I first came across the Halfdays brand on Instagram, and happened to be in the market for a high-visibility ski outfit that I could wear specifically on powder days, on days when I plan on venturing off-piste, or on days that I’ll be taking snow safety or avalanche courses and want to be taken seriously by the instructor.
I found out that Halfdays had a pop-up in NYC when I was visiting last spring, and was excited to be able to try their pieces on in person before purchasing them for my next ski trip in Finland where I could really put them to the test.
Our Favorite Puffer Jackets: Lole vs The North Face vs Free People vs Patagonia vs Halfdays
Read on for more details on my favorite features, as well as the other Halfdays purchase that I was not entirely impressed by personally.
Halfdays: Cute & Sustainable Women’s Ski Wear
I recently came across Halfdays (“outdoor apparel for the modern woman”) and was immediately impressed with their aesthetic. Skiing (like many other sports) tends to cater to men, and the gear made specifically for women often feels like an afterthought.
Halfdays was started by women - one of the founders was even a freestyle skiing champion. They’ve been covered by Vogue, Forbes, Fashionista (just to name a few) and their motto? No more ‘shrink it and pink it’.
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So when I saw Halfdays’ ski jackets and pants offered in a really pretty olive green, some sort of cinnamon, a bright yellow, white, and black - no pink and purple in sight - I wanted to cheer.
Even better, Halfdays is also committed to sustainability. Their products and packaging are all made from recycled material, they’re 100% vegan (no real fur, thankyouverymuch) and they use seamless construction to further cut down on waste.
If you're only going to buy one jacket-and-pant set, this should be it. The top and bottom have a wealth of pockets, the PrimaLoft filling is cozy but lean, and the customer service is fab.
My friend cut the edge of her pants in a ski tumble, and the brand offered to replace them for her. (Plus, gotta love supporting a female-owned and -run brand, right?)
This past winter was my first Tim putting it to the test and I'm obsessed. I got a ton of compliments and felt more confident on the slopes. Tons of great features like a phone strap and convenient pockets really seal the deal.
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I’m obsessed with this brand. Their base layers are the only base layers I will wear. Great price point for the quality. I love my Halfdays jacket - literally was complimented on the gondola yesterday. Looks expensive and most importantly, holds up to cold powder days in Tahoe. Second season of heavy use and holding up well so far.
For anyone looking for cute ski gear, or for cute snow gear for outdoor adventures…you won’t find anything this good for the price. Not only is it seriously gorgeous, but it was one of the most comfortable sets I’ve ever skied in.
I'm an early adopter and this is my 3rd snow season wearing Halfdays. Their ski / snowboard wear is AMAZING and I recommend Halfdays to all of my snow girlfriends. Not only are their pieces super functional and comfortable -- their technical construction holds up even in harsh conditions -- but everything is so flattering, cute and really fills a specific gap in the market that many of us snow ladies have been looking for.
My Favorite Halfdays Aston Ski Jacket Features
There are a lot of functional ski jackets on the market, but it was nice to find one that also looked great and was more true to my personal style.
I love belted ski jackets for their flattering fit and for the extra warmth I feel from having a tighter fit around my core, and the Aston Jacket really spoke to everything I was looking for. The jacket has all the pockets you could possibly need for a day on the slopes, and the added functionality of zippered vents, a tall collar, and a big hood are nice bonuses.
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The belt is comfortable, adjustable, and the latch closes securely. The length of the jacket is both flattering and functional, and the monochrome styling keeps the look sleek, even if you choose a bright or bold color like I did.
Warmth and Comfort
When it comes to judging warmth of a ski jacket or pant I typically have a hard time offering a recommendation, because there are so many factors that change day-to-day that will determine if someone feels warm or cold while skiing- is it windy? Are you skiing in fresh powder? Is the resort flat and requires you to traverse a lot? Are you taking a lot of breaks to wait for other skiers in your group? Is the resort crowded and you find yourself waiting in long lines in the shade to get on the lifts?
How active you are on a particular day will contribute a lot to how hot or cold you feel while skiing, so finding pieces that are versatile can be helpful in learning what works best for you.
That said, I wore my Halfdays Aston/Alessandra outfit in 14°F while skiing in Finland, and had two merino base layer tops and my Erin Snow Kat Jacket under my Aston Jacket, and two merino base layer bottoms under my Alessandra Pants, and was comfortable skiing for a few hours.
I LOVE my Halfdays Lawrence Jacket. It kept me so warm, even at 0°F on the mountain. There are little, thoughtful touches that make this jacket above and beyond other jackets - such as the exterior chest pocket with attached phone leash. 100% recommend snagging one of their jackets (TTS in my experience).
My Favorite Halfdays Alessandra Ski Pants Features
Over the last few years I’ve skied (30+ days a season) almost exclusively wearing in-the-boot ski pants, personally because I like the look, I’m comfortable in it, and because they feel faster; and the Alessandra Pants from Halfdays are the first over-the-boot pant that I’ve ever owned.
When putting them to the test for a few days of skiing in Finland, I was impressed overall- They are comfortable and not too baggy or bulky, and I felt like I had a good range of motion. The zippered vents on the pants are a nice bonus as they are on the jacket, and the ability to adjust the waist using the velcro tabs really gave them a perfect fit.
I’m looking forward to seeing how my Halfdays outfit holds up season after season, and will certainly report back as I continue wearing it.
My Aston Jacket and Alessandra Pants are my go-to set for functionality while skiing, and the fact that they look great is a big bonus!
I wore the set when skiing the famed Vallée Blanche off-piste route on the Mont Blanc massif in Chamonix, and definitely appreciated the fit, the comfort, the amount of pockets, and especially the ventilation zippers because we experienced some drastic temperature fluctuations throughout the day. The set performed great on mountain, and I even got a handful of compliments from other skiers!
I also wore the set in Zermatt on a morning with very limited visibility. As someone who often skis alone (on-piste!), having a set that is bright and visible offers some peace of mind- I can be more easily spotted by other skiers, especially if conditions on the mountain happen to change.
That same day in Zermatt, the clouds opened up and I skied the rest of the afternoon dressed as bright as the sun!
I can confidently say the Aston Jacket and Alessandra Pant are a definite favorite, and I recommend them to anyone who is looking for an outfit that performs well in a wide variety of conditions.
The Halfdays Emma Soft Shell Pant
An honest review: I was excited to try the Emma Soft Shell Pant from Halfdays, but I have to admit they weren’t my favorite.
They were warm and thick, which I imagine are qualities that some people look for in a ski pant, but I wore them for two days while skiing in Finland and I thought they felt a little bulky, heavy, and didn’t stay up well.
When skiing on-piste I personally prefer a slim, in-the-boot pant (my go-to are the Erin Snow Jes Racer Pant that have an amazing fit), so while I was expecting the flared, over-the-boot style of Halfdays Emma Pant to be a bit more substantial in comparison, what I wasn’t expecting was the feeling of having to pull up my pants every time I got up from sitting on a lift or a gondola.
They fit well when I tried them on in-store, but wearing them on the mountain was a different experience. I wore the same amount of base layers under the Emma Pants and the Halfdays Alessandra Pant that I normally wear under my Erin Snow Pants, and only had the feeling of my pants needing to be pulled up with the Emma Pants.
I think because the Alessandra pants (that I love) have adjustable velcro fasteners at the back of the waist, I was able to maintain a better fit over multiple days of skiing in various conditions and temperatures.
Halfdays Base Layers
Easy to overlook but totally essential are base layers. I found a new favorite brand in Halfdays this season. Their technical base layers fit great, wick sweat like you wouldn't believe, and were super breathable.
Plus, they come in a ton of colors which is a nice perk for anyone trying to build out a go-to snow day uniform like I was. (I loved the Espresso as a nice warm neutral, though they also have a mellow yellow and punchy cobalt blue, among others.)
These base layers were so practical I wore them not just for snowboarding, but daily on a recent cruise to Antarctica for our landings. On especially cold days, I layered my trusty Uniqlo Heattech on top of the Halfdays base layers for extra insulation.
The Halfdays baselayers are great: warm, comfortable, cute colors in recycled materials. The base layer top is cut high in the armholes, making for a really good range of movement, the bottoms are nicely high-rise, and the set washes and dries really well.
Furthermore, the fabric has some sort of flattering compression thing going on, yet is suuuuuper comfortable (thanks, I think, to the ribbing).
I now own two sets of Halfdays base layers, and all winter I’ve been layering them under sweaters. I’ve found that because these tops are ever-so-slightly slippery, cozy sweaters can be layered over them without messing up the drape of the sweater.
Because the drape isn’t affected, the pairing never looks bulky. But rest-assured: the feel of this base layer top is more ribbed fabric than slippery fabric. Truly, I don’t know how they do it.
Best of all, these tops are seriously cute on. Like…if I need to ditch the sweater, I’m totally happy to hang out in my base layer. Gang, I’ve worn this to the bar.
Halfdays Reviews: Stylish but Still Functional
Halfdays earns largely positive reviews as a stylish, technically competent women’s ski and snowboard brand that fits well, flatters, and keeps many reviewers warm, though durability and consistency vary.
Reviews praise chic colors, functional details (phone leash, pockets), and comfortable base layers, while calling out inconsistent sizing, lighter warmth on frigid days, occasional quality failures (unglued pockets, dirt-attracting jackets), and limited inclusivity and length options.
Here's a summary of what people are saying about Halfdays:
- Pros: Flattering, feminine silhouettes; vibrant, fashion-forward color palette; thoughtful, functional pocket placement; comfortable, supportive base layers.
- Cons: Inconsistent, unpredictable sizing; occasional durability construction issues; limited, non-inclusive length options; jackets lighter in extreme cold.
Every item that I have purchased from Halfdays has been an absolute winner so far. They are incredibly high quality, super soft, and extremely comfortable. I also love that Halfdays items can be worn both in my day to day life, and on the slopes or other outdoor activities. Such great investment pieces - especially as someone who lives in a cold climate (Chicago)!
I was very excited to try Halfdays during the Thingdrop. I love the idea of cute yet performance focused ski clothes. I ordered the ski pants in a size medium. They fit really well with some room but with an adjustable waist. The polartec fleece is nice too and can be worn often! I haven’t used them on the slopes yet so I can’t say how warm they will keep me, but so far so good.
I recently bought the emma ski pant in sage green and i love them! pretty stain resistant and super cute, great fit and good pockets! the material feels nice and it kept me warm. haven't worn them on a super cold day just yet but overall i really liked them and will continue to buy half days products for their fun colors and good materials.
As a shorter curvy girl it is hard to find good ski pants at the right length as well as fitting my hips to waist ratio. After trying 10+ other brands, I finally found the perfect pair - in multiple styles. The quality is not as high as other brands at similar price points but for how they fit I would say it's so worth it.
Loved the marketing and the concept of ski gear created just for women, but the quality just wasn’t there so I returned both the pants and jacket. Maybe a good choice for someone who skis once a year and mostly for the photos, but not a great choice for anyone skiing more than a few days a year or in cold climates. Huge bummer because I loved their color selection!
The web and packaging experience were so nice. Refreshing to see such fun colors. Wanted to see that reflected more in some of the undergarments.
Table: Halfdays Snow Suit Pros and Cons
| Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
| Stylish and flattering designs | Inconsistent sizing |
| Functional features like phone leash and ample pockets | Occasional durability issues |
| Comfortable and supportive base layers | Limited length options |
| Commitment to sustainability | Jackets may not be warm enough for extreme cold |