womens climbing products

The Arc'teryx AR-385a is a versatile, women-specific climbing harness designed for alpine missions, trad climbing, and multi-pitch routes. It uses Warp Strength Technology to distribute weight evenly, is lightweight and packable, and offers adjustable, comfortable fit with four ice clipper slots; it's excellent for a wide range of climbing objectives but is pricey and the material absorbs sweat.

The Arc'teryx Cerium SV Hoody for women is an exceptionally warm, lightweight down jacket designed for severe cold conditions, like ice climbs and long ski tours. It delivers extraordinary warmth for its weight with a StormHood and high-loft 850-fill down, but is best kept for selective, high-intensity cold outings due to limited daily durability and a high price.

An exceptionally burly yet lightweight hardshell built for big mountains and severe weather, with rugged Gore-Tex Pro protection, a storm-ready hood, and long pit zips for efficient ventilation. It's highly capable for alpine climbing and mountaineering, delivering solid protection and mobility, and it can also function as a city rain jacket. However, some users may find the hood drawcord and shoulder fit less ideal, and the pocket design with storm flaps can be cumbersome.

These pants deliver top-tier weather protection and a superb, close-to-the-skin fit, with a comfortable fleece-brushed liner. They ventilate well for uphill travel and pair nicely with layering for backcountry or resort skiing, though they come at a premium price and have a lean feature set.

The Arc'teryx Sabre Pant is a high-end Gore-Tex shell ski pant, uninsulated with a light flannel backer, designed for resort and backcountry use. It offers fortress-like waterproofing, good breathability, and a durable, minimalist build, though fit can be polarizing and the price is high.

The Sabria Pant from Arc’teryx is a durable, versatile hiking pant with four-way stretch and a discreet waistband adjuster that sits well under a harness. It’s breathable and comfortable in warm weather, pairs with a base layer in cooler conditions, and features a DWR finish for light moisture; however, pockets are small, the fit is snug, and it has been discontinued by the brand.

The Gamma Pant offers strong weather protection and durable stretch for cold, wet hikes. Its stretchy 88/12 fabric, gusseted crotch, and articulated knees deliver solid mobility, while wind and water resistance are standout features aided by a DWR finish. It’s a premium, highly versatile pant with thoughtful details like an integrated belt and ankle cinch, but it’s expensive, lacks rear pockets, and breathability isn’t best in hot conditions.

A premium midweight softshell pant that delivers exceptional mobility, durability, and a refined fit for hikers, climbers, and backcountry travelers. It shines in cooler shoulder-season conditions and alpine environments, but its price limits its appeal for warm-weather use.

The Gamma Pant for Women is a durable softshell hiking pant that delivers strong wind and water resistance, plus stretch for excellent mobility under a harness. It excels for year‑round, technical hiking and backcountry use, offering comfort and durability, but has a rigid waistband and a belt buckle that can be a weak point; breathability is not as high as lighter options.

The DAS Light Hoody is a lightweight synthetic insulated jacket with PlumaFill insulation that offers strong weather resistance and warmth for mountain adventures. It is packable, helmet-friendly with a storm-ready hood, and performs well for ski touring and cold-weather climbing, but it trades breathability for protection and comes at a premium price.

The DAS Light Hoody is a warm, weather-protective insulated jacket built around a wind- and water-resistant shell with 65 g PlumaFill insulation. It’s lightweight and packable with a generous hood and long coverage, making it a strong four-season choice for skiing, climbing, and outdoor adventures. Drawbacks include a fragile shell and limited breathability, and it doesn’t compress fully into its pocket as claimed.

Patagonia's DAS Light Hoody is a top-tier synthetic insulated jacket designed for alpine climbing, delivering excellent warmth-to-weight, weather protection, and durability in harsh mountain conditions. It features a helmet-compatible hood, two-way front zipper, and chest pocket, with 65g PlumaFill insulation and a durable Pertex Quantum Pro shell; however, breathability is limited and it comes at a high price, making it less suitable for casual wear or high-output activities.

The Gamma Lightweight Hoody for Women is an ultralight, athletic-fitting softshell that breathes exceptionally well and blocks wind, making it a versatile all-conditions layer for climbing and hiking. It offers UPF 40+ sun protection and a DWR-treated outer that sheds light rain, with a StormHood and No Slip Zip for practical protection and secure fit. It’s lightweight and compressible, but not designed for heavy rain or high warmth.

The Arc'teryx Gamma Hoody is a versatile midweight softshell designed for climbers, hikers, and skiers who want a breathable, durable layer for four-season use. It features a helmet-compatible hood, two exterior chest pockets, and a streamlined fit, delivering solid mobility and all-around functionality. It is water-resistant but not waterproof, with PFAS-free DWR, and while it's versatile, its water protection lags behind heavier shells, making it best for dry-to-mild wet conditions and steady effort rather than heavy rain or alpine storms.

The Arc'teryx Gamma Hoody is a feature-rich technical softshell with excellent mobility, wind resistance, and breathability, making it ideal for alpine climbing, mountaineering, and windy hikes. It balances weather resistance with mobility and is durable, though it is relatively heavy and pricey compared with lighter softshells.

The Thorium Hoody is Arc'teryx's durable midweight down jacket designed as a standalone outer layer for sub-freezing conditions. It's heavy and not packable, but it delivers excellent warmth and features—such as a long hem, helmet-compatible StormHood, five pockets, and a two-way zipper—that suit serious winter use like mountaineering, backcountry skiing, and snow camping.

The Arc’teryx Thorium AR Hoody for women is a rugged, comfortable down-insulated jacket built for dry outdoor use. It delivers strong warmth for its weight and solid durability, with practical features like a durable plastic zipper and a dedicated stuff sack; however, it can be slow to dry in wet conditions and is best used in dry climates.

The Arc'teryx Gamma MX Hoody is a heavyweight softshell jacket with a fleece backing designed for cold, lower-intensity activities. It offers strong weather protection with a helmet-friendly hood and durable build, but breathability suffers under prolonged or vigorous activity due to the fleece lining. It's best suited for cold climates and wind protection; not as versatile for high-output use.

The Arc'teryx Gamma MX Hoody is a burly, wind-shedding softshell that excels in cold, blustery winter conditions and transitions between backcountry and everyday wear. It offers excellent weather protection and mobility, but trades off with higher weight and limited breathability, and it is a premium option with a small hood and non-adjustable cuffs.

The Arc'teryx Rho LT Bottoms are a fleece-lined, durable base layer that works well as a standalone layer or under shell pants in cool to cold weather. They deliver warmth, excellent durability, and strong wicking with comfortable, stretchy fit, and true-to-size comfort, though high water absorption when wet and long leg length can be drawbacks; ventilation is important to prevent clamminess in heavy sweat.

The Cerium Hoody is a versatile mid-weight down jacket that blends warmth, mobility, and packability for cold mountain days and everyday wear. It uses high-loft 850-fill down with synthetic insulation in moisture-prone areas, a DWR-treated shell, and a helmet-compatible hood, delivering strong warmth-to-weight and adjustable features, though it carries a premium price and a relatively thin exterior.

The Cerium LT Hoody from Arc'teryx delivers exceptional warmth for its weight, using 850-fill down and a lightweight shell to create a compact, highly packable jacket. It functions well as both an outer layer and a mid-layer under a shell, with a comfortable fit and excellent compressibility, but its high price and uneven performance in wet conditions limit its practicality.

The Arc'teryx Cerium Hoody is a lightweight, warm down jacket that delivers an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio thanks to 850-fill down and a streamlined fit, making it versatile as a midlayer or standalone piece for shoulder-season and backcountry use. Its thin 15D shell and trim silhouette keep weight down, but durability and weather protection are modest, so it shines when layered under a shell and kept out of heavy rain. While pricey and with a trim fit that limits bulky layering, it remains a top choice for weight-conscious backcountry travelers seeking warmth without bulk.

The Arc'teryx Kyanite Hoody is a supremely comfortable, stretchy midweight fleece ideal for four-season use, delivering exceptional mobility and versatile warmth for activities like hiking, backpacking, and resort skiing. It emphasizes comfort and stretch over rugged durability, with some wear concerns to the face fabric and limited hood adjustments.

The Arc'teryx Kyanite Hoody is a warm, midweight fleece that blends sweatshirt comfort with technical performance. Its Power Stretch Pro fabric offers exceptional mobility and a plush interior, making it versatile for travel, crag, hiking, and camp, though the zipper is not wind-resistant and it commands a premium price.

The Kyanite Lightweight Hoody is a lightweight, highly stretchy fleece mid-layer with an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio, designed for long-distance hikes, backpacking, and travel. It offers surprising warmth, a snug, wind-blocking hood, and versatile layering potential, though its short cut, lack of interior pockets, and price point are notable drawbacks.

The Kyanite AR Hoody is a warm, incredibly comfortable midweight fleece built for movement, thanks to Polartec Power Stretch Pro and a brushed interior. It excels for cold-weather climbing and skiing with a snug fit and a low-profile hood, but can feel too warm in milder conditions and lacks thumb loops, while breathability isn't ideal for high-output activities.

The Arc'teryx Kyanite Hoody is a versatile midweight fleece that works around town and on the mountain, with a brushed interior for comfort, a Nylon face shell for weather resistance, and 4-way stretch that keeps you mobile for activities like rock climbing, skiing, and winter hiking. It offers excellent warmth and breathability for a fleece, though it pills over time, is relatively heavy, and lacks a chest pocket, with a baggy fit that may not suit everyone.

The Patagonia R1 Pullover Hoody is a long-standing, versatile midlayer fleece that balances warmth, comfort, and durability for a broad range of mountain activities. After more than a decade of field use, the reviewer still regards it as a top all-around fleece, especially for cold-weather mountain travel, with excellent weight-to-warmth and strong layering capability; drawbacks include being too warm for high-output movement in milder temps and a style more suited to technical use than everyday wear.

The Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody is a versatile lightweight fleece that blends stretch comfort with midweight warmth and strong breathability. It excels as a mid-layer for travel, camping, and active pursuits, with a soft interior and fitted hood that traps warmth during movement. Drawbacks include a slim fit that may not work for all body types, limited wind resistance, and a lack of thumbholes.

The R1 Pullover is Patagonia's highly versatile, breathable, and compressible lightweight fleece jacket, a go-to layer for alpinists and backcountry skiers. It excels in high-output activities and fluctuating temperatures, packing down small, but is not very wind resistant and isn’t as warm or durable as heavier fleeces, making it less ideal for casual wear around town.

The Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody is a lightweight, highly breathable fleece designed for high-exertion cool-weather activities. It excels in comfort, breathability, and layering, making it a versatile layer for hiking, bouldering, ice climbing, and backcountry skiing, though the chest pocket is tight and the hood can be fiddly to use when fully zipped; some may notice odor.

The Patagonia R1 Hoody is a lightweight, highly breathable fleece that excels as a versatile mid-layer for active use. It offers an athletic fit that moves well and layers easily for climbing, running, hiking, or skiing, but it isn't very warm when stationary and offers limited weather protection.

The Patagonia R1 Air Full-Zip Hoody is a standout technical fleece that blends breathability with warmth and stretch for versatile backcountry use. Its hollow-core zigzag fabric delivers excellent heat retention during rests and remains breathable during activity, making it a strong choice for ski touring, climbing, and cool-weather hiking. Note that the updated fit can feel a bit baggy and the fabric can lose softness with repeated washing, but it remains a top all-around fleece.

The R1 Full Zip Hoody is a versatile technical fleece that delivers exceptional breathability and thermoregulation for alpine and backcountry use, serving well as a mid-layer under a shell or as a standalone layer in milder conditions. It’s lightweight, durable, and packable with a helmet-compatible hood and clever pocket design, but it’s not weather-resistant on its own and can be pricey; Patagonia has discontinued this style as of 2022.

The Patagonia R1 Hoody is a high-performing technical fleece layer designed for active cold-weather pursuits. Breathable and lightweight, it excels as a mid-layer for rock climbing, backcountry skiing, and cardio-heavy hikes, with a fitted balaclava-style hood and thumb loops. However, it's not very warm and offers limited wind and water protection, so pair it with a shell in harsher conditions.

The Capilene Thermal Weight Zip-Neck (Women’s) is a warm, breathable midweight base layer with a long zip neck for venting and a slim fit that stays close to the skin for heat retention. It excels in warmth and breathability and dries quickly, but reviewers note odor retention and that the thumb loops are not high quality, with the layer not being a true thermal weight.

The Alpha SV Jacket is a burly, weatherproof hardshell built for severe alpine conditions. It offers exceptional durability and weather protection with smart design details, but comes at a premium price and a stiffer fabric that can limit mobility.

Patagonia Triolet - Women's is a durable 3L Gore-Tex hardshell that emphasizes weather protection and mobility for mountain days. It excels for alpine climbing, ski mountaineering, and trekking thanks to a helmet-friendly hood, waterproof chest pockets, and effective venting, while offering strong value compared with pricier jackets. Its shorter back length and heavier weight limit use in extreme weather and long descents.

The Arc'teryx Atom Hoody for women is a soft, lightweight insulated jacket with a helmet-compatible hood. It excels in comfort and breathability and serves well as a versatile midlayer or standalone piece in milder cold, though it’s thin for very cold days and not the strongest wind shield.

The Arc’teryx Atom Hoody is a versatile synthetic midlayer that balances warmth, breathability, and mobility for backcountry and everyday wear. It excels in comfort and fit with stretchy side panels and soft fabric, but its warmth and weather protection aren’t top-tier, so it’s best as an active, all-rounder layer under a shell or for shoulder-season use.

The Arc'teryx Atom Hoody is a lightweight, breathable insulated mid-layer designed for high-output winter activities. It uses Coreloft Compact insulation with stretch fleece side panels for mobility and breathability, though it's not the warmest option and lacks a stash pocket; best as an active mid-layer rather than a standalone outer layer.

The Arc’teryx Atom AR Hoody for women is an exceptionally warm insulated jacket built for cold conditions, with heavy Coreloft insulation and a wind- and weather-resistant shell. It excels in warmth and comfort but is bulky and less breathable, with small hand pockets; best suited for long cold expeditions, alpine missions, and resort winter activities rather than high-output use.

The Atom AR Hoody is one of the warmest insulated jackets tested, built with dense Coreloft insulation to trap heat while still fitting well for layering. It excels as a warmth layer for cold days, skiing, or belay duties due to its comfortable fit and weather-sealing, but it's heavy and not highly breathable, and the price is steep for a non-waterproof shell.

The Beta SL is Arc'teryx's lightweight, high-end rain jacket offering top-tier weatherproofing with a minimal weight and compact packability. It excels in wet conditions and can double as a ski shell, but it comes at a premium price and has a fit that may require careful size selection; maintenance to preserve the DWR is also a consideration.

The Arc'teryx Beta SL is a high-end 3-layer Gore-Tex hardshell rain jacket designed for backcountry use in wet conditions. It delivers superb weather protection and durability with a relatively light weight and packable profile, but it's stiff and pricey, making it best suited for serious backcountry hikers rather than casual day hikers.

Premium, waterproof three-layer Gore-Tex rain shell that prioritizes weather protection and mobility for demanding wet-weather adventures. Helmet-compatible hood, sealed zippers, and a tailored fit deliver full range of motion, but breathability is limited and price is high.

The Storm Racer is Patagonia's ultralight rain shell geared toward trail running and ultramarathons, with versatility extending to day hiking and light climbing. It’s the lightest jacket in GearLab’s test, with exceptional packability and breathability for its weight, though its durability and high price are drawbacks.

Storm Racer is a lightweight, fully waterproof shell designed for mountain and trail running in wet weather. It packs into its chest pocket for easy carry and offers reliable rain protection, but it runs hot and has limited visibility features.

The Storm Racer is a race-day rain shell designed to be worn over a running pack, delivering bombproof weather protection for race conditions. It sacrifices breathability and comfort for water-tight protection, lacks pockets and reflectivity, and comes at a premium price. Best for runners who frequently endure heavy rain during races, but not an everyday training jacket.

Patagonia Torrentshell 3L delivers solid waterproof protection at a value price, using the 3-layer H2No fabric and handy features like a two-way adjustable hood and Velcro cuffs. It’s a reliable rain shell for hiking, climbing, and skiing in wet weather, though it’s a bit stiff and less breathable than some rivals. With stowable packability and PFAS-free construction, it’s a versatile, budget-friendly option for wet conditions.

The Torrentshell 3L is a standout women's rain jacket, delivering top-tier water resistance at a very good value. It performs well in heavy rain and wet conditions, with good breathability and durable construction, though the fabric is stiff and the zippers aren't watertight. It is a bit heavier and less packable than some rivals, but its waterproof performance and build quality make it a reliable long-haul rain jacket for hikers, runners, snowboarders, and cyclists.

A durable, affordable rain shell built with Patagonia’s 3-layer H2No system. It delivers strong waterproof protection and long-lasting construction for daily wear and light day hikes, but its stiff, crinkly fabric and limited pockets reduce comfort and versatility for high-output or backcountry use.

The Patagonia M10 is the lightest hardshell jacket GearLab tested and excels for backpacking thanks to its ultralight weight and tiny pack size. It sacrifices weather protection and breathability for minimalism, has a very small hood and limited features, and Patagonia has discontinued the model. Best as an emergency or dryer-climate shell for backpackers and climbers who prioritize weight over all-weather versatility.

The M10 Storm Women's hardshell is ultralight and packable for fast alpine missions, using a three-layer H2No waterproof/breathable shell with a long cut for mobility. It delivers strong weather protection for its weight and remains comfortable during movement, but the thinner fabric trades durability and warmth in extreme conditions and it lacks underarm vents for heat management.

The Patagonia Storm10 is a very lightweight 3-layer hardshell designed for milder climates and high-output aerobic activities. It’s exceptionally breathable, lightweight, and packable, making it ideal for rain and warm-weather use, though it offers limited wind and cold protection and durability. The hood fits a helmet but is a bit snug, and there are no pit zips with a chest pocket that’s tight to stuff into.

A featherweight hardshell designed for alpine climbs, prioritizes mobility and packability with a lean feature set. It delivers waterproof protection and a helmet-compatible hood, but its ultralight design sacrifices wind protection, pockets, and vents for weight savings, making it less ideal as an everyday rain shell but a strong choice when weight is at a premium for alpine objectives.

Patagonia's M10 Storm Jacket is a lightweight, packable 3-layer hardshell designed for fast-and-light alpine climbing. It provides excellent rain and wind protection for its thin fabric, with surprising stretch and comfort, and packs down to a small volume. The trade-offs are no armpit zips and no hand pockets, which limit ventilation and casual versatility.

Ultralight and incredibly compressible insulated jacket that delivers warmth for its weight and packs down to a pocket-sized package. It’s a go-to for long-distance trail runs, backpacking, and layering around town, with excellent breathability and packability, though it isn’t the warmest option and offers limited wind resistance; it also lacks many features such as cinch cords and has a snug fit through the chest.

The Micro Puff Hoody is an ultralight synthetic insulated jacket that blends down-like warmth with exceptional packability, ideal for fast-and-light alpine missions. It trades durability and weather resistance for weight savings and a minimalist feature set, so it's best as a lightweight midlayer rather than a rugged all-in-one piece.

The Capilene Thermal Weight Bottoms for Women deliver exceptional warmth and breathability in a midweight base layer, thanks to soft Polartec Power Grid fabric and a gusseted crotch for mobility. They excel for high-output cool-to-cold backcountry activities like skinning uphill and climbing, though the see-through fabric may wear less durable over time and odor can linger.

Durable synthetic base layer tested for skiing, hiking, climbing, and snow play, offering a strong warmth-to-wicking balance and fast drying. The high-rise, comfortable fit with flatlock seams layers well under other layers and moves well with activity. A noted drawback is that the fabric tends to hold odor after use.