REASONS TO BUY
Highly affordable
Warm and cozy interior
Many color options
REASONS TO AVOID
Heavy and not breathable
Poor fit
Not the best style
Wantdo Mountain Hooded - Women's Review
While it's budget-friendly, this jacket does not compare to higher end options in any metric, although it's acceptably warm for infrequent use
The Wantdo jacket will do just fine for a few ski days per year.
Credit: Kaylee Walden
RELATED: The Best Ski Jackets for Women
Our Verdict
The Wantdo Mountain Hooded jacket is a very budget-friendly jacket. For someone who is looking to find a coat that will keep them warm and dry on the ski hill and doesn't cost as much as a few days' worth of lift tickets, this is a decent option. This jacket is beefy, lowkey, and very warm. It has ample pockets for ski passes, snacks, and sunscreen. Our testers also determined it did an impressive job of shedding moisture and blocking wind on storm days. The Wantdo Mountain jacket proves that even a bargain jacket can really get the job done. This jacket may not be the best technical hardshell, the most stylish coat, or the most breathable jacket on the market, but it comes in at a price that is nearly impossible to beat in today's outerwear market. To see how this jacket compares to the competition, read our review of women's ski jackets.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Wantdo Mountain Hooded - Women's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Women's Ski Jacket Under $100 |  Best Overall Insulated Women's Ski Jacket | Best Bang for Your Buck | ||
| Price | $65 List $36.97 at Amazon | $198.83 at REI Compare at 3 sellers | $213.82 at Backcountry Compare at 3 sellers | $114.83 at REI | $90 List $54.99 at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | This utilitarian option is a budget-friendly skier's dream, though it can't compare to higher-end jackets | A top performer where it counts, this insulated jacket also comes in at a reasonable price | A high performance technical shell that performs well in or out of bounds and won't break the bank | With a removable inner synthetic puffer, this shell and insulated jacket combo is a great value | If you're taking a single ski trip, this affordable jacket offers reasonable performance and a low price |
| Rating Categories | Wantdo Mountain Hoo... | Patagonia Insulated... | Outdoor Research Ca... | Columbia Whirlibird... | Moerdeng Waterproof... |
| Warmth (20%) | |||||
| Weather Resistance (20%) | |||||
| Comfort and Fit (20%) | |||||
| Ventilation (20%) | |||||
| Style (10%) | |||||
| Features (10%) | |||||
| Specifications | Wantdo Mountain Hoo... | Patagonia Insulated... | Outdoor Research Ca... | Columbia Whirlibird... | Moerdeng Waterproof... |
| Main Fabric | 150D Dull Mechanical Elastic | 75D postconsumer recycled polyester | 100% nylon | Recycled Polyester | 100% Polyester |
| Insulation | 240g synthetic insulation | Body: 80g Thermogreen recycled polyester; sleeves: 40g Thermogreen recycled polyester | None | Omniheat, Recycled Polyester | Polyester insulation |
| Waterproofing | DWR, PU membrane | 2-layer H2No waterproof membrane | 3-layer Pertex Shield | DWR, Omni-Tech™ critically seam sealed | DWR coating |
| Pockets | 2 zippered hand, 1 internal stash, 1 internal zippered 1 zippered chest, 1 forearm | 2 zippered hand, 1 zippered chest, 1 zippered internal stash, 1 internal drop-in | 2 zippered chest, 2 zippered hand, 1 zippered arm, 1 internal mesh, 1 internal zippered chest | 2 zippered hand, 1 zippered arm, 1 internal slip | 2 zippered hand, 1 zippered chest, 1 internal slip |
| Weight | 3.0lb | 1.7 lb | 1.2 lb | ||
| Hood Option | Yes, removable | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Pit Zips | No | Yes | Yes | Yes | No |
| Cuff construction | Wrist gaiters | Velcro | Velcro | Velcro | Velcro |
| Powder skirt | Yes, snap away | Yes, snap away | Yes | Yes, snap away | No |
| RECCO | No | Yes | No | No | No |
Our Analysis and Test Results
With hefty synthetic insulation, a fleece liner, and a weather-resistant shell, the Wantdo Mountain jacket meets all your basic on-mountain needs. Lacking any ventilation and weighing in at three pounds, this winter basic may not stand out for its technical performance or low weight, but what it provides for its price point is impressive. Especially if you are someone who tends to run cold, doesn't want to spend their whole budget on a jacket, or only skies infrequently, we think you should strongly consider this pocket-filled option from Wantdo.
Performance Comparison
Riding lifts at Telluride on a deceptively frigid and windy day, staying nice and warm thanks to the effective fleece and insulation of the Wantdo.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney
Warmth
Did we mention this jacket is warm? Our testers were extremely impressed with the warmth of this jacket, even shedding mid and base layers to avoid sweating on the coldest of days. The Wantdo Mountain locked in heat and kept our skiers warm even while they were on long lift rides or standing in lines. For those who ski very aggressively or run hot, we suggest that this jacket may be even a bit too warm.
We tested this jacket on both frigid storm days and bluebird powder days alike. We think the level of warmth in this jacket is best suited to someone who prefers peaceful downhill laps and doesn't like to think about adding additional layers. We found that this jacket kept us at a great temperature until we really started charging in the off-piste terrain; then, its warmth became just a little overbearing.
Quilted synthetic insulation in the Wantdo really locks heat in, and its density and PU layer keep the wind out.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney
Weather Resistance
With DWR water-resistant treatment and an additional polyurethane (PU) membrane, this jacket was able to keep moisture from soaking through. We found that the shell fabric did have a tendency to show some wet-through with limited pressure, but thanks to the PU membrane, this did not make it all the way through the jacket. We were also impressed with the large, insulated hood and high collar. These two features certainly leveled up the protection level on frosty and stormy days.
As is common with many jackets on the lower end of the price range, this jacket did not sport all water-resistant zippers. The velcro fabric flap over the center zip and the flaps on the smaller feature pockets were insufficient on the deepest and wettest snow days, and we noticed a bit of moisture seeping into our pockets. Additionally, the velcro had a tendency to ice up and pop open when it was snowing. Despite these small insufficiencies, we were impressed overall with how this jacket performed in inclement weather, feeling like a solid bubble of warmth.
The velcro cuffs aren't as effective as a higher-end jacket.
Credit: Kaylee Walden
Comfort and Fit
We really like the softness of the lining and the light stretch incorporated into the outer shell of this jacket. The plush fleece lining in both the body and hood of this jacket is some of the softest we've tested. We love how this material feels against even very thin base layers — soft and fluffy.
Overall, we found the fit of this jacket boxy and on the large side. While it has decent comfort, sometimes the extra material bunched up a bit on the chairlift. The lower hem is loose and allows cold air in through the bottom of the jacket.
The lofty fleece in the Wantdo not only is warm, but is extremely soft and comfortable even when worn against thin baselayers.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney
Ventilation
Often, we find that jackets at this amazingly low price point are not the most breathable. Unfortunately, this jacket met our expectations here. In other words, this jacket did not excel in this metric. It does an exceptional job of locking in heat but at the cost of also locking in moisture. This is probably largely due to the PU waterproofing layer, which is known to be less breathable than the two-layer laminated integrated waterproofing employed in more expensive jackets.
This jacket also lacks pit zips for ventilation when the going gets hot. Our testers noticed that as soon as they started working up a sweat, it was very hard to dry off without de-layering and taking a break inside. Overall, we would recommend trying a more breathable jacket in this review if you sweat a lot and need good breathability.
We found the fit of this jacket to be very shapeless and large overall. “I'm generally on the curvy side, and this jacket was still massive on me in the body, but still a bit short in the arms,” noted our lead tester. Fit issues are somewhat common in budget jackets.
The overly bulky and somewhat shapeless fit of the Wantdo.
Credit: Kaylee Walden
Style
The look of this jacket is fairly basic and classic, although we wouldn't award it many points for style. It is available in more colors than any other jacket we tested, making it versatile in its style. There are also several bright and not-so-bright geometric patterns available if that is more your speed.
The Wantdo Mountain is more of a classic cut than some of the other jackets in this review. This means it doesn't have much taper but has more of a straight cut and a shorter length than some of the more freeride-oriented jackets. While it may not be the most stand-out jacket in terms of style, it certainly has plenty of colorways to match your wardrobe.
The Wantdo do has a classic, no-frills style that is versatile. We tested this simple black color, but it is available in a plethora of colors and patterns to suit pretty much anyone.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney
Features
The Wantdo Mountain has many of the classic features we look for in a ski jacket. There's a functional powder skirt, large drop pockets, hand and chest pockets, and a dedicated wrist pass pocket. There is also an internal zip pocket that we found kept our phone batteries nice and warm as an added bonus. This pocket features a headphone port, which may be a bit dated with the proliferation of Bluetooth, but it is a nice option.
We did find that the powder skirt tended to feel a bit restrictive as its material doesn't have as much stretch as we would like. We also wish that it was removable - this is one of our favorite features of powder skirts because then we have the option to only use them on the deepest days. The hood, on the other hand, is removable, which adds versatility. The attachment zipper for the hood is also sturdy, and we never had any issues with the hood beginning to detach prematurely. This jacket also sports wrist gaiters that are smooth, spandex material that does not cut off hand circulation, and super comfy when in use. Overall, we could not ask for many more features in a ski jacket, especially at such an excellent price point.
Large internal drop pockets are just one of the classic ski features that the Wantdo Mountain has. This jacket has all of the classics we have come to expect for keeping us organized on the hill.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney
Should You Buy the Wantdo Mountain Hooded Jacket?
This insulated shell impressed us with its strong construction and warmth for an incredibly low price. While we did get a little too warm skiing hard or winter hiking, we love how comfortable and incredibly warm this jacket is on frigid and windy lift days. Its simple style and basic features felt like more than enough for its price point. We think this is an excellent option for a skier who tends to get cold or does not ride enough to justify a pricier jacket.
Skiing on with the peace of mind that this jacket is saving us money for future ski adventures.
Credit: Jacqueline Kearney
What Other Ski Jackets Should You Consider?
Even though this jacket is an outstandingly low-priced option, we did feel that it fell short as a technical model. If you know that you like to ski hard and hike hard, the ventilation and breathability of this jacket would be an issue. Consider a non-insulated shell such as the still modestly priced Outdoor Research Carbide or the Arc'teryx Sentinel. And, if insulated is more your speed, we do love the Patagonia Insulated Powdertown or the versatile The North Face Triclimate 3-in-1, with its easily removable insulation layer for warmer days.
—Jacqueline Kearney, Kaylee Walden
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