How to choose the best jacket for different hiking conditions

You might’ve heard the phrase “There’s no bad weather, only bad clothing” before. When setting out on year-round outdoor excursions, it can be daunting to find the best option for a variety of weather conditions and activities. At Kari Traa, we make jackets, fleeces and vests that stand up to whatever Mother Nature throws your way. Our fashion-forward, technical outerwear doesn’t let rain, cold or wind get you down when you have your eyes set on an open-air adventure.

A hiking jacket is an investment piece that can be worn year after year. There are lots of options featuring different materials, fits, and technical details—we’ve broken down key differences in the guide below.

HIKING OUTFIT: Matching hiking jacket and hiking leggings gives you the extra touch.

Putting the “fun” in functional

Depending on the climate where you’ll be hiking, look for a combination of the technical features below to find the best hiking jacket:

A few things to look for in a perfect hiking pant:

Ventilation
Waterproofing
Breathability
Hoods
Wind resistance

Types of Hiking Jackets + Vests

Made from durable fabric, hard shell jackets are great for keeping wind and water out during foul weather.

Voss Hiking Jacket a hooded full-zip women’s outdoor jacket with a water-repellent treatment, partial mesh lining and ventilation zips for extra breathability.

Voss Anorak - bring on the rain!Voss Anorak is a hooded half-zip women’s hiking jacket with a water-repellent treatment and strategic mesh ventilation for extra breathability. The adjustable waist and underarm panels turn up the comfort, while a side zip lets you slip it on and off easily on your adventures.

ANORAK IS THE KEY: An anorak keeps you stylish, warm and dry after a hike.

Hard Shell Jackets

Voss REPREVE® Anorak

$160.00 $112.00

Voss REPREVE® Anorak

$160.00 $112.00

Voss REPREVE® Hiking Jacket

$300.00

Voss REPREVE® Hiking Jacket

$300.00

Soft Shell + Fleece

Soft shell jackets, in contrast to a hard shells, are made from a woven material, offering lightweight warmth, breathability, mobility, and weather resistance. Headed out on a crisp, bluebird day? Opt for a performance fleece that will keep you toasty warm while remaining breathable.

Sanne Full-Zip- a retro women’s midlayer jacket for training old-school style in the great outdoors. It has a laid-back, relaxed silhouette for playing it cool on adventures. The high collar and quilting will keep you toasty warm and if you get too hot, you can zip down all the way.

WE LOVE FLEECE VEST: The perfect midlayer vest for hiking, climbing or walking.

Ane Fleece Vest- a super-cozy sleeveless women’s fleece made from cuddly pile material. It has a high button-up collar and an elastic hem and cuffs to keep out the cold. It also rocks a relaxed cut, a retro two-tone look and third color flashes.

Røthe Fleece Midlayer- an insulated midlayer pullover that is big on warmth and comfort with a modern, sporty design. It won’t take you long to work out why it’s a Kari Traa best-seller: the cozy, teddy fleece feels both luxurious and ready-for-anything.

Soft Shell + Fleece Products

Insulated Jackets + Hybrids

Insulated jackets are a great option for cold weather hikes, where both warmth and durability are necessary.

The Voss Hybrid Jacket- this checks all our cold-weather boxes: lightweight, insulated, water-repellent, breathable and stylish, this women’s hooded jacket is perfect for rigorous hikes in the cold. The lightweight PrimaLoft® insulation keeps you warm – and there’s extra quilting, breathability and water-repellency where you need it most. The stretch fabric moves with you when you crank the intensity and the dropped back hem stops snow and wind from sneaking in.

PADDED HIKING JACKET: For the bit colder days so you can always stay warm.

Tirill 2.0 Jacket- a light-insulation full-zip women’s hooded outdoor jacket with flattering lines. Built using comfy stitchless ultrasonic quilting, this hiking jacket features water-repellent sections on the hood and shoulders—perfect for keeping you dry and creating a modern look.

Ragna Outdoor Jacket- a water-repellent, light-insulation women’s outdoor jacket with engineered warmth for go-getting in the great outdoors. Built using a comfortable stitchless ultrasonic quilt technique, it has water-repellent sections on the hood and shoulders to keep you dry and create a cool two-tone look.