Which women’s hardshell jacket should you choose for hiking?
At the col, the rain that started on the climb shows no sign of stopping, and the wind drives it against you. The hardshell jacket goes on as the outer layer, over the fleece. For full days of hiking in the rain, choose the COSMIQUES or CASCADE. The COSMIQUES, with an Ultrashell membrane, weighs 340 g in size S. Heavier at 430 g, the CASCADE is a three-layer hardshell with a Cimashell membrane and an adjustable hem that keeps the wind out when you stop.
Both have ventilation zips for climbs and pockets you can reach while wearing a backpack. To compare them with a softshell or a fleece, browse our women’s hiking jackets.
Waterproof, breathable jacket: membrane rated at 10,000 or 20,000 mm
A jacket with a Cimashell membrane withstands a 10,000 mm water column and allows 10,000–12,500 g of water vapour per m² to pass through in 24 h. The Ultrashell membrane is rated up to 20,000 mm and 80,000 g/m²/24 h : choose it for long climbs in the rain, when you’re working up a sweat under your jacket.
Compare these details on each product page:
- Waterproof rating: 10,000 mm with Cimashell, 20,000 mm with Ultrashell.
- Breathability: 10,000–80,000 g/m²/24 h.
- Wind protection: 60–90 km/h, or 40–60 km/h for the HENDAYE.
- Weight in size S: from 185 g for the STORM to 600 g for the GUIDE PRO.
Hardshell jacket for mountaineering and ski touring
On a ridge, your jacket rubs against the rock, and its hood needs to fit over your helmet. For the high mountains, choose the GUIDE PRO : rip-stop fabric, shoulder reinforcements, a roomy helmet-compatible hood and high pockets accessible while wearing a harness. Its cut fits over a thick down jacket. Both offer the same waterproof rating of 20,000 mm, but it weighs 600 g in size S, compared with 260 g for the STORM PRO trail jacket.
The ADVANCED, at 370 g, is designed for long approaches when ski touring or mountaineering; its high pockets remain accessible with a rucksack hip belt on. Both jackets have a RECCO reflector that rescuers can detect in an avalanche. It complements an avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe but does not replace them.
Rain jacket for trail running and city cycling
On the trail, your jacket stays packed in your running vest until the first shower. The STORM weighs 185 g in size S ; its retaining tab lets you run with the jacket open. With an Ultrashell membrane, the STORM PRO weighs 260 g; its two-way zip opens from the bottom to give you access to your pack. Gussets let you wear the STORM PRO + over your running vest. For a race with mandatory kit, read our guide to mandatory waterproof clothing for the UTMB. You’ll find all our trail jackets in the women’s trail jackets.
On your bike, wear the HENDAYE over your everyday clothes: its peaked hood expands to fit over a helmet, and reflective details make you visible at night.
How to care for a hardshell jacket to keep it waterproof
After repeated outings in the rain, the fabric eventually absorbs water instead of letting it bead. Wash the jacket with a detergent-free cleaner, such as one from this selection or our care products. When water stops beading, restore the water-repellent finish : the wash-in waterproofer treats the whole jacket and air-dries; apply the spray to wet fabric where your rucksack straps rub.
Like all Cimalp clothing, these jackets come with the free repairs for life. For your lower half, choose from our women’s waterproof trousers. You’ll find the men’s styles in our men’s hardshell jackets, and all our jackets in the waterproof jackets.
