Fusalp Warmth Levels Explained: The 1 to 5 Rating, Decoded

Fusalp rates its insulated jackets, ski suits and knits on its own 5-point warmth scale. Level 5 is the only level with a temperature: protection against deep cold down to -30 degrees Celsius. Levels 1 to 4 carry no published temperature. At Coveti, every rated Fusalp piece in our women’s ski jackets edit lists its level.

How does the Fusalp warmth rating work?

On each outerwear and knit product page, Fusalp shows a “Product’s performance” block. It gives a thermal level out of five, and the label stays in French even on the English store: “Performance thermique de niveau 5 sur 5”. Only level 5 adds a temperature line, “Protection against deep cold up to -30 degrees”. Fusalp has not published a public definition of levels 1 to 4, so we treat the scale as exactly what it is: the brand’s own relative ranking, tested in its Annecy laboratory.

That makes it useful for comparing one Fusalp piece with another, and less useful for comparing Fusalp with other labels. A level 4 suit is warmer than a level 3 suit from the same house. It is not a promise of a specific temperature. For the wider story of the lab and the brand, read our Fusalp history, and for fit before you choose, the Fusalp size guide.

Fusalp warmth levels at a glance

This table groups the rated women’s styles Coveti stocks by level. It is built from the brand’s own ratings on each product.

Some pieces carry no rating at all. Ski pants such as the Elancia, many base layers and the Montanetta ski suit are listed without a level, so we do not assign one.

Level 5: the warmest Fusalp pieces

Level 5 is reserved for heavy down. The Barsy Down Jacket in Black is the reference: an oversized ski jacket filled with 80% duck down certified to the Responsible Down Standard, with a Fusalp-approved membrane and an integral hood. The Misha Coat in Black brings the same rating to a longer length, with welded main seams and a large attached hood. It is the one to wear on a chairlift in January and on a February street in Paris.

For a softer city look at the same level, the Melisan Down Jacket in Black has a removable waist belt and a fixed hood. All three are covered in depth in our Fusalp down jackets guide.

Level 4: the everyday ski rating

Level 4 covers most of the insulated ski suits and jackets. The Clarisse Ski Suit in Navy and Black is close-fitting, with snow gaiters and a Fusalp-approved membrane. The Delphine Ski Jacket in Black has an adjustable hood and the brand’s V-shaped quilting. Pair either with a thermal layer and you have a full mid-winter kit. The Peak Gloves in Black also sit at level 4, with a membrane, a leather palm and fleece lining.

Ski suit shoppers can compare all of the one-pieces in our Fusalp ski suit guide.

Levels 2 and 3: lighter layers

Levels 2 and 3 are lighter pieces. The Kerin Down Jacket in Black is level 3, filled with 90% duck down and packable into an interior pocket, so it works as a mid layer under a shell on a cold day. The Linn Jacket in Black is level 2, with neoprene side panels and sleeves. Both are good in spring, both are good in town, and both layer well. To build a ski outfit around them, read our guide on how to layer for skiing.

Is Fusalp waterproof?

Many Fusalp ski pieces are waterproof. Where a product carries a “Fusalp-approved membrane”, the brand states that it is waterproof, windproof and breathable, and lab-tested in Annecy. That membrane appears on the Barsy, Misha, Clarisse, Delphine, Diana ski pants and Peak gloves, among others. Not every piece has one. The Kerin down jacket and the Elancia ski pants, for example, do not list a membrane.

Fusalp does not publish waterproof ratings in millimetres, and it does not publish breathability figures. Its softshell is described as three layers: a fleece-lined insulating fabric, a water- and wind-resistant membrane and a water-repellent stretch outer. If you need a specific number for a technical expedition, Fusalp does not provide one.

Are Fusalp jackets good?

Yes, judged on what the brand can show. The Annecy laboratory runs more than 8,000 tests a year. The down is RDS certified, the warranty is at least two years on all products and up to five years on selected items, and Fusalp publishes traceability pages that name the factory country for many styles. The warmth scale itself is honest in one useful way: it does not claim temperatures it has not stated. Our full Fusalp review covers the strengths and the trade-offs.

My own rule of thumb: buy level 5 for a city coat and for resorts that run very cold, and buy level 4 for a ski jacket you will layer.

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Fusalp warmth level 5 mean?

Level 5 is the top of Fusalp’s own 5-point warmth scale. It is the only level with a temperature claim: protection against deep cold down to -30 degrees Celsius.

Do Fusalp warmth levels 1 to 4 have temperatures?

No. Fusalp publishes a temperature only for level 5. Levels 1 to 4 are a relative ranking within the brand, so use them to compare Fusalp pieces with each other.

Is Fusalp waterproof?

Pieces with a Fusalp-approved membrane are waterproof, windproof and breathable, according to the brand, and lab-tested in Annecy. Not every style has a membrane, and Fusalp does not publish millimetre ratings.

Are Fusalp jackets good?

Fusalp jackets are well made and well tested. The brand runs more than 8,000 lab tests a year in Annecy, uses RDS certified down and offers a warranty of at least two years, extended to five years on selected items.

Which Fusalp ski suit is the warmest?

Among the suits Coveti stocks, the Clarisse, Kira and Kivna are rated 4 out of 5. The Jorket is rated 3 out of 5, and the Montanetta carries no published rating.