Review: 686 Women's Hydra Jacket
By Snowboarding Expert
Rachel D.
686 Women's Hydra Jacket
$173.97
$289.95
40% off
15 photos
The Curated Take
4.7/5
The 686 Women's Hydra Jacket is ideal for active women engaging in cold-weather activities, particularly skiing or snowboarding. It offers excellent warmth without bulkiness. The jacket's high zip-up collar with a breathable, gator-like feature and special pockets for essentials enhance its functionality. It's waterproof, durable, and comfortable, allowing for easy layering without restricting movement. While it's not a shell and not suitable for warmer days, its design balances style and practicality, making it a great choice for those who prioritize warmth, comfort, and utility in winter sportswear.
Ideal for
- High zip-up with breathable collar
- Special pockets for specific uses
- Very warm without being bulky
Not ideal for
- Not a shell
- Not meant for warmer days
Waterproofing
All of the seams on this jacket are taped, so it has been very waterproof. I have laid and rolled around in the snow without getting wet. The snow skirt...Read more
Aesthetics
My version of this jacket is a nice light sky blue. It doesn't have a "girly" fit, tapering around my waist, but that's what I was looking for. This jacket...Read more
Durability
So far, this jacket has held up through many tumbles, bumps, and scrapes. I am not a very gentle rider, so having a jacket that can keep up with that...Read more
Comfort
This is a very comfy jacket. I like how lightweight yet sturdy it is. I can comfortably fit two layers underneath for colder days, including a whole fleece. I have...Read more
Warmth
The jacket does a great job of keeping in whatever heat I produce. I like to wear a thin long sleeve and then a thicker medium base layer with it,...Read more
Breathability
This jacket has a nice balance of moveability and thickness. There is enough material to keep me warm but not enough to make me feel stuck. This jacket has vents...Read more
Curated Experts are not sponsored by brands. Their reviews are based on their honest experiences testing products.
Rachel D.
About the jackets
- Model: 686 Women's Hydra Jacket
Test conditions
- When I bought this: November 2023
- Where I’ve used it: Colorado Ikon Resorts
- How many times I've used it: 4
Expert Reviews of the 686 Women's Hydra Jacket
Rachel D. This is my favorite ski jacket I've had yet. I love all of the special pockets on the inside, including one for chapstick, tissues, and an insulated spot for my phone. This jacket is great for staying warm from 5-30°F temps. There's enough room to move around without losing heat. It is a bit longer on me, which I like because I get cold from sitting on the snowy ground and chairlifts. The jacket zips up right to underneath my chin with a built-in piece that is gator-like and breathable. The design allows for a ton of mobility, even when wearing my hood up over a helmet. I usually wear a light long-sleeve base layer and then a medium layer over it. I've struggled with jackets getting snug when I layer up underneath them, but a light long sleeve and a medium-weight layer over that has been the perfect combo for keeping me warm and not having any restricted movement.
Product Specs
| Gender | Women's |
| Age Group | Adult |
| Featured technology | Air-Flo™, Pant Jacket Connect™ System, Vader™ Vents |
| Features | Waterproof, Water resistant, Windproof, Insulated, Powder skirt, Interior/security pocket, Breathable, Zippered pocket |
| Style | Long sleeve, Hoodie, Full-Zip |
| Material | Polyurethane |
Review Ratings
Waterproofing
5/5
Rachel D. gave 5 of 5 stars. All of the seams on this jacket are taped, so it has been very waterproof. I have laid and rolled around in the snow without getting wet. The snow skirt on the jacket prevents snow from traveling up the jacket if I take a tumble. The hood fits over a helmet for extra protection from the elements.
Aesthetics
5/5
Rachel D. gave 5 of 5 stars. My version of this jacket is a nice light sky blue. It doesn't have a "girly" fit, tapering around my waist, but that's what I was looking for. This jacket is classic in its solid colors and sleek with a pretty matte coloring. The high neck is also another aesthetic choice I enjoy because it's fashionable and functional.
Durability
5/5
Rachel D. gave 5 of 5 stars. So far, this jacket has held up through many tumbles, bumps, and scrapes. I am not a very gentle rider, so having a jacket that can keep up with that is important to me. Nothing has ripped yet or is on its way to do so. It's lightweight yet sturdy and can handle more than one would think.
Comfort
5/5
Rachel D. gave 5 of 5 stars. This is a very comfy jacket. I like how lightweight yet sturdy it is. I can comfortably fit two layers underneath for colder days, including a whole fleece. I have struggled with women's jackets being too tight in some places and too loose in others, but 686 got it right with this one. I can move my arms without the fabric on my back being tugged and can bend over without feeling suffocated.
Warmth
4/5
Rachel D. gave 4 of 5 stars. The jacket does a great job of keeping in whatever heat I produce. I like to wear a thin long sleeve and then a thicker medium base layer with it, and it does a good job of keeping me warm. The vents on each side underneath the arms are nice for warmer days when I want to stay dry but not overheat.
Breathability
4/5
Rachel D. gave 4 of 5 stars. This jacket has a nice balance of moveability and thickness. There is enough material to keep me warm but not enough to make me feel stuck. This jacket has vents on each side to allow some heat out. It is meant to be on the warmer side, so the fabric isn't exactly "breathable." However, I can let out heat if I want to and keep heat in easily.
FAQs
What do you love about this product?
Rachel D. I like how warm yet lightweight this jacket is. It's not oversized but allows enough room to layer underneath. It feels like a shell but is insulated and keeps me warm. The special features like the pockets and built-in gator are also a plus.
What was your favorite moment with this gear?
Rachel D. My favorite moment with this jacket so far has been wearing it at Copper Mountain in Colorado when it was 15° and snowing all day. Conditions were great, but the air was cold, and I was impressed with how warm this jacket kept me.
Why did you choose this product?
Rachel D. I found this product in my local ski shop, and after trying it on, I decided it was coming home with me. I like how the inner pockets are labeled and organized, accounting for all the necessities a jacket needs but doesn't always have (like a Chapstick holder). It really feels like it was designed with the user in mind.
