After hearing so much hype about the Halfdays brand, I was curious about the fit and functionality of their skiwear. The women-founded brand seeks to make the mountains more welcoming to women who embrace the outdoors on their own terms— which is a mission I can fully stand behind.

Wearing the Aston Jacket and Alessandra Pants from Halfdays in Levi, Finland

I first came across the Halfdays brand on Instagram, and happened to be in the market for a high-visibility ski outfit that I could wear specifically on powder days, on days when I plan on venturing off-piste, or on days that I’ll be taking snow safety or avalanche courses and want to be taken seriously by the instructor (a story for another time). I found out that Halfdays had a pop-up in NYC when I was visiting last spring, and was excited to be able to try their pieces on in person before purchasing them for my next ski trip in Finland where I could really put them to the test.

I’m happy to report that I loved the Aston Jacket and Alessandra Pants— they lived up to the hype, performed well, and were exactly what I was looking for. Read on for more details on my favorite features, and an update on how they’ve held up after several ski seasons.

My Favorite Halfdays Aston Ski Jacket Features

There are a lot of functional ski jackets on the market, but it was nice to find one that also looked great and was more true to my personal style. I love belted ski jackets for their flattering fit and for the extra warmth I feel from having a tighter fit around my core, and the Aston Jacket really spoke to everything I was looking for. The jacket has all the pockets you could possibly need for a day on the slopes, and the added functionality of zippered vents, a tall collar, and a big hood are nice bonuses. The belt is comfortable, adjustable, and the latch closes securely. The length of the jacket is both flattering and functional, and the monochrome styling keeps the look sleek, even if you choose a bright or bold color like I did.

When it comes to judging warmth of a ski jacket or pant I typically have a hard time offering a recommendation, because there are so many factors that change day-to-day that will determine if someone feels warm or cold while skiing— is it windy? Are you skiing in fresh powder? Is the resort flat and requires you to traverse a lot? Are you taking a lot of breaks to wait for other skiers in your group? Is the resort crowded and you find yourself waiting in long lines in the shade to get on the lifts? How active you are on a particular day will contribute a lot to how hot or cold you feel while skiing, so finding pieces that are versatile can be helpful in learning what works best for you. That said, I wore my Halfdays Aston/Alessandra outfit in 14°F while skiing in Finland, and had two merino base layer tops and my Erin Snow Kat Jacket under my Aston Jacket, and two merino base layer bottoms under my Alessandra Pants, and was comfortable skiing for a few hours.

My Favorite Halfdays Alessandra Ski Pants Features

Over the last few years I’ve skied (30+ days a season) almost exclusively wearing in-the-boot ski pants, personally because I like the look, I’m comfortable in it, and because they feel faster; and the Alessandra Pants from Halfdays are the first over-the-boot pant that I’ve ever owned. When putting them to the test for a few days of skiing in Finland, I was impressed overall— They are comfortable and not too baggy or bulky, and I felt like I had a good range of motion. The zippered vents on the pants are a nice bonus as they are on the jacket, and the ability to adjust the waist using the velcro tabs really gave them a perfect fit.

I’m looking forward to seeing how my Halfdays outfit holds up season after season, and will certainly report back as I continue wearing it. (Note– I have updated this blog with my review after another season of use. Keep reading to find out more!)

Wearing the Halfdays Emma Soft Shell Ski Pants in Levi, Finland

The Halfdays Emma Soft Shell Pant

An honest review: I was excited to try the Emma Soft Shell Pant from Halfdays, but I have to admit they weren’t my favorite. They were warm and thick, which I imagine are qualities that some people look for in a ski pant, but I wore them for two days while skiing in Finland and I thought they felt a little bulky, and heavier than what I’m used to. (When skiing on-piste I personally prefer a slim, in-the-boot pant– go-to are the Erin Snow Jes Racer Pant that have an amazing fit.) They fit well when I tried them on in-store, but I think while on the mountain the interior lining didn’t sit well with my Smartwool base layers, and I sometimes felt like I would need to pull my pants back up after sitting down. I think because the Alessandra pants (that I love) have adjustable velcro fasteners at the back of the waist, I was able to maintain a better fit over multiple days of skiing in various conditions and temperatures. I should note that the Emma Pant has many glowing reviews on the Halfdays website from women that have bought them and love how they fit, so while they didn’t exactly work for me, they still may be great option for you! In fact, I ended up giving my Emma Pants to a friend who absolutely loves skiing in them!

Carina Otero skiing La Vallée blanche in the Aston Jacket and Alessandra Pants from Halfdays

Update April 2025:

Another 30+ day ski season in the books, and I’m happy to report that I loved using my Halfdays set for some big mountain and off-piste skiing in Chamonix and Zermatt. My Aston Jacket and Alessandra Pants are my go-to set for functionality while skiing, and the fact that they look great is a big bonus! I wore the set when skiing the famed Vallée Blanche off-piste route on the Mont Blanc massif in Chamonix, and definitely appreciated the fit, the comfort, the amount of pockets, and especially the ventilation zippers because we experienced some drastic temperature fluctuations throughout the day. The set performed great on mountain, and I even got a handful of compliments from other skiers!

I also wore the set in Zermatt on a morning with very limited visibility. As someone who often skis alone (on-piste!), having a set that is bright and visible offers some peace of mind– I can be more easily spotted by other skiers, especially if conditions on the mountain happen to change. That same day in Zermatt, the clouds opened up and I skied the rest of the afternoon dressed as bright as the sun! I can confidently say the Aston Jacket and Alessandra Pant are a definite favorite, and I recommend them to anyone who is looking for an outfit that performs well in a wide variety of conditions.

Where to Buy Halfdays Skiwear

Wearing the Halfdays Aston Jacket and Alessandra Pants in Levi, Finland

You can shop for Halfdays skiwear directly on their website at Halfdays.com. They also have a “Last Run” collection on their website, which offers discounted pricing on some of their best-selling styles in discontinued colors. A few online retailers also carry Halfdays, including Bloomingdale’s, Nordstrom, Maisonette, Dick’s Sporting Goods, St. Bernard, and Backcountry.com, where you could potentially find exclusive colors and great deals during end-of-season sales. I was able to try on my Halfdays pieces before buying them when I visited their pop-up shop in NYC last spring, but you can also use their store locator to find and try on Halfdays near you.

If you’re interested in supporting the circular fashion movement in the spirit of sustainability, you could check for great deals on Halfdays skiwear on resale sites like Poshmark or eBay.

Read more about their product warranty here, which typically covers manufacturer’s defects within one year of purchase from authorized retailers, as long as the products are unaltered.

Shop the Aston Jacket from Halfdays

Shop the Alessandra Pant from Halfdays

Shop Pre-Loved Skiwear directly from Halfdays

Carina Otero wearing the Aston Jacket and Alessandra Pants in Zermatt, Switzerland

Investing in quality ski apparel allows you to focus on having fun and improving your skills without distraction. Though the prices may feel steep at first, you’ll find that you will get the most use out of any item you can continue wearing from season to season and won’t have to waste money or resources by constantly replacing apparel that doesn’t last or provide proper protection from the elements. If you’re interested in the other ski apparel and equipment I personally use and love, you can check out everything I’ve listed in this article here: Shop My Ski Wear and Gear.

Are you a fan of Halfdays or have any questions about my experience skiing in their apparel? Let me know in the comments below!

WEARING THE GwenUV JACKET, KARA BRA TOP, KARA LEGGINGS, AND ALESSANDRA SKI PANTS FROM HALFDAYS WHILE SUMMER GLACIER SKIING IN TIGNES, FRANCE. Click here to read the full review on all the Summer Activewear I love from Halfdays

Update July 2026:

I just returned from a summer trip to Tignes in the French Alps, which is one of my favorite winter skiing destinations. Their summer season is known for hiking through impressive landscapes, lake activities, various sports, and glacier skiing (conditions permitting).

It was the perfect opportunity to try all of my new hiking clothes and activewear from Halfdays’ spring and summer collections, and I was particuarly impressed by their UPF50 fabric and other pieces of technical performance wear. I even wore my Halfdays Alessandra Ski Pants with their lightweight GwenUV jacket and Kara Active Set for an exciting morning of summer skiing on the Grand Motte glacier.

Click here to read the full review of all the Halfdays activewear I wore on my summer trip to the French Alps, where I describe all the technical features I loved most and how I was able to mix and match other items from their collection for maximum versatility.

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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Halfdays Skiwear Review: The Aston Jacket and Alessandra Pant