The Best Backcountry Ski Pants of 2024
This article originally appeared on Outside
Dialing in the perfect fit is never more important than in ski pants designed for touring. The last thing you want to be thinking about as you tackle variable conditions and mitigate safety issues is pants that are too tight, falling down, or pinching in unfortunate areas. That's where we come in. Our testers put almost three dozen pairs of backcountry ski pants through the paces to bring you these six fully vetted pants and bibs. Here are the best options for backcountry missions that kept us dry and comfortable on the up and the down.
The Winners at a Glance
Unisex/Men's Pants
Best Do-Everything Pants: Ortovox Ravine 3L Pant
Best For Deep Days: Orage Grade 3L Bib
Best Bibs For All-Day Comfort: Helly Hansen Odin BC Softshell Bib Pant
Women's Pants
Best For Storm Days: Patagonia Untracked Bib
Best For Bombproof Protection: The North Face Women's Summit Tsirku GTX Pro Bib
Best For Long Days on the Skin Track: Mammut Haldigrat Air HS Pant
The Reviews: The Best Backcountry Pants and Bibs of 2024
Men's Pants
Best Do-Everything Pants: Ortovox Ravine 3L Pant ($520)
Weight: 1 lb
Sizes: S-XXL
Pros
Lightweight
Excellent windproofing
Cons
Didn't hold up well to long periods of wet precip
The all-new Ravine Pant is part of Ortovox's new freeride collection, a lightweight yet durable kit that provides a welcome departure from the tight and stretchy uphill-oriented clothes we've tested from the Euro brand in the past. Ortovox is known for pairing its waterproof pieces with components of merino wool--in this case, a Dermizax NX membrane backed with a merino layer--and it resulted in impressive breathability without sacrificing weight and packability. "I appreciated the thin design when it came to temp regulating on the up and how light and mobile they felt to skin in," said Jackson-based tester Lucy Iselin. Two large thigh pockets were more than spacious enough for a dedicated beacon pocket as well as a spot to stash snacks and a pair of gloves. While some pants suit midwinter touring and some work better for warm spring missions, testers found the combo of the light construction and protection of the Ravine pants to stick with them from frigid to storm days through balmy spring temps. "These pants do very well in the wind," said tester James Temple after slogging up a 3,500 feet in bone-chilling winds in Grand Teton National Park. "And I felt equally comfortable skiing belly button deep powder as a late-April corn mission!"
Bottom line: An excellent do-everything touring pant that holds up to deep powder days as well as spring missions
Best For Deep Days: Orage MTN-X GRADE LIGHT 3L BIB ($525)
Weight: 1.4 lbs
Sizes: S-XXL
Pros
Breathability
Stretch and mobility
Cons
Back zipper sometimes bunches around a backpack
Stretchy and breathable while maintaining a freeride fit, these bibs impressed testers with their all-day comfort and protection while going out for long missions in Grand Teton National Park. We put the DWR-treated polyester shell through the wringer in the Tetons and found it no worse for the wear, skiing through a storm that dropped 12 inches throughout the day and shwacking our way through overgrown forests. Jersey backing provided a soft feel and stretch that one tester claimed he "wore day and night during a yurt trip." We loved the stretchy elastic bib strap design, which never dug in while wearing a pack thanks to the adjustment piece at the waist (instead of the shoulder). One tester noted that the back zipper rubbed a little bit while skiing choppy terrain with a pack on, but that he could mitigate that by throwing on an extra layer, and it was worth it for the full-length side venting.
Bottom line: Stretchy and breathable bibs for freeriders who want to go deep into the backcountry.
Best Bibs For All-Day Comfort: Helly Hansen Odin BC Softshell Bib Pant ($400)
Weight: 26 oz.
Sizes: S-XXL
Pros
Breathability
Stretch and mobility
Cons
Small thigh pockets
For fast-paced days in the backcountry, the new Helly Hansen Odin BC Softshell Bibs boasted the best breathability and all-day comfort in our test. Built with a synthetic blend of polyester, polyamide, and elastane, the Odin softshells regulated temps on long tours and steep bootpacks, while still shedding light snowfall. "Despite the relatively tight fit, these are supremely comfortable for athletic skiing missions," said Jackson-based tester Max Ritter. "A great bottom for technical ski mountaineering." The low bib design with adjustable elastic suspenders was a hit with testers who are used to wearing softshell pants, allowing a more secure fit for long days out. "Combining the cut and fit of a hardshell bib with a softshell pant is really cool," added Ritter. Reinforced panels below the knee upped the durability, which was much appreciated while donning crampons and kneeling in the snow when strapping skis to our packs. The only real downside was the small thigh pockets, which we had a hard time fitting more than a few snacks inside.
Bottom line: A comfortable and unrestrictive softshell bib for crushing vert during high-pressure windows
Women's Pants
Best For Storm Days: Patagonia Untracked Bibs ($649)
Weight: 1.3 lbs
Sizes: XS-XL (women's)
Pros
Storm proofing
Easy to use drop seat
Cons
Less packable
Baggy in the back
Not only did the new Untracked Bibs top the charts for storm protection, but the new kit utilizes a Gore-Tex ePE three-layer membrane approved for use in harsh weather. The strong and lightweight membrane is PFC-free, backed with a solution-dyed recycled nylon flannel backer. On snow, testers raved about the protection and moisture-shedding properties while skiing in weather that would have kept most of us mere mortals inside. "I skied a day in Revelstoke in the worst freezing rain/snow/sleet I've ever been in," said PNW tester Mikayla Olin. "I was completely covered in ice. The jacket and bibs repelled water and I was bone-dry underneath all day." Despite the robust shell design, the Untracked Bibs offered impressive articulation, with a drop seat and side vents that pull down easily mid stride. Initially, we noticed a stiff and crunchy feel at first that broke in after three or four ski tours. Ladies also noticed they did run a little baggy, especially in the back.
Bottom line: Ladies looking for a protective bib for deep storm days will be satisfied with this option
Best For Bombproof Protection: The North Face Women's Summit Tsirku GTX Pro Bib ($700)
Weight: 1.2 lbs
Sizes: XS-XXL
Pros
High coverage bib offers maximum protection
Ample pockets for all your gear
Cons
Pretty thick, so not ideal for spring tours
Less breathable
The all-new TNF Summit Tsirku GTX Pro Bib was our favorite high-coverage bib, with ample pockets for all our gear, a super-adjustable fit, and impressive storm protection while testing them out during a record-breaking winter in the Tetons. With an 80-denier nylon face fabric and a Gore-Tex Pro membrane, the Summit Tsirku made us feel invincible while lapping our favorite pow stashes in 30 mph winds on a Teton Pass storm day. We stashed a spare set of gloves, a phone, sunnies, and a few Lara bars in the vertical chest pockets, which had a tether on the right side for stowing a beacon (which you'll also find in the thigh pockets). Waist pockets bump up the storage even more, and although one tester claimed she "barely ever had to reach into my backpack with all these pocket options," these bibs never felt overly bulky. A waist cinch helps create a customizable fit that helped with the overall baggy design, and full length leg vents kept us reasonably cool once spring skiing finally hit.
Bottom line: A durable bib that offers maximum protection for deep winter days, this bib is a great hybrid piece for the resort and backcountry
Best For Long Days On the Skin Track: Mammut Haldigrat Air HS Pant ($449)
Weight: .9 lb
Sizes: US 2-16
Pros
Lightweight
Breathable
Cons
Missing belt loops or suspenders
While we felt that the Haldigrat jacket was a great inbounds layer (page TK), the lightweight and breathable pants stood out in our backcountry test, especially on longer hikes and missions. A robust three-layer construction complete with a 40-denier polyamide face fabric was both soft and easy to move in. "I wore these pants on a four-day hut trip in the Tetons, and they kept me dry and comfortable on the deepest days where the snow never let up, but also breathed well and almost felt like yoga pants on days where I spent all day walking," said tester Lily Krass. Testers appreciated the two thigh pockets, which had enough space for a transceiver on one side and snacks on the other, without adding too much bulk. Snap buttons attached the pants to the jacket, but since we rarely utilized that feature in the backcountry, we missed the presence of a belt loop or suspenders like the men's version has. There are two Velcro straps on the sides, but we had a hard time getting them to stay.
Bottom line: A lightweight touring pant for long days on the skintrack
How We Test
Number of testers: 19
Number of products tested: 27
Number of miles: 1,200
Number of vertical feet: 410,000
Overnight ski tours: 8
Peaks bagged: 16
Deepest storm day total: 49 inches
Longest single day ski tour: 8,600 vertical feet
From high alpine peaks to low-angle pow laps, our team of 19 testers tested 27 pants and bibs last season, evaluating each piece for its breathability, durability, protection, and features. Testers spanned the gamut from vert-crazed uphill fiends to downhill-inclined freeride skiers, newer backcountry skiers, and everything in between. Jackson, Wyoming was our hub for testing this year, the perfect place to put jackets through the wringer on both deep storm days and high pressure windows in the alpine. Testers also took these layers for a spin in maritime climates like the Pacific Northwest and Interior British Columbia, as well as the high peaks in Colorado's San Juan Mountains and steep slopes in Southeast Alaska. We slogged up steep bootpacks, meandered along skintracks, walked knife-edge ridges, scored deep powder turns, smeared spring corn, and fought our way down variable wind crusts to bring you the best backcountry pants of the year.
Meet Our Lead Testers
Lily Krass is a freelance storyteller based in Jackson, Wyoming with a love for long days in the backcountry. In addition to an all-consuming addiction to powder skiing and exploring high places on skis, Lily takes snacking seriously, and when she's not writing or sliding on snow, she's likely deep into a baking project in her tiny kitchen. She is the co-author of Beyond Skid: A Cookbook For Ski Bums, a collection of dirtbag-friendly recipes inspired by life in a mountain town.
More From the 2024 Winter Gear Guide
The Best Backcountry Boots
The Best Helmets of the Year
The Best Powder Skis
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