Columbia's Freezer III dress has been around for a while. The flattering fit and variety of color patterns to choose from make it a fashionable addition to any Spring or Summer wardrobe. But how does it perform in the great outdoors? Are Columbia's Omni-wick and Omni-shade features all they're cracked up to be? After a couple years of testing it on the trail, I can honestly say the Freezer III dress is my favorite thing to wear on Summer hiking and backpacking trips. In this review, I share some benefits of hiking in a dress, specs & features, sizing details, similar products in the brand, and my own experience with this item's durability.
Before we jump in: Everything shared here is my own opinion. I'm in no way sponsored by or affiliated with Columbia. Just providing my personal experience with a dress I like to wear hiking in the hopes it will help someone else decide whether it is a good fit for them too.
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Why hike in a dress?
It probably won't surprise you to hear that the pros and cons of hiking in a dress aren't all that different from those of hiking in a skirt. To summarize without completely rehashing my post about Hiking In A Skirt, here are my top three reasons:
Mobility & Freedom: Unlike pants, skirts and dresses aren't as restrictive. Your legs have much more freedom to move. With pants, you can only step as wide as the inseam allows, limiting your stride. It can also make maneuvering over obstacles on the trail a bigger challenge.
Coverage: Going to the bathroom in the woods is a common concern for many female hikers. Especially when it comes to exposure. Skirts and dresses seriously mitigate this problem. It’s great having that extra coverage while you do your business. Skirts and dresses also provide coverage when changing, providing you with a privacy barrier to put on and take off layers.
Versatility: Layering is one of the keys to comfort when backpacking. Wearing a skirt or dress is an excellent way to stay comfortable in warm and cool weather. You can easily add or remove layers to and from your outer garment as weather conditions change. Best of all, there's no discomfort from the two bottom layers bunching up and sticking together as you walk like with pants.
Of course hiking in a skirt or dress isn't without its setbacks. A major one is exposure to the elements: cuts, scrapes, bug bites, and bruises on your legs are bound to happen. But that's no different from wearing shorts. Bug bites can be mitigated by using a repellent whether that's DEET, picaridin, or a natural solution. So, the pros and cons of skirts and dresses are about the same, but is one better than another?
Skirt vs. Dress
It depends on the season. In my experience, skirts are great for the cooler months while dresses are better suited for the warmer months. In terms of layering, skirts offer a bit more versatility. Having a separate top allows you to mix and match fabrics to better adapt to the changing temperature or weather conditions. This can become a downside, though, if you have mismatched layers. You may have found the perfect skirt, but not the right top to complement it. (Or vice versa.) I'm not talking about looking fashionable. You want to be sure the materials, fit, and features are compatible and not working against each other in terms of comfort.
Keeping cool and your layering system simple is where dresses shine. Depending on the style, they have a much looser and free flowing fit; offering great ventilation. This is especially true for the Freezer III dress. On top of that, the material is consistent for your top and bottom layer. Meaning whatever sun protection or moisture wicking properties the fabric offers is the same across the whole garment. Wearing a dress also means fewer articles of clothing to carry around. Both on your person and in your clothes bag. Both have pros and cons, which you choose will ultimately be decided by the conditions you're hiking in and own layering system.
Specs & Features
Below are some specs, features, and other details for the Columbia Freezer III dress. This dress comes in both a women's and girl's version.
Model | Freezer III |
Variations | Freezer Tank Dress and Freezer II (Girl's version) |
Material | 92% Polyester, 8% Elastane Jersey |
Weight | Varies by size. Women's small weighs 5.8 oz. |
Size Range | Regular: XS - XXL Plus: 1X - 3X |
Special Features | UPF 50 sun protection, combination moisture-wicking and cooling properties (Omni-Wick™ & Omni-Freeze™), stretchy lightweight fabric. |
Trial Period | Columbia accepts returns within 60 days of the purchase date for items in original condition; unworn with tags attached. |
Price Range | $45 - $55 |
Size and Fit
Above you'll find the sizing chart and fit guide from Columbia's website. For reference, I wear a size small in most of Columbia's clothing including this dress. I'm 5'5 118lbs and a small is the perfect fit for me in this dress. Columbia describes the Freezer III as having a "body skimming" active fit, but I find it's closer to the regular fit. The top has plenty of room around the neck and armpits without being baggy; While the skirt portion is free hanging offering a looser relaxed fit around the waist and hips. The length on this dress is just right, falling just above my knees. Not so short that I feel concerned about coverage or so long that it wraps around my legs restricting my mobility. The Freezer dress is made of a lightweight polyester. The material stretches with ease while still maintaining its shape after wear. It's also very soft and smooth. In my experience the material doesn't cause any chaffing or skin irritation around the seams.
Variations and Alternatives
The Columbia Freezer III now comes in a tank dress version. The style and fit is a cross between the original Freezer III and their Chill River dress. The tank version has a much higher jewel neckline instead of a scoop neck. This version of the dress still has the empire waistline, which offers plenty of room in the waist and hips. The best change they made to this version is adding pockets! The Freezer Tank Dress is a bit more expensive than the Freezer III at around $60. It also has fewer color and pattern options to choose from. Hopefully Columbia will expand those options in the future. The Freezer III also comes in a girl's version called the Freezer II. It is identical to the women's version in terms of features and style. The only difference is it's made to fit children sizes 4 - 18 (XXS - XL).
One alternative to the Freezer III and Freezer tank dress in this brand is the Chill River dress. The material is identical, boasting the same sun protection, moisture wicking, and cooling properties. The biggest difference is the cut / style. The Chill River has a jewel neckline and shift waistline; meaning the neck is higher, the skirt has a straighter fit, and there is no seam across the waist. This dress also has deep side pockets. It's a great alternative if you prefer a straighter cut dress but want the same benefits of the Freezer III material.
Another alternative in this brand is the Cold Bay dress. While this item has been discontinued and can no longer be purchased new from Columbia and other retailers, it can be found on a number of clothing resale sites in gently used condition. Sometimes even new without tags! This dress, like the other two, has UPF 50 sun protection, as well as Omni-Wick and Omni-Freeze properties. The neckline is a rounded halter style with a high waistline and A-line skirt. Unfortunately, there are no pockets on this dress. The Cold Bay dress is a good option if you aren't a fan of the neck and waistline of the other two. This one fits a lot more like a casual sundress in my opinion.
Trial Run, Durability, and Maintenance
I've worn the Freezer III on several Summer hiking and backpacking trips over the years, but this dress isn't just for the trail. I wear it all the time at home, especially on days when I'm working in the garden. It's also stylish enough to wear to family gatherings and on dinner dates. It is truly a do-it-all dress. I own the Freezer III in 4 colors / patterns. The dark blue floral print (Atoll Hidden Paradise) dress has gotten the most use and abuse outdoors. After two and a half years, the extent of the damage is some minor pilling on the waist, back, and shoulders. Pretty much where the hipbelt, shoulder straps, and back panel of my pack sit and cause friction. So far I've had no holes or tears form. If I only owned one of these dresses, I imagine the amount of damage would be much worse. This is why I invested in four; some of which I've designated for on-the-trail wear and others for at home wear.
So what about the claims Columbia makes about the material having cooling and moisture wicking properties? Is it all it's cracked up to be? In my experience, yes. Of all the synthetic fabric clothing I wear on Summer hikes, the Freezer III is the most comfortable. That's not to say I don't sweat while wearing it. I do, but the fabric does a good job of drawing it away making that wet sticky feeling less noticeable. On a recent overnight trip to Panthertown Valley, the hike into camp was pretty warm. I fully expected the back and armpits of the dress to still be damp the next morning. To my surprise it was completely dry! The fabric didn't have that damp grimy feeling second day clothes sometimes get either. And it didn't smell at all. Wearing it a third day in a row (especially in 80 - 90° weather) probably would have been a different story. It's so light, though, you could pack a second dress to change into mid-way through the trip adding hardly any weight at all to your pack. Just under 6oz for size small!
I mentioned how well this dress dried out after an afternoon of sweating in it. But how well does it hold up against other types of moisture? A light drizzle of rain or spray from a nearby waterfall is no problem. The fabric dries out fairly quickly. When it comes to heavy precipitation... not so much. The fabric does have a limit to how much water it can absorb before totally wetting out. I got caught in a thunderstorm at Jones Gap last year, and it took only a few minutes for this dress to reach its limit. In its defense, the downpour was so heavy I had to repeatedly wipe water out of my eyes to see the trail ahead. Understandably, the dress had a difficult time drying out after being soaked so severely. Wringing it out helped a little, but the skirt portion remained saturated enough that it stretched down over my knees.
Now, let's talk about maintenance. I try to wash all my dresses together in one load. I use a gentle detergent and set it to the hand-wash cycle in cold water. This isn't 100% necessary. It's just one of the ways I try to maintain the integrity of the fabric as long as possible. You can totally wash it with other clothing on a regular cycle if you want. But if you are tossing it in a load with pants, I recommend making sure all the flies are zipped up to prevent the zipper teeth from snagging the dress fabric in the washer. To dry, I set the dryer to a medium heat setting.
Final Thoughts...
The Columbia Freezer III dress is a great piece to add to your warm weather hiking wardrobe. From the lightweight fabric to the flattering fit, there's a lot to love about it. In my personal experience, the omni-wick and omni-shade features really do help you stay cool and comfortable in the sun. The only real criticism I have is I wish the material was a little more water resistant. Summer is an ideal time to wear it, but it's also the season with the most surprise thunderstorms. Having a little extra protection from wet weather would make this dress nearly perfect. I would say I wish it had pockets, but the introduction of the Tank Dress version has already addressed that complaint. I hope you found this review helpful and informative. If you're thinking about giving the Freezer III dress a try you can find it on a variety of sites including but not limited to: Columbia.com, Belk, Mountain Steals, and Amazon. You can also find it gently used or new without tags on Mercari and Poshmark.
(Once again, I'm in no way sponsored by or affiliated with this brand. I'm just sharing my personal experience with a product I enjoy wearing on my hikes.)