The Flylow Billie Coat is a 3-layer shell designed for deep days in the backcountry and long days in the resort. By choosing a shell, you gain the ability to adjust your layers to match the conditions of the day. Keep it minimal for long, warm hikes or add layers to bundle up for cold lift rides.

Fit
Flylow gave the Billie Coat a long, freeride cut while managing to avoid the boxy look common in freeride styles. An extended hem offers extra protection while the shape tapers at the waist for a flattering fit.
I’m 5’5 and 135 pounds and I wear a size small. You can also reference the Flylow size chart.
The only fit issue I’ve encountered is the height of the pass pocket on the left sleeve. If I bend my arm at a certain angle, the zipper tends to pinch around my elbow. I rarely notice it while I’m skiing, but if the pocket was lower on my forearm, it would eliminate the pinching entirely.
Fabric
The Billie Coat is made with Flylow’s proprietary 3-layer polyester Intuitive fabric. It also has a high-performance Durable Water Repellant and a 20k/20k waterproof breathable membrane.
Flylow nailed the soft-to-the-touch feel of their Intuitive fabric, yet the material is still incredibly durable. After about 30 days, I haven’t found any weak points, nor have I had durability concerns.
Pockets
Pockets, pockets, pockets – I love large pockets, I need a lot of them and I can’t say that enough. The Billie Coat did not disappoint me with 6 zippered pockets that each serve a purpose.
Two handwarmer pockets on the front of the coat keep my hands warm with space for stuff I need close when I’m on the mountain or walking around town.
The left sleeve has a pass pocket for easy scanning at the lifts. This pocket has saved me a lot of hassle and time when it comes to knowing where my pass is and getting on the lift quickly.
On the front, left chest there is another pocket that fits my oversized smartphone. The pocket has a waterproof zipper, so my phone feels secure and there is a well-made, wire guide for your headphones. Plus, it is easy to access my phone for quick pictures.
On the inside, top right panel, there is a pocket that would also fit a cell phone if you aren’t worried about getting it out for pictures. Since I keep my phone in the front pocket, I always keep my car keys in this pocket. Below that, there is a deeper pocket that is the perfect size for a mid-afternoon PB&J.

Hood
The hood is not removable, but it fits really well over my helmet. It is made with the same 20k/20k waterproof breathable membrane as the rest of the coat so when the storms get strong, you can pull it over your helmet and stay dry.
Once you pull the hood up, use the plastic toggles to tighten the hood around your helmet and block out the wind. The toggles also help adjust the size of the hood when you’re just wearing the jacket around town.
Removable Powder Skirt
Elastic grip along the bottom of the powder skirt holds it in place while you ski. The bottom half of the powder skirt is made from a strong, waterproof fabric to block the moisture out. The top half of the skirt is made with an extremely stretchy and breathable fabric to release excess heat when you’re working up a sweat in deep powder.
Held together with snap buttons, the powder skirt lays flat when in use or when unbuttoned and kept to the side. If you have Flylow pants, you can also use the snap buttons to connect the coat to your pants for maximum protection. If you don’t have Flylow pants and now you want some – I recommend looking at the Foxy Bib or the Daisy pant.
Vents
Especially for a shell, vents are vital, and the Billie Coat has large underarm vents. With two zipper pulls, you can either open the vents to their full 10-inch allowance, or you can adjust from both ends for two smaller vents. The two zipper pulls are especially useful for venting and unzipping with a backpack on.

Packability
The Billie Coat is surprisingly compact and easy to fold. I have a 25L backpack with two compartments, and the Billie Coat doesn’t take up much of that room. Once I fold my jacket flat, I can easily pack it with my bibs, a mid-layer, and base-layers, with my helmet in the main compartment of my backpack. Coming from an insulated jacket, this has been a huge space saver.

The Bottom Line
The Billie Coat has all of the features I need for the resorts and the backcountry with the ability to adapt to changing conditions.
For tours, I wore a light mid-layer while the Billie Coat stored impressively flat in my backpack for the descent. In the resorts, wearing additional layers under the Billie Coat meant I stayed warm all day knowing I could dump any excess heat with the large underarm vents. Plus, the flattering, freeride cut looked good on the slopes and when I was just wearing the jacket around town.
