Compare our Women's Plus Size Softshell Ski Pant Range
Ladies, let's face it, shopping for plus size ski pants online, although super convenient & loads of fun (most of the time) can also be pretty difficult, especially when they look so similar in their photos. How can you see the slight differences in style, shape, and features if you can’t physically hold them? We're going to compare this popular style of women's plus-size snow pants for you, so you will know which softshell pants suit you and your curves the best.
Stretchy, comfortable, highly waterproof & breathable pants for Skiing, Travel & Cold weather outdoor activities.
What are softshell snow pants?
Technically speaking, all of our softshell snow pants have one layer of material which is multiple layers all bonded together to create an uber-comfy and non-bulky pants. It consists of:
- Outer softshell stretch nylon fabric which is laminated to make it waterproof & breathable (some other brands sell softshell pants as only water-resistant and windproof leggings. Ours are all so much more than that!)
- Inner fleece lining for warmth, comfort, and moisture wicking
This style does not have added insulation layers like regular ski pants which makes them far less bulky and a lot more flattering. This means they are perfect for warmer mountain temperatures (or you can wear thermals under them), travel pants, and generally makes them more versatile.
Why would I want to buy plus-size softshell snow pants?
Comfort.
Many of our plus size customers buy our softshell pants for skiing and snowboarding, but also for hiking, nordic and x-country skiing, and snowshoeing in wet climates (like coastal mountains) where you need a pant which is highly breathable too. We also find people wear them on winter camping holidays or to recreational places where the wet and wind is an issue. If you feel the cold on the sidelines, these pants will keep you warm and dry at those outside winter sports games, or meandering through those winter Christmas markets in France and Germany.
Often our plus size customers delight in finding, purchasing, and wearing their softshell pants. They look and fit very much like a pair of normal black pants, and are SO comfortable which is perfect for cold weather and snow travel, and for those who are worried about being cold off the ski resort.
Many women wear them for apres-ski as they are warmer and more windproof than any other regular pants you'll own, and also for travel to cold and snowy places, where waterproofing and windproofing protection are important but you still want your pants to breathe and not look like you're wearing puffy and unflattering ski pants around town.
We find many of our customers who travel buy these as a secondary pair of pants because they are just so versatile. They are perfect if you're a fair-weather skier too.
What are the common features of our WOMEN’S CURVY Soft Shell Pant Range?
They are all stretchy, windproof, waterproof (so much better than water-resistant!), flexible, and did we mention comfortable?!
The softshell pants designs in our range are all similar in both style and quality. They are all made with a waterproof and breathable, stretchy, soft shell laminated fabric and are designed for a more body-hugging fit. With Extra short, short, regular, and long leg lengths in some styles, and the choice of a straight or tapered leg style cut, and some which are easy to hem, they offer a less bulky outdoor and snow pant option compared to insulated snow or rain pants.
Our Cartel and Pure brandz soft shells all feature belt loops, they all fasten at the waist with two buttons and a hidden hook and eye and have a YKK zip fly with two invisible-zip hip pockets.
We currently have 5 plus size softshell pant styles, and stretchy, waterproof ski pants in our range. Our latest is the Cartel Vienna Softshell pant which has a tapered ankle that is perfect for outdoor adventuring and travel without the need for a pant to go over your boots. They are the most stylish waterproof pant you'll ever own!
Wide elastic back panel
The Cartel Vienna & Cartel Prague ladies plus size soft shell snow pants are manufactured with a wide elastic panel positioned back and centre of the waistband. This allows for an expandable waist and ease when sitting on a chair lift, playing in the snow or simply walking around the ski village. They also have a yoke that helps the fit around your waist, bum, and hips which flatters your curves.
The Pure Lapland ladies snow pants have a different more traditional elastic waist and back than the Vienna and Prague, without a yoke.
Leg Length
The Pure Lapland pant now comes in 4 lengths; Extra Short, Short, Regular, and Long which can be chosen in the size dropdown menu. Refer to the InSeam measurements on each product's measurement charts for details.
The Prague and Vienna Soft Shell pants don't have a zip feature at the bottom of the leg hem or an internal snow gaiter or cuff at the ankle, they are easily hemmed if you find they are too long. For more information about how to shorten the length of your ski pants, we have a helpful ski pant hemming article you can refer to here.
PURE LAPLAND & CARTEL MANHATTAN Plus Size Softshell pants - best for skiing
The Cartel Manhattan and Pure Lapland ladies snow pants have a different more traditional elastic waist and back than the Hudson and Prague, without a yoke.
The Pure Brandz Lapland softshell pant is more suited to skiing and Nordic skiing as they feature a snow gaitor cuff with a hook inside the ankle hem to attach to your boots or laces. This snow cuff is similar to an extra waterproof lining inside the ankle section of your ski pants and is hemmed with a firm elastic band designed to sit on the outside of your boots to keep the snow out and the warmth in. This is an important feature if you're using these pants for skiing or snowboarding as they will keep the cold wet snow out of your boots.
These pants also have a zip at the back of the leg cuff which enables them to be opened to fit easily over ski boots if you have bigger calves. The seam down the front of each leg also gives the pants a flattering style and fit for your curves.
The Pure Brandz Lapland pant is the most waterproof and breathable pant in our softshell range. Boasting a 20,000 waterproof rating and 20,000 breathability rating making it the best softshell pant globally. That’s why we couldn’t resist offering these pants in 4 lengths to suit every body, as they are so loved.
It’s also important to note that all softshell pants are not seam sealed as they have not yet designed stretchy waterproof seam sealing. In order to combat this, Cartel and Pure Brandz reinforce and tightly stitch the seams strategically in their pants to minimise water seepage into the seams.
Raiski Solla Plus Size Softshell Waterproof Pants
New to our collection of soft shell pants is the Solla by Raiski, featuring a classy tapered leg design, we don’t recommend these for skiing as they don’t have a gaitor and won’t fit over your boots, but these beauties will keep you warm and dry on your outdoor adventures in comfort and style. Made with STORMWALL® high tech material is a lightweight solution that connects the surface and lining fabric together or adding a coating to fabric inner surface. The Solla is our only soft shell to feature an adjustable waist with cord and the possibility to lengthen the leg length by 3cm.Unfortunately, we are unable to source more Solla softshell pants so Cartel have designed their Vienna pant for us to replace it.
CARTEL VIENNA & PRAGUE PLUS SIZE SOFTSHELL WATERPROOF PANTS
When you don’t need to ski or be in deep snow in your softshell pants then there’s no need to add the snow gaitor and zip to the bottom of the hem of your pant, and that’s when the Cartel Vienna, and Prague will be a winner for you. Both are easy to hem due to the lack of the snow gaitor, they’re versatile winter pants. The Prague has been popular with us for a few years now, and due to the comfortable elastic waist panel, and smooth, no-seam leg front, they are a clear favourite with many of our winter adventure customers. They even have secure invisible zips to keep your belongings secure.
The Cartel Vienna women’s curvy soft shell pant is the newest pant to our range for 2023 and carries all the same features as the Prague Soft Shell Pant, but has been designed with a more tapered leg for the winter adventurer who doesn’t want the flared leg design. This is making it a preferred style for cold weather lovers who prefer not to ski or board. In fact, we don’t recommend these for sliding with style on the snow as they likely will not fit over your boots. Instead, these pants are your go-to for the cold when you want to be warm, dry, comfortable, and be able to move around easily as you tour the chilly, beautiful places around the world… or even attend your local footy game and walk your dog in chilly Melbourne and Tassie.. .
A FINAL NOTE ON WOMEN’S SOFTSHELL PANTS IN THEIR CURVY FIT...
Overall, the plus-size softshell women’s ski pants in our range are a relatively small cut when you compare your size to your other clothing. (So please don't!)
Our customers tend to buy them two and sometimes three sizes bigger than what they would usually wear. For example, if you wear size 18 jeans, don't be alarmed when comparing your measurements to our size charts provided. Your correct size may in fact be a size 22 or 24. They are a smaller cut pant with lots of stretches thus the differing size run. Having said that, depending on your shape, some women who don't fit into a size 26 in a different pant, will still fit into these pants in a size 26 due to their curves and the stretch and cut of this pant. They are loved by so many, but so hard to see how wonderful they are when looking on a website (which is why we have written this article for you)
Also, these pants are not adjustable in the waist (apart from the belt loops), so we recommend the stretch belt we have in stock if you need a little adjustment in this area, XTM Stretch Belt
We recommend these pants not only for snowy conditions but also for camping and sightseeing in the cooler climates. Don't rule these pants out, especially as an addition to your ski pants if you need something warmer for winter travel, (as well as for warmer ski days). Some customers like to buy 2 pairs and return the ones which don't fit as well. That's fine with us!
STILL, NEED HELP?
1. Use our Personalized Stylist (a real person!) with our Shop your Shape form
2. Get Measuring Help using our measuring article and video
3. Want to speak to someone in person? Contact us today using the need some help green tab on this page
4. INTERNATIONAL SHIPPING? Yes, we ship express worldwide visit Plus Snow International
