Snow Pants vs. Bibs: Which Are Better?

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With clever closures, easy adjustments and waterproof, breathable DryVent™ fabric, the women's The North Face Freedom bib pants are a reliable pick for shredding in cold weather.
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View the The North Face Freedom Product LineView all The North Face Women's Downhill Ski Pants| Best Use | Downhill Skiing Snowboarding Snowsports |
|---|---|
| Fabric | Nylon (57% recycled) |
| Windproof | Yes |
| Waterproof | Yes |
| Type of Waterproofing | 2-layer DryVent waterproof breathable fabric |
| Bibs | Yes |
| Powder Cuffs | Yes |
| Side Cargo Pockets | Yes |
| Inseam (in.) | 32 inches |
| Gender | Women's |
| Weight | 2 lbs. 1 oz. |
| Sustainability | Contains recycled materials |
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I’m 5’1 and 100lbs. Purchased the small. First time bib owner. Super comfortable. Lighter than my Volcolm pants and I swear made me a better rider. Surpassed my speed goal and didn’t even notice. Kept me dry and warm in 12-19F so far while it was snowing.
I have multiple pairs of snow pants. Many I have had for years. Wore these skiing yesterday, fell once and the butt split. Not pleased I payed $200 for something that didn’t last more than a day. I do not recommend this product due to the cheap material. They are cute, but not worth the money.
Too small and form fitting to move around comfortably. I usually wear a medium or large in womens and purchased the large and not being a skinny person they were way too form fitting and I have to return. Went to look at reviews because of the high rating and most of them were paid.
I am 5’4 and 125lbs, typically wear 26-28 or 2/4 in pants and I carry most of my weight in my butt and thighs. I ordered both a small and a medium with the intention of keeping whichever would fit me better - neither did. The small was way too tight on my thighs and butt despite the top half fitting quite well. The medium fit my legs better - maybe still even a little tight - but I was swimming in the top half and I wound up returning both pairs. I would definitely recommend steering away from these if you have bigger hips/thighs/butt especially since these are not insulated and might need extra layers on cold days! I also was far from wowed by the quality, the material seemed ok and the straps couldn’t unbuckle so it seems like you’d have to take off your jacket anytime you’d need to use the bathroom.
I tried a LOT of snow pants on, and this was the only pair I found that was proportioned well for curvy bodies! Often when snow pants have enough room in the thighs they end up having WAY too much room in the butt / waist, but these pants don't have that issue. So I'd recommend them for curvy body types and people with "thunder thighs." There were two things about these pants that I was disappointed in-- 1. The colors these come in are extremely cute, but the cute colors are only available in small sizes. Why are larger sizes only stocked in black? Don't people with bigger thighs deserve to look cute on the slopes, too? 2. Like other reviewers have mentioned, the sizing unfortunately runs pretty small. I usually wear an L or sometimes an XL in pants, but had to size up to a XXL in order to have enough room to move around in these. They were just really tight across the hips otherwise. So if you buy them, plan accordingly and maybe buy a size up from what you usually wear. I'm bummed that due to the sizing being too small, I had to settle for the black pair instead of the cute rose color. But all in all I'm excited to hit the slopes in a pair of pants that seems (so far) durable, comfy, and water resistant.
I got this for a ski trip to Park City, and I love it! I'm taking it for another ski trip this month. It's well-fitted and a more flattering bib compared to others I have tried. It's true to size.
It worked wonders w as much as I fell. Stayed completely dry. I’m short so the leg trailed just a few millimeters which went away w the boots on.
Entire rear seam split today from crotch to belt on the slopes. I haven't worn these more than 10 times. This was the most catastrophic gear failure I've ever had mid day and there was no unusual use/maneuver, fabric defect or anything. Just poor materials/sewing.
According to the size chart I should be a Medium. These are too tight in the leg/bum and also too short. Bummed.
I have an athletic frame and these were too tight around my hips. Such a bummer because otherwise they have great pockets and love the look, but not ideal for skiing.