As a woman, it can be tough to find the right clothes for the right outdoor adventure. Looking for the perfect outdoor jacket that is durable, comfortable, and fashionable – and that fits right – can be a frustrating experience.
But with Columbia travel clothing line for women, it doesn’t have to be.
Columbia has a number of travel clothing options available for women – from outdoor jackets, snow pants, flexible, stretchy pants that are designed to promote movability and maximum comfort to T-shirts, women of all shapes, sizes, and ages are bound to find what they are looking for with Columbia’s travel clothing line.
Columbia Mumbai Mover Travel Pants for Women
- 88% polyester/12% elastane.
- 4-way comfort stretch.
- Wrinkle resistant.
- Omni-Shield advanced repellency.
- Roll-up legs convert pant to capri.
Like a lot of women who work hard to keep in shape, my female travel companion of many years is no fan of regular travel pants.
Despite my pleading, she’d rather carry (or have me carry) a suitcase with heavy denim designer jeans than pack light with more practical travel slacks.
She likes these Mumbai Mover ones from Columbia, however, since they’re form-fitting and stretchy rather than being the normal baggy style that allows lots of movement when hiking.
“These actually look good on me,” was her first comment, with a tinge of surprise. I consider that a strong endorsement.
In a way, these travel pants are the best of both worlds. They look as good as a regular pair of slacks, but they have all the elements that will make your travel time easier.
They repel water, they repel stains, and they dry quickly. The Mumbai Mover pants are wrinkle-resistant as well, so they’ll still look good after being crammed in a suitcase for an international flight or worn on an overnight bus.
There’s also a zipper pocket on the front in case you’re strolling through Rome—or Mumbia—and want to keep your cash safe from pickpockets.
These $60 Columbia travel pants come in multiple sizes and three colors, but all but the “fossil” color seem to be in close-out mode. Right now the other two colors are $39 at Amazon and at Backcountry.com.
If you’ve had trouble finding lightweight travel slacks that are actually flattering to the figure, check into this more feminine model from Columbia Sportswear.
Extreme Versatility: Women’s Frosty Forest Parka from Columbia
- Columbia Women’s Frosty Forest Parka.
- Omni-Tech waterproof-breathable.
- Underarm venting.
- 3-point Interchange system.
- Attached, adjustable storm hood.
Choosing a coat for extremely variable conditions is challenging. A wet climate needs one type of coat, cold needs another, the combination of those too — wet and cold can be brutal, and if it’s windy too…
And there’s the weight and/or space in your luggage — you’re going to have to sacrifice one or both of those things so you want to get it right.
On top of all that, versatility is key. The Women’s Frosty Forest Parkadoes all that and is packed with design details that make this jacket ideal for travelers in colder, changeable weather. Candidly, this is a great coat, I’m nutty for it. Here’s why.
The parka comes in two pieces — a zip-out Interchange down liner and a waterproof hard shell. The shell uses Columbia’s fancy new Omni-Heat technology, a lining which essentially reflects your body heat inwards while allowing moisture to escape .
The result? You stay warm and dry because sweat isn’t trapped during activity. (Columbia has a whole mini-site devoted to Omni-Heat if you want to know more and see other products that use this technology.)
The keep warm and dry design is a good thing, of course, but I also really like the thumb-loops in the sleeve liners. Pull on your gloves and there’s no gap for cold air to get in.
The down liner has pit zips, always key, to let air in when you need a little ventilation but don’t want to take your coat off. There are zippered side pockets for your stuff (or your hands).
The shell has little keeper loops to anchor it inside the shell so it stays in place. It works well as a warm outer layer when it’s not wet out.
The waterproof shell has the same attention to detail as the liner. It’s also got taped, waterproof zippers, pit zips, zippered side pockets, and hey, here’s a nice touch, the wallet pocket has a little pull through for your headset, it knows you’re using your iPod on the lift.
The shell is fully lined and there are elastic pulls to close the bottom of the jacket and to tighten the hood. The collar is just right for pulling up over your chin when it’s windy — not too tight and there’s a softer fabric where it contacts your face so it’s not scratchy.
By itself, the shell is a perfect wind or rain jacket for milder weather. But with the down liner zipped in, it’s an extreme weather parka designed to keep you warm and dry.
I’m packing this coat for Antarctica, but it’s also a perfect addition to my wardrobe for life in the Pacific Northwest.
Columbia Back It Up Snow Pants
- Shell: 100% Polyester, Lining: 100% Nylon.
- Zipper closure.
- Machine Wash.
- Snow pant featuring double-snap closures.
- Wide waistband with belt loops.
Columbia’s well designed cold weather sports clothing is fast becoming a favorite of this traveler who loves to play outside but hates to be cold.
I wrote up their Frosty Forest parka here — a great companion for that jacket is their Back it Up ski and snow pants.
The pants are made out of a breathable waterproof material that lets moisture escape and keeps you dry.
They’re lined with Columbia’s Omni-Heat fabric — it’s designed to reflect your body heat inward while still letting sweat escape.
All the technical stuff is great, but alone isn’t the reason why I like these pants. It’s the details. Where to begin?
The waist has a soft fleece inset at the back — it effectively raises the waist of the pants without giving you that classic 70s high-waisted ski pants look.
That inset zips out if you don’t want to use, but I rather liked the extra height at the back for keeping the cold out.
The sewn in gaiters have rubber grippy stuff around the ankle, are made of nylon, and will keep you dry in deep snow (and probably about eight inches of water, though I didn’t test this).
Zippered cuffs make it easier to deal with clunky boots and to secure the gaiters.
They’ve got extra reinforcement on the inner ankle, too, to protect against wear and tear.
Mesh side vents let in just a little bit of air — enough to cool you off without flapping around. The pockets are fleece lined to warm your hands and zippered to keep your lip balm secure.
I would have liked a zippered wallet pocket on the backside, too, a minor shortcoming. Unlike a lot of other gear I’ve been trying on lately, the sizing on the pants seems accurate — my size fit just right with a pair of long underwear underneath.
The pants are comfortable, it’s easy to move around in them, and hey, they look cute, they’re a flattering cut. They’re bulky, so if you’re looking for low profile, super light gear, this isn’t it.
But if you want to stay warm and dry when you’re playing in the snow, and look good in the process, Columbia’s Back it Up Pants are just the ticket.
Columbia changes its product names every season, so by the time you read this there will be other names for $150 or less.
Women’s Rashguards from Columbia Sportswear
- 92% polyester/8% elastane embossed jersey.
- Machine wash cold gentle.
- Omni-shade up 50 sun protection.
- Omni-wick advanced evaporation.
- Quick dry.
For my trip to Hawaii in March, during which I was scheduled to take a surfing lesson (which ended up being thwarted by the tsunami wave surges that hit the islands), I did a ton of Internet surfing (pun!) to find a cute, feminine rashguard that didn’t have a logo emblazoned across the chest.
Turns out, I couldn’t find many that also had a relatively low collar. (I can’t stand turtlenecks or choker necklaces.)
I was thrilled to find two different styles from Columbia Sportswear that fit the bill: the Women’s Triton Time Long Sleeve Rashguard and the Women’s Triton Time Sleeveless Rashguard.
To be totally honest, I totally wished that Columbia offered a short sleeve version without the shelf bra; that’s really what I was looking for.
But because I couldn’t decide if I wanted the full arm coverage of the long sleeve or the back-and-shoulder-only coverage of the sleeveless, I ended up purchasing both!
Both surf shirts are super flattering. Yes, the polyester/stretch-jersey blend hugs my curves, but it’s not too tight anywhere.
The silhouette on each — slightly flared at the hips — is feminine (unlike some boxy rash guards I came across in my online shopping).
I absolutely adore the darling design accents: across the front and sides of the sleeveless (which actually has short cap sleeves) and on the arms side of the chest on the long sleeve.
These whimsical patterns just make the rash guards pretty, again, not a characteristic you often see in such sporty shirts.
Two more key selling points: The shirts feature Columbia’s quick-drying Omni-Wick fabric and Omni-Shade UPF 50 sun protection. Truly, these shirts are practical and cute.
One pointer: If you wear your Columbia rashguard in the ocean, be sure to rinse it out thoroughly afterward, preferably with soap, or if you can, run it through a washing machine before wearing again.
I wore my Columbia rashguards while stand-up paddling in Hawaii, and then when I went to put it on again for a snorkel trip later that week, it was pretty stinky. Turns out, I’d just laid it out to dry without giving it a thorough rinse.
The Columbia Sportswear rashguards are reasonably priced on the company website:$45 for the long sleeve (4 colors) and $35 for the short sleeve (3 colors).
Columbia Omni-Heat Long Underwear: Warm and Stripey!
- Polyester.
- Omni-Heat thermal insulated.
- Omni-Wick moisture management.
- Antimicrobial treatment.
- Highly stretchable, with flat-lock stitching.
I tend to avoid the synthetic blends for next to the skin base layers. This is due to a history of hiking in stinky polypropylene, a fabric that’s long since been updated and sidelined by my current favorite, merino.
I’m currently being charmed out of my hardline preference for natural fibers by Columbia’s new Omni-Heat long underwear. I like this stuff. A lot.
The Omni-Heat line isn’t new to me, I packed an Omni-Heat 3 in 1 parka from Columbia for Antarctica, along with one of their super cute hats.
There are all kinds of information on the Columbia site about Omni-Heat, but essentially, the fabric is dotted with material that reflects your body heat back inwards.
In the long underwear, this technology has been applied to a lightweight, stretchy (and stripey) fabric that’s soft and feels quite nice next to the skin.
There are all kinds of information on the Columbia site about Omni-Heat, but essentially, the fabric is dotted with material that reflects your body heat back inwards. In the long underwear, this technology has been applied to a lightweight, stretchy (and stripey) fabric that’s soft and feels quite nice next to the skin.
The long underwear—labeled on the site as a baselayer—-comes in tights and a long sleeved top. Both pieces have the Omni-Heat treatment only where it makes sense.
The crotch and inner thighs on the tights and the armpits on the shirt are another Columbia technology , Omni-Wick, designed to move moisture away from your body. Even for those of us that get cold, this makes good sense.
Both pieces are anatomically cut as well with gussets match the shape of your body, making the fit super comfortable and easy to move around it.
The waistband in the tights is wide and flat and all the seams are flat too, so everything sits nicely as a base layer underneath your jeans (or snow pants, if that’s what you’re wearing.) And yes, guys, this line comes in men’s cuts and sizes too.
I’ve said it before, I’ll say it again. I pack long underwear for almost every destination, regardless of the promised climate. The bottoms can do double duty as leggings under a skirt (nice if you get cold on the plane) and the whole kit works fine as jammies if you need them.
You never know what the weather is going to do and long underwear takes up so little space in your bag that it’s worth having a base layer just in case temperatures drop.
While I’m a functional person at heart, I liked having a change from solid black. The stripes are cute.
I like the way Columbia’s new base layers feel and perform well enough to have packed them (instead of my usual merino) for a recent trip to high altitude — that’s a firm endorsement from a traveler who’s been committed to natural fibers for the past ten years or so.
You can get Columbia’s Omni-Tech base layers directly from Columbia, the top and the tights are $55-$65 each. Check Amazon, too, (shirt/tights) you may find them for slightly less.