Expert Review: Flylow Men's Snowman Bib Pants
Published on 10/24/2022 · 4 min readThis review is my honest opinion of the pants, which I purchased with my own money in January of 2022.
Testing the DPS Koala 103's . All photos courtesy of Hayden Wright
About this Review: This review is my honest opinion of the pants, which I purchased with my own money in January of 2022.
My take
The Flylow Men’s Snowman Bib Pants are a great resort bib. It properly balances a super warm insulated bib and a shell. I like the fit, too. These aren’t super baggy and by no means skinny bibs. Instead, they are a relaxed bib, and I can ski how I like in them.
About the pants
- Brand: Flylow
- Model: Snowman Bib in Night
- Size Fit: Large True
About me
- Height: 6’0”
- Weight: 179 lbs
- Pant size: Large
- Experience: 29 years of snowboarding/skiing
Test conditions
- When I bought these: January 22, 2022
- Days used: 69
- Where I’ve used them: Alyeska, Thompson Pass, Turnigan Pass, Copper, Vail Pass, Aspen, Powder Mountain, Alta, Snowbird, Eldora, Winter Park/Mary Jane, and Monarch.
- Weather conditions used in: Stormy days, wet days, a bluebird pow day, mash potato spring days, and cold days with sub-zero temps.
How they perform
What I was looking for
I needed some bibs that would keep me dry and warm. I wanted something with a casual, looser fit, too. The Flylow Snowman Bib caught my eye.
Why I chose this gear
I was mainly looking for a resort bib for those crisp mornings on the Glacier Bowl Express at Alyeska. Other options have more features, but I didn’t need all the bells and whistles. So I chose the Flylow Snowman Bib because it was a nice price point for what I was getting.
Lunch at Arapahoe Basin. These are great for grilling!
What I love about them
- Fit: The fit is relaxed. Not too baggy and definitely not restricting.
- Comfort: The bib straps and buckles are not cumbersome and don’t feel too bulky for an insulated bib.
- Warmth: These are ideal for someone who runs cold. Throw on a base layer under these, and they’ll be set. I run hot, so I don’t usually wear a base layer underneath, just shorts.
- Waterproofing: These come with a high-performance DWR and have stayed waterproof longer than expected.
- Durability: These are durable. There are no cuts yet on the lower cuffs near the edges of my skis. They have taken tons of crashes, yet they show no signs of wear and tear.
- Weight: Flylow states around 800g. These are designed for the resort skier, so weight isn’t a problem. If one is looking for a touring bib, the Baker Perm will be better for that type of skiing.
- Ease of movement: These aren’t restricting at all, and the articulated knee areas are great.
- Quality: These have held up awesome. Like I said earlier, no cuts or knocks near the bottom cuffs where pants/bibs tend to rip.
Issues I’ve encountered
- Special Features: Ideally, the front pockets could be slightly larger, and the kangaroo pouch could be slightly lowered. However, these are more for a resort and less backcountry, so this is expected. Flylow has BC-specific bibs with beacon pockets and other BC-centered features.
- Any workarounds: If one typically runs hot, they definitely don't need a base layer with these. So go with some shorts, or they’ll get toasty.
- Breathability: Designed to keep one warm. If one runs cold, these are great. These aren’t the most breathable bibs.
Favorite moment with this gear
These were the perfect bibs to have while skiing in Utah last spring. I caught a late-season storm with low temps. These kept me cozy and happy on the lifts and at the Goldminer’s Daughter. Before these bibs, I only had shells and had to layer. I like to pack light when traveling. These did the trick perfectly.
Value for the money vs. other options
There are other pants out there for a lower price point, like the North Face Freedom Bibs. They were only $199, but mine didn’t last as long as my Flylows. After one season, they started to tear on the lower cuffs. For the price point of around $300, I got a tough, warm, and waterproof bib that will last many seasons.
Final verdict
The Flylow Snowman Bib should be a top choice for anyone who typically runs a little colder at the resorts or doesn’t like layering when skiing in bounds. I like the fit as they’re not too baggy and not too form-fitting. When these finally wear out, I’ll look at more Flylow bibs, as they are built to last.
