www.brooks-range.com, 12.4 ounces
The Cirro jacket combines helium balloon weightlessness with hot chocolate warmth. With a name that evokes the wispy lightness of cirrus clouds, this new jacket from Brooks-Range is hewn from lightweight Primaloft One, an ultra-fine synthetic microfiber insulation that maintains its warmth, even when wet. Covering this airy, warm insulation, a breathable 15-Denier ripstop Pertex shell (AKA: an ultra-light, durable, water- and wind-resistant material). To increase its moisture-thwarting ability, the shell is also treated with a DWR (durable water resistance) finish, making it one of lightest, most bombproof mid-weight jacket out there.  Two roomy hand-warmer pockets, an inside zip pocket, and an outside “Napoleon” pocket ideal for a phone or iPod eschews the minimalist approach—in a good way. And since it practically swallows itself into a tiny ball, you’ve got no reason to not bring it along.
The Cirro comes in both pullover and full-zip models, in red, blue, or black. You can get an attached hood for an additional $20—but we like the non-hood models best.

obermeyer.com
Combining sports with teen fashion is a parent’s dream. Named Bella for reasons obvious to most kids (hint: the paired pant is called the Twilight), the mid-length, slightly-shaped jacket is as relevant on the slopes as it is to teen literature. Regardless of what you think of Stephanie Meyer’s writing style, the Bella is truly a classic; the edgy, fashion-forward design belies the coat’s true ruggedness and technical performance. The HydroBlock fabric is waterproof to 5,000 cm (meaning it will repel a stream of water sprayed at that velocity)—entirely capable of staying dry in the worst weather winter can offer.  The body is 140 grams of Permaloft (a synthetic insulation with an excellent warmth-to-weight ratio), with 100 gm in the sleeves. That way you have more insulation to warm your core, but less bulk and weight on your arms. The articulated sleeves, removable hood, storm skirt, and all the features that Bella (or even a flesh-and-blood icon like Lindsay Vonn) could ask for.  The coat may not be designed for the lifespan of a vampire or werewolf, but for the rest of us mortals, it will provide reliable and fashionable performance for many seasons.  And when you have people waiting at lift lines just to find out who made the jacket and where they can get one, you know you’re onto something.

www.nobis.ca
No, no one sees me while I’m solo snowshoeing through the backcountry, and a mountain slope certainly isn’t a fashion runway, but I’d still like to look good in both places.  So, if you’re as sick as I am of earth tones, bright racing stripes, neon, or quilted marshmallow wear, I have the answer. Nobis is brought to us by our friendly neighbors to the north, where winters are more hardcore and the strong arm of PETA a bit more lax. The least expensive coat in their women’s modest outerwear line, the Audrina, is a Canadian-sourced white duck down waist-length piece, wrapped in a durable DWR poly outer shell, that comes in five stylish colors—none of which glow in the dark. Instead, a fashion-forward removable coyote fur ruff lines the hood (and yes, you can opt for a faux fur version). The removable hood joins up with a sizable collar, creating loads of extra fabric to help you wrap up against the elements, along with two adjustable pulleys for a snug fit when you encounter wind or blowing snow. The fleece-lined pockets are admittedly shallow, with plenty of room for your hands and not much else. And, unless your stuff can fit into the four-inch inner mesh pocket, plan on a backpack to help you haul it all.  Other features, however, are tailored to resist the elements, including ribbed cuffs with thumb hole openings, waterproof/windproof fabric treatment, pit zips for quick breathability, and a sturdy central zipper with a magnetically sealed wind flap. Extra buttons secure the bottom of the coat tightly around your waist to thwart exposure to the elements and keep drafts at bay. Perhaps the best part for fashion-conscious outdoorsy girls? You don’t look like the ladies from Ice Road Truckers when you put it on.
-Lacy Morris