A good pair of Gore-Tex bibs are hard to beat. I’ve had these from Patagonia for around 6+ years and I’ve absolutely loved them. Here is my honest review.

Note: Patagonia has changed the design (as most companies do) on these bibs since I purchased them, and they now come up higher in the chest. Sadly, the low profile is my favorite thing about these bibs. But Brandon has added the mens version to his kit this year and has loved them so far!

Gore-Tex is almost always an investment. And these bibs were no different. But if you’ve read my post on backpacks (you can find it here- https://daysoffadventureblog.com/2023/02/24/buyers-guide-day-packs/) you know that I like to break down price of items into cost per wear. If I can get a lot of use out of an item, I’m willing to spend more money. These bibs have been no different.

Let’s talk fit. I’n 5’3″ and 130 lbs. I have a size small. I likely could have made an extra small work, but I do like the room to add down or fleece pants underneath. These are unlined/uninsulated pants. I like to be able to layer underneath. I wore them last week skiing here in Minnesota when the temps hit the 40’s with just a thin base layer underneath. But I like that I can also wear them with heavy pants to stay warm on cold days.

While they might be a bit baggy, I understand I could have sized down so I’m happy overall with the fit. I love that they are only waist height, it takes the pressure off of having to size over the thickest (and most frequently changing) area of my body. They also manage to stay up on their own if I want to omit the shoulder straps, which I will do if I also have backpack straps to contend with. They also have belt loops if you’d like to go that route. They are a bit long which I think adds to the bagginess-but with ski boots this is less of a factor. Again I could have sized down. I’m going to give them a 4/5 for fit.

Performance. The top photo was from a winter attempt of Mount Whitney. We had a hut trip booked for January several years back, and then Colorado didn’t get any snow! So we punted. Switched out flights to Vegas to see what we could accomplish. Turns out is wasn’t a a winter ascent of Mount Whitney, but I did put my bibs to the test!

For 3 days in fluctuating temps with high output and through low brush, I moved in my bibs with total comfort. The vents on the side unzip from dual directions so you can also (maybe) take an easier bathroom break allow for amazing airflow, and the hard shell withstood the passing bushes.

They have also kept me dry in whiteout conditions in the Northwoods. I choose to wear them on our winter Boundary Waters trip for their layer-ability and diehard waterproof feature. They were perfect. I give them a 5/5 for performance.

Functionality. You can see in the pic above the large thigh pockets. In the new model, they don’t appear to have gussets that give them extra room. I find this to a be a small loss. These large pockets hold my cell phone, beacon, snacks, mittens. They are huge! I love them. Again because of the looser fit, I can add things to these pockets for easy access throughout the day. This pair also has a secure back pocket-bonus!

These bibs-are the current version as well, are also equip with the Recco Reflector, perfect for added safety and security-especially in side-country terrain.

The only slightly lacking bit of functionally is the butt zips. Theoretically, you could leave the shoulder straps on, not undress, and unzip the bibs to be able to use the bathroom. This has never really come to fruition for me. The zipper ends fairly high up in the back, and though my shoulder mobility might not be what it used to be-getting to those zippers with upper layers on just isn’t going to happen. So you have to take your jacket off anyway. Plus, just folding down the butt flap doesn’t really allow for you to lower your inside layers very far-making squatting pretty difficult.

I’ve found it’s just easier to take them off the same way I would take off pants when using the ‘facilities’.

Beyond that- I love the built in gaiter and have come to really appreciate the built in hook to keep them in place on your boot. It really levels up the built in gaiter game. The shoulder straps are also very adjustable and flat, making them a super comfortable bib I can live in for hours and days at a time. I give them a 4/5 for functionality.

Fit: 4/5

Performance: 5/5

Function: 4/5

Round that out with an amazing color and these bibs are easily one of my favorite winter must haves. Though the current model has a few changes (they are no longer Gore-Tex but Patagonia’s specific water-proof fabric), these are still a fantastic bib on the market. Bonus? They are on-sale! Check them out if you’re looking for a pair of hardshell bibs to add to your winter kit.

Thanks for reading folks, hope this helps in your gear search, let me know what you think in the comments. As always, get out and enjoy some Days Off!