The Trew Gear Tatoosh Bibs were at home in the PNW, even during a snowstorm that quickly turned to rain. Photo: Steve Andrews/The Inertia
When it comes to ski and snowboard outerwear, GORE-TEX is generally the gold standard for waterproofing. But the tradeoff is that the fabric can be stiff and rigid. So when Trew Gear sent a pair of their Tatoosh Bibs ($350) to try out, boasting both 20k waterproofing and breathability with the added bonus of insulation and comfort, it was worth giving them a proper test.
The name Tatoosh comes from the range next to Mount Rainier, the signature volcano that dominates the skyline in Seattle southward. Aside from the unreal views, what this area is known for is the moisture. So the big question was whether or not the pants could live up to their namesake. With that in mind, it was only fitting to test these bibs out in the same climate, just a few hours north of the Tatoosh Range in Whistler, British Columbia. Let’s look into it a bit more:
| Pros | Cons |
| Soft and comfortable | Straps can get twisted if you aren’t careful |
| Plenty of ventilation options | Hip pockets are small |
| Just enough insulation in the right places | Seams aren’t well protected |
| Proven waterproofing |
First Impressions of the Trew Gear Tatoosh Bibs
The first thing that jumped out at me was the material. Although simply nylon, the fabric has a soft feel that differs from most snowboard pants – in a good way. Perhaps it’s the Oxford-style weave, but the fabric feels like a broken in pair of jeans. This is in contrast to many shells that have a rigid outer layer that makes a lot of noise when moving around. I’m sure you know what I’m talking about. Not so, here.
The straps aren’t placed, which can make for a bit more customization when loosening or tightening, but also has the potential to get a bit twisted if you’re not careful. That’s the only drawback that stood out right away, but it doesn’t take a rocket scientist, or even a high school graduate to get the hang of putting on bibs after a few tries. Just cross it in the back, and let the front suspenders come down parallel. Do the opposite and you’ll quickly find out that you’ve done something wrong.
The big test was to see if these bibs could hold up in a coastal storm where the freezing level fluctuated like a crypto bro’s balance sheet, as I spent time at various elevations both above and below the snow line. Being that GORE-TEX is the true standard of waterproofing, it was a tall order to see if the Tatoosh bibs could hold up in the coastal wet climate, but the short answer is my midsection and legs stayed dry all day.
Sometimes you gotta make a slush angel to see what the pants are truly made of. Photo: Lindsay Gough/The Inertia
Notable Features of the Trew Gear Tatoosh Bibs
Style: Bib
Material: Nylon
Waterproofing: 20k
Features: 60g insulation
Sustainability: Not specified
Most bibs have a few standard features that we have all come to expect, such as a chest pocket, internal gaiters, and adjustable straps. And the Tatoosh bibs have it all. But there are two main features that set the Tatoosh bibs apart.
One is the large side zip that makes emergency bathroom breaks a bit less stressful. Most of the right side easily zips down for easy access to the under layers, which also doubles as a large air vent if you are overheating. This zipper leaves you pretty exposed, though, so it’s not something you want to keep open all the time unless there’s not much snow blowing around or it’s a nice warm spring day.
The second big feature is the zonal insulation around the midsection down to the knees. Trew Gear made a pretty solid assumption that most of the time you’ll have a jacket, so didn’t add insulation in the chest/torso and lower leg areas, opting to let whatever jacket and boots you’re wearing do the work there. The result is just enough warmth where it’s needed, which certainly helped when the storms picked up. And the lack of insulation in the torso/lower legs adds to these bibs’ versatility.
And yes, these pants have 20k waterproofing, which isn’t quite the same rating as top-tier GORE-TEX, but after the test, I can confidently say that I stayed plenty warm and dry despite doing my best to sabotage the dryness (other than keeping the vents open). The outer material did get a bit saturated by the end of the rainy day of boarding when I subjected them to Mother Nature’s worst, but it didn’t penetrate down to a point where I could feel any moisture underneath. That’s definitely a win.
Trenching in the Tatoosh bibs and matching Tatoosh Jacket. Photo: Steve Andrews/The Inertia
Drawbacks
I made a quick mention of the straps, and that’s pretty much just something that isn’t a huge deal at the end of the day. But if you’re in a hurry to get on, or getting back from a bathroom break, it’s one more thing to think about, I suppose. But with enough practice it really does become second nature.
Another setback was the size of the hip pockets. They were a bit small compared to other brands out there. It was large enough to fit a smartphone, and really you don’t want too much more in your hip pockets otherwise it’ll become a hinderance to your riding. Plus it’s better to have gear stashed in your jacket, anyway.
It was all smiles and dry cheeks for this gear tester. Photo: Steve Andrews/The Inertia
Final Thoughts
Trew Gear’s Tatoosh Bibs are comfortable, warm, and felt great while riding in the wet, coastal conditions. They don’t have the same waterproofing rating as GORE-TEX, but after riding all day in super wet conditions, they still held up just fine. And most days, the wet conditions shouldn’t be an issue. The main tradeoff to the lower waterproof rating is that these feel much more like cloth than a GORE-TEX shell, which for some is worth it in itself.
The aded insulation was welcome, and the lack of insulation where you have a jacket and boots meant overheating didn’t really come into play. If it would, the side vents can help flush in new air within seconds.
All in all, these are a great pair of snowboard pants. They’re comfortable to ride in, and are well-constructed with reinforcements in key locations. While there aren’t any stand-out technical features, they’re a super well-rounded pair of bibs with top-tier construction, especially on the durability side. If you need a pair of insulated bibs that still have the waterproofing to endure some wet days these are a great set of bibs, especially when you consider the price. They should last plenty of seasons of shredding in all sorts of weather and temperatures.
Editor’s Note: For more gear reviews and features on The Inertia, click here. If you’re looking to build out the rest of your snowboard kit, read our reviews on The Best Snowboard Gloves and Mittens, Best Snowboard Goggles, Best Snowboard Boots, Best Ski and Snowboard Helmets, Best Snowboard Bags and the Best Snowboard Brands. And female-shredders should definitely check out our Best Women’s Snowboard Jackets and Best Women’s Snowboard Pants reviews.
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