15 Best Hiking Jackets For Women [2023 Update]

. Hiking jackets for women are more than just a fashion choice. 

It’s what’s on the inside that matters, said no one on a hike ever. When you’re up in the mountains, you need to be in the best outerwear that will keep you warm, dry, and comfortable, so before your hike, it’s important you know what women’s hiking jackets are out there. 

There are many factors to consider when choosing to purchase a women’s hiking coat. 

• Does it keep you warm or help you stay cool?
•  Is it waterproof?
•  Is it going to take up space in your backpack? 

Let WWB writer and avid hiker Sarah tell you what are some of the best hiking jackets for women, no matter your preference – whether it’s for something budget, lightweight, waterproof or stylish. 

If you’re completely new, fret not, we’ll also go through the types of hiking coats for women and what to look out for when looking for one so you don’t get fleeced into paying too much for something that doesn’t meet your hiking needs.  

DISCLOSURE

Some of the links on here are affiliate links, and I may earn if you click on them, AT NO EXTRA cost to you. I hope you find the information here useful! Thanks.

Best Hiking Jackets For Women

1. Arc’teryx Beta SL Hybrid Jacket Women’s

2. Columbia Women’s Ampli-Dry™ Waterproof Shell Jacket 

3. CAMEL CROWN Women’s Waterproof 3-in-1 Ski Jacket

Best Budget Hiking Jackets For Women

1. Decathlon Quechua Women’s Nature Hiking Waterproof Jacket NH500 

2. Diamond Candy Women’s Waterproof Lightweight Rain and Hiking Jacket

3. Lock and Love Women’s Ultra Lightweight Packable Down Jacket with Removable Hoodie

Best Lightweight Hiking Jackets For Women

1. Arc’teryx Zeta SL Gore-Tex Jacket

2. Outdoor Research Women’s Helium Rain Jacket

3. Little Donkey Andy Women’s Waterproof Rain Shell Jacket

Best Women’s Waterproof Hiking Jacket

1. Marmot Women’s Precip Lightweight Waterproof Rain Jacket

2. Columbia Women’s Arcadia II Jacket

3. REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket – Women’s

Best Stylish Hiking Jackets For Women

1. North Face Women’s Dryzzle FutureLight Jacket 

2. Marmot Minimalist Jacket – Women’s 

3. Arc’teryx Kyanite Hoody Women’s 

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Best Hiking Jackets For Women 

1. Arc’teryx Beta SL Hybrid Jacket Women’s

If you’re looking for the best women’s walking jacket, then your search ends with the Arc’teryx Beta SL Hybrid Jacket Women’s. This hardshell jacket is waterproof thanks to its combination of two different GORE-TEX fabrics. 

If you only had space for one hiking jacket then the Arc’teryx Beta SL Hybrid Jacket Women’s is it. 

Weighing in at 300g it is extremely lightweight despite its many impressive features and would fit easily into any backpack. 

It may have a steep price tag but it is well worth every dollar, promising versatility no matter what your hiking demands are and whichever activities you choose. 

What’s Great:

• Premium quality
• Breathable
• Ultralight 
• Trim, slim fit

What’s Not:

• Expensive

2. Columbia Women’s Ampli-Dry™ Waterproof Shell Jacket 

If you’re looking for a waterproof hardshell jacket that is breathable, the Columbia Women’s Ampli-Dry™ Waterproof Shell Jacket’s Omni-Tech technology makes this one of the best ladies walking coats out there, ensuring you feel dry from inside out. 

If that’s not enough, this jacket also comes with underarm zips to help you keep your pits well-ventilated and to better regulate your body temperature when it gets too warm.

Besides being amazing on a hike, this jacket is extremely lightweight and stylish, making it perfect as a women’s outdoor walking jacket.

What’s Great:

• Comfort stretch
• Underarm venting
• Drawcord, adjustable hood with peripheral adjustment
• Zippered hand and chest pockets

What’s Not: 

• Sleeve length may be too short for taller ladies with longer limbs

3. CAMEL CROWN Women’s Waterproof 3-in-1 Ski Jacket

For the light packer who doesn’t want to deal with multiple jackets on a more temperate hike, the CAMEL CROWN Women’s Waterproof 3-in-1 Ski Jacket combines the functions of a waterproof rain jacket and hiking fleece for women.

Its windproof shell and inner warm fleece layer provide double the warmth. If you prefer one of the other, it’s completely up to you because the layers can also be worn separately. 

The versatility makes it great for almost any activity, whether it’s for hiking, skiing, camping, or everyday use. The outer rain jacket is great as a Spring walking jacket and the inner layer could serve as a ladies walking fleece.

What’s Great:

• 3-in-1 so it saves space
• Secure inner pocket with fixture holes for earphones
• Adjustable waist for a slim, fitted look
• Detachable hood

What’s Not:

• Model 4150-18 sizing runs small so you may need to size up
• The hoodie may be too big for petite ladies
• Not sufficient for extremely cold winter temperatures 

Best Budget Hiking Jackets For Women

1. Decathlon Quechua Women’s Nature Hiking Waterproof Jacket NH500 

Now we know budget and best hiking jackets womens don’t quite signal confidence for some, but we assure you the Decathlon Quechua Women’s Nature Hiking Waterproof Jacket NH500 is a good women’s outdoor walking jacket.

It is amazingly high-quality and is waterproof, breathable, and lightweight. All while being value-for-money. 

The Decathlon Quechua Women’s Nature Hiking Waterproof Jacket NH500 isn’t too stifling as a waterproof jacket, with ventilation zones at the top of the back and pleats at the base of the back, giving you room when you sit.

What’s Great:

• Extremely wallet-friendly for a ladies waterproof hiking jacket
• Can be converted into a shoulder bag 
• Eco-designed to reduce impact 
• Guaranteed for two years

What’s Not:

• Fit not as flattering
• Sleeves might be long for some
• Only good for short day hikes not longer trips

2. Diamond Candy Women’s Waterproof Lightweight Rain and Hiking Jacket

This softshell jacket is heavy-duty despite its light price tag. It is wind-resistant, waterproof, and also has a fleece inner layer that will keep you warm when the weather gets colder. 

The Diamond Candy Women’s Waterproof Lightweight Rain and Hiking Jacket is water-repellent so it is great for hikes in rainier climates, allowing the rainwater to roll right off. 

What’s Great:

• Value-for-money
• Wind-resistant
• Pockets are deep and come with zippers and flaps for added protection

What’s Not:

• Only suitable for temperatures above 30°F / -1ºC
• Might need to size up if you intend to wear more layers under

3. Lock and Love Women’s Ultra Lightweight Packable Down Jacket with Removable Hoodie

A good down jacket hardly comes cheap but the Lock and Love Women’s Ultra Lightweight Packable Down Jacket with Removable Hoodie defies that logic. 

The jacket is extremely soft and lightweight for a down jacket and keeps you warm and toasty in chilly weather. 

While we don’t advise wearing it on its own if hiking because it is not waterproof, this makes for a decent women’s winter walking coat on those days that are slightly warmer.

What’s Great:

• Cute colours and design
• Removable hood
• Cozy, warm collar
• Lightweight and compressible into a small pouch
• Slim, flattering cut

What’s Not:

• Fabric and seams not as durable
• Slim cut might not be suitable for curvier ladies 
• Requires additional layers for colder and wetter weather 

Best Lightweight Hiking Jackets For Women

1. Arc’teryx Zeta SL Gore-Tex Jacket

Designed as an emergency shell for hiking, the Arc’teryx Zeta SL Gore-Tex Jacket is superlight, weighing 270g so you’ll definitely have space for it in your hiking backpack. Outside of a hike, it doubles up as a great lightweight women’s walking jacket.

Equipped with GORE-TEX Paclite Plus technology, the Arc’teryx Zeta SL Gore-Tex Jacket is 100% waterproof, windproof yet breathable. Its taped seams also add to its weather proofness. 

What’s Great:

• Super lightweight
• Premium quality
• Waterproof
• Gusseted underarms for ease of arm movement and comfort 

What’s Not:

• Expensive
• No underarm vents 
• Watertight pocket zippers are water resistant but not waterproof 

2. Outdoor Research Women’s Helium Rain Jacket

Weighing a barely-there 159g, this jacket is both lightweight and waterproof, making it one of the best women’s lightweight hiking jackets for backpacking. It is fully seam-taped so it ensures you stay dry but is still breathable and promises comfort. 

The Outdoor Research Women’s Helium Rain Jacket also comes with Diamond Fuse technology making it extremely tear-resistant and lightweight, even more so than previous versions.

Its AquaGuard zippers, drawcord hem, and elastic cuffs keep wind and moisture out, ensuring comfort on your hike despite chilly weather. 

What’s Great:

• Ultra lightweight 
• Reflective logos
• Extremely durable

What’s Not:

• No hand pockets only one at the chest
• No underarm vents

3. Little Donkey Andy Women’s Waterproof Rain Shell Jacket

The Little Donkey Andy Women’s Waterproof Rain Shell Jacket is a lightweight and waterproof shell coming in at 388g that works great for travel, hiking, camping, or fishing. 

For its price point, it holds up its own against more premium contenders. It is windproof and extremely waterproof, coming with seam tapes to prevent leaks and to ensure you stay dry. 

What’s Great:

• Value-for-money
• Zippered pockets both inside and outside for functionality
• Non-detachable hood can be tucked away
• Good fit 

What’s Not:

• Hood is slightly shallow
• Zipper not as durable
• Sizing runs small so may need to size up

Best Women’s Waterproof Hiking Jackets 

1. Marmot Women’s Precip Lightweight Waterproof Rain Jacket

You’ll find that the Marmot Women’s Precip Lightweight Waterproof Rain Jacket is one of the best women’s waterproof walking jackets around with its waterproof NanoPro fabric.

The fabric is great at preventing water from getting in, but also allows moisture out, ensuring breathability while keeping you dry no matter your activity levels. 

What’s Great:

• Waterproof 
• Breathable
• Hood can be stowed away into the collar
• Adjustable sleeves with velcro tabs
• Flattering fit

What’s Not:

• Sizing runs small, so size up
• Pricey for a rain jacket 

2. Columbia Women’s Arcadia II Jacket

The Columbia Women’s Arcadia II Jacket holds up as a good waterproof walking jacket for women. Equipped with Omni-Tech™ technology, the jacket is waterproof but also ensures breathability. 

To keep water out, the seams are fully sealed.

 For ladies with long, flowing locks, the permanently-attached hoods with toggles are a godsend, allowing you to keep your hood well in place to ensure your hair stays dry even if the weather doesn’t. 

What’s Great: 

• Value-for-money
• Good for short day hikes
• Hand pockets are easily accessible 
• Storm flaps keep water at bay

What’s Not:

• No underarm vents
• Might not be suitable for more extensive hiking
• Can be bulky and noisy when moving around

3. REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket – Women’s

Great for those rainy, windy days on your hike, the REI Co-op Rainier Rain Jacket – Women’s is windproof up to 60mph, which is a really strong wind you probably never want to be in. So we’re sure it holds up, a great women hiking jacket.

Besides its 2.5 layer recycled ripstop nylon shell that keeps you dry from the rain, it also comes with sealed seams, a drawcord hem, and hook-and-loop cuffs for a fully-waterproof experience. 

What’s Great:

• Good value
• High-quality laminate waterproofing used 
• Has underarm vents
• Packs into its own pouch on left pocket

What’s Not:

• Mainly water resistant except for zippers
• Not as durable

Best Stylish Hiking Jackets For Women

1. North Face Women’s Dryzzle FutureLight Jacket 

North Face’s Women’s Dryzzle FutureLight Jacket is a lightweight, waterproof, windproof, breathable rain jacket that transits well between a hiking environment or everyday life back home, with its chic shades like Misty Jade and Dark Grey Heather. 

The jacket provides the functionality of hand pockets but keeps it low-profile, just like its discreet zipper. The resulting look is a fitted, sleek, stylish finish that you don’t usually get with such jackets.

It has also come in vibrant colours such as Cayenne Red and Blue Wing Teal, and the brand seems to constantly refresh this classic with new shades so you might want to keep this jacket on your radar if you’ve been searching high and low for something fashionable yet functional. 

What’s Great:

• Sleek, flattering cut 
• Made of soft, recycled fabrics 
• Discreet centre zipper and cuffs 
• Hood is fully adjustable 
• Machine washable 

What’s Not:

• Light Misty Jade colour stain easily.
• Stiff material does not provide much mobility 
• No underarm vents 

2. Marmot Minimalist Jacket – Women’s 

True to its name, the Marmot Minimalist Jacket – Women’s looks simple, stylish, and sleek and holds up in light, rainy weather with its 3-layer Gore-Tex Paclite fabric. 

The jacket is comfortable and its inner lining is soft despite being quite thick, so you can be assured of comfort when wearing this for extended periods. 

What’s Great:

• Underarm pit zips help release heat
• Articulated fit at elbows promote movement
• Easily packable 
• Deep pockets 

What’s Not:

• Material rustles quite a bit with movement 
• Zippers are not waterproof 
• Not as water repellent and waterproof for a rain jacket
• Doesn’t pack into a pouch or its pocket 

3. Arc’teryx Kyanite Hoody Women’s 

The Arc’teryx Kyanite Hoody Women’s stands out as a women’s walking fleece jacket for its flattering and stylish cut, as well as its eye-catching Hyperspace colour. 

While most people think of fleece as an inner layer, this fleece jacket is far too stylish to be relegated inside. 

Functionally, it is extremely durable with its Polartec fabric technology which provides you with stretch, warmth, and breathability. 

What’s Great:

• Durable
• Flattering cut 
• Gusseted underarms for mobility
• Versatile 

What’s Not:

• Pricier for a fleece jacket
• Sleeves might be short for taller ladies with longer limbs 
• Zipper tends to slide down if not zipped up fully

What To Look Out For When Buying A Hiking Jacket for Women

Now that you’ve seen some of the best hiking jackets women’s out there, you might have an inkling of what makes for a good hiking jacket. 

Here are some factors on what to look for in a lightweight hiking jacket:

• Waterproof — Weather conditions are notoriously unpredictable on hikes so it is always good to err on the side of caution and be prepared for wet weather. Check that it should be waterproof and not just water-resistant. 

• Lightweight — If you are going to be hiking for long hours, you’ll want your backpack to be as light as possible. The lighter a jacket, the less it contributes to your load. 

• Breathable — Your jacket should do its job of keeping water out, but it shouldn’t keep sweat in. A good hiking jacket should be breathable because sweat is inevitable when you’re scaling those peaks. 

• Pockets — I don’t know about you, but having more pockets is never a bad thing. You can tuck your hands in them when chilly or if your hands are tired. Sometimes you may also need to occasionally scramble on your hike, and jacket pockets are great for keeping your hands free of items. 

• Windproof — We often think of weather conditions in the form of temperature but forget about the wind. Ensure your jacket is adequately windproof so you don’t feel the chill right in your bones when a strong gust of wind blows past.

• Fit — A good hiking jacket should fit well and comfortably, and allow for your arms to move freely without riding up. There should also be space for you to layer, depending on how warm/cold your hiking conditions are. 

How Do I Choose A Hiking Jacket?

So you know what to look out for and know how to tell a good jacket apart, the next step is to think about your hike itself to best decide which jacket would work best for you.

How to choose womens coats for hiking, you ask?

In deciding which hiking jacket to choose, you should consider the following:

• What is the overall climate during the hike?
• Does the temperature change drastically at the summit and during the descent?
• How much space do you have in your backpack?
• Are you looking to reduce the weight of your backpack?
• Is there anticipated rainy weather?
• Will you experience strong winds?

Once you’ve thought about these questions, you’ll be able to better decide which jacket works best for you. 

For example, if the temperature changes quite drastically during a hike, it would be best to consider bringing along multiple types of jackets so you can shed or put on more layers when the weather calls for it. Jackets with underarm vents would also be great to consider for warmer climates.

Also, given the unpredictability of mountain weather, you should always ensure you have at least one durable, waterproof jacket or shell on hand. 

Types Of Hiking Jackets 

You’ve seen the terms fleece, down and hardshell being used in this article — these are types of hiking jackets that serve different purposes. 

The key ones you’ll need to know for your next hike are:

1. Hardshell Jackets

This is your base layer of protection against the elements. 

Often they come with special fabric technology such as Gore-Tex to ensure that they are waterproof or water-repellant. Hardshell jackets also typically protect you against the wind.

2. Softshell Jackets 

As its name suggests, softshell jackets are softer and likely more breathable than a hardshell jacket. Such jackets are good for spring and balmy weather, but usually need to be supplemented if the weather gets colder, wet, or becomes more erratic.

3. Fleece Jackets 

If your hike will get chilly then you will want to include a fleece jacket in your hiking kit. Fleece jackets have the feel of wool but are usually made up of synthetic wool which helps keep you nice and toasty when the temperature drops.

Similar to softshell jackets, they are not usually waterproof and will need to be supplemented with a waterproof hardshell or rain jacket. 

4. Down Jackets 

Down jackets consist of down feathers which help keep you warm on a hike. Usually known as puff jackets, down jackets are extremely insulating though they are usually not waterproof. 

If a down jacket gets wet, its insulation goes down. In such cases, you’ll need a waterproof hardshell over your down if you foresee wet weather or damp hiking conditions. 

Here’s a video on down jackets to help you choose!

5. Rain Jackets 

These are usually very lightweight and can be used for casual day hikes which may see a touch of rain or regular everyday use. 

Some rain jackets do come with the ability to withstand torrential weather conditions though this is the exception rather than the norm usually. 

What Makes A Great Hiking Jacket?

• Warmth
• Water Resistance
• Packability

Warmth

As a general rule, thin, lightweight shell jackets are suitable for the majority of weather situations. If the temperature drops, you can easily add more layers.

However, while considering jacket alternatives for hiking, we need something that not only keeps you warm when you are in camp where you are most likely doing a minimal activity but also will not make you too hot when you are moving around.

When it comes to this, the advice would be not to just buy a jacket as a stand-alone item. Instead, you must consider it as a component of a layering strategy.

Simply said, a layering strategy is using a variety of layers to provide variable degrees of warmth and relying on one thick, heavy layer that is only useful in certain circumstances.

As much as a great hiking jacket may be sufficient in providing warmth, consider layering for optimal protection. 

Water Resistance

No two hiking coats for women have the same degree of water resistance.

Even if a women’s hiking jacket is labeled as water-resistant, it does not guarantee the fact that you will be kept dry when it rains.

Packability

The last thing you would want is to hog around extra bags because your jackets would not fit well in your bag. 

When you are traveling as well as hiking, it could be a real worry how simply you can pack your jacket. Others can be fairly big and take up space in your backpack, although some shells and down jackets are made to fit into tight spaces.

So keep this factor in mind when you are picking out your next jacket. 

Conclusion

Shopping for hiking jackets for women can be an overwhelming experience, with its plethora of functions, designs, colours, and types, but hey we’ve just given you 15 of the best women’s hiking jackets you’ll be able to consider for your next hike. 

Everyone has different priorities when it comes to choosing their clothing, whether its fashion or function. 

Most jackets have a good mix of both to varying degrees so you’ll need to see which features you prioritise more to decide which works best for you. 

We hope the article has taken the headache and hassle of researching a good hiking jacket for women, and makes it easier for you as you prepare for your next adventure. 

Regardless of your outerwear choices, stay warm, dry, and safe on that hike! 

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