About the Reviewer: 5'10", 190 lbs, 33" waist skiing backcountry pow in the Teton Range of Wyoming. I bought a pair of the size LARGE Trewth Bibs but they were too long and baggy for me so I traded them in for a pair of MEDIUMS which fit me perfectly. I wear size LARGE in Trew jackets, but prefer their size MEDIUM pants. I got my hands on a pair of the 2012/2013 Trewth Bibs from Trew Gear and have skied ~15 backcountry days in these pants.
Ideal uses for the Trewth Bib:
*resort riding in any temps/conditions
*sled riding in any temps/conditions
*backcountry riding in colder/deeper conditions (these pants could be too warm for sunny spring tours)
*the deeper it gets, the happier you will be with these overbuilt, snow-shedding, water-resistant bibs!
*any mountain activities in cold/wet conditions that don't involve a lot of crampon us (these bibs are too baggy around the boots for safe crampon use... unless you duct tape them tightly around your boot)
The Good:
* super durable fabric feels really solid and blasts through the brush without a scratch
* overbuilt seams to prevent tears and splitting whilst unintentionally tomohawking
* full-length zips offer plenty of ventilation for warm days, long, hikes, avoiding swamp crotch while skinning, and stripping down for whatever reason...
* beefy water-resistant zippers throughout
* loads of large, functional pockets (three up top, two at the waist, and two cargo pockets on the thigh)
* belt loops in addition to bib suspenders
* adjustable velcro powder gaiters with elastic and hooks to keep them strapped down
* comfortable, loose fit (doesn't restrict movement while skinning or bootpacking)
* extra fleecy layer under the butt to keep your tush warm while riding lifts or sitting in the snow
* exceptionally overbuilt cuffs won't get shredded
The Bad:
* full-length side zips are more likely to fail catastrophically than the half-length side zips of other pants
* elastic strap material used for bib suspenders could be more technical and durable (it feels like it will lose its elasticity and wear out quicker than the rest of the pant)
* sizing is a little tricky (I wear LARGE Trew jackets but the LARGE Trewth bibs were too big and baggy. The MEDIUMS fit me just right.)
* thigh cargo pockets restrict uphill movement when full of stuff (as should be expected, I suppose)
Overall Assessment:
These pants are ideal for resort, slackcountry, sled, and heli-accessed riding. They are also great for backcountry touring in colder/deeper conditions. Even with full-length side zips, I found myself sweating in these bibs when the temps were above freezing. These bibs are stylish, comfortable, technical and durably overbuilt. At $420 the price is most certainly right...
