The 8 Best Men's Ski Bibs of 2020-2021

We love ski bibs - they offer better protection than pants, with more pockets to store all of the things that make a day in the backcountry or out on the slopes both more comfortable and more convenient. This allows you to keep your mobile phone, lens wipe, lip balm, etc. more readily at hand – and it is much easier to access those items when you are on a chairlift, too. Many of the best men’s ski bibs even have pockets that offer more options to help carry an avalanche beacon, allowing for a more safe and comfortable way to wear your beeper.

Bibs are great in the ski area, but they’re also a ski touring dream, offering you the opportunity to tuck your jacket away and dump heat while still keeping you miles dryer than traditional ski pants. This will especially make you happy when you take a turn setting the skin track in blower snow or in the event of the occasional misstep and off-balance tumble into the really deep or slushy stuff off of the side of the trail. A variety of venting solutions keep the sweat moving when the going gets steepest and toughest. If you haven’t already been jealous of your friends in their bibs on those warm, sunny days while they’re cruising the groomers in jacketless climate-controlled comfort, then just wait until it’s your turn. If possible, Spring skiing may actually seem more fun. There will certainly be much less of a worry about getting snow down your pants or up your shirt.

Below is a collection of the best of the best men’s ski bibs for the 2020-2021 season. All are shells, with a variety of waterproof membrane systems, and fits that range from tailored to relaxed. Some are dedicated backcountry options and some offer in-bounds perfection. Some are truly versatile all-rounders. Match any of them with your favorite ski jacket and have an outerwear solution rather than outerwear problems.

Patagonia Snowdrifter Bibs

Patagonia has firmly established itself as one of the most progressive, highest-end options for outerwear and other outdoor gear. They especially focus on supporting those who are looking to be more ambitious and intentional in their outdoor exploration. Embellishment is almost totally absent, removing anything unnecessary in favor of pure function. While their outerwear’s exceptional quality and elegant simplicity often lends itself to everyday wear, it is truly designed for the most challenging wilderness exploration.

Patagonia’s Snowdrifter Bibs are deceptively plain, with only three zippered pockets, one on the chest and one on each thigh. A zippered drop seat provides instant ventilation and accessible relief. The waterproof membrane system is Patagonia’s 3L H2No Performance Standard, with a 70% recycled stretch fabric that is Fair Trade Certified sewn and incredibly soft. Durability is aided by the scuff guards at the leg bottoms and the hem. The regular fit enables layering without too much roominess that might limit efficient movement.

If you are a skier looking for stretchy minimalist comfort and a bib that is aimed more at the backcountry than the resort, then the Patagonia Snowdrifter Bibs are your perfect match. The skin track will never feel easier.

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Trew Gear TREWth Bibs

Trew Gear has been a leader in the bib revolution, offering their TREWth Bib for a decade now. Based in Oregon, Trew knows the value that bibs offer for us powder junkies. The TREWth features a fit and details that show how uniquely well-versed they are with the deepest cold smoke and wettest PNW coastal snowpack.

Trew Gear’s own PNW 3L membrane system was developed through countless hours slogging sweaty skin tracks and charging waist-deep (and deeper) lines in gnarly terrain that they won’t share the locations of. The freeride-focused fit has how been made slightly roomier due to customer feedback asking for additional accommodation for layering and dynamic range of motion. Zippered vents run ¾ the length of the bibs and have dual-direction zips to perfectly dial in ventilation. A “racer-back” design on the shoulder straps helps to keep them comfortably in place. The high-sided fit extends well above the waist for added snowproofing.

The TREWth Bibs are for you if you are a skier spending considerable time earning your turns in the backcountry. Even when you wear them at the resort, we will all know where you would rather be. Overall. The TREWth bibs remain some of the best ski bibs out there after all these years.

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The North Face Freedom Bibs

The North Face has over 50 years of experience producing expedition-level equipment. Their durable outerwear combines well thought out details with signature versatility and style. Whether you’re following in the tracks of Johnny Collinson or Tom Wallisch, know that The North Face makes outerwear that keeps them warm and dry while they express their signature styles. It will keep you warm and dry while you do the same.

The Freedom Bibs are constructed from The North Face’s DryVent 2-layer membrane. This is their most versatile waterproofing solution, durable and used across multiple product lines. Pockets are kept simple, with zippered hand pockets and Velcro-secured pockets on the thighs and chest. The thigh pockets are located more towards the front of the leg for ease of access and to make room for venting, which is top tier. There are thigh vents that, when opened, allow for air to draw up from mesh panels in the boot gaiter and out through the vents. The North Face Freedom Bibs are a fantastic option for skiers who are resort-focused. They are loaded with features and The North Face’s functional style at an extremely attractive price point.

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Flylow Baker Bibs

Some of the skiers that we run with are known in our crew for being especially tough on their gear. They are our measuring sticks for judging durability. The Flylow Baker Bibs are the hard-wearing bibs that we recommend for them and are named for the rugged mountain in the North Cascades on which our crew yearns to get rowdy.

Flylow’s Baker bibs are built of a durable, fully seam taped 20K/20K laminate to stand up to the deepest, wettest snow. 1000D Seamless Cuff Reinforcements survive abrasion unscathed when you are billygoating to your next line and offer protection from ski edges and boot rubbing on skin tracks that require narrow stances. YKK Waterproof Zippers keep your pockets sealed against the elements. A Kangaroo Chest Pouch can store items large and small and might be a perfect place to stash your avalanche beacon if you are headed outside the boundary lines. An Articulated Knee Box and Inner and Outer Thigh Vents combine for ease of movement and exceptional venting. If you are a skier who needs durable outerwear for rugged adventures, then the Flylow Baker bibs are the perfect choice for you.

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Outdoor Research Carbide Bibs

For four decades, Outdoor Research has been outfitting mountaineers and backcountry explorers with technical apparel and equipment. Their groundbreaking attention to detail has seen them outfitting mountain expeditions to every corner of the globe. We see their outerwear in the deepest recesses of the backcountry and in the lift lines at our local resorts when the snow starts to stack and the powder hounds show up early to charge the steep and deep. Outdoor Research’s Carbide Bibs are true to form, offering exceptional value for money and a wealth of features aimed at helping you stay warm and dry in challenging conditions.

Outdoor Research has partnered with Arcade Belts in partnership with Roots Studio to provide the Webbing Suspender Straps. A Warli Tribe Thatched Roof Print and Quick Release Arcade Suspender Buckles add stylish flair to the Carbide bibs. An Avalanche Beacon Pocket with Clip keeps your beacon front and center without the need for a harness. Dual Side Zips open vents wide on the way up to keep you cool. The right side zip Extends from bib top to knee for Swing Hatch Bathroom Access in the backcountry. Tall Reinforced Scuff Guards are there for durability. We think that the Outdoor Research Carbide bib is a fantastic budget-conscious choice for the skier who wants do-it-all functionality.

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Arc’teryx Sabre LT Bibs

British Columbia’s Arc’teryx is a champion of clean and efficient design and using materials of the highest quality. Perfection and purity of line is the hallmark of their outerwear. That same distillation of purpose can be found in Arc’teryx’s Sabre LT bibs. They are dedicated to supporting you in finding similarly refined lines on the mountain – especially if you spend time touring.

Arc’teryx constructs the Sabre LT bibs from their Wee Burly Double Weave Four-Way Stretch N80p Softshell Fabric, which is bonded in a 3-Layer system to a GORE-TEX membrane and Gore’s C-Knit Backer, That backer provides remarkable next-to-skin comfort and quietness, eliminating the crinkly plastic bag effect sometimes found in laminate water-resistant fabrics. The Sabre LT bibs are built around Arc’teryx’s Articulate Patterning and include a gusseted crotch for unrestricted mobility, comfort, and freedom of movement. Keprotec Instep Guard protects against edge abrasion, and a 100D Cordura Quick Adjust TouringCuff enables easy buckle management whether skinning or riding lifts. We recommend the Arc’teryx Sabre LT bibs for the skier who is looking for the absolute highest-end outerwear with no compromises. If you also appreciate a more tailored fit, then these should be your first choice.

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Armada x evo Sumpter Bibs

We partnered with Park City, Utah’s Armada to add a little extra style to the bib function game. Armada is renowned for their focus on freeskiing, bringing freestyle flair and attitude to natural terrain. Their outerwear looks as good as it feels, cramming in all of the features that you could wish for while they’re at it. The Armada x evo Sumpter bibs won’t break the bank, and they feature an exclusive collab “Desert” colorway that you can only get from us.

The Sumpter bibs are made from a performance 10K/10K membrane bonded to 100% polyester face fabric with PFOA/PFOS-free c6 Durable Water Repellant (DWR) finish, keeping you dry in the park or on those deep pow days. Fully Taped Seams are durable and watertight, letting the laminate system do its thing. The Cordura Cuff reinforcement protects your bibs from edges and boot rub when you’re hitting features at warp speed. Inner leg vents help keep things cooler than cool. The relaxed New Standard Fit gives you the range of motion to grab your ski instead of settling for only grabbing your boot. The Armada x evo Sumpter bibs are for the skier with wants to look good without sacrificing function. Your style-heavy skiing deserves outerwear to match.

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Oakley TNP Shell Bibs

Oakley’s Thermonuclear Protection (TNP) line-up is heavy on throwback design cues while striving for their proclaimed level of defense from the elements. Oakley has a deep trove of inspiration in the form of their heritage in board sports and motocross that spans forty-five years of setting trends and defining (and defying) categories. The Oakley TNP Shell Bibs offer that signature Oakley TNP style in a performance-oriented bib.

The TNP Shell Bibs feature Oakley’s FN Dry 10K laminate with O-Protect Durable Water Repellant (DWR) to keep you dry. The suspenders have an inner grip, just like the straps on Oakley’s goggles. This keeps the straps in place through any manner of huck, jib, bonk, and even the occasional audition for Jerry of the Day. The two-way full front zipper serves nature’s calls and makes these bibs easy to get on or take off. Inner thigh ventilation keeps things from getting too steamy. The Performance Fit is a slimmer, sport-specific option, focused on accommodating the body in motion in order to improve performance. The Oakley TNP Shell Bibs are a fantastic option for the resort skier who spends time in the park or ripping the groomers while waiting for the next pow day.

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Learn More With Our Other Outerwear & Layering Guides:

• Waterproof Ratings & Breathability Guide
• Skiing & Snowboarding - What to Wear Skiing & Snowboarding
• Outerwear - How to Choose Ski & Snowboard Pants
• Outerwear - Fit Guide & Jacket Length
• How to Wash Waterproof Jackets & Clothing
• Outerwear - How to Choose by Region
• Outerwear - Construction, Fabric & Features
• Insulated Garments - How to Choose
• Insulated Garments - How to Wash Down & Synthetic Jackets
• Base Layers & Long Underwear - How to Choose
• GORE-TEX® Fabric - How it Works & Product Testing
• GORE-TEX® Fabric - How to Wash & Keep Waterproof
• Backcountry - How to Dress

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