Flylow Lucy Jacket Review: Specs, Sizing and Verdict
Affiliate disclosure: As an Amazon Associate we earn from qualifying purchases. Some links below are affiliate links, see our full disclosure. This breakdown is based on our independent research of current-season specifications and aggregated expert and user feedback.
The quick verdict: The freeride workhorse of the women's field: a burly 3-layer shell with dialed features at a price the flagships can't touch. ~$460 list, prior-season colorways often 40-60% off on closeout
Overview
Flylow started as a Colorado brand making outerwear for skiers who ride lifts hard and hike when the rope drops, and the Lucy carries that DNA. The 3-layer Tactic stretch fabric is a 100-denier recycled polyester face with a 20K/20K waterproof-breathability rating and fully taped seams, and the cut is a relaxed freeride shape that fits a midlayer without ballooning. Expert roundups keep returning to the same conclusion: this is the jacket that does the most things well for the money.
Where It Shines
- 3-layer performance and durability at a mid-tier price
- Relaxed cut layers well and moves freely
- Big pit zips dump heat fast on hikes and warm days
- Storm-ready details: removable powder skirt, low-bulk cuffs, helmet hood
Tradeoffs to Know
- No insulation, you build warmth with layers underneath
- Freeride fit reads roomy if you prefer a tailored silhouette
- DWR needs occasional renewal like any shell
Who It’s For
Skiers who want one uninsulated shell for everything: storm days, groomers, side-country laps. If you run cold and never tour, an insulated pick like the Insulated Powder Town may suit better.
Key Specs by Size
Figures are approximate and drawn from Flylow’s published women’s size chart (via flylowgear.com, as reproduced by evo) and current retailer listings. Flylow sells the Lucy in five sizes, XS through XL, and each alpha size spans two numeric dress sizes; the ranges below cover both.
| Size | Numeric | Chest | Waist | Low hip |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| XS | 0-2 | 32-33 in (81-84cm) | 24-25 in (61-64cm) | 34.5-35.5 in (88-90cm) |
| S | 4-6 | 34-35 in (86-89cm) | 26-27 in (66-69cm) | 36.5-37.5 in (93-95cm) |
| M | 8-10 | 36-37.5 in (91-95cm) | 28-29.5 in (71-75cm) | 38.5-40 in (98-102cm) |
| L | 12-14 | 39-40.5 in (99-103cm) | 31-33 in (79-84cm) | 41.5-43.5 in (105-110cm) |
| XL | 16 | 42 in (107cm) | 35 in (89cm) | 45.5 in (116cm) |
Across all sizes: the current Lucy is built from Flylow’s Tactic 3L fabric, a stretchy 100-denier softshell-feel face of 100 percent recycled polyester bonded to a 20K/20K waterproof-breathable membrane with a jersey backer and a PFAS-free, bio-based DWR. Seams are fully taped and the zippers are YKK waterproof. Venting comes from two 12-inch pit zips. Pockets: three exterior zippered, an interior zippered chest, an interior dump and a sleeve pass pocket. The hood is fixed and helmet-compatible, the powder skirt removable, the hem adjustable. Flylow lists the weight at about 612 g (roughly 21.6 oz), and the center back length on a medium is about 29.5 inches, which puts the hem at the hip. There is no RECCO reflector on the brand’s spec sheet. Flylow backs it with a limited lifetime warranty. List price is about $460; prior-season colorways routinely drop 40 to 60 percent at the big retailers once the new colors land.
Sizing and Fit
Flylow lists the Lucy as true to size with a relaxed freeride cut, and the brand’s own chart is the thing to trust. Measure your chest at the fullest point and find the row above. If you sit between two sizes, the stretch fabric means the smaller one will still move with you, so the decision comes down to how much you plan to wear underneath. Flylow’s product photos show 5’7” and 5’8” models of 135 to 140 lb in a medium, which lines up with the chart.
Aggregated reviews describe the fit as roomy rather than tailored. A reviewer at Switchback Travel at 5’6” and 135 lb found a medium right for resort days over a midlayer but would size down for touring in a baselayer only, and a reviewer on REI’s listing suggests the same for a fitted look. So: buy your chart size if you ski cold resorts in a puffy or fleece, and go one down if you run warm or tour a lot. The 29.5-inch back length covers the seat on a chairlift without reaching the thigh, so it pairs cleanly with bibs like Flylow’s own Foxy Bib or any standard-rise ski pant.
What it won’t fit: anyone outside a 32 to 42-inch chest range, since Flylow doesn’t currently offer the Lucy in extended or petite sizes, and skiers who want a slim, cinched silhouette. Some reviewers also find the collar restricts head rotation with a helmet on and the main zip fully closed.
Who Should Skip It
Skip the Lucy if you run cold and never hike for turns: it has zero insulation, and the Patagonia Insulated Powder Town gives you a warm, 2-layer resort jacket for about $60 less. Skip it if you want a Gore-Tex shell with a RECCO reflector and the most bombproof face fabric money can buy, because that’s the Arc’teryx Sentinel, at a far higher price. And skip it if your budget caps out around $300, where the Columbia Platinum Peak II 3L delivers a 3-layer waterproof build with fewer freeride touches but a lot of the same weather protection.
Lucy vs. Arc’teryx Sentinel vs. Columbia Platinum Peak II 3L
These three are all uninsulated 3-layer shells, so the choice is about fabric, features and price. The Arc’teryx Sentinel is the premium option at about $750 list and roughly $575 on sale: Gore-Tex, RECCO and the brand’s famously clean patterning, in a slightly longer, more tailored cut. The Columbia Platinum Peak II 3L is the budget 3-layer at around $300, with a stiffer hand and simpler venting but a solid waterproof rating. The Lucy sits between them at about $460, with the stretchiest, quietest fabric of the three, the biggest pit zips, a removable powder skirt and a dump pocket, but no RECCO and a face fabric that reviewers say lacks the armour-plated feel of Gore-Tex. Pick the Sentinel if you want the most protective shell and price is secondary; pick the Platinum Peak II if you ski a dozen days a year and want 3-layer waterproofing for the least money; pick the Lucy if you ski hard, side-country and resort both, and want a shell that moves like a softshell at a mid-tier price.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Flylow Lucy insulated?
No. The Lucy is a true shell with no insulation, so warmth comes from your baselayer and midlayer. That’s why it works from storm days through spring; add or remove layers rather than buying a second jacket.
What size Flylow Lucy should I get?
Use Flylow’s chart: XS for a 32 to 33-inch chest, S for 34 to 35, M for 36 to 37.5, L for 39 to 40.5 and XL for 42. It runs true to size with room for a midlayer; size down if you want a trimmer fit or tour in a baselayer only.
Flylow Lucy or Billie Coat?
Both are 3-layer, 20K/20K Flylow shells with no insulation. The Billie Coat is longer, with a waist-tapered, hip-flaring silhouette and a list price of about $480; the Lucy is a hip-length, straighter freeride cut at about $460 with bigger pit zips. Pick the Billie for coverage and a dressier line, the Lucy for mobility and hiking.
Is the Flylow Lucy waterproof?
Yes. The Tactic 3L fabric carries a 20,000 mm waterproof and 20,000 g breathability rating, with fully taped seams, YKK waterproof zippers and a PFAS-free DWR. Like any shell, the DWR needs refreshing after a season or two of washing.
How It Compares
See how it stacks up in our full guide: The Best Women's Ski Jackets for 2026-27. Other picks from that list: Arc'teryx Sentinel · Patagonia Insulated Powder Town · Columbia Platinum Peak II 3L · Helly Hansen Alphelia.