Liv Barbier skiing Shovel Slide on a Pow Day in the Helly Hansen Powderqueen Bibs | Photo Jeff Brines Mountain Weekly NewsHot take, ski bibs are far superior to traditional snow pants, and the Helly Hansen Powderqueen Bibs accentuate this point with all their sneaky pocket amenities and overall extreme comfort. These double layer HELLY TECH® bibs are durable, and slightly insulated while simultaneously waterproof and breathable so you get the best of both worlds; warmth while skiing down and breathability for an intense tour in the backcountry wilderness. Norwegian Engineering at its finest!
Fit and Feel
I am a tiny human, 5’3”, 108lbs, so many times I find bib pants are way too baggy in the front and don’t fit around my waist and I find they interfere with my movement when skiing because they are so bulky. These utilitarian and stylish bibs, however, have a stretchy 100% polyester shell exterior as well as easily adjustable straps on the waist and shoulders for a very versatile fit.
I also usually wear a size XS, but I actually wore the women’s Helly Hansen Bibs in a size S which worked out great as long as I took in the waist straps and layered underneath the bib itself. The material felt just thick enough to keep me warm but not too bulky that I couldn’t move when skiing pow.
Technical Features
Let’s talk Pockets! Pockets are critical whether you are skiing inbounds and need a chairlift pick me up snack, or if you’re on a long tour in the woods and need to have a gear like knives or ski straps easily accessible. These bibs have AMAZING pockets, one Velcro pocket right in the middle of the chest/bib area, one large industrial pocket on the right thigh with a hook on the inside, and a third long pocked on the left outside area.
During my touring and inbounds resort skiing with these bibs, I used the chest pocket on the Helly Hansen Powderqueen Bibs for my iPhone (it fit perfectly and kept it warm and alive), the thick thigh pocket for ski straps, and the left pocket for snacks!
With regards to technical materials, the bibs have two-layer HELLY TECH® which is a unique material Helly Hansen products use that keeps water molecules out while allowing sweat vapor to pass through; the best of both worlds!
The exterior is made of Polyester which allows stretch while moving and the lining is Polyamide. The material doesn’t quite feel as raincoat-like as GORE-TEX, however, I stayed completely dry in the snowstorm when skiing with the material so it for sure held up!
Who’d Wear This
This isn’t your everyday touring bib pant mostly due to the partial insulation and heavy-duty features. The Helly Hansen Powderqueen Bib is amazing, however, for a cold day in the resort, or a cold and stormy long tour deep into the backcountry. I could imagine myself, for example, wearing these bibs if I was doing a hut trip or an overnight trip staying in a Yurt in the Park or in the deep backcountry and trying my best to keep warm and organized (gear in the pockets!).
I wouldn’t personally wear these hiking up a boot pack like Glory Bowl, because for me I got a bit too hot, however, I wore them opening week at Jackson Hole when it was -5 degrees at the base and I felt so warm and comfy!
Helly Hansen Powderqueen Bib Ski Pants Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Extreme comfort with sneaky pocket amenities
- Durable double layer material with insulation
- Adjustable straps for versatile fit
- Amazing pockets for easy accessibility
- Keeps water out while allowing sweat vapor to pass through
Cons:
- Not suitable for hiking up a boot pack
- Material not as raincoat-like as GORE-TEX
- May feel a bit too bulky for some
Overall Impression
Overall, the Helly Hansen Powderqueen Bib Ski Pants ($300.00) are an essential piece to my ski/outdoor wardrobe, particularly in a climate like Jackson, Wyoming where the temperatures can drop so incredibly low and single layer shell pants won’t do the job. I look forward to using these bibs for sledding (so the snow doesn’t go up my shirt!), long cold days in the Village, or even for when I’m shooting photos and standing still outside. I felt invincible and comfortable in the Helly Hansen Women’s Powderqueen Bib Paants and I’m sure you will too!
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