Professional Ski Expert

Best Girls Ski Jackets (Junior Size)

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There is a multitude of great kids’ ski jackets on the market these days. Your youngster should definitely be the one to pick the style — they’re the ones that’ll have to feel comfortable and “cool” wearing it — but you should make sure that the jacket fulfills the basic quality requirements. Jackets should always be at least water-repellant, or better yet, water-resistant and even better waterproof.

The best combination is waterproof and breathable. You may find some very cheap jackets that are labeled “waterproof” but there may be little to no breathability. What will happen is that the fabric may keep the water out, but it will also keep the sweat in. That moisture, especially on a jacket with cheap insulation, will soon feel uncomfortable and your child will likely become chilled.

“Waterproof” means that water droplets are prevented from entering the fabric, whereas “breathable” means that water vapor will be able to move back out through the fabric. There are actually US standards for what can be determined as waterproof or breathable. Breathability is measured in grams (grams of water vapor per square meter of fabric per 24 hour period) and waterproofness is measured in millimeters (amount of water, in mm, that can be suspended above the fabric before water seeps through). Without getting too technical here, the rule for both is, the higher the numbers the better.

Water-resistant and water-repellent fabrics generally breathe better than the full-on waterproof versions. However, some of the water-resistant jackets listed here will do a great job keeping the moisture out, while some of the waterproof jackets offer exceptionally high breathability. If your kid only does a two-hour ski lesson once a week, a water-resistant jacket will do the job, even in heavy snow or rain (but who wants to ski in the rain anyways…)

Zippers can be the weak spots on any jacket and therefore the best jackets offer fully sealed seams. However, zippers can also make a big difference in how breathable the jacket will be as they can be opened to let more fresh air inside. Also, make sure the jacket has good cuffs at wrists and waistline because they will seal the jacket and prevent cold air and snow from coming in.

Hoods are great and ideally you should be able to roll them up or just have the ability to take them off when they’re not needed. Hoods that can’t be detached or stuffed inside the collar can become filled with snow or rain.

Last but not least, fit is very important. Your girl should be able to move freely when wearing her jacket and not be restricted. Don’t buy the jackets too baggy though, because they’ll get in the way of good form.

Best Girls Ski Jackets (Junior Size) by Dino Haak

The Best You Can Get

The North Face: Girls Kira Triclimate Jacket

Dino says: The North Face is known for making highly functional and very durable gear that will last a long time and do a great job protecting against wind and weather. What I really like about this jacket is that has two layers, a waterproof and breathable outer shell as well as a soft, moisture-wicking fleece liner. Together, the two layers will keep her warm big time, but should things get a bit too toasty, all she’ll need to do is to take out the liner and use the shell by itself. Or even better, on a dry, warm day, she can just use the liner by itself. She’ll definitely stay dry wearing this one, because not only is it highly waterproof, all seams are sealed as well. The collar of the jacket is lined softly and will keep her neck warm, even in minus temperatures. The jacket also comes with elastic, Velcro adjustable cuffs, and useful pockets inside and out. A powder skirt keeps the snow out should she partake in a wipe-out. The Girl’s Kira Triclimate Jacket is available in the color combinations Bliss Blue, Fresh Green, and Black.
- Waterproof and breathable shell
- 3-in-1 design (shell and liner can be worn together or separately)
- Warm and soft collar lining
- Hand-warmer, media, and goggle pockets
- Sealed seams
The North Face: Girls Kapow Ski Triclimate Jacket

Dino says: Another awesome jacket from The North Face! I get the sense that the company seems to be emphasizing functionality over fashion statement, and I personally like the sporty looks of The Kapow jacket. This is another jacket that comes with a 3-in-1 feature: she can wear the shell alone, the liner alone, or both together. The fleece liner is soft, comfy and warm, can be worn by itself on dry, warmer days, and looks pretty cool by itself. All the Kapow jacket’s seams are fully sealed, the jacket is waterproof and breathes well. It has a hood that can be taken off, packed separately or stored in a pocket. The available pockets are: hand-warmer pockets, a goggle pocket, and a media pocket for the ooh so important cell phone or mp3 player. This is a jacket you see a lot here in the Northwest, and one that I can fully recommend. Available in Bliss Blue, Pop Pink, and Black.
- 3-in-1 design (shell and liner can be worn together or separately)
- Removable hood
- Waterproof and breathable
- Many pockets
- Lightweight
Spyder Girls Diamond Jacket

Dino says: One of my students has the White-Black version of this jacket, wears it with black pants, and from my European perspective, looks very chic in the outfit. This is really one of my favorite jackets looks-wise. The jacket is form-fitting, has an athletic yet, classy, stylish look to it. A soft inner wrist cuff lining prevents chafed skin and makes for a very comfortable wear. With its breathable and waterproof shell, zip-off hood, and taped seams, it provides amazing functionality. Add numerous pockets (including goggle and credit card pockets), as well as an amazingly soft satin lining to the mix and you have a jacket that easily deserves to be among the top five rated (by yours truly) out there. Available styles are Peridot-Black, White-Black, Blue Mist-White, Siren-Black, Black-Black, and Olive-Peridot.
- Zip-off hood
- Waterproof and breathable
- Taped seams
- Satin lining
- Very chic
Spyder Girls Kismet Jacket

Dino says: Another strong showing from Spyder! This jacket has it all. It is exceptionally warm, and has exceptionally high waterproofness and breathability ratings! It has a removable hood, and underarm ventilation zippers provide the airflow needed to cool down on warmer days. Taped seams keep the moisture out. Definitely has the Spyder quality and stylish look I like so much too. The Kismet jacket comes with lots of pockets, a comfortably lined collar and Velcro adjustable cuffs to seal in the warmth and keep out snow and cold wind. The Girls’ Kismet jacket really looks good! You should definitely consider it, especially if your girl is looking for style and you want her to have all the functionality that can come with it. It is available in quite a few color combinations: Lilac-Chill Blueprint-Snow, Voodoo-Snow-Lilac, Snow-Lime-Tart, Bittersweet-Snow-Mandarin, and Tart-Snow-Tart.
- Very high waterproofness and breathability ratings
- Detachable hood
- Stylish look
- Underarm zippers for better airflow
- Warm!
Obermeyer Girls Voltage Jacket

Dino says: Obermeyer jackets, in my opinion, look good! They look expensive, but can be had for very competitive prices, and the Obermeyer Girls’ Voltage jacket is no different. It looks sharp, is very functional, warm, breathable, and waterproof with fully sealed seams. The shell has been treated with a stain-resistant fabric protector, which is a real big bonus, especially when you do a lot of skiing in areas that still use chair-lifts from the '70s or earlier (which we have a lot of on Snoqualmie Pass). When it rains or the snow is heavy those older lifts tend to drip oil from all moving parts near the rope, and jackets and pants just get hit like you wouldn’t believe. Luckily, we have a black instructor uniform, but one of my little girls was so upset by the oil stains on her new light green jacket (not a Voltage jacket) that she did not want to come up and ski anymore (she did again, but wearing a new, dark brown jacket). No troubles like this with the Voltage, because it is very likely to repel that oil assault! The Voltage jacket has a multitude of useful pockets (hand-pockets, a cell phone pocket, a pocket for mp3 players, and a mesh goggle pocket). It also features a detachable hood and comfy fleece-lined collar. You can buy it in the colors Sunset, Fire Red, Cancun, Ultramarine, and Parrot.
- Stain-resistant fabric protector coating
- Waterproof and breathable
- Lots of pockets
- Very stylish look

You will be happy with any of these

Obermeyer Girls Amp Jacket

Dino says: This is a very good, highly functional jacket with nice styling. Waterproof and breathable fabric (as you can tell this is pretty much a must in a good jacket!), lightweight, but warm insulation, plus a durable fabric protector coating will keep this jacket looking good until she outgrows it (and then it’ll probably still look good!). The Amp jacket has articulated elbows for more freedom of movement and adjustable sleeve cuffs to keep the warmth in and the cold out. All important and exposed seams are sealed with an additional windflap on the front zipper. The Amp jacket also has a powder skirt that, like the cuffs, will keep the warmth in and the powder out. There are lots of pockets on this one also (including an electronics pocket with a wire port, an Mp3 pocket, a phone pocket, and a mesh goggle pocket). When the hood is not needed, it can be simply zipped-off and stored in one of the coat’s many pockets. This is one of my favorite choices and a jacket that I have recommended to my little lady students (or their parents).

Colors are: Sunset, Fire Red, Cancun, Ultramarine, and Parrot.
- Waterproof and breathable
- Zip-off hood
- Lots of pockets
- Sealed seams
- Articulated elbows
Marmot Northshore 3-in-1 Jacket Girls

Dino says: The first thing I noticed about this jacket is how light it is, even including its removable fleece liner. It is well-made, waterproof, and breathable. And with the removable liner, it is also very versatile. The Marmot Northshore is another jacket that comes with the 3-in-1 feature; wear the shell alone, the liner alone, or both together. The fleece liner can be zipped out quickly and looks cool by itself. The jacket has a roll-up hood that is stored in the collar. The front zipper is covered by a storm-flap to protect from wind and weather. Generally when it is cold, you’ll want to cover as much of your face as possible.What happens though is that once you pull the collar over your mouth for protection the front will get wet from your breath. This jacket has special liner material at chin level to help move the moisture to the outer layers for quick evaporation. Make sure to try it on in the store, as the medium was much larger than the medium size of other jackets. Comes in Azalea/White, Oasis/Sierra.
- 3-in-1 system
- Waterproof, breathable, and durable
- Storm-flap on front zipper
- Roll-up hood
- Quick-drying material at chin level
Orage Juliette 2 Jacket

Dino says: I really like the way the Orage jacket looks! The company Orage has been around since 1989 (news to me), with offices located in the US, Canada, and France. As I have learned now, Orage products ooze with quality. They also have unique look to them in my opinion, and the Juliette 2 jacket is just great! The jacket is waterproof and breathable with all seams sealed. It comes with armpit vents for better airflow and lots and lots of pockets (four on the outside, two on the inside including goggle pocket, mp3 player pockets). The hood is removable and collar and sleeve cuffs are lined with soft fleece for comfort. Underneath the shell, you’ll find a moisture-wicking liner and a powder skirt to seal it off. Small armpit zippers provide more than adequate ventilation. There are lots of different colors available for this one: White Stripes/Light Concrete, Light Concrete/Flower Plaid White, Dark Chocolate/Flower Plaid Dark, and Burgundy/Stripes White.
- Waterproof and breathable
- Removable hood
- Sealed seams
- Armpit zippers for good ventilation
- Moisture-wicking micro-fleece lining
The Salomon Bonfire Posie Girls Jacket

Dino says: Simple, affordable, functional. That is how I would sum up the Bonfire Posie. I really like this jacket, because it looks unusual with its unique posie print. It comes with all the essentials, and it is one of the best deals out there. The necessary waterproof and breathable fabric, the warm insulation, it is all there. You also get a very soft and comfy fleece lining. Two of my junior ski girls have this jacket and love it. It comes in the colors Ink, Silk, and Petal.
- Unusual color design
- Warm
- Waterproof and breathable
- Soft fleece liner
- Very affordable
Orage Jada Jacket

Dino says: Another amazing jacket from Orage. It has seven (yes, seven) exterior pockets and two interior pockets. Will she need that many pockets? She will. Most of my girls always carry half their belongings with them, including cell-phones (lots of texting going on in the chair-lift. You wouldn’t believe it!), Mp3 players (not on the slopes!), lip balm, lots of candy, sunscreen, you name it. With this jacket there there’ll be room for all of that! In addition to the numerous pockets, the jacket also features a zip-off hood, underarm vent zippers, a powder skirt, seamed seals, and a cool style. Really, all she needs. And of course, it is highly waterproof and breathable. It may not be easy to find, but the highly functional design and great looking style is hard to beat. I saw the White version and I was impressed!
- 9 pockets total
- Waterproof and breathable
- Zip-off hood
- Underarm ventilation zippers