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The best ski days are the ones where the mountains, the snow, and the friends you’re with are the only things on your mind. Not on that list: bunchy, baggy, soggy ski pants. A great pair of pants or bibs eliminates those needless distractions, works flawlessly, and lets you focus on what matters. Fortunately, this year’s ski pants are more fully featured and more climate-conscious than ever before. And bibs? They’re nearly universally better designed to make dropping the seat for a bio break a stress-free event. Whether you’re looking for insulated pants for sub-zero days at Stowe, or bibs that can bounce between Powder Mountain and backcountry Wasatch laps, we’ve got something here for you. These are the year’s best ski pants and bibs for all kinds of conditions.
At a Glance
- Best Overall: TREW Gear W Capow Bib ($549)
- Most Flattering: Terracea Pant 3L Bib Pant ($380)
- Best for Freeride: Jones MTN Surf Recycled Bibs ($400)
- Best for Frigid Temps: Mammut Stoney HS Thermo Pant ($325)
- Best for Backcountry: Salewa Sella Free 3L PTX Pants ($450)
- Best Value Bibs: REI Powderbound Insulated Bib Snow Pants ($219)
- Best One-Quiver Pant: Blackcrows Freebird Xpore Pants ($630)
- Most Versatile Pant: Rab Khroma Converge Pants ($525)
- Best Value Pants: Dope Con W ($189)
- Best for Ski Touring: Norrøna møre Flex 1 Bib Pant ($329)
- How to Buy Women’s Ski Pants
- How We Test
- Meet Our Testers
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Best Overall
TREW Gear W Capow Bib
Sizes: XS-XXL
Insulation: N/A
Weight: 1.9 lbs
PFAS: Free
Pros and Cons
⊕ Available in short, reg, and tall inseams
⊕ Inner and outer leg vents
⊕ Mid-rise bib length
⊗ No mesh on the inside leg zip
Building bibs to fit women can be tough, but TREW Gear nailed it with the Capow. With a relaxed fit in the legs and three different inseam lengths to choose from, these were a top pick for both resort and backcountry skiers from the Green Mountains to the Rockies. There were two key design choices that made the Capow shine. First, the mid-rise bib comes up just below the boobs, so they never felt too tight or too baggy on top. And second, they feature TREW’s user-friendly drop seat so you can easily answer when nature calls. Made from stretchy Dermizax EV Membrane with a breathable stretch nylon on the bib, they withstood wear and tear all season long. High-tenacity yarns at the cuffs and durable kick patches also proved cut- and abrasion-resistant. “TREW knows how to make bibs,” said our 5’5”, 135-pound tester from Wyoming. “These were the best fitting I’ve ever worn. They fit well around the middle, and were not baggy or tight in the butt and thighs.” What’s more, they were a fortress in deep pow. Burly fabric and a good internal leg cuff helped keep testers warm, dry, and fully protected no matter the conditions. The high fly zip was another feature testers called out. “It allowed me to use the drop seat, but provided some extra space to pull up my layers underneath and tuck my shirts in smoothly,” said another tester who snowboards, and calls Snowbasin, Utah her home hill. Testers also appreciated the jacquard suspenders, which stayed put thanks to silicone strips. All the zippers are water-resistant, and if you prefer to carry your transceiver high rather than low, the right chest pocket has enough space plus a D-ring for added security. Internal boot gaiters were stretchy enough for both alpine and touring boots. We loved the gaiter slit that let us tighten our boots’ booster strap without pulling up the gaiter. All in all, a burly, versatile bib that wowed testers with its fit and features.
Most Flattering
Terracea Lux 3L Bib Pants
Coming Soon
Sizes: XS-XL
Insulation: N/A
Weight: 1.1 lbs
PFAS: Free
Pros and Cons
⊕ Magnetic pockets
⊕ User-friendly zippered drop seat
⊕ Stretchy and easy to move in
⊗ Inner thigh vents only
We love it when new brands cross our radar. This year we got to know Terracea, a New Hampshire-based outerwear company, that impressed us with its stretchy, stylish Lux shell bib. The magnetic pockets were the Lux’s most unique feature. They were easy to get into, but stayed closed when loaded. “The bib pockets were exceptional,” said a Utah-based tester. “I carried all my essentials for Jackson Hole spring skiing adventures—food, lip balm and sunscreen, and shades—without needing to wear a jacket.” The Lux was stretchy enough that it passed the critical “mom test,” said a Vermont-based tester who skis with her family at Bolton Valley. “I could get down on the ground and wrangle my kids into their ski boots without feeling restricted,” she reported. The waist phone pocket was a popular feature, too—easy to reach, and positioned where the phone isn’t likely to get its screen accidentally broken. And testers liked the bib height. Several large-chested testers were pleased to report that the bibs had ample space to accommodate the girls, but smaller-chested testers didn’t report them feeling baggy. While the Lux bib doesn’t have full side zips, an easy-access drop seat let us seamlessly take care of business. For resort skiing, these bibs were a top choice. If Terracea would make the thighs a touch more spacious, add some girth to the gaiters, and enhance the venting, we’d never take them off.
Best for Freeride
Jones Women’s MTN Surf Recycled Bibs
Sizes: XS-L
Insulation: N/A
Weight: 1.1 lbs
PFAS: Free
Pros and Cons
⊕ Full-length side zips
⊕ Oversized chest pocket with an organizer
⊕ Easy-to-reach side zips
⊗ Not very stretchy
Made for snowboarders who like to hit the park and then head for the pow, Jones MTN Surf Bibs have features skiers also love. Waist-to-knee zippers provided best-in-class venting and let us drop the back of these bibs for a nature break. The snap at the top of the side zipper is easy to reach—no yoga moves were required to get our pants back on. The large thigh pocket with internal beacon sleeve made the backcountry skiers and riders happy, but the pocket didn’t expand, which somewhat limited its usefulness. Testers praised the XL bib pocket and the organizers inside, but wished the pockets were stretchier to hold gloves, goggles, and other gear more easily. Buy your normal size, and the MTN Surf Bibs fit baggy, which is how they’re designed. The bib has limited mechanical stretch, but given the loose, slightly baggy cut, it didn’t matter. Reinforced knee and butt zones kept high-wear areas protected, and a small-of-the-back wicking panel provided some air flow. “The fit was great and the tougher fabric on the knees and butt made a ton of sense for boarders, especially those of us who are also snowmobilers,” said our Utah-based snowboarder. We also appreciated that these RECCO-equipped pants are made from 100-percent recycled materials.
Best for Frigid Temps
Mammut Stoney HS Thermo Pants
$325 at Backcountry $325 at Mammut
Sizes: 2-16
Insulation: 60-gram recycled polyester insulation
Weight: 1.8 lbs
PFAS: Free
Pros and Cons
⊕ Warm
⊕ Adjustable double-snap waist
⊕ Designed for end-of-life recycling
⊗ Waist snaps are a little flimsy
When your pants let you get more laps in, you know they’re a winner. And that’s what these pants did for one Vermont tester, a former Freeride World Tour competitor who used them to ski bell-to-bell all winter long. They kept her the perfect temperature—not sweaty, not cold. “I don’t normally wear insulated pants because I get too hot,” she said. “But I was pleasantly surprised by how well the Stoney HS pants breathed and moved with me—better than any other insulated pants I’ve worn.” The Stoney HS got an eco-friendly facelift this season: Mammut now uses 60 grams of recycled polyester padding insulation sandwiched between a recycled polyester shell and liner. Cordura cuffs resisted ski cuts, and the stretchy gaiters were sized for alpine boots and didn’t ride up, thanks to hearty silicone gripper elastic. Pockets often seem an afterthought on most women’s pants, but these are well designed. Oversized thigh pockets are pleated to enhance storage capacity and the right one has a beacon lanyard inside. While these pants are all about keeping the wearer warm, Mammut knows that some days you need a little airflow. The hip-to-quad thigh vents let us regulate temperature, so we were always comfortable, even in changeable weather. But our favorite Stoney HS feature was the broad, fleecy waistband. It adjusts on both sides with a wide band of Velcro to snug the waist just right. As for the rest of the pants? They’re cut baggy for movement—and maximum freeride style.
Watch: See the Mammut Stoney HS Thermo Pants in Action
Best for Backcountry
Salewa Sella Free 3L PTX Pants
Sizes: XS-XL
Insulation: N/A
Weight: 1.3 lbs
PFAS: Free
Pros and Cons
⊕ Detachable bib with zip pocket
⊕ Sustainably manufactured
⊕ Big pockets
⊗ Waist is tight, thighs are loose
Made for curvy women, Salewa’s highly technical Sella Free is your go-to for big backcountry missions, but testers loved this pant for skiing anywhere and everywhere. By far, the most unique feature of the Sella Free is the zip-off bib. For backcountry adventures, we kept the bib on. It provided much-needed storage with its zippered phone pocket, and it kept the snow out. At the resort, testers often zipped the bib off and relied on the oversized zippered cargo pockets for storage. “I loved the three-layer Powertex material—it was super-soft and comfortable,” said one tester who spends equal time in the skin track and at her home resort of Stowe, Vt. Other testers gave the two thumbs up to the Sella Free’s lighter fabric. “In colder temps, I could layer up, and for spring skiing, I wore just my lightest base layer underneath,” one tester commented. It’s worth noting that these pants are built for curvier gals, with a smaller waist and roomier thighs, and testers with more athletic builds found the waistband too tight, even when they had loads of space in the legs.
Best Value Bibs
REI Powderbound Insulated Snow Pants
Sizes: XS- 3XL
Insulation: 40-gram synthetic recycled insulation
Weight: 2 lbs
PFAS: Free
Pros and Cons
⊕ Great value for the technology
⊕ Hip-to-mid-thigh side vents
⊕ Available in a wide range of sizes
⊗ Pocket game is lacking
REI’s insulated Powderbound Bibs are waterproof, windproof, warm, well cut, available in a massive range of sizes, and they’re under $225. That’s a great deal for winter ski bibs. The two-layer shell isn’t fully seam-sealed, but it’s seam-sealed in key areas to keep you dry riding lifts and slashing pow. “These kept me almost too warm in Breckenridge, which I wasn’t mad about,” said one tester. Inside, 40 grams of synthetic insulation takes the bite out of winter weather, while the water-resistant recycled polyester taffeta lining makes slipping into the legs easy. Bathroom breaks were a cinch thanks to rib-to-thigh vents and top-of-zipper snaps that let us drop the seat. On snow, articulated knees and a crotch gusset kept testers limber for slopestyle shenanigans (one even threw a daffy at the park). The boot gaiters boasted grippy elastic to seal out snow, while the robust scuff guard and reinforced hems prevented skis and boards from slicing through. Now for the few drawbacks: The Powderbound bibs don’t have thigh pockets, which was a deal-breaker for some testers. But they do have fleece-lined, zippered hand warmer pockets and a fleecy chest pocket perfect for keeping a phone warm and accessible. REI made this bib with Bluesign-approved recycled polyester in a Fair Trade Certified factory, and it is also available in a pant ($159) if bibs aren’t your jam.
Best One-Quiver Pant
Blackcrows Freebird Xpore Pant
$630 at Backcountry $630 at blackcrows
Sizes: XS-L
Insulation: N/A
Weight: 0.8 lbs
PFAS: Free
Pros and Cons
⊕ Long side-leg vents
⊕ Double thigh pockets with a transceiver clip
⊕ Snapping cuffs
⊗ Runs small
Sleek pants for serious backcountry missions and bell-to-bell resort laps, the Freebird Xplores proved lightweight but also very durable. The proprietary waterproof/breathable membrane moved moisture better than any other bottom we tested, and the fabric was surprisingly tough. After a full season of testing, there was only one small abrasion in the cuff. Testers liked the almost-imperceptible sublimated graphic matching blackcrows’s logo—the same pattern they use on their Freebird skis. Well featured for a touring pant, the Freebird boasts a Velcro-adjustable waist, thigh pockets with inner security pouches, stretch Lycra gaiters made out of a knit rather than a shell material, and beefy kick guards on the inner ankles. “When I took this pant touring, it fit great around my ski boots, thanks to the dual-position cuff snap,” said a 5’5”, 135-pound tester from Utah, who liked the Freebird equally well at the resort, where she dumped heat on warm days via the long leg vents. All in all, these tough, highly technical, fully waterproof shell pants easily transition from touring to resort and back again.
Most Versatile Pant
Rab Khroma Converge Pants
Sizes: XS-XL
Insulation: N/A
Weight: 1.6 lbs
PFAS: Free
Pros and Cons
⊕ Double snap waist
⊕ Hip-to-thigh venting
⊕ Hidden hip pocket
⊗ Confusing sizing
Rab’s Khroma Converge pants were a tester favorite across the board, which is no small feat among female skiers of all shapes and sizes. Testers cited all kinds of qualities, from the flattering cut and the high-quality materials, to the thoughtful details like side vents and a hidden hip pocket for stashing a debit card. Designed for big-mountain adventures, the three-layer Khroma Converge was equally at home ripping groomers, slashing secret powder stashes, and farming open, powdery backcountry slopes. The warm backer made them cozy, not cold, and a highly adjustable waist and belt loops meant they fit different shapes remarkably well. A high waist even kept the snow out when testers wiped out. “My favorite thing about these pants was how high the waist came up, like a good high-rise jean,” said our 5’5” tester who regularly skis powder at Grand Targhee. (Waterproof zippers kept the stuff in her pockets dry, too.) Everyone who tested these pants commented on the cuffs and the gaiters inside. The cuffs were highly cut-resistant, with long zippers to make adjusting boots easier. Soft, stretchy fabric gaiters kept the snow out. The Khroma pants even won over testers who swear by bibs, including one Jackson-based skier who appreciated the beacon-compatible upper-thigh pocket. Testers’ only complaint: Rab’s UK sizing is tricky to understand. Refer to the brand’s website for help figuring out your correct size.
Best Value Pants
Dope Snow Con W
Sizes: XXS-XL
Insulation: 40-gram recycled synthetic insulation
Weight: 1.7 lbs
PFAS: Free
Pros and Cons
⊕ Bluesign certified
⊕ Affordable
⊕ Comes in 14 colors and two lengths
⊗ Not as waterproof and breathable as others
Sometimes it’s worth dropping some serious coin on a piece of gear. But sometimes, you get lucky and find an affordable piece that looks, feels, and performs just as well as its pricier counterparts. Enter Dope’s Con W Pant. This resort-focused pant isn’t for extreme mountaineering adventures or the most heinous weather you might encounter. It’s for enjoying some runs with your pals. The pants are bluesign-certified, made from recycled PET fabric with 40 grams of recycled insulation and two-way stretch. According to testers, they made cold ski days much more comfortable—and they looked great doing it. “The Con fit well and felt good, like my favorite jeans,” said one 5’9” tester who skis mostly at Vermont’s Sugarbush. In part, that’s due to the easy-to-slide-into stretchy inner lining that didn’t get hung up on baselayers, and that moved when we did. Articulated knees and a longer cut added to the pant’s comfort and style. The feature set was equally impressive. A zippered cuff gusset left room for boots of all sizes, and a highly adjustable waist helped the Con fit most testers like a glove. The pocket situation is on point, too, with slash pockets and back pockets that all zippered closed, plus handwarmer pockets with a soft, warm lining. Finally, inner thigh vents allowed for airflow on warmer days. “These aren’t the most technical resort pants I’ve ever worn,” said one East Coast tester. “But they looked good and felt good, and the price was right.”
Best for Ski Touring
Norrøna møre Flex 1 Bib Pant
$329 at Backcountry $329 at Norønna
Sizes: XS-L
Insulation: N/A
Weight: 1.3 lbs
PFAS: Free
Pros and Cons
⊕ Highly breathable
⊕ Oversized pockets
⊕ Armpit-to-knee zip for bio breaks
⊗ No beacon D-ring
If you get sweaty no matter what you’re wearing, Norrøna’s softshell møre Flex 1 Bib is for you.
The key to the pant’s sweat-free design is the air permeability of the bib’s mostly recycled nylon fabric. It’s reinforced with a waterproof-breathable fabric from knees to cuff for weather protection, but otherwise this bib is membrane-free, tough as nails, wind-resistant, and great at moving moisture away from your skin. “As someone who has a hard time controlling my temperature, I loved these pants because they kept me cool when I was on the move, but I never froze when I stopped,” said our Vermont-based category manager after a week ski touring in Wyoming’s Tetons. The møre Flex 1 Bib boasts awesome pockets, including a large chest pocket that held both a beacon and gloves. There are also double thigh pockets with loads of extra space. The right hand pocket has an inner sleeve for a phone but no D-ring for a beacon—a bummer for some testers. In addition to the breathable fabric, this bib has long side vents for even more airflow, which also made bathroom breaks easy. Where some bibs have bulky adjusting clips, the møre Flex 1 had low-profile suspender adjusters that testers found intuitive and easy to use. Another favorite feature: the super-minimalist, breathable fabric gaiters with a cinching strap. They kept snow from creeping in but also let heat escape—yet another feature proving that this stretchy softshell pant is the ideal companion both in the track and for spring skiing.
How to Buy Women’s Ski Pants
Buying ski pants or bibs is a little like buying jeans. Sometimes you have to try on a few pairs before you find the ones that feel like they were made for you. Here are our top tips for buying the bottom half of your ski kit.
Pants or bibs?
Are you a bibs girl or a pants girl? If you hate tight things around your waist, you sometimes tour as well as resort ski, or you regularly ski in deep conditions, bibs might be the best choice. They have more weather protection, more pockets, and most are easy to drop without stripping when nature calls. Some pants/bibs are convertible and can be worn either way.
How’s the fit?
Whatever your size and shape, there are pants and bibs out there for you. Buy a pair with space to layer underneath, and with enough stretch or room to move that they aren’t restrictive on the chair, on the slopes, and during apres.
Do the pockets deliver?
Whether you need to carry snacks, an avy beacon, a goggle wipe, sunscreen, or something else, get ski pants that have intuitive pockets. They should be easy to access and the right size to hold what you need.
Insulation and vents?
The best ski pants for you will keep you warm enough but not too warm. If your personal temperature seems to fluctuate, get pants or bibs with thigh vents. Choose insulated if you always have a cold butt and don’t want to wear too many layers. Or go for shell pants for ultimate temperature flexibility—size them up appropriately, and you can add as many or as few layers as the day requires.
How We Test
- Number of testers: 15
- Number of Products Tested: 41
- Number of Days on Snow: a lot
- U.S. States Tested In: 8 (plus two countries)
First, we get in touch with all the brands we know and love. Sometimes we even awkwardly introduce ourselves to steezy skiers in the lift line when we see ski pants we like and want to know more. Then we wrangle samples of all the styles we think might be worthy of review. We box up those pants and bibs and ship them to testers all over the country: Vermont, Utah, Wyoming, Idaho, Colorado, Montana, and Alaska. Then we hit the slopes, the side country, and the backcountry. We ski our faces off, and keep those pants on for other winter activities too: snowmobiling, fat biking, sledding, and of course aprés. We do everything we can think of in the pants to see how they hold up, how warm they keep us, and how they feel when we ski them bell to bell. We’re women between the ages of 23 to 59. Some of us are expert skiers and ski professionals. Some are full-time moms who shred. Some of us are weekend warriors and dawn patrollers who get laps in before work and after hours. All of us love to ski whenever, wherever, and however we can.
Meet Our Testers
Berne Broudy is our ski pants category manager and a Vermont-based skier. She calls Stowe Mountain Resort her home hill, though she spends as much time in the backcountry as possible. Broudy has been reporting on environmental issues, gear, and travel for two decades. Before making a career of writing and photography, Broudy worked in the sustainable forestry industry. She skis every day there’s snow on the trails behind her house, and clocks resort days and backcountry missions anytime and anywhere she can, from Vermont to Japan and all points in between.
Charlotte Eldredge lives in Jackson, Wyo. where she skied 100 days last season between Jackson Hole Mountain Resort and Teton Pass, with some additional quick trips to Utah. She’s spent the last nine years exploring all that Jackson has to offer and skiing alongside some amazing local mentors.
Michelle Nicholson was born and raised on the slopes in the Tetons, and her obsession with skiing has grown and developed into a lifestyle. Although she works full-time as a teacher, she still manages to get at least 45 to 50 days of skiing a year.
Caitlin Kelly is a snowboarder and photographer based in Stowe, Vermont. Caitlin has been riding Stowe for 30-plus years, and last season she spent more than 150 days on snow.
Hannah Fleming is originally from Michigan. She began her skiing journey in cold Midwest winters, where technical layering choices consisted of a hoodie and jeans. That gave her a deep appreciation for well-made technical apparel. For the past decade, Hannah has called Utah’s Northern Wasatch her home. She skis around 50 days a year, half at the resort and the other half in the backcountry.
Liv Stern lives in Jackson, Wyo. and she’s been a skier her whole life. Liv loves snow in every form. She’s equally happy smashing bumps at the resort with her friends, or going for long backcountry tours in Grand Teton National Park.
Abby Ghent hails from Vail, Colo., where she qualified for the US Ski Team when she was 17 and won multiple season titles on the NorAm circuit. She also raced the World Cup for five seasons. Abby skied 50 days last season all over Utah, Colorado, Wyoming, and Canada.