Patagonia PowSlayer Bib Review
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For the skier or snowboarder that have big plans of getting after it this winter, the Patagonia PowSlayer Bib is the perfect piece of gear to keep you in motion. The Pow Slayer Bib is part of Patagonia’s premier snow collection which means that it can hold up to the harshest weather conditions and the highest of athlete demands. This bib is perfect for users of the backcountry, skiing or snowboarding in resort, or for the lucky few, heli-skiing into super steep and deep terrain.
Testing Conditions
For my testing conditions, I tested the Patagonia PowSlayer Bib while AT skiing in the backcountry, nordic skiing, skiing in-bounds at Steamboat Resort, and winter hiking. While these pants are intended to withstand the harshest conditions, they are also amazing for the regular ol’ ski day at the resorts.
GORE-TEX Pro
To start, it is important to know what material the Patagonia PowSlayer Bib Pants are made of, GORE-TEX Pro. For those not familiar with GORE-TEX Pro, it is the top of the line material that many high-end brands use for their highest-end products. What makes GORE-TEX Pro different from other waterproof materials on the market is its level of performance for breathability and keeping out moisture during extreme sports.
To start, GORE-TEX tests their fabrics more than any other brand on the market, making it the gold standard. GORE-TEX has 3 products; GORE-TEX, GORE-TEX Active, and GORE-TEX Pro. GORE-TEX is for everyday waterproofing, Active is for more high exertion activities for better breathability, and pro is meant for prolonged and extreme activities.
In the Patagonia PowSlayer Bib, the designers decided to use a 3 layer construction of GORE-TEX Pro which means there are 3 layers in the very thin yet durable material. The outer layer is your first line of defense and is abrasion-resistant. The middle layer is the GORE-TEX Pro membrane, and the inner layer is soft against the skin material that pulls moisture away from the body.
Fit and Function of the Patagonia PowSlayer Bib
Testing out the Patagonia PowSlayer Bib at Steamboat Resort
The Patagonia PowSlayer Bib has a relaxed fit which allows you to use a baselayer or warmer pant to use underneath. The extra room also allows you to move in all directions that your body allows.
For skiing, the bib cuffs and gator fit comfortably over your ski boots with ease. I wear a size 29.5 ski boot which a little larger than average and I had no problems fitting the gator and pant legs over the boot. The gators are snug enough to get a tight seal around the boot to prevent snow from getting in. There is a gator clip that comes in handy when you’re nordic skiing since the boots usually have a gator clip. If you’re out winter hiking or snowshoeing, the clip easily attaches to hiking boot laces as well. There is no zipper on the cuff of the pants, but it will be hard to find a boot these pant cuffs can’t go over.
For venting in the Patagonia PowSlayer Bib, there are two large zippered areas on the left and right side of the pants. These go down to the knee area and offer plenty of ventilation. As seen in the picture, you can see with the relaxed fit of the pants, that there is an open space that goes right through the back of the pants. I found this especially helpful on my uphill climbs for skinning and nordic skiing.
For stashing extra gear, the PowSlayer Bib pants have a total of 5 external pockets. The two main pockets used most are positioned where both your right and left hand lay when dropping your arms down. These two pockets are large enough to fit cell phones, trail maps, energy bars, and other items used for your adventure. I found the zippers in these pockets can sometimes be a little hard to open with one hand. There are two smaller zippered pockets near the top of the bibs which are good for stashing smaller items such as a ski pass, credit card or ID, or s energy bar. I have a Samsung Galaxy 5 and found it hard to fit in either of the top two pockets. Smaller smartphones such as the iPhone 5 without a bulky case may fit in these pockets. Last, there is a zippered pocket in the back of the pants which has plenty of room to store additional gear or a wallet.
Patagonia PowSlayer Bib
The PowSlayer Bibs go approximately up to your belly button depending on how high you adjust them. This setting was perfect for me as I have been lucky enough to get a decent amount of powder while skiing lately. For most days, I’ve been skiing through 2 feet of powder once I get off the well-traveled trails. Even with a few falls, I never had a time where I got snow down my pants which is nice.
Final Thoughts
The Patagonia PowSlayer Bib is the ski and snowboard pant that you will enjoy and love for many years to come. This bib was very well thought out in the design process and after dozens of times getting after it, I found these pants to my new go to ski pants for nearly every winter activity. For more information, please visit Patagonia.com.
