Review: Patagonia Women’s SnowDrifter Jacket and Bib
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In a nutshell
The Patagonia Women’s SnowDrifter Jacket and SnowDrifter Bib combine to provide a comfortable, lightweight kit with a more freeride-oriented profile that performs well both in the backcountry and inbounds.
SnowDrifter Jacket
Size Tested: Medium
Materials: H2No® Performance Standard shell
Waterproofing: 20K
Pockets: Handwarmer pockets, zippered chest media pocket, pass pocket, internal drop in pocket
Vents: Underarm zip vents
Weight: 564 g
Helmet compatible hood, adjustable hood and hem
The SnowDrifter jacket is available now.
SnowDrifter Bib
Size Tested: Small
Materials: H2No® Performance Standard shell
Waterproofing: 20K
Pockets: Two thigh pockets and one chest pocket
Vents: Half-length outer thigh vents
Weight: 585 g
RECCO, scuff guards, and gaiters
The SnowDrifter bib is available now.
Intro
Patagonia says that the SnowDrifter Jacket and Bib “combine stretchy fabric for uphill performance with serious snow protection” in a light, minimalist design. Both the jacket and bib have three-layer H2No® Performance Standard protection. The 23/24 versions received some updates from last season–the jacket and bib are now fully made of recycled fabric, rather than 70%, and the rear end and legs of the bib got a redesign to be a bit less roomy. Patagonia also uses a DWR coating that’s free of PFCS, i.e. “forever chemicals,” which is a topic that Powder recently took a closer look at.
There aren’t too many women’s backcountry-oriented softshell bibs on the market, although it seems like each year more brands are offering softshells or something more like a “stretchy hardshell” bib. The SnowDrifter Bib is a great entry into that category of outerwear.
Fit
I usually wear a medium in outerwear across the board and went with the medium SnowDrifter Jacket. It’s definitely on the large side, but not outlandishly so, and that means plenty of room underneath for insulating layers.
I was initially going to try out the medium SnowDrifter Bib but, as I’ve found with some other Patagonia outerwear, the medium was very long and wide for me and the small fit perfectly. I am 5’5” and my pants size is usually a women’s 8 or 29/30. According to Patagonia’s size chart, I am somewhere between a small and medium, and fortunately this bib comes in a range from XXS to XXL, so even though I think the bib runs a little large, people of various sizes will probably be able to find the right fit for them.
The torso on the bib fits well, although if you generally wear a puffy jacket underneath your bib it may be a bit snug. The crotch and butt area isn’t too baggy, thanks to downsizing and the redesign from last year’s version. The legs do have more flare than I prefer on a touring pant, but the cut is flattering and the cuffs easily fit over ski boots.
Pockets and Features
The SnowDrifter Jacket has a few more features than a purely backcountry jacket, meaning it’s not quite as packable as it could be if it were more barebones, but those features play nicely with inbounds skiing. It has a zippered pass pocket on the shoulder and a clever two-way chest pocket that can be securely accessed from either the inside or outside, a powder skirt that’s low profile but nonremovable, two large hand pockets, and big pit zips. It also has one mesh internal drop pocket that isn’t big enough for skins but could hold gloves or a buff.
The SnowDrifter Bib has a large zippered pouch on the torso and two zippered thigh pockets. I found the pockets to be thoughtfully laid out and more than sufficient. My beacon fits nicely in one thigh pocket, which has an internal mesh web and an attachment loop (nice job, Patagonia) and snacks, ski straps, phone, and all other sundries can easily be stashed around my person. The chest pocket is enormous and made of a light mesh material to reduce boob sweat. The bib suspenders are comfortable and stretchy but don’t slip off my shoulders or loosen up with wear. They’re also detachable in the front for extra convenience.
Fortunately these days it’s not a question of “do these bibs have a pee option” but “how good is it?” In the case of the SnowDrifter Bib, the answer is: pretty darn good. The bib has two-way zippers up both thighs that double as venting and drop seat convenience, and it’s easy and quick to unzip one side and tug the back panel out of the way when nature calls, or undo both sides for a more luxurious trou-dropping experience.
Performance
The fabric of the SnowDrifter kit is very soft, quiet, and light, and thanks to that it really shines in the backcountry. This isn’t the jacket and bib I would reach for if I was going to ride chairlifts and it was dumping snow, although they would be great on a slightly warmer, drier day. I’ve worn this kit on several all-day tours in stormy conditions, complete with sitting in the snow for snacks, jumping into powder, and multiple transitions, and it has performed quite nicely. The fabric doesn’t seem like the most waterproof available but it definitely holds up to snow just fine without wetting out quickly.
I’ve also walked uphill on a morning that alternated between bitterly windy and entirely too warm every time the sun came out, and found the SnowDrifter kit to be very breathable, especially with the vents open. The light weight and quietness of the fabric is noticeable on the skintrack, where heavier hardshell jackets and bibs made for the resort can feel like overkill.
Who is the perfect skier for the SnowDrifter Jacket and Bib?
This jacket and bib combination is great for a skier who wants just the right amount of features, a good pocket and zipper layout, a comfortable and flattering fit, and the ability to tour in all kinds of conditions (and ride lifts too, from time to time). Plus, the fact that the kit is free from forever chemicals and made of recycled polyester that feels soft to the touch might be a compelling reason to choose Patagonia over other outerwear brands.
