OUTERWEAR

[J0_Zehp]

Thank you guys for the feedbacks.. will pass

As long as Volcom keeps making 3L stretch Gore, that's what I'll keep spending money on when I need to. However, I think my days of buying new outerwear kits every season are behind me.

Yeah I’m also rocking Volcom (TDS and Guch)
It’s a shame that they stop their camo print..

[kimchi]

Anyone got a high-end shell bib they LOVE?

I sent in 2 sets of Freebirds to Burton, had some seam rips and abrasion on both. One set probably has 80 days, the other maybe 30. They're going to repair the 80-day one, and warranty the 30-day one. I'm debating between just taking another replacement set of Freebirds, or taking a credit and trying something else.

Wishlist:

• High-level waterproofing and breathability obviously. I'll ride in pretty inclement weather and hike a bit. Compactness preferred, I tend to pack light when traveling.
• Non-baggy fit. I prefer a trimmer athletic fit, but with enough room for no restriction of movement. Basically the [ak] fit.
• Burlier than [ak]. I break [ak] gear constantly. Those 2 bibs were the 4rd and 5th set of [ak] pants I've had to warranty since ~2010. I think they're ok for most, but I am constant wrecking shit... most of those didn't make it to 60 days, only one to 100-ish.
• Some color, not feeling black or drab grey options. Both stylistically and because I like high contrast colors for visibility (both inbounds and in BC).
• Optional: splitboard friendly features (kick panels, beacon pocket).

Kinda feeling this Norrøna Tamok bib in Indigo. Much more relaxed fit than I'd expect out of an iceaxe company. Gore Tex Pro, 200 Denier face fabric (Freebird is 78D). Also feeling that they have a model wearing snowboard boots, and their first two marketing photos are snowboarders (as opposed to exclusively ski boots on most "Ski (or Snowboard)" companies.

TREW bibs have always looked interesting to me. A little lower end laminate, but heard good things about them and they're correspondingly a bit cheaper.

I'm skeptical of Jones stuff, but might try on the Shralpinist bib.

Alternatively I might ditch 3L entirely, grab a 2L Cyclic bib for resort use, and run my older set of Freebirds into the ground on backcountry / pow days.

Not really feeling options from Jones, 686, Volcom, Quik, etc. I'm down with Arc'teryx jackets but their bibs and pants look like... the ski daddiest of ski dad gear. My thunder thighs do not play nice with that fit.

Edit: This is all somewhat theoretical because I might charitably get 5 days this season and probably won't regularly get out on snow for at least 4-5 lol. But it's about the only way I can stay engaged with snowboarding right now hahaha.

[Viceroy]

I’ve definitely been committed to bib pants since about 2008. Had a great set of AK bibs that kind of set the bar that everything else has been measured against since. I think it was a colour way issue that made me move past the AK. Though, AKs had their issues, they lasted a long time and performed well in wet weather.

I put in between 60-90 days a season on a pair of pants, between resort and splitboarding. My vibe is that I should get 3 seasons out of set of pants. More than that and I’m a really happy fella. Less than that and I whine until my wife smacks me.

I rocked a set of Strafe Nomad bibs awhile ago. Kind of more slim fitting than I usually dig, but really quite solid pants overall. At about one month past the warranty period the crotch seam split apart. Strafe was like “You’re on yer own, buddy.” I got them stitched up at a local seamstress and they’re still kicking around for working on the car in snowy weather. Actually, they’re holding up really well. The lack of kick panel sucked too. But I might give Strafe a go again some day. Especially if I got a deal on them.

I followed those up with Trew Gear. Both the Trewth bib and the Capow. I fully destroyed the Trewth in a season of working in them. Riding sleds, loading heli’s, moving firewood, oil changes on generators and snowblowers. Probably rode in them 20 days too. The big issue is that the face material delaminated easily from the wicking layer.

The Capow bib has been fully dedicated to just riding and they’re holding up quite well. I dig the fit, not too fitted, but not so baggy that I look like a teenager;) The radio pocket is great, beacon pocket is great, thigh pockets are fairly low profile. The fly is at my belly button though. Good thing I’m well hung or it would be damn hard to rock a piss in the forest. I’m aiming for four seasons out of these pants.

[tracer]

Trew bib bubbling delam after a few weeks; high winds go straight through; feel like a hip hop hippie (baggy saggy bell bottoms) in them.

[kimchi]

I’ve definitely been committed to bib pants since about 2008. Had a great set of AK bibs that kind of set the bar that everything else has been measured against since. I think it was a colour way issue that made me move past the AK. Though, AKs had their issues, they lasted a long time and performed well in wet weather.

I put in between 60-90 days a season on a pair of pants, between resort and splitboarding. My vibe is that I should get 3 seasons out of set of pants. More than that and I’m a really happy fella. Less than that and I whine until my wife smacks me.

I rocked a set of Strafe Nomad bibs awhile ago. Kind of more slim fitting than I usually dig, but really quite solid pants overall. At about one month past the warranty period the crotch seam split apart. Strafe was like “You’re on yer own, buddy.” I got them stitched up at a local seamstress and they’re still kicking around for working on the car in snowy weather. Actually, they’re holding up really well. The lack of kick panel sucked too. But I might give Strafe a go again some day. Especially if I got a deal on them.

I followed those up with Trew Gear. Both the Trewth bib and the Capow. I fully destroyed the Trewth in a season of working in them. Riding sleds, loading heli’s, moving firewood, oil changes on generators and snowblowers. Probably rode in them 20 days too. The big issue is that the face material delaminated easily from the wicking layer.

The Capow bib has been fully dedicated to just riding and they’re holding up quite well. I dig the fit, not too fitted, but not so baggy that I look like a teenager;) The radio pocket is great, beacon pocket is great, thigh pockets are fairly low profile. The fly is at my belly button though. Good thing I’m well hung or it would be damn hard to rock a piss in the forest. I’m aiming for four seasons out of these pants.

Thanks, this is useful. I rarely hear feedback from folks who really push the outerwear. I don't push that hard in terms of gnar or days (35 days a year in a good season, likely much less than that now with a kid), but I'm 210 lbs / 95 kg and I'm just... heavy-footed and navigate the world with violence, apparently.

Strafe hadn't popped up on my radar. Always thought of them more as a Spyder-tier ski brand, but I'll give them a look.

200-300 days out of pants... JFC. I can only dream. My longest wearing set of pants are my 2018 set of Freebirds, which have probably 100 days on them. The seam tape started wearing out around day 80, after ~2.5 seasons. I could probably squeeze another season of full-time service out of them, maybe two or three if I pushed them to "held together by duct tape" status. They're going back to backup service (where they were before my OTHER set of Freebirds crapped out on me) so hopefully I can extend their useful life a bit longer.

You feel like the Capow is better built than the Trewth, or you think it's an unfair comparison because you did so much work in the former?

[Viceroy]

@kimchi Navigating the world with violence is pretty good personal catch phrase.

The two trew bibs are totally different material. The capow has a stretchiness and softness to them. The Trewth was a much more traditional static fabric. I think the Capow will hold up well as a dedicated backcountry piece. Assuming you don’t shred them up on a sled. I can see that maybe dragging your @$$ carving on corduroy will beat them down fast too. I’ll keep you posted. I think @spurist criticisms are valid of the Trewth bib.

I’m pretty sure the Strafe bib was an E-vent material, FWIW.

[kimchi]

I think the Capow will hold up well as a dedicated backcountry piece. Assuming you don’t shred them up on a sled. I can see that maybe dragging your @$$ carving on corduroy will beat them down fast too.

Got it. Probably no TREW. I was more interested in the Trewth than the Capow, but sounds like you and @spurist had similarly bad experiences with durability. I suspect the Capow face fabric is probably not quite burly enough for me.

My bails tend to be easy on the body and hard on garments-- controlled butt slides losing my edge trying to drive into a deep heelside carve at 30-40 mph. Definitely tests the abrasion resistance of face fabrics and puts a lot of stress on seams.

[scrub]

@kimchi I know you said no 686 but I was super impressed by these https://www.686.com/collections/mens-sn ... 3023709355 that my buddy got on warranty. The inner and outer thigh vents are a great touch and the pocket layout is decent. They looked better in person than this pic!

[Spenser]

Honestly, you might look into something from the snowmachine world. I have rider friends who sled often, normally ride in AK gear, but have started wearing Klim bibs while riding. Naturally, they're made for a different level of durability. A few of them also ride in their Tobe snowmachine suits, which are burly with extra layers/patches in key areas, and super waterproof. I've never looked - not sure if they make separate pants/jackets.

I'm the opposite from you - very easy on gear, but I get twice as many days or more. I bet part of it is that you like a less baggy fit, which is going to reach a "stress point" more easily than a more baggy fit, but that's not to suggest you should change your fit preferences.

"Navigate the world with violence" is the new namaste

[eleveneightnate]

@kimchi I know you said no 686 but I was super impressed by these https://www.686.com/collections/mens-sn ... 3023709355 that my buddy got on warranty. The inner and outer thigh vents are a great touch and the pocket layout is decent. They looked better in person than this pic!

I’ll second these. This’ll be my 4th season with the Dispatch bibs and they still look new. Love the fit and all the features.