Best Snowboard Jackets for Women 2025-2026

The following are our most recommended Women's Snowboard Jackets for the 2025-2026 season. All the jackets below meet or exceed the required specs we think a snowboard jacket should have. 

We call these our"Spec-Met" or, more accurately, Spec-Met/Exceeded snowboard jackets. 

Order of the list below. 

This list has been split into the following categories:

• Shell (non-insulated) Snowboard Jackets
• Insulated Snowboard Jackets

The jackets aren't shown in any particular order. 

Pricing

We have a specific low cost women's snowboard jacket list on the way, which will contain the jackets that do the best at meeting the required specs, but under a maximum cost of $300. While this is not the low cost list, we have still restricted this list to jackets that cost $500 or less. 

If you just want to skip to the bit where you can find current pricing, availability and where to buy them, use the linked quick navigation menu below to go to the "Where to Buy" section. 

If you want to learn how we made our selections (what we think are the most important factors), read on.

What we Consider the Most Important Factors for choosing a Snowboard Jacket

Waterproofing

There are 3 main factors that influence how waterproof a snow jacket is: 

• Waterproofness of the fabric used;
• Seam Sealing; and
• Waterproof coating

Minimum waterproofness: 10,000mm. 

Seam Sealing: Fully Taped highly preferred.

Coating: All snowboard jackets worth anything will have a waterproof coating. 

The jackets below all exceed what we consider to be the minimum levels for waterproofing.

Breathability

Shell jackets have a natural advantage over insulated jackets for breathability, but different fabrics have different levels of breathability too. 

Other things that affect breathability are the likes of venting, however for this section we are most focused on the breathability of the material used. This typically falls somewhere in between 5,000 and 30,000g.   

Minimum Breathability: 10,000g

The jackets below all exceed what we consider to be the minimum level of breathability. 

Insulation

It's a personal preference as to whether or not you  want insulation and if so, how much. This will depend on a number of factors, including: 

1. how hot or cold you run
2. the typical temperatures you typically ride in 
3. Whether you use your snow jacket just for snowboarding or for multi-use

And probably others, but I think those are the main ones. 

Functionality

There are a number of functions that set snow jackets apart from other jackets. These functions affect everything from convenience to comfort. 

Powder Skirt

This could have just as easily been put under the waterproofing section, as the powder skirt helps to keep snow going inside your jacket or pants, when you bail. Even if that snow is dry snow it's going to melt and be wet, if you don't get it all out.

As well as doing well in performing its job of keeping snow out, it can also be useful to have a powder skirt that's removable, for those days when you don't want it - or if you use your snow jacket for things other than snowboarding, where the powder skirt wouldn't be useful.

A lot of fixed powder skirts also have functionality that enables them to be tucked away when not in use - either by zipping or snapping away. 

Most of the jackets below feature a powder skirt and some are removable.

Hood 

A hood can also affect waterproofing in that it helps to keep your head dry when there's rain or wet snow. Or even dry snow - which can settle and melt.

But it also helps with warmth and wind protection.

As most of us wear helmets when riding these days, it's important to have a hood that can accommodate that helmet - and since we have different sized heads/helmets, it's important that the hoods are adjustable.

And they need to not only fit over your helmet (or head) but also then be able to be tightened enough so that it won't get blown off - but also so that it won't affect your field of vision. So multi-direction adjustability is preferable.

All the jackets featured below have adjustable hoods.

Venting

This one could have come under breathability, but since it's something that is not typically found on non-snow jackets, we put it under functionality.

When riding in warmer conditions it can be really nice to have vents to help you cool down. Underarm vents are the most common and these not only help to regulate your temperature when you're overheating, but it also helps to your jacket from getting too stinky too quickly, which won't be as big a factor for some, but for those of use who run hot and tend to sweat while riding, it's pretty much a must.

This also means you don't have to wash your jacket as often - which is good, because washing a snowboard jacket isn't as straight forward as other clothes, as you have to make sure you retain the waterproof coating that's on the jacket. Washing your jacket the the same way you'd wash other clothes will end up removing that coating.

All the jackets featured below have some form of venting. 

Jacket-to-Pant Connections

When you're able to connect your jacket to your pants, it adds another layer of protection to stop snow getting inside. Nothing is able to ride up. A combination of this and a powder skirt (typically the connections to your pants will be made via the powder skirt) makes it almost impossible for snow to get in.

Pockets

It's not just about the number or volume of the pockets in the jacket, it's about the functionality of those pockets. At a minimum we think snowboard jackets should have at least:

Sleeve pass pocket: This pocket is super convenient to keep your pass in and because it's on your forearm, it's really easy to make sure its close to the scanner as you go through the gate. It also allows you to have your pass well away from other cards that you might have in your other pockets that might otherwise interfere with the scanner, if they're too close to your pass. 

We prefer zippered pass pockets - I'm sure the hook-and-loop closure (aka velcro) pockets are fine, but they just don't feel as secure as zips. 

Media pocket: I'm going to hazard a guess that there are very few who don't bring their phones with them when riding. Having a specific pocket is great to have. Especially if you listen to music and need earphone holes - if you don't have helmet speakers or Bluetooth ear phones.

And these pockets are typically placed on the inside of the jacket and sometimes even have extra insulation, so that it keeps your device warm, which helps the battery to last longer.

Mesh Goggle Pocket: It's great to have a place to put your goggles for when you're taking a break at the lodge or whatever. Yes, you can rest them on your head or helmet, but that can be a recipe for the dreaded fog up! A mesh goggle pocket, gives you somewhere to put them but minimize the risk of a fog up.

Most of the jackets featured below have a good number and variety of pockets, and most include sleeve pass pockets, media pockets and mesh goggle pockets.

Fit and Style

This comes down to personal preference, and we don't claim to be any kind of authority or experts or influencers on what style you want to go with, so we'll leave that you to your own personal tastes.

We have included images of different colorways available for each jacket (in some cases when there are more than 4 colorways, we have included text in the extra colors they are available in, but you can do more research to look at the extra colors to get a better idea. A good place to start is by following the links in the where to buy sections. 

The one thing to note about fit, is that you want to make sure you have enough freedom of movement/aka range of motion, so that it doesn't restrict how you can ride. However, most good snowboard jackets will have a stretchy fabric and even more so in slimmer fitting jackets, so that you can still go with a slimmer fit but still have good freedom of movement. 

Whether you want an insulated jacket or a shell, we hope to have been able to help you to find a jacket that gives you all the things that you need and want our of your snowboard jacket. 

Of course, there are many other options out there, but those are the best that we found that came in a price-tag less than $500 and met or exceeded what we think are the most important things for a snowboard jacket to have.