We tested the Flylow Lucy Jacket in a wide variety of conditions on Oregon’s Mt. Hood. Photo: Amelia Arvesen//The Inertia
When I shop for new outdoor gear, I want it to serve multiple purposes. Applying that philosophy to my winter ski jacket, it must keep me warm while I catch lift after lift at the resort, and it must stuff into my backpack when I’m huffing uphill on the alpine trail. After several rounds of testing on Oregon’s Mt. Hood, the Flylow Lucy Jacket ($400) meets all my requirements and then some. It is lightweight but durable, stylish but full of features, and above all, it kept me warm and dry even when the clouds moved in and an ominous sprinkle threatened the rest of the day.
Bottom line: The Lucy exemplifies gear that pulls double duty, so you only have to invest in one jacket to switch between resort and backcountry adventures. This versatile outer layer will shield you from winter storms, and it will also breathe on the uphill.
Related: Best Women’s Ski Jackets | Best Women’s Ski Bibs
The Flylow Lucy is a versatile 50/50 resort/backcountry ski jacket, ready for the uphill, as well as the downhill. Photo: Amelia Arvesen//The Inertia
Testing the Flylow Lucy Jacket on Oregon’s Mt. Hood
Weight: 612 g
Fit: Slimmer than other jackets, making it tighter over extra layers
Materials: 100 percent recycled polyester, 20k/20k waterproof breathable membrane
Pros: Lightweight, stretchy, and durable fabric is ideal for a mix of resort and backcountry adventures
Cons: Trim fit can restrict movement when layering up underneath – check the size charts and consider sizing up if needed
On my local mountain, the stratovolcano Mt. Hood, a powder day can quickly turn into a rainy day. Winter temperatures aren’t always consistent and can range from below freezing to the mid-40s. It’s convenient, if not crucial, to have a jacket that can handle the variety. I appreciated the Lucy Jacket’s adaptable features, like the removable powder skirt and the 12-inch pit zips, for the unpredictability. Details like those make it an easy choice for someone like me, who spends one weekend climbing 2,000 vertical feet on an uphill tour and the next logging 30 runs at the resort.
Lightweight, comfy, and fly (as in, fashionable) were words that came to mind when I first suited up in the vibrant Marble-Butterscotch colorway for first chair. The 100% recycled polyester 3L softshell is creamy to the touch and pliable in motion, but its 100-denier rating means it can handle rough use and tight tree runs without worry.
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The trim athletic fit on the Lucy jacket looks great, but if you want to layer up underneath, check the size charts and consider sizing up. Photo: Amelia Arvesen//The Inertia
Athletic Fit
Right away, I could tell that the fit of the Lucy was slimmer than other jackets I’ve tested, though the polyester has a touch of stretch. When I wore only a baselayer underneath on warmer days, I had a full range of motion. But when I added a light puffer or a midlayer over my next-to-skin layer when temps dropped, movement felt stiffer. It might just be a matter of sizing up for more room. And you’ll want more room because, as a non-insulated and fairly breathable layer, it won’t provide much warmth otherwise. For reference, I’m 5’4” and always wear a size small. I chose a small for this jacket.
Flylow’s Siren Bib goes great with the Lucy Jacket, both in terms of versatility and matching colorways. Photo: Amelia Arvesen//The Inertia
All-Mountain Features
Every seam is fully taped, so precipitation won’t sneak in. And the PFC-free DWR (more on that later) quickly beads and repels rain and snow. For resort skiing, a zippered pocket on the left forearm keeps my ski pass and a tube of Chapstick accessible.
For uphill touring, the Lucy packs down small enough to fit in a slim 18L backcountry pack with enough room to spare for other essentials. When I zip into it at the top of a run, the long, one-way pit vents allow me to dump heat on the way down.
Fully sealed up, Oregon’s variable and often-wet conditions are no match for the Lucy’s waterproofing. Photo: Amelia Arvesen//The Inertia
PFC-Free DWR
While we love the banana slug yellow color, one downside of the lighter shades is that they show dirt and stains. Careful with your coffee. But because the DWR coating is free of PFCs, or harmful perfluorocarbons, it means you should wash it more often anyway to keep the sensitive outer coating working at its best.
A high collar keeps your face protected, even with the hood down. Photo: Amelia Arvesen//The Inertia
Final Thoughts
Lighter than other jackets we’ve tested, the Lucy Jacket is better for milder winter days than frigid ones. The athletic fit is less accommodating of thicker insulation and midlayers, but with only a baselayer against my skin, I stayed at the perfect temperature on warmer and higher-output days, such as a 30-run ski day on Mt. Hood. That, coupled with its packability and versatile features, makes it a solid option for the skier (or snowboarder) who splits their time between in and out of bounds.
Check Price on FlylowEditor’s Note: Wanna see how this jacket stacks up to the competition? Check out our Best Women’s Ski Jackets review. Looking for a bib to go with it? Here’s our review of The Best Women’s Ski Bibs. For more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here,
