your boots.
Detailed Reviews of Women's Backcountry Ski Pants
Below are detailed reviews of several top-rated women's backcountry ski pants, highlighting their pros and cons.
Dynafit Radical Infinium Hybrid
Price: $270
Fabric: Hybrid of Gore-Tex Infinium and stretch woven softshell
Fit: Trim, with a slightly baggy knee area
Weight: 480g
Pros: Combines weather protection with breathability. The stretch woven fabric does not bag out at the crotch like others and the waist adjustments work well to keep it fitting snug even after multiple uses. Light weight for a hybrid and good through spring conditions.
Cons: The leg fit can be a bit baggy around the knee area
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RAB Khroma Kinetic Pants
Price: $300
Fabric: 3 layer Proflex with wicking inner knit
Fit: Trim
Weight: 504g
Pros: This fabric is the only hardshell fabric that feels soft, stretchy and breathes incredibly well for one that is actually still waterproof. The versatility of this fabric through all weather conditions gives it a huge bang for the buck making this an incredible value.
Cons: It can be a bit stuffy on moderately warm or just dry sunny days when a stretch woven pant is really better suited but if you only have one pant in your quiver and use it for the ski area days as well, this is ideal.
Ortovox Medola Pants
Price: $380
Fabric: Schoeller nylon stretch woven outer with soft warm merino wool inside
Fit: Regular, available in lengths
Weight: 500g
Pros: Feels like wearing pajamas but wears like full clad protection in all conditions. This pant wins our best ski touring pant award for it’s incredible comfort on a wide range of body types, comfort on body due to the stretch and wool interior, and awesome performance in a wide range of temperatures and conditions. It is also amazingly durable and will last for years.
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Cons: Can be a little too hot for spring or warm sunny days due to the wool and the black color. Also, not ideal for wet snowy days. It’s water repellent but not enough for really wet days.
Patagonia Stormstride Pant
Price: $429
Fabric: Stretch nylon waterproof
Fit: Comfort and stretch in all the right places. Not too baggy, but enough room for layers
Weight: 442g
Pros: These pants offer decent breathability while keeping you dry from the elements. The fit is described as slim, but they fit more like a standard fit and offer enough room for layers. The vent zips are great for skinning, and the inner fabric doesn’t feel plastic-y, whether you’re wearing layers underneath these or not. The wider legs are perfect for fitting over ski boots.
Cons: Sizing is a bit off; the difference between the S and M seems large (i.e. if you’re between sizes, it might be hard to find a great fit). The waistband is comfortable but runs large.
Mammut Eisfeld Guide SO Pant
Price: $425
Fabric: Gore Infinium in high exposure areas, stretch woven softshell elsewhere. Seam sealed.
Fit: Trim
Weight: 737g
Pros: These Infinium fabric in these pants (aka: Gore Windstopper) is incredibly versatile, though it feels a little more hardshell like than softshell. They breathe like a softshell but protect like a hardshell. For anyone who wants one pant that does it all from the backcountry to the resort, this is a good one.
Cons: Overall kind of heavy and clunky. The internal gaiter is super long with multiple zippers that are honestly not that useful and it feels incredibly bulky from the knee down and heavy.
Arcteryx Shashka Stretch Pant
Price: $400
Fabric: Gore-Tex Infinium
Weight: 640g
Fit: Trim
Pros: All the right features and total hardshell protection with the bonus of stretch. Great for all season touring and the occasional lapping at the resort.
Cons: A bit heavy and more like a hardshell than softshell pant.
Outdoor Research Skyward II Ascent Shell Pants
Price: $300
Fabric: Ascent Shell waterproof breathable stretch fabric, fully seam taped.
Fit: Regular, good quad room
Weight: 597g
Pros: This fabric stretches nicely for one that protects like a hardshell. Features are all where you want them with added bonuses like the power strap slot on the gaiter so you don’t have to move it up and down your buckles each run.
Cons: The adjustable velcro waist straps are not long enough to allow for a tight secure fit on the waist, often requiring a belt in order for the pants to sit properly. At times the Avi Beacon pocket zipper will get caught on the inside fabric of the pocket making it catch and stop.
Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Hybrid Pants
Price: $300
Weight: 490g
Fit: A little on the baggy side and big for its size.
Fabric: Combination of stretch waterproof panels and stretch woven double weave breathable panels.
Pros: This pant is pretty light for cold climbs, best for warmer and sometimes wet days. The looser fit is comfy, moves with your bod easily and takes layers underneath well.
Cons: Not so warm for colder mid winter touring, the bellows on the pockets “wing” out when you skin - aesthetically challenging. The buckle waist comes undone easily and is bulky under a pack strap.
Ultimately, the best ski pants for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences. Consider the factors outlined in this guide and choose a pair that will keep you comfortable and protected on your backcountry adventures.
Table of Comparison
| Pant Model | Price | Fabric | Weight | Pros | Cons |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dynafit Radical Infinium Hybrid | $270 | Gore-Tex Infinium Hybrid | 480g | Breathable, Weather Protective | Baggy Knee Area |
| RAB Khroma Kinetic Pants | $300 | 3 Layer Proflex | 504g | Soft, Stretchy, Waterproof | Stuffy on Warm Days |
| Ortovox Medola Pants | $380 | Schoeller nylon stretch woven outer with soft warm merino wool inside | 500g | Comfortable, Durable | Too hot for warm sunny days |
| Patagonia Stormstride Pant | $429 | Stretch Nylon Waterproof | 442g | Breathable, Decent weather protection | Sizing is a bit off |
| Mammut Eisfeld Guide SO Pant | $425 | Gore Infinium, Stretch Woven Softshell | 737g | Versatile, Breathable, Protective | Heavy, Clunky |
| Arcteryx Shashka Stretch Pant | $400 | Gore-Tex Infinium | 640g | Hardshell Protection, Stretchy | Heavy, Feels like a hardshell |
| Outdoor Research Skyward II Ascent Shell Pants | $300 | Ascent Shell Waterproof | 597g | Stretchy, Protective | Waist Straps Not Secure |
| Black Diamond Dawn Patrol Hybrid Pants | $300 | Stretch Waterproof, Stretch Woven | 490g | Light, Comfortable | Not Warm, Waist Buckle Bulky |
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