Bibs.....again

Searching revealed some good stuff on bibs. I'm in need. Those searches talked a lot about what to look for and I narrowed my search. So I came into this 100% buying Flylow Bakers. Right before pulling the trigger I started reading a bit too much on the internet.....many reviews saying that they are not as durable as they used to be and that their quality has really taken a shit.

So---I pulled in Norrona, Strafe, and Trew. In general they all pretty much look the same to me on paper and perhaps this is all just "luck of the draw" on quality these days. But curious to know what the collective says.

Flylow still good quality stuff? Or should I take a look somewhere else.

Everything Flylow I've owned from the last ~5 years has held up very, very well. Better than the Strafe or Trew stuff I owned previously, but I haven't bought anything from either of them anytime recently. FWIW on bibs specifically, I own both Baker and Tannen bibs and durability has been great on both.

Our family has like 8 different flylow technical pieces plus a bunch of other stuff. Everything has been bombproof. On one casual jacket a snap broke and they already offered to repair it (and I never eve bothered to send it in.)

My son hit a tree is his Knight jacket a couple years ago hard enough to scuff it up and put a couple of tiny holes in the face fabric right on the chest. In over 100 skis days since then it looks exactly the same. No progression of the damage whatsoever. Guy hits the ground quite a bit too, so it's not cause he's babying it. He also killed his Pata pants, now he's in Bakers, and they show zero wear.

I'm all in on Flylow. Great brand.

The Trew gear bibs run huge. I've never worn a medium anything in my adult life but the L could have held 2 of me...6-1, 186.

I had Flylow Bakers 2 years ago. Hands down the least durable, least waterproof bibs I've ever owned. I warrantied them about 1/2 way through the season for a refund. They had multiple areas that had worn all the way through just from the fabric abrading against itself. I say this as someone who's had great luck with Flylow jackets - they're the only shells I've worn for the past decade and I think they're fantastic.

Prior to the Bakers, I had Trewth bibs. I liked those alright; good pockets, and good fit. They were pretty warm, which is sometimes good and sometimes bad. The "Superfabric" around the cuffs was terrible - got sliced by edges really easily. Eventually I had to retire the pants because the cuffs were shredded and they kept catching on the brake of my opposite ski, which is kind of terrifying. But I got 3-4 seasons out of them before that (although that was with a fair amount of taping and gluing of the cuffs prior to that).

Currently on my 2nd season in the Norrona Tamok. So far, these take the cake in terms of waterproofness and durability. The pockets leave a bit to be desired; the bib pockets are too low, which means they're not particularly useful, and there isn't a good beacon pocket. Also no belt loops, which mostly means there's not a good place to hang a pass. So there's room for improvement, but the Tamoks are the best I've owned so far.

Bought Baker Bibs this year. Durability is great, very comfortable, and ventilation is great with the zippers on inside and outside.


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I have been wearing the same Flylow Quantum jacket and Chemical pants for about a decade. They are both bomber products.

I got my brother a pair of new Chemical pants for Christmas and they feel noticeably less substantial. I guess time will tell if they were able to maintain the same durability while lightening up the material.


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I have two pairs of bakers and they are great. Very durable and vents are big.

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Originally Posted by toast2266

I had Flylow Bakers 2 years ago. Hands down the least durable, least waterproof bibs I've ever owned.

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This mirrors my experience as well.

Interesting how divergent opinions on the Baker bib's durability are.

Mine are from 2018 FWIW so a little older. Unfortunately I'm not a 100 day a year skier but I do have a decent amount of time in them touring, snowmobiling, and lift served and they've held up better than anything else I've recently owned. I wonder if they had a bad run of them or made a bad fabric choice one year or something.

the one's i had from 2016 didn't hold up well
they switched the fabric to the one they had on the Chemical pant & I believe it's a much better product in that fabric now

https://www.outdoorresearch.com/us/c...de-bibs-277564

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Originally Posted by SKIP IN7RO

https://www.outdoorresearch.com/us/c...de-bibs-277564

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Forgot to mention I run cold. Part of the reason I’m looking at the bakers. Don’t want to get into fully insulated but definitely don’t want a lightweight touring pant. Good suggestion though. Those look sweet.


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Don’t buy fly low baker bids. Hands down the worst ski pants I’ve ever owned. Soaked through to base layer after 2 runs. Was only lightly snowing dry Utah snow. They might look cool but they are hands down the worst product I’ve ever used skiing. Even worse than marker twin cam bindings!

I have these for you. Norrona gore pro is very thick but full side zips. $250 OBO

XXl but fit like an XL

Attachment 408898


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Well, I am sure you might be aware but for what it's worth, flylow winter stuff is 30% off right now. I have had great success with baker bibs but also have the tannen bib and those have seen most of the action this season without a complaint.

I dig my Stios. Pretty bomber, well made. On sale FWIW.

2 comments on FlyLow, okay perhaps 3

A) Their stuff seems lil less bomber than others- especially the pants. But I’m sticking with em as I tend to pass along my stuff prior to their demise. I also hate GoretexPro stuff AF stuff.

*I proto’d a chairlift ass pad beaver tail for when we’d not be able to go inside due to covid….. makes any pants work. Guy in Montana made it.

B) the Cobra coat goes away- I know Bc I asked my shop to order me a 2023 & it’s not an option anymore. My lil bro bought me this years on closeout - so stoked.

C) in trying to get a Cobra, I’ve seen next year’s catalog- the colors are way toned down. So if you like their current vibe- buy now!!!

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Originally Posted by Meadow Skipper

I dig my Stios. Pretty bomber, well made. On sale FWIW.

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Can’t endorse Stio anymore- they put a “concept shop” at the base of the Stratton access road & all the Westchesterites seem to think it’s a game to mismatch loud colorways; dumb AF & in sizes XXXL, stio skiers look more like acid tripping Pikachu impersonating Jerry’s.

Baker Bibs are nice, but not my style. I prefer something a bit more fitted with technical cuts--Noronna is awesome, the Capow big is nice.

I’m on my second set of Trew Trewth bibs over 6yrs. First set last me 2 seasons before the velcro on the thigh pockets completely came off and the cuffs were totally shredded. I sent them in for warranty and they sent me a full credit to which I purchased a new pair.
Noticed they still had the same shite boot cuff material so I had a local seamstress sew on some 500 dinear cordura. Bomber now. The L fits my 5’10” 198lb frame perfectly with merino layers with enough room to step up to fleece pants if real cold. Not to baggy not to constricting. The upper chest pockets are perfect for money/phone/etc. Side leg zips for venting. Have never got wet in them and I’ve skied some very wet conditions in them as I live in the INW and venture to the Cascade crest every so often.
I will probably go with them again when they die due to not finding another bib that fits like these or has the same pocket layout in the chest area.

So we’re totally united on this front as a collective! It’s amazing the love and hate of the Bakers. Probably the most divergent opinion I’ve seen of a piece of gear here since the Salomon Pocket Rocket.

Thanks for all the feedback. I’m a solid large in most things at 6’ 190, so I’ll get shopping.


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yeah for some reason FLylow's pants all ways seem to be less waterproof than their Jackets of the same same given line.

I do have some Flylow insulated bibs I love for cold days, but I never wear them while its wet because they are so warm I would never want to wear them while its wet.

I have some Compounds Bibs coming made with eVent and fully expect them to be waterproof. I guess I will find out this spring.

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Originally Posted by iriponsnow

Can’t endorse Stio anymore- they put a “concept shop” at the base of the Stratton access road & all the Westchesterites seem to think it’s a game to mismatch loud colorways; dumb AF & in sizes XXXL, stio skiers look more like acid tripping Pikachu impersonating Jerry’s.

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Colorways are annoying.

But stio is bomber. And well designed.

PS. Who wears bibs? Stop falling. Or go full fart bag.

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Originally Posted by Core Shot

Or go full fart bag.

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Don't tempt me. Honestly I'm getting older and seriously struggling staying warm. I have a pair of Black Diamond Mission insulated pants that I love, but I want to give bibs a shot in the non-insulated form with a couple of heavier bases to see how it goes. If it's successful, I'll go all in and get some insulated bibs as well. Can't go Stio because they don't have black, and I do plan to wear them patrolling which means black only (sorta sucks but I'm not much for colors anyway).

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Originally Posted by Core Shot

PS. Who wears bibs?

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Guilty - I find its just better exposure protection & more places to stash stuff when I ski bell to bell. If only skiing for and hour or 2, I rock pants.

Patagonia Snowdrifter for when conditions are mild/not too wet, or for touring. Arcteryx Beta SV for when it's cold AF, stormy, etc.

Fuck Flylow Baker Bibs, I destroyed a pair in about 15 days of skiing. Fuck Flylow in general.


I wish Arcteryx would do a re-release of the Minuteman Bib from the early 2000's. I can count on one hand the number of days I've skied in pants instead of bibs since I first got a pair of those. Bib convert for life.

Berne insulated duck bibs are the shit. They come in a nice brown color which will remind other skiers that you're not a pretentious fuck. And they're not Carhartt so you don't have to worry about getting lumped in with them philosophically. The norrona ones are nice too. I found a black pair so that I don't have to rock the mismatched skittles look. But they're like 4x the cost of the Berne ones and let's face it, they're more than a tiny bit pretentious. For lift served it's prolly fine, cuz you know lift served is all about the Benjamins, but in the backcountry where we play nice brown duck bibs are the spot.

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Originally Posted by Cruiser

Berne insulated duck bibs are the shit. They come in a nice brown color which will remind other skiers that you're not a pretentious fuck. And they're not Carhartt so you don't have to worry about getting lumped in with them philosophically. The norrona ones are nice too. I found a black pair so that I don't have to rock the mismatched skittles look. But they're like 4x the cost of the Berne ones and let's face it, they're more than a tiny bit pretentious. For lift served it's prolly fine, cuz you know lift served is all about the Benjamins, but in the backcountry where we play nice brown duck bibs are the spot.

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Dude, get hip https://riptonco.com/products/mens-winteralls :fm:

I've had great luck with three different Arc bibs over a few thousand days. Have some Lofoten Pro's that are great, but long for my long legs... I'd like to support the local Strafe crew, but the durability is forever questionable.

I am a short-legged dude, and 10 years plus ago, the arc'teryx stinger bib in a Medium-short was the bee's knees.
I still have them, but don't wear them much.

Recently, I have switched over the the Stio Environ pants and they fit me really well and they do tend to ride down a bit with just a belt.
I tore them after I took a horizontal dead tree (2-3" in diameter) to the shin, which then broke and tore the pant (no knock on pant's durability).

I have just ordered a pair of the Stio Environ Bibs in a medium, so we'll see how that goes.

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Originally Posted by Bushwacka

yeah for some reason FLylow's pants all ways seem to be less waterproof than their Jackets of the same same given line.

I do have some Flylow insulated bibs I love for cold days, but I never wear them while its wet because they are so warm I would never want to wear them while its wet.

I have some Compounds Bibs coming made with eVent and fully expect them to be waterproof. I guess I will find out this spring.

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I bought some Compound Bibs and switched them to pants because I hate bibs. I've skied them on two long wet and snowy days and they protected me as well as I could expect them to. I do find them a little chilly in cold weather.

My Stio bibs have been a bit of a durability disappointment. Thanks m 3 years, 150 days or so in…cuffs shredded.


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I am sitting here wondering how you folks can fuck up yer ski pants SO fast, are the cuffs self-shredding, does anybody fix anything ?

did your bibs really fuckup on you ?

or did you fuck them up ?

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Originally Posted by alpinevibes

Dude, get hip https://riptonco.com/products/mens-winteralls :fm:

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Bought the jorts as a joke, ended up spending 50% of my MTB rides this past summer in them. Got the winteralls on sale and worn them a few times already but very excited for spring.

Have y'all tried skiing with a Larry Craig stance?

This is a funneh thread. Uncle JMEd liked Arc’teryx stinger bibs (no longer made unfortunately) and nowadays for waterproof needs I rotate Sabre AR pants and Beta SV bibs.

The old stinger bibs in size large short are beat to hell and have been moved to moto duty as they fit pretty good over the moto gear.

My first pair of Trewth bib from 2012 delammed so I got a free new pair from Trew. The second pair also delammed so I got a third free pair. I think this was an issue with their older material that they have since resolved.

This third pair has lasted 5 years (~300 days of skiing, hiking, backcountry, etc). Super comfy, bomber (I have a couple small edge tears in the "superfabric" cuff), DWR finally starting to come off just this season (is it wrong that I never wash my bibs?). I just bought a new pair (along with powfunk jacket) this week because I've been rocking my current kit for the past 5 years.

sports gear is the onlytime that some one would wear clothing for 5 years and not wash it

just get your mom to wash it

delammed gortex is the holy grail

+1 for Norrona Tamok.

I'm 5'11'', 200 lbs and a 34 inch waist and the medium are a good fit. I wish they were slightly larger in the thighs, but they still fit fine. Large was way too big on me.

The Tamok has been really bombproof for me.

My gf got a pair of flylow baker bibs this season and a button ripped off on day two. Not bombproof, can't recommend.

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Originally Posted by XXX-er

sports gear is the onlytime that some one would wear clothing for 5 years and not wash it

just get your mom to wash it

delammed gortex is the holy grail

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I’ve washed waterproof stuff before and done the recoating with DWR. Its never as good as the original. You can get away with not washing outerwear in Colorado cause everything dries in five minutes. So here we are, five years later and nobody will sit next to me on a chairlift.