Most Antarctic landings are wet landings. The Zodiac noses onto a stony beach, you swing your legs over the side, and you step into the Southern Ocean up to your shins. Add spray on the ride in and wet snow on shore, and it's your legs, not your jacket, that take the most water. Many ships lend you a parka. Very few lend you pants.
Fit matters more than people expect. You'll spend a lot of time sitting on the side of a Zodiac with your knees bent, and unisex pants that fit at the waist are often tight at the hip, or the reverse. Every pair below is cut for women. This guide covers the waterproof outer pant only. What goes underneath is in What to Wear in Antarctica and our base layers guide, and the rubber boots your ship provides have their own guide.
Quick Answer
For most women, a fully waterproof shell pant with long side zips, worn over your own thermal layers, is the most versatile choice. The Marmot PreCip Eco Full-Zip is the best value, and the Arc'teryx Beta is the premium pick. If you run cold, or you'd rather wear one pair instead of layering, an insulated snow pant like the Columbia Bugaboo Omni-Heat, The North Face Freedom or the Helly Hansen Legendary does the job well. Columbia and The North Face both come in plus sizes. Whatever you buy, make sure it says waterproof, not water-resistant.
Women's Waterproof Pants for Antarctica, at a Glance
6 Picks
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Best Value Shell
1. Marmot Women's PreCip Eco Full-Zip Pant
The pair most travelers should buy
The PreCip Eco does the job at a price that won't make you wince when it meets a rock on the beach. The detail that matters most is in the name: the side zips run the full length of the leg. You can pull these on and off over rubber boots in a cramped mudroom without sitting on the floor, which you'll appreciate by the third landing.
| Waterproofing | NanoPro waterproof-breathable membrane, taped seams |
| Side zips | Full length |
| Fabric | Recycled nylon ripstop |
| Lengths | Regular, plus short and long on many sizes |
It's a shell, so the warmth comes from what you wear underneath. Size up if you plan to layer a fleece pant beneath it.
Best Mid-Range Shell
2. Outdoor Research Women's Aspire 3L Pant
Tougher weather protection, still packable
The Aspire 3L is the women's version of OR's Foray, built from AscentShell Dry fabric in 100% recycled nylon with a bit of mechanical stretch. Three-layer construction holds up better than lighter 2.5-layer rain pants when you're sliding over Zodiac pontoons and kneeling on gravel beaches. The 3/4-length side zips open wide enough to get over a boot, or to vent on a sunny hike up to a viewpoint.
- Weight: 13.2 oz, and the back pocket doubles as its own stuff sack.
- Inseams: short (29") and regular (31").
- Best for: travelers who also hike in the rain at home and want one pant that does both.
Best Premium Shell
3. Arc'teryx Beta Pant Women's
Light, quiet and very well made
The Beta is a three-layer GORE-TEX shell that weighs about 10.9 oz, the lightest pant on this list. The full-length separating side zips mean you can put it on over boots without taking anything off first. It also comes in six inseam lengths from 29" to 34", which is rare, and it matters when the hem needs to sit cleanly over a knee-high rubber boot.
- Hem details: laminated instep patches to stand up to boot scuffs and rocky beaches.
- Best for: travelers who will use a premium shell long after Antarctica.
Not sure what your ship provides? Some lines include waterproof pants or boots, and many don't. We'll tell you exactly what's covered on your voyage before you shop.
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Best Value Insulated
4. Columbia Women's Bugaboo Omni-Heat Pant
One pair instead of layering, in plus sizes too
If you'd rather not deal with a separate shell and fleece layers, a waterproof snow pant is a perfectly good choice for Antarctica. The women's Bugaboo has a seam-sealed Omni-Tech waterproof shell, 60g of synthetic insulation and Columbia's silver-dot Omni-Heat reflective lining. Internal leg gaiters help keep slush out of the cuff.
- Sizing: standard and plus sizes, in more than one inseam.
- The trade-off: there are no side zips, so it's slower to get on over boots, and it can run warm on a sunny deck.
Best Insulated with Vents
5. The North Face Women's Freedom Insulated Pant
Warm on the Zodiac, ventable on the hike
The Freedom pairs a seam-sealed DryVent 2L waterproof shell with 60g of Heatseeker insulation, much like the Bugaboo. The difference is the mesh-lined inner-thigh vents, which let you dump heat on the uphill walk to a penguin colony and close them again for the ride back. Stretch gaiters seal the cuff, and the kick patches hold up to boot scuffs.
- Sizing: XS to 3XL in short (30"), regular (32") and long (34") inseams.
Best Premium Insulated
6. Helly Hansen Women's Legendary Insulated Pant
Ski-grade warmth that still moves
Helly Hansen has been making gear for Norwegian sailors since 1877, and it shows in how this pant handles water. The Legendary uses a fully seam-sealed HELLY TECH Performance shell over 60g of PrimaLoft Black insulation, with thigh vents for the walk up to a colony. Two-way stretch fabric makes it easier to swing a leg over a Zodiac pontoon than stiffer ski pants, and the hems are reinforced against rocks and boot scuffs.
- Sizing: XS to 3XL, in short and regular lengths.
- Best for: women who run cold and want one warm pair they'll ski in afterward.
Women's Waterproof Pants: Quick Reference
Figures are from manufacturer and retailer listings. Models change, so confirm the current specs before you buy.
| Model | Type | Waterproofing | Side Zips / Vents | Insulation | Sizes |
|---|
| Marmot PreCip Eco Full-Zip | Shell | NanoPro | Full length | None | Standard |
| Outdoor Research Aspire 3L | Shell | AscentShell Dry 3L | 3/4 length | None | Short, regular |
| Arc'teryx Beta | Shell | 3L GORE-TEX | Full, separating | None | Six inseams |
| Columbia Bugaboo Omni-Heat | Insulated | Omni-Tech | None | 60g + Omni-Heat | Standard + plus |
| TNF Freedom Insulated | Insulated | DryVent 2L | Thigh vents | 60g Heatseeker | XS–3XL, 3 inseams |
| Helly Hansen Legendary | Insulated | HELLY TECH Performance | Thigh vents | 60g PrimaLoft Black | XS–3XL |
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need waterproof pants if my ship provides a jacket?
Yes. Ships that lend expedition parkas rarely lend pants, and a waterproof outer pant is required for Zodiac landings on nearly every itinerary. Check your operator's gear list, but plan to bring your own.
Should I buy women's pants or unisex?
Women's, if you can. A women's cut fits better at the hip and seat, which is where unisex pants pull tight when you're sitting on a Zodiac pontoon with your knees bent. Women's pants also come in shorter inseams, so the hem sits over your boot instead of dragging.
Can I just wear my ski pants?
Usually, yes, as long as they're waterproof and not just water-resistant. Check the label. If they're insulated, you may want thinner layers underneath so you don't overheat on deck.
Do waterproof pants go inside or over my boots?
Over. Water that runs down a tucked-in pant goes straight into the boot. Wear the cuff over the top of the rubber landing boot so water sheds outside it.
Shell or insulated: which should I buy?
Buy a shell if you'll use it for hiking and rain at home, or if you like adjusting layers underneath. Buy an insulated pant if you run cold, or want one simple pair that goes on over thermals.
A Note on Fit
Try your pants on over the layers you'll actually wear, and sit down in them. A pant that fits over leggings in the store can pull tight over a base layer and a fleece on the side of a Zodiac. Looking for the men's list? See Best Waterproof Pants for Antarctica For Men. For the rest of your bag, see our Antarctica packing guide.
Every polar line's gear inclusions are a little different. Tell us which voyage you're looking at and we'll send you a packing list matched to exactly what your ship provides.
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