Outdoor Research Hemispheres Team Ski Jacket and Bibs Review
Lightweight, storm-ready protection for backcountry skiing and powder days
February 6th, 2026
Home > Gear Reviews > Snow Gear
Our verdict
The Outdoor Research Hemispheres is a longstanding favorite for Treeline Review, and the Hemispheres Team kit lives up to that. It’s a lightweight but storm-ready GORE-TEX kit that’s ideal for the backcountry, but with enough chops to hang for some resort days, too.
We’ve tested various iterations of the Hemispheres jacket and bibs over five seasons and it continues to impress us. We tested the current Hemispheres Team model over a couple dozen days, from warm spring skiing in the high alpine to cold and windy days riding chairlifts.
While the fit of the bibs could be tricky to nail for some curvier or more muscular women, the jacket stands out as one of the best-fitting our men’s and women’s testers have ever worn. The fit of the jacket collar in particular is the best of any ski jacket we’ve tested—and we’ve tested a whole lot of jackets.
The Outdoor Research Hemispheres Team Jacket won Best GORE-TEX Backcountry Jacket in our Best Women’s Ski Jackets guide. If you need a lightweight kit for the skintrack, but want the weather protection of GORE-TEX, put the Hemispheres Team at the top of your list.
Jacket
Men's
Women's
Bibs
Men's
Women's
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Outdoor Research Hemispheres Team Specifications
Jacket
Price: $655
Weight: 451 g (women’s), 493 g (men’s)
Waterproofing: 3L GORE-TEX ePE
Fabric: Recycled 80D nylon face, C-KNIT backer
Hood: Helmet-compatible, fully adjustable
Venting: Pit zips, no mesh
Pockets: 2 hand pockets, 1 chest pocket, internal mesh drop pocket, internal zippered pocket, pass pocket on arm
Powder skirt: No
Hem & cuffs: Adjustable cuffs, adjustable hem
Zippers: YKK Aquaguard zippers
Fit: Ski-specific freeride fit
Sizes: S-XXL (men’s), XS-XL (women’s)
Sustainability: bluesign fabric and recycled materials
Bibs
Price: $655
Weight: 547 g (women’s), 564 g (men’s)
Waterproofing: 3L waterproof-breathable membrane (Outdoor Research proprietary)
Fabric: Recycled 80D nylon face, C-KNIT backer
Venting: Outer thigh vents
Pockets: 2 thigh pockets, one with beacon clip; chest pocket with beacon clip; pass-through kangaroo chest pocket
Drop seat access: Yes, side zip
Reinforcement: Reinforced cuffs
Suspenders: Adjustable
Fit: Articulated freeride ski fit
Snow gaiters: Built-in gaiters
Sizes: S-XXL (men’s), XS-XL (women’s)
Sustainability: bluesign fabric and recycled materials
Best for
Backcountry touring
Skiers or riders touring in wet climates
Skiers and riders who prioritize weight savings but need GORE-TEX weather protection
Comparison table
Jacket
| SKI JACKET | MSRP* | SIZES | # POCKETS | WATERPROOFING | PIT ZIPS | POWDER SKIRT |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outdoor Research Hemispheres Team Women's Men's |
$655 | S-XXL (men’s), XS-XL (women’s) | 5 | 3L GORE-TEX ePE C-Knit | Yes | No |
| Patagonia PowSlayer Women's Men's |
$799 | XS-XL (men's and women's) | 5 | 3L GORE-TEX ePE PRO | Yes | Yes |
| Outdoor Research Cloudchaser 3L Women's Men's |
$385 | S-XXL (men's), XS-XL (women's) | 5 | 3L Pertex Shield Stretch | Yes | Yes |
| Arc'teryx Sabre/Sentinel Women's Men's |
$750 | S-XL (men's), XXS-XXL (women's) | 5 | 3L GORE-TEX ePE PRO | Yes | Yes |
| Norrona Lofoten GTX Pro Women's Men's |
$899 | S-XL (men's), XS-XL (women's) | 3 | GORE-TEX ePE PRO | Yes | Yes, removable |
Pants
| SKI PANTS/BIBS | MSRP* | SIZES | WATERPROOFING | SUSPENDERS | SNOW GAITERS |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Outdoor Research Hemispheres Team Women's Men's |
$655 | S-XXL (men’s), XS-XL (women’s) | 3-Layer GORE-TEX ePE C-Knit | Yes, adjustable | Yes |
| Patagonia PowSlayer Women's Men's |
$649 | XS-XL (men's and women's) | 3L GORE-TEX Pro ePE | No | Yes |
| Outdoor Research Cloudchaser 3L Women's Men's |
$385 | S-XXL (men's), XS-XL (women's) | 3-layer Pertex Shield Stretch | Yes, adjustable | Yes |
| Arc'teryx Sabre/Sentinel Women's Men's |
$600 | S-XXL (men's), 2-16 (women's) | GORE-TEX waterproof/breathable fabric | No | Yes |
| Norrona Lofoten GTX Pro Women's Men's |
$799 | S-XL (men's), XS-XL (women's) | 3L GORE-TEX ePE PRO | No | Yes |
What we liked
Jacket has an excellent fit, particularly in the collar area (best of any ski jacket we’ve tested)
Very lightweight and packable
Full GORE-TEX storm protection
Lots of pockets in the bibs
What could be better
Fit of women’s bibs may not be ideal for curvier or more muscular folks
Fabric is thin and will not stand up as well to hard use in the resort
How we tested
We’ve been testing various iterations of the Outdoor Research Hemispheres kit for over five seasons. Outdoor Research has made this latest iteration with the new GORE-TEX ePE membrane, and we’ve used the most recent men’s and women’s versions of this for a total of 12 days between three different testers, in both the resort and backcountry. We tested this on warm and sunny spring days doing side-country laps, and on wet and heavy powder days in the resort. Our testers have encountered everything from harsh wind and wet snow to bluebird skies in this kit, and it hasn’t let us down. There’s just enough room for some lighter layers when needed, and overall durability for use as a touring kit has proven to be up to snuff.
We also tested the Hemispheres Team kit alongside other similar kits, like the Patagonia PowSlayer, Outdoor Research Cloudchaser, and Arc’teryx Sentinel and Sabre, to compare fit, features, breathability, and weatherproofing.
Performance in the field
Weather protection
Thanks to the GORE-TEX membrane in this kit, it holds up well to wet and nasty weather. Yes, it’s remarkably lightweight, but it is also fully wind and waterproof. It sheds snow well and blocks wind without flinching.
There is no powder skirt in the jacket, but when worn with the Hemispheres bibs, our testers had no issues keeping snow out. In fact, the lack of powder skirt is part of what makes this jacket so light and packable and great for backcountry use. The full bib design really helps here, especially on deep powder days. And because this kit is made of such a thin fabric, if it does happen to get soaked (something that’s not generally an issue for our Colorado testers), it dries very quickly.
Breathability and ventilation
While GORE-TEX hardshells are never the most breathable option out there, the Hemispheres is one of the most breathable GORE hardshells we’ve ever tested, thanks in large part to the light face and backer fabric. There are generous pit zips for venting if you’re wearing the jacket on the up-track. There is a stretchy mesh panel on the back that falls underneath a pack and helps to prevent overheating and accumulating dreaded back sweat (though sometimes this is simply unavoidable).
The bibs have large thigh vents that help to dump heat. Despite these being a full bib, they are not overly warm.
Fit, comfort, and mobility
First, let’s discuss the fit of the jacket. Both our men’s and women’s testers agree that the Hemispheres Team is one of the best fitting ski shells we’ve ever tested. It’s roomy enough for layers and has a stylish, not-too-tight fit, unlike many touring-specific designs which tend to lean towards the slim, Euro-style look. But it’s not overly baggy, either—an important factor for comfortable movement in the skin track, and for the sake of packability.
The collar in particular is worth pointing out. Two of our testers have a major pet peeve with ski jackets: they despise when a collar is too tight, leading to a choking sensation. Unfortunately, there are just a lot of ski jackets out there without collars wide enough to avoid this entirely—except the Hemispheres Team. This jacket has the best collar design of any we’ve ever tested, hands down. When the hood is up, it sits straight and flat, offering ample protection from the elements without choking the wearer out at all. It’s a dream.
Just look at how flat that collar sits! We really do love it, in case you couldn’t tell. Photo by Stasia Stockwell.
The men’s bibs fit comfortably without issue. Our women’s tester, who has used previous versions of the Hemispheres bibs that used to include more stretch fabric, found the newest Team version to be slightly snug in the chest and at the hips. There is only room for a base layer and maybe a very thin fleece underneath the bibs—which isn’t a huge issue, since while ski touring it’s unlikely to need too many layers underneath the bibs anyway. But it’s worth noting.
If you fall on the curvier side, particularly in the chest, you may want to consider sizing up in the Hemispheres Team bibs, or even consider pairing different partial/half bibs with the Hemispheres Team jacket. (Also worth noting: the older versions of the Hemispheres jacket also had stretch fabric in the back and sides; we don’t miss this feature at all in the jacket, just in the bibs.)
Both our men’s and women’s testers found the Hemispheres to fit true to size in the jacket and bibs. Our women’s tester (who is 5’3” and 128 pounds with a slightly curvy but athletic build) is pretty much always a small in Outdoor Research apparel, and found the jacket to be a perfect fit in the small. The size small bibs were slightly snug in the chest and hips, but overall provided a good fit. Our men’s testers (both around 6’ and about 175 pounds with athletic builds) found a good fit in a size large. As is true with most Outdoor Research apparel we test, if you’re on the fence between sizes, we recommend going for the smaller one, unless you prefer a looser or baggier fit.
Particularly for the women’s bibs, if you want ample room for layers underneath the bibs, you may want to size up. Photo by Jon Stockwell.
Temperature regulation
Because the shell material of the Hemispheres Team is so thin, it’s not very warm (especially compared to a hardshell with a thicker face fabric and flannel backer, like the Arc’teryx Sentinel or Sabre). But that means it’s also very breathable, especially for being a GORE-TEX hardshell.
Even on warmer spring tours in the sun, our testers had no issues overheating in the pants, especially when opening the vents. Most of the time in the skintrack is spent without a shell on, but when the wind picks up or we’re above treeline in less than ideal weather, the Hemispheres Team jacket offers ample protection without causing overheating.
Durability
Overall, we think the Hemispheres kit is sufficiently durable and will stand up well to backcountry skiing. If you plan to take it into the resort frequently, you’re more likely to see some wear because of the thin fabric, particularly in the bibs.
The cuffs are reinforced, but the material is still light there and our testers have nicked small holes in the cuffs of previous versions of these, from stepping in and out of bindings at the resort. This is less of an issue overall with backcountry skiing, and we think the weight savings and breathability from the thin fabric is justified here and serves a good purpose. But, this is something to keep in mind, especially if you’re hard on gear or plan to use this kit in the resort often. And it’s worth clarifying that we only experienced this minor durability issue in the cuffs of the bibs and nowhere else. We’ve spun many a resort lap in the Hemispheres Team jacket and it’s no worse for wear.
Weight and packability
The weight and packability of this kit is what makes it such a standout for ski touring. The bibs are very light and comfortable, even for long days in the skintrack. The jacket is likewise very comfortable and light, and also very packable. We think it’s very smart for the Hemispheres jacket to forgo a powder skirt. It saves quite a bit of weight and bulk to not have it, and it’s really not needed when the jacket is paired with a full bib. The jacket and bibs are both among the lightest of any we’ve tested—with the Hemispheres jacket being even a bit lighter than the (also excellent) Patagonia PowSlayer.
We like the lack of powder skirt in the Hemispheres: It makes the jacket lighter and less bulky, and really isn’t needed when paired with a full bib. Photo by Jon Stockwell.
Ease of use and features
As we’ve mentioned, the collar and hood on the Hemispheres Team jacket are both excellent. The adjustable hood cinches to fit snugly over a helmet or a hat, and the collar sits flat when zipped up, remaining completely comfortable and protective. The hand pockets and chest pocket on the jacket are all easy to access with a pack on, and the zippers are all smooth and watertight.
The bibs have a full side zip that functions as a drop seat. Our testers have put this to use plenty of times without issue. The bibs have beacon clips in both the chest pocket as well as one thigh pocket, which gives you options to best limit electronic interference. There is also a pass-through kangaroo pocket on the bibs for extra storage—we love the pocket options! The bibs also have internal gaiters that fit over ski boots. The pant cuffs are reinforced and also fit well over ski boots without being too baggy or loose, which is especially important when ski touring.
The hood on the Hemispheres jacket fits easily over a ski helmet, and the waterproof zippers are smooth and durable. Photo by Stasia Stockwell.
System performance
The Hemispheres jacket and bibs work very well as a system together. Because the jacket does not have a powder skirt, having the protection of a full GORE-TEX bib paired with it is very nice. We also think the lightweight yet weatherproof fabric functions well in both pieces. Aside from that, there isn’t a whole lot in terms of tech or features that makes these two pieces work well together. So, while we think they’re great as a kit, either the jacket or bibs would function well when paired up with something else, too.
The Hemispheres Team jacket and bibs work well together as a kit. Photo by Jon Stockwell.
Features
Jacket features
3-layer GORE-TEX shell fabric
The 3L GORE-TEX fabric has a top-end waterproof/breathable membrane paired with a very lightweight face fabric.
Fully taped seams
Since this is a hardshell, it comes with top-end features for weatherproofing, like taped seams.
There is a two-way front zipper on the Hemispheres jacket. Photo by Jon Stockwell.
Helmet-compatible hood
The hood is adjustable and fits over a ski helmet. Plus: a wide collar for comfort and weather protection.
Pit zips
Pit zips for venting, without any mesh.
Pockets
There are two hand pockets, one chest pocket, one internal mesh pocket, one internal zippered pocket, and one pass pocket on the sleeve.
There is an internal drop pocket in the Hemispheres jacket. Photo by Jon Stockwell.
Adjustable cuffs
Sleeve cuffs on the jacket have a Velcro adjustment.
Hem cinch
There is a drawcord on the jacket that cinches the hem.
The Hemispheres jacket has adjustable cuffs and an adjustable drawcord hem. Photo by Stasia Stockwell.
Bibs features
3-layer GORE-TEX shell fabric
The 3L GORE-TEX fabric has a top-end waterproof/breathable membrane paired with a very lightweight face fabric.
Zippered thigh vents
Outer thigh vents zip open for airflow.
Pockets
The bibs have two thigh pockets (one with beacon clip), one chest pocket with beacon clip, and one pass-through kangaroo chest pocket.
Beacon clip in chest pocket and thigh pocket
The bibs have two options for a beacon pocket—one in the thigh and one in the chest—to choose from for personal preference and to best limit electronic interference.
The author wearing an older version of the Hemispheres bibs on a ski tour, with her beacon in the dedicated chest pocket. Photo by Jon Stockwell.
Adjustable suspenders
Sliding straps for fit adjustments.
Reinforced scuff guards
Thicker fabric added at the inner bottom part of the pant legs to increase durability.
Side-open drop seat
A zipper on the side of the pants opens towards the back end to allow for bathroom needs. In testing we found this to work well, other than the occasional difficulty snapping the snap at the top of the zip after.
Articulated knees
The fit of the bibs is designed for movement.
Should you buy the Outdoor Research Hemispheres Team Jacket and Bibs
Buy if you’re a skier or rider who wants full GORE-TEX weather protection in a very lightweight and breathable package. If you want a light and packable kit that can stand up to harsh, wet winter weather, all with a great fit, put the Hemispheres Team at the top of your list.
Skip if you need a kit with maximum durability, or you want supreme breathability and you’re willing to sacrifice some weather protection to get that. If you’re a budget-conscious skier who rides only in the resort, there are more affordable and durable options out there (though they will be less technical overall).
The author, Treeline’s longtime women’s ski apparel tester and writer, has long held the Hemispheres jacket in high esteem for its excellent fit. Photo by Jon Stockwell.
Where to buy
The Outdoor Research Hemispheres Team Jacket and Bibs are popular gear items, so you have options when it comes to retailers. Here are some of the pros of the retailers.
REI
Pros: 100% satisfaction policy for 1 year; 10% dividend for members.
men's
Women's
Amazon
Pros: Free 2-day shipping with Amazon Prime membership
men's
Women's
Evo
Pros: 365 day returns, store locations in ski towns for easy last-minute pick-up, may offer rentals if you want to try before you buy, earn 10% back in Rewards
men's
Women's
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Insulation: None
Sizes: Men’s: S-XXL, Women’s: XS-XL
Pockets: 2 hand, 2 chest, arm pass pocket, internal drop pocket, internal zippered pocket
Waterproofing: 3L GORE-TEX Pro ePE
Pit zips: Yes, no mesh
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Why you should trust us / About the author
The author on a backcountry ski tour near her home in Breckenridge, CO, wearing the Hemispheres from a previous season. Photo by Jon Stockwell.
Stasia Stockwell has been a skier since she learned to walk. She has since spent every winter of her life on skis and gets out to the resort or the backcountry multiple times a week in the mountains around her home in Breckenridge, Colorado. She’s been an outdoor gear writer and tester for over a decade and has been covering women’s ski apparel for Treeline Review for several years running.
Stasia is a true mountain dweller at heart. She’s worked as a backpacking guide in Southeast Alaska, has held WFR, AIARE 1, AIARE 2, and Avalanche Rescue Certifications, and is working to become an avalanche education instructor. She now calls Breckenridge, Colorado and the mountains that surround it her home. In the winters, she racks up as many ski days as possible; she loves long days in the backcountry, but nothing compares to hot laps on the T-bar at her home resort. In the summers, she’s an avid mountain biker. Sometimes you might even find her on a trail sans bike, running slowly or backpacking to an alpine lake. She’s now a full-time writer and editor in the outdoor space. Stasia is also the managing editor for the print publication for backpackers, TrailsMagazine.
