Hardshell Jackets
Product 2025
Woman, Man
We tested this women’s ski pant alongside the matching Columbia shell jacket of the same name. While the jacket earned a First Award, the Columbia Platinum Peak II 3L Pant unfortunately missed the podium for one single reason: the poorly executed thigh ventilation flap.
Despite being fully waterproof and highly effective in snow and rain—thanks to a well-designed membrane—the designers made the puzzling choice to use non-waterproof zippers for the thigh vents. To compensate, they added a large, unflattering flap over the zipper, which visually increases the volume of the thighs in that area. What a shame. While the jacket features a flawless cut, and 90% of the work on these pants was spot-on, this design misstep undermines the overall appeal.
That said, everything else is top-notch: comfort, waistband fit, waterproof zippers elsewhere, deep pockets, adjustment around ski boots, reinforced cuffs to resist ski edge impacts… the performance is all there.
A women’s ski pant that could have been perfect—if only the thigh ventilation had been better handled.
We used this equipment over a long period of time
These are our thoughts after intensive use:
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