Stylish and Technical for Lift-Served Skiing: Rossignol Women’s Rallybird Ski Jacket Review
I’m 42 and began skiing when I was in kindergarten, so I’ve spent a lot of time at Colorado ski resorts wearing a variety of ski kits. In all of my years on the slopes, I’ve never been stopped as much as I have while wearing the Rossignol Rallybird Ski Jacket. And as someone who lives and skis at Aspen Snowmass — the land of chic fashion — this is saying a lot.
Perhaps it was the sleek, trim cut of the jacket, or maybe it’s the pairing with matching pink Rossignol Women’s Relaxed Bib Ski Pants. Whatever it is, I was fending off comments from well-meaning skiers every time I clicked into my bindings. (Personal favorite: When someone told my husband — dressed in a blue ski kit — that we looked like a pregnancy test.)
During a full season of arcing turns and booting Highlands Bowl, I found myself quite impressed with the Rallybird’s extensive features, high-quality materials, and sturdy weatherproofing. While I’ve only owned it for one season, durability is looking pretty good, too.
In short: The Rossignol Women’s Rallybird Ski Jacket ($425) is a cozy shell that keeps nasty weather out while enjoying in-bounds laps at your favorite ski hill. The trim fit and soft-as-butter materials feel as good as they look, and skiers will have all plenty of features like thumb loops, zippered pockets, and underarm vents.
Check out our complete roundup in The Best Women’s Ski Jackets buyer’s guide.
Rossignol Women’s Rallybird Ski Jacket
Specs
-
Fit
Fitted -
Insulation
None -
Shell
3-layer -
Waterproof rating (mm)
20K -
Weight
197 g/m²
Pros
Heavy fabric “feels” warmer than most non-insulated kits
Soft to the touch
Burly materials
Cons
Trim fit may not work for everyone
Non-removable powder skirt bunches around the waist
Rossignol Women’s Rallybird Ski Jacket Review
You can’t throw a snowball on a ski hill without hitting a pair of Rossignol skis. Founded in 1907, the iconic French brand got its start with a woodworker and skier named Abel Rossignol. He used his skills to fashion a pair of solid wood skis, jumpstarting the company. But it wasn’t until 1937, when Emile Allais became the triple world champion on a pair of Rossignol Olympic 41 skis, that the brand really took off.
While Rossignol still has deep roots in skis — I’ve owned at least four pairs over the years — they’ve also taken the next logical step into apparel with ski jackets like the Rallybird. During the 2023-24 ski season, I logged nearly 50 days on snow, and roughly 20 of those were wearing this jacket.
It saw blitzing snow and wind gusts as high as 50 mph, as well as bluebird sunshine on closing weekend. Throughout the season, the Rallybird continued to be a mainstay in my weekly ski rotation.
High-Quality Fabric
One of my favorite aspects of this jacket is its feel. Thanks to the three-layer, 100% polyester fabric, the Rallybird is soft to the touch and almost feels like a softshell jacket. It’s not crinkly when you walk around — no swish-swish sound — and doesn’t scratch your skin with rough materials.
During one chilly day at Aspen Highlands Ski Resort, I forgot my neck gaiter so I spent the day burrowed into the high collar of the jacket. Thankfully, the soft fleece lining saved my face, and I didn’t experience any chafing or abrasion on my chin.
Most ski kits have a waterproofing score of 10K or higher, and folks skiing in wet and sloppy snow (like the Pacific Northwest) usually want a score of 16K or higher. Premium, bombproof ski jackets often boast scores as high as 28K. Thanks to a PFC-free DWR treatment, the Rallybird has a weatherproof score of 20K, so it can handle the majority of nasty weather that skiers are likely to encounter.
I spent a morning skiing in single-digit temps with blowing snow and gusty winds, and the jacket never wetted out. For resort skiers who always have a lodge and toasty fireplace nearby, I think this level of weather protection is more than plenty.
Plus, it’s stretchy. The Rallybird doesn’t have the mobility of yoga pants or even a softshell, but the polyester fabric does have a bit of give. This makes the fit incredibly comfortable, especially when you make big movements like swinging your skis over your shoulder.
Enough Features to Make Most Skiers Happy
While the Rallybird isn’t packed with extras, it does have quite a few bells and whistles that make a ski day more enjoyable.
My favorite: elastic thumb loops. This design is a lean elastic band with a narrow, lengthy pull tab, both of which are hardly discernible when you pull them on. For skiers who prefer under-the-cuff ski gloves, it’s super easy to slide the loops over your thumbs and pull the gloves over top. This keeps snow out as it prevents the jacket sleeve from riding up — even when you’re wallowing around in a snow drift, as I learned the hard way.
The Rallybird isn’t a minimalistic jacket with a two-way zipper and ample pockets, including two zippered chest pockets, two zippered hand pockets, and a fifth zippered pass pocket on the left forearm. The chest pockets easily swallow small snacks (like gummy bears) and car keys, and I managed to tuck a hand warmer package into one of the hand pockets. While I do wish the hand pockets had larger zippers — they can be a bit tight while wearing mittens — they get the job done.
Inside, there are two mesh drop-in pockets (open at the top) on each side for tossing ski goggles or an extra lens. They’re roughly the size of a beacon.
Underarm zippers quickly dump heat, so skiers could technically use the Rallybird as a touring jacket if they want. But, it’s pretty heavy, so we recommend sticking to the frontside with this helmet-compatible kit.
Like the hand pockets, the pit zips have slightly short zippers that are tricky to grab, and they aren’t dual-sided. Again, this isn’t a deal-breaker, but it is worth noting. Still, the zippers dump heat in a hurry and were nice to have while enjoying some spring skiing on closing day.
Sleek Fit and Aesthetic
I’ll be honest: the Rallybird just looks good. There are tons of trendy ski kits at Aspen Snowmass, but it’s a rarity for locals to get compliments — those are usually reserved for the fashion-forward tourists. But I lost count of how many people asked me about the Rallybird. The jacket has a trim cut, especially through the waist and the arms, and that adds to a sleek aesthetic.
And, the color-blocking adds a nice design element, too. It’s not overly trendy (especially in the era of monochrome ski kits) but it does walk that fine line between stylish and classic enough to last the long haul.
Room for Improvement
I’m usually a size small or medium in ski jackets, but I tend to size up for space to layer beneath. However, I opted for a small since the medium was too big. As a result, the size combined with the trim cut led to a bulky fit, especially when laden down with a heavy midlayer.
I loved the fit when I paired it with a thinner, active midlayer, but I would consistently reach for a different jacket if it was colder and I had to load up with a heavier puffy beneath.
And while I understand the value behind a good snow skirt, I have a tendency to remove them — and that’s not an option on the Rallybird. It’s permanently sewn in place, which added a weird thick layer around my midline. Yet again, this was not a deal-breaker, but I did find myself unzipping the jacket from the bottom to grant me a little wiggle room. My husband said it became my “personal style,” but it would be great to just remove the powder skirt instead.
Rossignol Women’s Rallybird Ski Jacket: Conclusion
If you’re a backcountry skier looking to cut weight or space, then the Rossignol Women’s Rallybird Ski Jacket is not for you. But if you are someone who spends a lot of time at the ski resort and values a stylish kit, the Rallybird is a great choice.
I found the Rallybird had convenient, adequately-sized pockets — for hands, on the chest, and for a ski pass — functional underarm vents, and a helmet-compatible hood. Most of all, I loved the buttery feel of the fabric, and the weatherproofness was more than enough for blustery days.
Not only does this ski and snowboard jacket have enough technical chops to please the vast majority of skiers, but I can promise that you will make new friends when they ask about your jacket on the lift.
The post Stylish and Technical for Lift-Served Skiing: Rossignol Women’s Rallybird Ski Jacket Review appeared first on GearJunkie.