Need input from athletic ladies who find jackets tight in arms and shoulders???

[Bayla]

Hi All! I already tried to search this topic.

I'm 5'6" 135 pounds, practically flat chested with a sports bra and normally wear a medium or size 4-6. I lift weights and actually have muscles. I just bought a HH Powder Queen jacket and tested the other day for a hike I had a tank top wicking layer, smart wool long sleeve and light/thin puffer underneath and felt it was a bit tight for my liking. Especially considering on a frigid day I would add a fleece to this set up. Other issues with jackets are biceps being tight when bending arms. Anyone else have a small yet athletic build and run into this issue? If I size up the sleeves will be to my knees.

I prefer an insulated jacket, but am willing to learn to adjust my set up if shell might be a better option. Only thing I've found that I seemed to like was Flylow (and I went to a ton of local shops), but not crazy about the jacket colors. Bad enough boot fit dictates my color choice in new gear, but I shouldn't have to compromise on a jacket style as I will likely have for while since I can't afford to be a jacket slut. Any suggestions?

 

[AJM]

Whilst I am not an athletic build I do have disproportionally large shoulders and a wide back compared to my size 165cm and just under 50kg and always have issues with fit and not just ski jackets I even have problems with T shirts and those things are sretchy !! I also have super long arms which just adds to the puzzle so with all these issues I tend to size up in pretty much everything which can sometimes leave me looking like I'm wearing my big sisters hand me downs
For skiing I wear a Burton "Upshift" jacket in a Medium which is a shell and pile on the layers underneath and and just cinch in the cord at the bottom which somehow makes it work.
Good luck in finding a solution, I curse my shoulders on a daily basis !!

 

[MissySki]

I have wide shoulders and very long arms for my size... 6'4" 125lbs. I have thought that HH fits me quite well in this regard, but I don't have the specific model you mentioned. Also, Arc'teryx shells are great with long arms and generous fit... at least the model I own.

 

[diymom]

@MissySki -- slight typo for your height?

 

[Bayla]

@MissySki -- slight typo for your height?

My daugther is 6 ft. so I just assumed she was another tall girl

 

[marzNC]

Haven't looked at the meaurement details, but I'm intrigued by the ski jackets that Nobody's Princess has available. Can't remember if this is the first or second N. American season. I've been very happy with their ski pants because of the adjustability, as well as accounting for different body shapes.

 

[edelweissmaedl]

As I work on putting on more muscle mx ski gear is fitting differently. Picked up a new Helly Hansen jacket last season, seemed to have more shoulder room.

 

[MissySki]

@MissySki -- slight typo for your height?

Hahaha whoops yes indeed!! That would be 5’4”…

 

[SnowHot]

Outdoor Research has been doing really great about making ski clothing for athletic women

 

[Pequenita]

I haven't bought anything from OR recently, but in the past I did find that they were proportioned in a way that didn't assume that skinny people were (like @MissySki ) 6'4" and super leggy or had long arms.

 

[racetiger]

Snowboard stuff tends to be roomier in general I believe. I won a DC snowboarding coat in a raffle a few years ago and that is a lot more comfy than the Armada coat I have. I wear that most of the time and only wear the Armada one on the really cold days because it's goretex and is very warm. Its just a bit tight even though both coats are Mediums. If I gotta bend over I need to hike up the coat first. My hips aren't that big, it's just a narrow fitting coat with long arms. (It's probably a mens coat, I bought it on clearance on Evo like 7 years ago thought it was unisex, it might be )
I like to be able to fit in as many or as little layers as I want!
My pants are also snowboarding brand 686. I like freedom to move!

 

[DebbieSue]

5’5” , 140, very broad shoulders and entirely flat chested. ( I used to be 5’6” 125) My strategy even at that lower weight is to size up, 8 or 10. I definitely need the space for range of motion for my shoulders/arms. I pick a more “cropped” or “trim” style so it doesn’t look like I’m swimming in the jacket and no flap pockets to add to the extra fabric in the front of the torso. I have long arms so the 8 or 10 is fine in that regard. My experience is that Spyder and Nils work well. I’m told Norrona is good for lean athletic builds. Ordered some Helly Hansen’s on sale that I wanted to love, but no go and sent them back. Mostly they had patch pockets.

 

[Jilly]

I have a Salomon jacket that I can't get the zipper done up at my shoulders. It's an european fit for sure. All straight. So it's on FB Marketplace through a friend that lives in ski country. So I hear your pain.

Currently - Alvanche jacket and Mountain Wearhouse jacket. Women's fits for sure. Both are fine.

 

[Bayla]

5’5” , 140, very broad shoulders and entirely flat chested. ( I used to be 5’6” 125) My strategy even at that lower weight is to size up, 8 or 10. I definitely need the space for range of motion for my shoulders/arms. I pick a more “cropped” or “trim” style so it doesn’t look like I’m swimming in the jacket and no flap pockets to add to the extra fabric in the front of the torso. I have long arms so the 8 or 10 is fine in that regard. My experience is that Spyder and Nils work well. I’m told Norrona is good for lean athletic builds. Ordered some Helly Hansen’s on sale that I wanted to love, but no go and sent them back. Mostly they had patch pockets.

I tried a Norrona in France and it was nice, but not within my budget

 

[Bayla]

My pants are also snowboarding brand 686. I like freedom to move!

Oh, thanks for throwing this out there. I did try a roomy 686 somewhere along the way. I'll take a look at those.

 

[BlizzardBabe]

Outdoor Research has been doing really great about making ski clothing for athletic women

I've found OR to run very small -- but that was a couple of years ago.

 

[DebbieSue]

I tried a Norrona in France and it was nice, but not within my budget

Nor mine! forgot to mention that. There are rare sales, maybe late season, from what I understand.

 

[HuntersEmma57]

That’s tough at 125# but congrats on muscling up. I’ve got broad muscular shoulders and often wear mens small base layers and sweaters. Jackets are harder due to sleeve length. I have had great luck with Arcteryx shells - nothing form fitting seems to work.

 

[Basil]

I’m close to your height and weight but pretty much exactly opposite. I’m basically a T-Rex with small shoulders and short arms no matter how much weight I lift!

I will say my Arcteryx gear is all too long in the arms by at least an inch or two on me, so you may look there. Patagonia tends to fit me a bit better in the arms. I don’t have Norrona but I’ve heard it fits similarly to arcteryx.