I spend a lot of time in the mountains– but as someone who is obsessed with skiing, it’s usually whenever they’re covered in snow. After a few ski seasons of repeatedly visiting Tignes, my favorite destination in the French Alps, I kept hearing a lot of great things about their summer season. Particularly, how beautiful the landscapes are when they turn green, and also, the possibility of skiing on the Grand Motte glacier– conditions-permitting.

Wearing the Gwen UV Jacket, Gwen UV Pants, and Mollie Baby Tee from Halfdays while hiking in Tignes in the French Alps, one of my favorite ski destinations in winter

I’ll never say no to a ski trip, and after experiencing the second heatwave of the summer in Paris, it felt like the perfect time to seek cooler temperatures at altitude in the mountains. I was already prepared with all of my ski wear and equipment, but when it came to packing for hiking and other outdoor activities in the mountains, I didn’t quite know what to bring.

When I’m not skiing, I’m very much a city girl or a beach girl. But I do love spending time in the outdoors, and it’s something I hope to do more of. So as I prepared for my summer trip to the French Alps, I remembered that one of my favorite skiwear brands Halfdays had expanded their collection into hiking clothes and outdoor activewear. The brand’s mission is one I fully stand behind: to empower more women to get out to the mountains. For years I had already been very impressed with my technical skiwear set from Halfdays, and I figured their outdoor activewear would also be great. And now after wearing and testing several pieces from their spring and summer collections, I can confirm that I was right– it really is great and very versatile.

In this article, I describe everything I love about my Halfdays hiking clothes, the technical properties that really impressed me, how I was able to mix and match styles for maximum versatility, and how I even paired some pieces from the activewear collection with my Halfdays winter ski pants to go skiing on a glacier in the middle of summer!

Halfdays for Outdoor Summertime Activities: My Favorite Features

To be completely honest, I was first drawn to the Halfdays brand for skiwear because the pieces were fun and flattering while still being functional. They’ve made it easy to look cute while practicing my favorite sport, and I’m pleased to report that these same characteristics apply to all the pieces in their spring and summer collection.

Wearing the Gwen UV Jacket, Kara Bra Top, Kara Leggings, and Alessandra Ski Pants from Halfdays while summer glacier skiing in Tignes, France

The technical elements integrated in Halfdays skiwear and activewear allow for optimal performance, comfort, convenience, and reliability. Each piece is designed for specific functionality, or for total versatility. Whether its water-proofing, moisture-wicking, breathability, durability, flexibility, or one of another dozen technical features found within their range, Halfdays has proven they are not messing around when it comes to performance. In more detail below, I discuss the technical features and pieces I was most impressed by.

Halfdays GwenUV: Outdoor Activewear with UPF50

My favorite pieces were from Halfdays’ new GwenUV Collection. I brought the jacket, pants, and skort on my trip and hardly took them off because they each managed to be the perfect piece or layer for a variety of activities in the mountains. Sun exposure is always something I’m concerned about– especially at altitude. I was grateful that the pieces from the GwenUV collection have UPF50 properties while still being breathable, lightweight, moisture-wicking, and fast-drying.

I wore the jacket everywhere– while hiking, playing tennis, walking around the village, and even on the glacier while skiing! Temperatures were relatively warm even on the glacier, so the Gwen UV jacket was an ideal layer for protecting myself from the sun while also allowing for optimal ventilation to stay cool even when I’m building up body heat from skiing. I can confirm that the UV protection works well, because I unfortunately noticed that the backs of my hands got a little sunburned after prolonged, amplified sun exposure while on the glacier and in the mountains, and that I didn’t get burned anywhere else because I was covered by the jacket. It also has convenient features like multiple pockets on either side and at the back, an elastic hem for optional cinching at the hip, and a comfortable collar that provides coverage without ever getting in the way.

The GwenUV pants were so comfortable for hiking. They are also lightweight, breezy, and breathable, and I definitely appreciated how long they are. The pockets are uncomplicated, and they have an elastic waist as well as optional cinching at each of the bottom hems. I also noticed that due to how lightweight the material is, you could also comfortably tuck the pant legs into socks to avoid ticks if you are hiking in a risky area. I loved the pants so much that I also decided to wear them for the seven-hour drive back to Paris from the mountains!

The GwenUV skort was also a versatile piece throughout my trip to Tignes. I wore it while hiking and walking around town, but it was most useful while playing tennis. The skort is essentially a skirt with bike shorts underneath, so it provides the perfect blend of support, security, comfort, and coverage. The hem of the shorts are lined with silicone grips so they stay in place comfortably, and dual sets of pockets were extremely convenient for storing tennis balls or whatever else you may need them for.

Wearing the GWEN UV Jacket, Gwen UV Skort, and Kara Bra Top from Halfdays while playing tennis

Wearing the GWEN UV Jacket, Gwen UV Skort, and Mollie Baby Tee from Halfdays while hiking in the French Alps

Even since returning home from the mountains, I continue to wear the GwenUV jacket and skort all the time when I go to play tennis and padel. Not only are they easy to wear, but they are also easy to wash and will dry quickly– I noticed they are already almost completely dry just from my washing machine’s spin cycle.

Halfdays for Indoor Fitness Activities

I was also particularly impressed by the Kara bra top and leggings, which are made from a specialized material which Halfdays calls brrr°. The technical fabric contains elements that provide a continuous cooling effect in addition to being compressive, smoothing, opaque, and moisture-wicking. I wore the Kara bra top (with the GwenUV jacket and skort) to play tennis in the mountains, and was amazed at its moisture-wicking properties. I was sweating a considerable amount while playing, and when I got back to the hotel I looked in a mirror and noticed that even though the bra top was wet-to-the-touch, it didn’t show at all. Even in the beautiful shade of blue I wore (exact color is Shadow), my sweat was not visible and left no marks.

The Kara bra top and leggings also happened to be the perfect base layers on the mornings I spent skiing on Tignes’ Grand Motte Glacier. Paired with the GwenUV jacket and Alessandra Ski Pants, I was perfectly comfortable in the activewear set and was able to easily regulate my temperature during a unique activity that demanded versatility and reliability. Skiing on a glacier in the summer typically means hauling your ski gear through a sunny village in 70° weather before arriving to a cool 30°-35° at snowy altitude. While wearing the Kara bra top and leggings, I was able to stay cool in the heat and stay warm in the cold.

The Kara bra top and leggings are sold separately, but if you buy both pieces as a set you can instantly save 20% ! Click here to shop

Wearing the Kara Bra Top and Leggings from Halfdays before a quick trail run in the French Alps

Wearing the Kara Active Set from Halfdays to a pilates class in Paris

In addition to being a great set for outdoor activities, the Kara Activewear Set is also ideal for studio fitness classes like pilates and yoga. I’ve been wearing my set to reformer classes in Paris, and find that each piece stays perfectly in place throughout each session. The soft material allows for a full, unrestricted range of motion while still feeling supportive and never stretching out.

Halfdays for Every Day

Beyond being functional, technical, and comfortable, all the pieces from Halfdays spring and summer collections are flattering and cute! Because the quality is high and everything is easy to wear, Halfdays activewear is practical enough to be worn everyday– while running errands, while bopping around town, or while out to lunch or coffee before or after working out.

I also wore the Mollie Baby Tee and the Ynes Long Sleeve Top throughout my trip to the French Alps. While they look like normal, cute tops, they also feature technical properties like four-way stretch, moisture-wicking, and quick-dry fabrics.

Wearing the GWEN UV Jacket, Gwen UV Skort, and Mollie Baby Tee from Halfdays in Tignes le Lac in the French Alps

Wearing the Ynes Long Sleeve top from Halfdays as a lightweight layer for summer glacier skiing in Tignes

The Mollie Baby Tee has an impressive amount of stretch without ever stretching out. For many years I had avoided the baby tee look because I have broad shoulders, and I used to feel like as soon as put on a tight t-shirt it would look stretched out and unflattering. But because of the way the Halfdays Mollie Baby Tee is constructed with high quality performance fabric, the fit stays flattering whether I’m wearing it casually around town or repeatedly over multiple days of hiking and outdoor activities in the mountains.

I also fell in love with the Ynes Long Sleeve Top during my trip to the French Alps. I wore it as a lightweight layer under my GwenUV jacket while skiing on the glacier, and kept it on as I went about the rest of my day around the village and also while lounging back at the hotel. The performance fabric is incredibly soft and the smocked, stretchy construction makes it unbelievably comfortable. The ruched detailing and ruffled edging has become a signature of Halfdays’ spring and summer collections, and to me, it represents everything I love about the brand: being functional, flattering, and fun. I definitely feel cute and comfortable while wearing it, and now I also have my eye on the short-sleeved version: the Ynes Tank.

Where to Buy Halfdays Activewear

Wearing The Gwen UV Jacket and Gwen UV Pants from Halfdays while hiking in the French Alps

You can shop the full spring and summer Halfdays activewear collections on their website, Halfdays.com. For the most color options and for the full range of inclusive sizes, their website is definitely the best place to shop. Select items of activewear can also be found at retailers like REI, Backcountry, Dick’s Sporting Goods, and Nordstrom.

If happen to be in the Denver area, you can also shop in person at the Halfdays Flagship Store located at 2609 Walnut Street, Denver CO, 80205, or use their store locator tool by clicking here to find other retailers near you. For shoppers based in Europe, placing orders directly on their website is currently the best option, though they will be expanding into more European retailers in the near future!

I’ve found that Halfdays runs true-to-size, and all the pieces I own from them are in my normal size small: everything from the skiwear, to the studio sets, and the hiking clothing. For any specific questions regarding sizing, shipping, returns, and product warranty, you can refer to the FAQ page on their website by clicking here.

Shop all the Halfdays Activewear I wore on my summer trip to the French Alps:

Wearing the Gwen UV Jacket from Halfdays during my Summer Ski Trip to TIgnes Grand Motte Glacier

As a beginner hiker and avid skier, I am grateful that Halfdays has created their range of spring and summer outdoor hiking clothing. While outfitted in key pieces from their core activewear collection, I felt well-equipped and prepared for my summer trip to ski and hike in the French Alps. Halfdays’ mission to make the mountains more accessible to women is clearly visible in their innovative products, and it’s also evident in the strong sense of community they’ve developed around their brand.

Feeling supported both by their reliable outdoor apparel and by the community of the hundreds of thousands of women they’ve inspired to get outdoors is comforting and reassuring, and I’m excited to continue wearing my Halfdays pieces on many more adventures to come.

Are you a fan of Halfdays or have any questions about my experience skiing or hiking in their apparel? Let me know in the comments below! To read the full review of my Halfdays winter skiwear, click here.

Wearing the Ynes Top from Halfdays during my Summer Ski Trip to TIgnes Grand Motte Glacier

About the author

Meet Carina Otero, avid skier and the creator of She is Not Lost, an online community for celebrating female travelers and a blog providing helpful tips, useful information, and inspiration for your future travels. Carina’s passion for skiing and love of writing and photography have inspired a new blog to share her experiences and personal favorites relating to the sport:

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CARINA OTERO, AUTHOR OF THE SKI IS NOT LOST BLOG

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