One of the most important things you have to consider when undertaking any winter activity is your clothing. The right clothes will provide you with optimum protection against the cold while keeping you warm and dry.
Therefore, choosing something comfortable and functional to wear all day is important.
In this article, we will look at ski pants and ski bibs to give you more information to help you decide which ones are right for you.
Ski Pants
Best Uses
Ski pants are best used at the resort or in the backcountry. They are built tough and are typically made of strong face fabrics and fully waterproof and windproof constructions.
They also allow you to add layers of clothing for added warmth. And if you often ski at locations with frigid temperatures, you may want to consider an insulated design, although a thick, non-insulated shell fabric is also durable for season-long use.
Material
Modern ski pants are typically made with one of these three fabrics: softshell, hardshell, or hardshell with minimal stretch.
The type of fabric you choose will depend on where you’re going to ski and how much mobility you need. For instance, ski pants made with hardshell fabric are great for resort use, while stretchy designs are ideal for uphill enthusiasts and mogul skiers.
Fit
Your ski pants must be comfortable enough to wear, especially in cold weather conditions.
The fit of ski pants is essential but is also one of the biggest problems we encounter when buying clothing. Thus, it is important to consider not only your waist size but also your height, hips, etc., before consulting the manufacturer’s size chart.
Choose a size that is closest to your measurements but also features options for adjustability to ensure that your pants will fit you comfortably.
Insulation
The warmest ski pants have great quality materials, insulation, and lining. However, ski pants with no insulation, otherwise called shells, still provide you with minimal warmth, although most ideal to combat precipitations.
Ski pants that are lightly insulated will help keep little heat inside and are a great option for warmer days. However, you have to add layers for warmth in colder and windy conditions.
Insulated pants are ideal for cold conditions, like normal winter days, and when you’re on the mountain or backcountry.
Flexibility and Comfort
Comfort and style are also factors you should look for before engaging in your favorite winter activities.
Consider the activities you’ll likely use the ski pants for, like downhill or cross-country skiing, snowshoeing, ice fishing, or snowboarding.
Determine whether you need to wear the pants all day or for only a few hours, and make sure the ski pants are easily pulled down and up for whenever you need to go on a bathroom break.
Durability
Ski pants go through a lot of wear, from chair lifts to boot buckles and metal edges that can damage the materials. As a result, they were made to withstand the elements.
The most common way of determining ski pants’ durability is the fabric denier (D) or measurement of the threads’ thickness and is typically used for the shell material.
Aside from ski pants, there are other clothing items that you should consider when planning a skiing trip. Choosing the wrong clothing can greatly impact your trip in a negative way. If you’re not sure about which clothing items to pack, read this article to know what you can wear for skiing.
Ski Bibs
Best Uses
Ski bibs are ideal for deep powder explorations and anyone prone to good falls. They offer better protection from the snow and wind and also are a bit warmer thanks to the extra layer that covers the upper torso.
Material
Bibs can either be made of denim, corduroy, chino cloth, or other rugged materials like sandstone duck and firm duck.
As they are meant for harsh and heavy work environments, the material and construction should be able to handle wear and tear, dirt, mud, spills, and other debris.
Invest in Gore-Tex or good waterproof fabric and choose between two-layer or three-layer fabrics that have different weights, waterproofing, and breathability ratings based on your activity.
Fit
You can either choose a relaxed or more athletic fit. However, you need to note that sizing may differ from a manufacturer to another.
If you prefer an unrestricted range of motion, go with a relaxed fit. On the other hand, if you get easily cold, consider insulated overalls or size up so you can wear thicker layers underneath.
Furthermore, a good fit will depend on the length of your torso and legs.
Ski bibs can also be a versatile option for growing kids as their length can be adjusted easily by simply tightening or loosening the shoulder straps.
Insulation
Protect yourself from the coldest temperatures by considering the amount of insulation the bibs offer. Indeed, the higher the amount, the more efficient the insulation.
The insulating material should also be breathable enough to dump excess heat and wick away moisture, so that it can keep you warm and dry. However, if you get cold easily, you should wear thicker layers for extra warmth.
Additionally, bibs have the advantage of offering more warmth as they can insulate you from up until your core. Ski pants can only provide warmth up to your waist, so if you plan to use ski pants for less active outdoor activities in the winter, bibs can help provide the body heat you need.
Flexibility and Comfort
You have to make sure your ski bibs offer a wide range of mobility so you can handle extensive tasks.
Being comfortable is also very important to enable optimum flexibility and minimize the risks of accidents. You should look for features that can add extra comfort, like adjustable straps, reinforced paddings, and soft fabric.
Durability
Choose a pair of ski bibs that can last a long time. To do so, pick bibs made of durable materials and featuring reinforcements that can minimize wear and tear and are preferably engineered with high-quality ballistic materials.
Bib overalls are a good choice of clothing for winter activities because of the warmth and protection that they provide. If you still don’t have one of your own, we definitely recommend that you get one. If you’re not sure which overall to get, check out our article about the best insulated bib overalls where we shared our top recommendations.
Is it better to ski in bibs or pants?
It is better to ski in bibs because they are more effective at keeping snow, dirt, debris, and other elements out.
With ski bibs, you would not have to worry about your pants falling when you crash and just need to dial in the fit to keep them from moving excessively. Whereas, ski pants will not allow you to adjust the fit, so if you got the wrong size, you will have to send them back for a replacement or buy new ones.
Ski Pants vs. Ski Bibs Comparison
Function
Both ski pants and ski bibs are highly functional. However, here are a few things to consider before making a choice:
- Ski pants can be easily put on and taken off since they perform like regular pants.
- Ski bibs take more time to remove, which can be frustrating as you have to keep doing and undoing the straps.
- Young children may find it difficult to undo the straps without help.
- Ski bibs offer more coverage to the upper body and can be an advantage in colder weather conditions.
- Ski bibs’ extra coverage will be ideal for children who are more likely to get snow inside their clothes.
Protection
An important factor in deciding between ski bibs and ski pants is how much protection they offer while you are on the slopes. If snow gets beneath your clothes, it can soon lead to wetness and cold and can definitely ruin a great day or, in more serious cases, lead to hypothermia.
Ski bibs offer more protection than pants as they cover more of the body. However, if you wear layers that do not expose the skin to the cold, both can offer good protection.
If you are buying for children, it might be wise to choose ski bibs instead of ski pants as they can offer more protection against snow getting beneath the clothing and making them cold. But then again, with the right layers and jackets, both can offer protection against the snow and other elements.
Pockets
The pockets that come with insulated ski bibs may be one of the reasons why skiers and snowboarders are interested in wearing them.
Outdoor work will also be easier if you can store all your valuables, tools, and equipment in many different pockets. Therefore, you have to make sure your bibs have spacious, lined, and secured pockets.
Pants, on the other hand, often only have two pockets with zipper closure, like regular pants. These pockets tend to provide limited space for tools and equipment and can only accommodate your keys and cards.
Comparison Chart
| Ski Bibs | Ski Pants |
| Provide room for growth for kids | Limited room for growth for kids |
| It takes time to buckle and unbuckle straps | Easy to put on and take off |
| Straps prevents the bibs from falling, even if you got the sizing slightly off | May fall off if you do not get the right size and fit |
| Provide upper body coverage | Only cover from the waist down |
| More spacious pockets | Limited pockets with limited space |
Frequently Asked Questions
Are ski bibs in style?
Ski bibs are back in style, and whether or not they were, you could still wear them for skiing and engaging in other cold-weather activities as they can keep you warm, provide extra insulation against the core, and better keep snow and other elements out.
Do ski pants go over boots?
Most commonly, ski pants go over boots, reducing the chances of getting snow inside your boots. To keep the snow out more effectively, we recommend using boot gaiters to secure your ski pants and keep the elements out.
Conclusion
If you are looking for optimum protection against the snow and other elements, along with extra warmth at the upper torso and waistband-free comfort, then ski bibs are the way to go. On the other hand, these are usually a bit heavier and expensive than ski pants, and you have to unbuckle and buckle them during bathroom breaks.
Ski pants are the traditional choice and what most skiers are comfortable with as they are also completely capable for backcountry skiing and the resort in general. Besides, they are easier to slip on and off. However, their downside is that cold air and moisture find their way up to your back whenever you are on the chairlift or during a fall.
With all that being said, ski bibs are more ideal than ski pants due to the optimum protection they provide, whether you are on the chairlift or just fell in the snow.
