REASONS TO BUY
Affordable
Decent weather protection
Large hood
Stretchy fabric
Lots of storage
REASONS TO AVOID
OK quality
Lacks warmth
Sizing runs small
Hood is not insulated
Decathlon Quechua SH500 - Women's Review
Although we love the affordability of this design, the limited quality and versatility is clear due to it lacks the warmth and durability with a basic, casual construction
Credit: Trish Matheny
By Trish Matheny ⋅ Review Editor ⋅ November 9, 2026
RELATED: The Best Winter Jackets for Women
Our Verdict
The Decathlon Quechua SH500 is a budget-friendly option that we honestly don't feel comfortable recommending. While we were initially impressed by the supposedly waterproof outer shell, the fabric does eventually begin to absorb water and “wet out” after about 30 minutes. And while the jacket offers decent comfort, the sizing runs small, and it's difficult to layer under. But most importantly, this jacket just couldn't hold up to cold temps. The thin insulation, especially in the arms and hood, kept us from wearing this jacket on real winter days, and the close fit prevented us from being able to layer to boost warmth a bit. It lacks quality and features limited versatility due to its basic and casual construction. If you only need something with a longer hemline for that annual trip to the Rockies or another cold-weather destination, you might consider it, but we think there are much better options in the lineup.
Compare to Similar Products
 This Product
Decathlon Quechua SH500 - Women's | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Awards |  Best Value for Soggy Wet Winters | ||||
| Price | $189 List | $299 List Check Price at REI | $160 List Check Price at Amazon | $240 List Check Price at Backcountry | $150 List Check Price at Amazon |
Overall Score  |
|||||
| Star Rating | |||||
| Bottom Line | A super budget-friendly option that runs cold, lacks quality, and offers limited versatility beyond a basic, casual style | An affordable winter jacket design that seeks to optimize weather resistance within an eco-friendly construction | An excellent option as long as you can handle flashy silver zippers and ribbons | This warm and cozy design is perfect for those seeking warmth in dry climates as the thick and puffy insulation, adequate hood, and longer length will optimize warmth, however, it lacks style and water resistant performance | This jacket works well for wet weather and active pursuits but falls short in harsh, dry winter cold |
| Rating Categories | Decathlon Quechua SH500 | REI Co-op Stormhenge... | Orolay Thickened Down | L.L. Bean Mountain C... | Columbia Hikebound I... |
| Warmth (30%) | |||||
| Weather Resistance (25%) | |||||
| Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Versatility and Style (10%) | |||||
| Construction Quality (10%) | |||||
| Specifications | Decathlon Quechua SH500 | REI Co-op Stormhenge... | Orolay Thickened Down | L.L. Bean Mountain C... | Columbia Hikebound I... |
| Insulation and Fill Power | 100% Polyester | 850-fill-power goose down | 700-fill power (90% white duck down, 10% feathers) | 650-fill DownTek | 85% recycled polyester, 15% Microtemp XF II (polyester) |
| Fill Weight | 200 g (body) 150 g (arms) | 180 g (hem and cuffs) 80 g (hood and side panels) | Not specified | Not specified | 100 g |
| Shell Material | Waterproof/windproof polyester | HydroWall 2-layer waterproof/windproof/breathable shell | Wind resistant fabric | Water-resistant shell | Waterproof and breathable fabric |
| Hood | Insulated, fixed | Insulated, fixed | Insulated | Insulated, sherpa fleece-lined | Insulated |
| 2-Way Zipper | Yes | Yes | No | Yes | Yes |
| Pockets | 2 zipped handwarmer/hand pockets, 1 chest pocket, 1 internal mesh pocket | 2 zippered, hipbelt-compatible hand pockets, 1 zippered chest pocket; 2 internal drop-in pockets | 2 hand warmer, 2 zippered straight pockets, 2 zippered chest external, 1 zippered chest interior | 2 zippered hand warmer, 2 snap, storm flap pockets | 2 zippered hand warmer |
| Measured Internal Temperature | 65.0 °F | 69.0 °F | 68.8 °F | 72.4 °F | 68.2 °F |
| Weight | 2.24 lbs (S) | 1.76 lbs (S) | 2.9 lb (S) | 2.5 lb (S) | 1.5 lb (M) |
| Sizes Available | XS - 2XL | XS - 3XL | XXS - 5XL | XS - XL | XS - 2XL |
| Social or Environmental Certifications | None found | (DWR) made without PFAs, down treated with DWR made without PFAs, PFA-free waterproof membrane | Certified to the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) | PFC/PFAS-free DWR for water resistance | Made in a factory supporting BSR’s HERproject |
Our Analysis and Test Results
Likes
While we'll admit that our expectations weren't super high based on the budget-friendly price of the Quechua SH500, there were a handful of things that surprised us. We'll start with the good. We were instantly impressed by the weather protection. During late fall afternoon showers, the jacket successfully beaded water away from the 100% polyester shell; however, the fabric did begin to “wet out” after about 30 minutes.
And while we found the jacket rather comfortable to wear around town, the sizing runs small and is very tight in the shoulders for athletic builds. If you find yourself between sizes, you may want to size up for a better fit that's easier to layer underneath.
The outer shell beads water away in small droplets while the cuffs help block wind; the hood is large and protective.
Dislikes
Now for the bad… The Quechua SH500 was one of the least warm jackets that we tested this year. The thin insulation in the arms left us chilly, and we were especially disappointed by the lack of insulation in the hood. No thumb holes to help cover the palms and no ruff to help protect the face. The shorter length is the last straw, as it also makes this a difficult jacket to recommend for protection during bouts of cold weather.
The construction quality is just ok; perhaps a decent choice for that “once-a-year” trip to the Rockies during the holidays, but don't expect any lasting performance. Ditto on the style and versatility, the jacket is only available in black and doesn't provide enough versatility beyond a basic and casual option for cool weather.
The jacket design lacks both style and warmth.
Should You Buy the Decathlon Quechua SH500?
To be honest, we wouldn't recommend purchasing the Quechua SH500, that is unless you need something with a longer hemline for your annual trip to a winter destination. While it's one of the most affordable jackets in the lineup, we feel much better recommending options that are slightly more expensive yet offer a greater (and more stylish) return on your investment, and will last for years.
The longer length is helpful for mellow winter days around town but lacks the warmth and style we prefer to invest our dollars in. Credit: Trish Matheny
What Other Women's Winter Jackets Should You Consider?
The REI Co-op Stormhenge 850 Down Hybrid Parka is a perfectly solid design that's available for just a bit more. We love the flattering silhouette along with the waterproof shell that makes this jacket a great choice for keeping out the weather. It's also much less expensive than most options we like. We also love the Rab Deep Cover Parka, it's not the best choice for humid and wet climates, but offer affordable performance that's better suited for dry climates.
The Quechua features a weather protective outershell along with tons of style details, however, we think there are better jackets to invest in. Credit: Trish Matheny
—Trish Matheny
You Might Also Like
