The 4 Best Hardshell Jackets for Women

Best Overall Women's Hardshell Jacket

Arc'teryx Beta AR Jacket - Women's

Materials: Gore-Tex Pro | Category: Midweight

The Arc'teryx Beta AR is a serious hardshell jacket for weathering the harshest of storms. It has been a top-scoring hardshell in this review for years, and its high marks carry through to the mountain environment, too – where it really counts. The unique collar design gives a tight seal against the elements, and the helmet-compatible hood fits nicely around your head, with or without a helmet. There are two different weight fabrics used in this jacket, both 3L Gore-Tex: The arms are a higher denier for added durability in high-wear areas, and the core is made of a slightly lower denier, allowing for more breathability and helping shave weight. “I trust the burly fabric to stand up to wear, whether scraping through an off-width in the alpine, resting ice tools over your shoulder, or through a long expedition,” noted our lead tester, who took the Beta AR all the way to the summit of Denali to block the fierce summit winds.

The primary con to all of these pros is the cost. As with any Arc'teryx jacket, the Beta AR is fairly pricey. Given that this one has been a mainstay in their product lineup since the year 2000, we're pretty sure folks are finding it to be worth it. We certainly have. Arc'teryx updated their fits globally on women's jackets for the 2024 season, keeping all of the features we know and love but adding a more spacious cut. While this allows for more mobility, it makes the jacket slightly more boxy. Given its excellent durability and versatility for cold-weather adventures, this is an excellent investment for your adventure wardrobe. If you're interested in another jacket with all the bells and whistles, check out the Mammut Nordwand Pro.

Read more: Arc'teryx Beta AR review

Best Value Hardshell

Rab Arc Eco - Women's

Materials: Pertex Shield Resolve | Category: Midweight

We were pleasantly surprised with the performance of the supple and breathable Rab Arc Eco for its modest price tag. At just a fraction of the cost of some other hardshells, the Arc Eco offers solid versatility, and all of the features we look for in a hardshell jacket, like an adjustable hood, adjustable cuffs, pockets accessible when wearing a pack and harness, and underarm vents to help regulate heat. “I found I could keep this jacket on for much more of the uphill than other hardshells, and you can notice the additional breathability of the Pertex material,” noted our lead tester. The material is also malleable and supple, allowing this jacket to easily be compressed down and packed away more effectively than other, stiffer materials.

While the Arc Eco has many strengths in an affordable package, the eco-friendly DWR had some shortcomings in exceptionally wet conditions: The exterior fabric tended to absorb a bit of water. When subjected to our shower test, the Arc Eco wetted more than the Gore-Tex options. It's worth noting that it both dried quickly, and that the outer material didn't wet as long as the precipitation remained cold and dry. If you live in a maritime climate and need more bomber weatherproofing, check out the Gore-Tex Pro options like the Arc'teryx Beta AR, Arc'teryx Alpha SV, or the Mammut Nordwand Pro HS. But in most climates and conditions, the Arc Eco and its modest price tag kept us very happy.

Read more: Rab Arc Eco Review

Best for Backcountry Skiing

Ortovox Ortler 3L - Women's

Materials: Dermizax NX 4-Way Stretch | Category: Midweight

The Ortovox Ortler 3L moved with us on the uphill and didn't have us overheating before we reached the top. It has a unique and highly comfortable construction: The proprietary material, Dermizax with wool inserts, allows the jacket to have more stretch, better mobility, and more breathability than your typical hardshell. This, combined with the flattering and streamlined, slightly hourglass fit, makes the Ortler a great choice for activities that demand packability and breathability, like backcountry skiing. “I took this jacket skiing all over, from Alaska to France, and it was the perfect jacket to bring along for big mountain missions with a lot of uphill,” noted our lead tester.

While we loved the Ortler's breathability, it wouldn't be our everyday go-to in a super wet maritime climate like the North Cascades or the Coast Range. Nor would it be our choice for stationary weather exposure like when riding chairlifts, or hanging out at a wet belay. The bold colorways of the Ortler also may not appeal to those who want to fly under the radar. Though it's not the best for super wet precipitation or rain, as long as the temperatures stay well below freezing and your plan for the day involves going uphill, the Ortler is an outstanding jacket. For a more burly and weather-resistant option, we love the Arc'teryx Alpha SV.

Read more: Ortovox Ortler 3L review

Best for Active Wear

Patagonia M10 Storm - Women's

Materials: 3-layer H2No | Category: Midweight

The Patagonia M10 Storm is the lightest hardshell we tested, and we were impressed by its high level weather protection in such a small, packable package. “I incorrectly assumed that this jacket wouldn't block water as well as the much burlier ones,” wrote our lead tester, “but it beaded moisture as effectively as the Gore-Tex Pro hardshells.” This jacket is an amazing choice for alpine climbers who need every ounce they pack to count. For light and fast missions where you hope to not get caught in the storm, but need effective protection when you do, this jacket is the perfect choice. As a bonus, we love the colors, and that the material is 100 percent recycled, Fair Trade constructed, and perfluorinated-chemical (PFA) free.

While we love the M10 Storm for most mountain missions, its thinner material isn't quite enough to stand up to truly extreme weather. It's also built for movement; while we enjoyed the breathability on the move, gusts can get through this jacket more readily than thicker fabrics. While it held up just fine through our testing period, the thinner material also may have durability challenges with heavy use. If you're looking for something a bit heavier duty but still breathable and light, the Rab Kinetic Alpine 2.0 could be a great option. But, for moving quickly, it's tough to beat the Storm.

Read more: Patagonia M10 Storm review

Compare Products

Compare select up to 5 products to compare

	Score	Product	Price
	80	Arc'teryx Beta AR Jacket - Women's Best Overall Women's Hardshell Jacket	$600
	77	Patagonia M10 Storm - Women's Best for Active Wear	$379
	76	Ortovox Ortler 3L - Women's Best for Backcountry Skiing	$550
	75	Arc'teryx Alpha SV Jacket - Women's	$900
	71	Rab Arc Eco - Women's Best Value Hardshell	$200
	71	Rab Kinetic Alpine 2.0 - Women's	$310
	71	Patagonia Triolet - Women's	$449
	70	Outdoor Research Archangel - Women's	$699
	70	Mammut Nordwand Pro - Women's	$850
	63	Outdoor Research MicroGravity - Women's	$279

How We Tested

We start the testing process with thoroughly researching all of the best jackets available on the market, including understanding the newest fabric technology. From an initial group of over 50 hardshell jackets, we selected 10 that looked the most promising and put them through our in-depth testing process. We purchase those jackets full price just as you would as the consumer.

We then took these jackets on adventures for many months, including packing them on trips to Alaska to ski powder, and for ski mountaineering in the Alps. In the lab, we weighed them, fully soaked them with water, and tested every zipper, objectively assessing their construction and performance. Then, we passed the jackets to friends and colleagues. Their feedback helped us identify standout designs, fit differences, and versatility across activities.

We graded the resulting performance of these jackets in five rating metrics:

• Weather Protection (30% of overall score weighting)

• Mobility and Fit (20% weighting)

• Venting and Breathability (20% weighting)

• Weight (20% weighting)

• Features and Design (10% weighting)

Why Trust GearLab

For this review, our expert panel is comprised of AMGA Certified Ski and expedition guide Kaylee Walden, AMGA/IFMGA Certified Guide Lyra Pierotti, and science teacher and endurance athlete Amber King. Lyra guides mountains worldwide, teaches avalanche courses all winter, and trains athletes as a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist. She calls the Pacific Northwest her home “basecamp.” Kaylee hails from the tiny mountain town of Ophir, Colorado at just under 10,000'. She finds herself nearly in the alpine by simply stepping out her front door, and spends several months per year skiing and mountaineering in Alaska and the Alps. Amber is originally from Canada and ended up in southwest Colorado; when she's not busy training as an endurance athlete, splitboarding, or pack rafting, Amber teaches high school science. For all three of our testers, hardshell jackets are a winter staple.

Analysis and Test Results

The first phase of the review process involves thorough research into each product and the elements that come together to make it great. After learning as much as possible about the details of the fabric technology, we read through all user reviews (good and bad) to learn people's honest thoughts. We polled a broad network of outdoor professionals to see which jackets hold up best over time through use and abuse. Finally, we selected what seemed like the top and most reliable options and ran our selection of jackets through rigorous field tests.

To help you select the right hardshell, we tested each jacket on five mutually exclusive metrics: Weather protection, mobility and fit, venting and breathability, weight, and features and design.

What's the Best Value?

Hardshell jackets in general, are a highly technical piece of outerwear, and as such, are decidedly expensive. We are critics at heart, and we want to help you spend your hard-earned money on the right gear. We buy all of these products anonymously, at full price, so value factors into our overall consideration of each jacket.

The most affordable hardshell in the lineup is the Rab Arc Eco, coming in at a quarter of the price of other jackets in the review. While not as waterproof as some of the more expensive options, this jacket did hold its own in our testing, making it a great affordable option. Another good value is the Outdoor Research Microgravity, which offers decent versatility and durability with a more palatable price tag. Jackets like the Patagonia Triolet, Patagonia M10 Storm, and Rab Kinetic Alpine 2.0 also offer a good performance-to-price ratio. While they are by no means budget jackets, there is still solid value in the Arc'teryx hardshells. With high level abrasion resistance, quality DWR and high-denier Gore-Tex Pro fabrics, these jackets are an investment, but last for many years.

Weather Protection

First and foremost, a hardshell jacket must be comprehensively water and weatherproof. This is far and away the most important metric because, ultimately, this layer is often critical for your safety in a quickly changing mountain environment. To fully assess each jacket for its ability to weather any storm, we tested each one in inclement weather. For good measure, we also stood in the shower while wearing these jackets to see how they'd fare in a true downpour. The standards are high for hardshell fabrics, so we look critically at anything that can compromise the jacket's weatherproof performance. This can include sleeves or torso lengths that are too short or a poorly designed hood.

Some jackets were geared toward milder climates, utilizing thinner and more flexible fabrics to save weight or improve breathability. As far as thinner jackets were concerned, we were very impressed with the waterproofing of the Patagonia M10 Storm, which performed with the best of them in both the shower test and in the field, successfully beading water. Very breathable jackets, like the Ortovox Ortler 3L and the Rab Arc Eco lost some points in this metric, but we found them to be sufficiently protective as long as the precipitation remained cold and mostly frozen.

The Outdoor Research Archangel also impressed us with its Gore-Tex Pro fabrics. After testing extensively in Pacific Northwest storms and cold inland climates while ice climbing in Montana, we found the Mammut Nordwand Pro provided outstanding weather protection, too. It is an excellent shell for use in cold regions, and for very wet maritime climates.

We also considered how well the jackets sealed out the wind. Wind is the frequent partner of snow and rain and allows us to rate how protective a jacket might feel. Thicker, burlier models typically performed better in weather protection but might subsequently lose points in the breathability metric. There were several levels of hardshell material used in the jackets we reviewed. The most weatherproof was hands-down the Arc'teryx Alpha SV, with its ultra-rugged 100-denier 3L Gore-Tex Pro fabric. This was the most durable jacket in the review, yet it still managed to be relatively lightweight. The next level down on the weatherproof spectrum is the Arc'teryx Beta AR with two types of Gore-Tex Pro fabric strategically placed for more durability on the arms and better breathability at the core. We took this jacket all the way to 20,310' on Denali to help block gusts on a windy summit day.

Mobility and Fit

Hardshell jackets are not generally known for being flexible and supple; that's why we love softshell jackets. Hardshells tend to be stiffer, and they are not always a go-to for ease of movement—they're to keep you dry and alive in bad weather. That said, technology is improving dramatically. Paneling design can significantly improve the mobility of these jackets, and increasingly, stretchy fabrics are emerging that still display impressive waterproof properties. To assess each jacket's mobility, we climbed steep ice, kick turned our way up long skintracks, bootpacked couloirs, scratched up mixed climbs, and hiked in inclement weather, running each jacket through the proverbial wringer.

Most Arc'teryx jackets feel distinctly stiffer; however, the panel designs and gusseted underarms, as well as raglan sleeve designs, allow these less flexible fabrics to feel surprisingly mobile. We particularly loved the athletic fit and movement in the Arc'teryx Beta AR, which was specifically designed for technical climbing. Arc'teryx has figured out stitching patterns that allow a very natural articulation pattern in their jackets. The Arc'teryx Alpha SV, even with its burly 100-denier Gore-Tex Pro, still moved well thanks to the thoughtful design.

The Ortovox Ortler 3L scored high marks in the mobility department, being the only hardshell in this review made with a unique and proprietary waterproof fabric called Dermizax that features four-way stretch and is more breathable than Gore-Tex. This also allows the jacket to feel lightweight when it's on, with no extra material to slow you down. Moreover, with that integrated stretch, we could comfortably climb with the hood up over a helmet without feeling like our movement was restricted.

The Rab Kinetic Alpine 2.0 is an impressive advance in the use of both breathable and highly malleable fabric in a hardshell. It allows total range of motion and still provides impressive protection from the wettest storms we could find in the Pacific Northwest winter. However, this jacket feels less like a traditional hardshell and more like a stretchy, supple softshell. We also appreciated how we could freely move in the Patagonia M10 Storm, with its drop hem and streamlined, generous fit, we didn't have any pinch point or bunching in this thin and packable hardshell.

Venting and Breathability

We generally found that the most breathable jackets were also the most versatile, easily switching between skiing, ice climbing, hiking, and even running. Fabric technology is quickly changing, with many hardshell jackets now being made from proprietary fabrics, which excel for breathability while maintaining weather protection. Jackets that weren't stifling while we were working hard in the mountains, and had extra features to help us regulate heat, scored the highest.

We love a simple jacket that breathes without the need for vents, like the Rab Kinetic Alpine 2.0 or Patagonia M10 Storm. However, you're likely to be working hard in humid environments (if it's raining), and humidity sometimes inhibits the diffusion of water vapor from inside your jacket to the outside. In these cases, pit zips are much more critical for breathability. We looked at the number of vents each jacket had, how big they were, in what direction(s) they zipped/unzipped, and how well they worked in their particular positions.

We liked underarm vents that opened from either end of the zipper, like on the Patagonia Triolet, the Arc'teryx Beta AR, and the Ortovox Ortler. This design can promote airflow by opening two smaller vent holes at the inner arm and torso or the whole zipper for maximum venting. For even more advanced airflow, the Ortler integrates Dermizax fabric with strategic wool inserts. While the Nordwand Pro HS is a burly jacket on the heavier end of the spectrum, we appreciated its long, easily accessible underarm vents.

Weight

If you're looking for a shell to pack along with you on long, multi-day adventures or light and fast alpine pursuits, it's important that it balances comprehensive weather protection with a low weight penalty and packability. You might sacrifice an ounce or two for extra durability and weather protection; however, technology is increasingly allowing for lighter and lighter fabrics that stand up to the worst weather Mother Nature can throw at you.

The most impressive jackets offered a high level of versatility for impressively low weight. By far the lightest jacket of the lineup is the Patagonia M10 Storm. This featherlight hardshell, made from Patagonia's proprietary H2No fabric and recycled materials, weighs in at just 9.8 ounces. This is less than half of some shells in the review. While it's undeniably on the thinner side, we still found it to be more than enough to protect us from wind and precipitation in most conditions.

The OR MicroGravity and Rab Kinetic Alpine both feature fairly ultralight builds. We loved them both for skate skiing and for trips with good forecasts where we still wanted a proper shell with us, just in case. The Mammut Nordwand Pro was the heaviest we tested at 19.5 ounces, but 2 of those ounces are the snow skirt, which can be removed to shave it down to 17.5 ounces. We loved the Arc'teryx jackets for their ability to balance mobility and durability in an impressively lightweight package for the full suite of features they offer. The Ortovox Ortler also weighs in at an impressive 12.8 ounces.

Features and Design

Sometimes, the little things can make a big difference. When looking at features, we considered many attributes that make a hardshell jacket more versatile, comfortable, and functional. For example, we looked at how big the pull tabs were to adjust hoods and hems. We also looked at the pocket design, their number, depth, and position. Most of the jackets in this review are helmet and harness compatible, but some had specific pocket designs we preferred, like Napoleon chest pockets and internal chest pockets. We scanned each jacket, from hood to hem, to pull out any features that matched or confused the ultimate purpose of the jacket. We awarded simple features on ultralight jackets similar to more extensive and full feature sets on burlier jackets.

The most essential, standout features include, roughly in this order: hood quality, pockets (especially chest), adjustability features, and extras. A hood needs to be big enough to accommodate a helmet but adjustable enough to be comfortable when not wearing one. These are technical hardshell jackets designed to stand up to alpine use, where you will likely be wearing a helmet. We also felt it was essential to have a hood that moved with you when you turned to look side to side or behind you — it's annoying to turn your head and find yourself looking at the inside of your hood instead of your partner climbing up to meet you at the belay.

Chest pockets are a favorite feature among our reviewers. A decent chest pocket allows ease of access to crucial items like electronics, GPS, or maps, and keeps them dry in a downpour. Two of them side to side? Even better. These dual chest pockets are called Napoleon pockets, like those found on the Patagonia M10 Storm, Patagonia Triolet, Arc'teryx Alpha SV or the Outdoor Research MicroGravity. Internal zippered chest pockets are great but harder to access, so another good alternative is a waterproof zipper on the outside. Another important pocket design aspect is whether you can access the hand pockets when you're wearing a harness, a must for a technical hardshell.

Adjustability is a significant feature for a weatherproof hardshell jacket. This concept overlaps with the Weather Protection metric but goes a step further: how easy was it to adjust with warm gloves on? And last but not least, we considered how the full set of features matched the best application of each jacket. The Arc'teryx Alpha SV is a protective hardshell with many features, so it matched the utility of the model very well. We also appreciate the Arc'teryx models' superior construction, with elaborate stitching and welded overlays that ensure the shell will last, and their stiffer fabrics hold up much better to friction and abrasion, such as rubbing from backpack straps.

Conclusion

It's tough to have it all in a hardshell jacket, and we place high expectations on this often crucial piece of gear. It needs to be tough enough to keep out the weather, well-featured enough to accommodate your activity of choice, and breathable enough for you to climb, hike, ski, etc., at a sustainable pace – all while fitting well and looking good.

In this review, we identified several niche models for sport-specific athletes and more generalized shells that will work well for just about every adventure – but remember that a hardshell jacket is but one piece of the layering puzzle for the mountains. You'll want to consider adding a packable down jacket for added warmth. For less demanding days where you simply need protection from the rain, a simple rain jacket will do the trick. We hope this review will help direct you towards the best possible hardshell jacket for you.