The North Face Ceptor Bibs Review

I’m mainly a backcountry skier so I’m already a fan of bibs because they keep my base layers from riding up under my backpack as I’m touring. The North Face Ceptor Bibs are the first pair I’ve had with a higher chest panel that are typically found in men’s bibs. Why do I love this so much: pockets! The chest panel has not one, but two!, fully functioning chest pockets large enough to fit a phone, avy beacon, a small burrito, or whatever other items you want quick access to.

Another difference from other bibs I’ve owned is The North Face Ceptor Bibs come with self adjusting suspenders. Built as one long, adjustable unit, they have a single-pull system to make a snugger and more consistent fit. The suspenders are made out of an elastic fabric and the extra length left over after you fit them to size then gets tucked back into the bib and out of the way.

Sizing

In general, I found the women’s Ceptor Bibs have a slimmer fit so I would recommend sizing up, especially if you have stronger thighs and hips. The fabric doesn’t allow for much give, so I found them a bit tighter around my thighs than I typically like. I prefer touring with my beacon in my thigh pocket but the Ceptor Bibs have the pockets placed right on the thickest part of the (my) quad, making it hard to fit much in those pockets other than a buff and Chapstick. What I did like, though, was the pant leg length. At 5’8”, I find most ski pants fall a little short with my ski boots on. These fell at the perfect length and I had a little room to adjust using the suspenders.

What I do like about the lower portion, though, are the double leg vents on the outside of each thigh that reach down to the knee. More specifically, there’s a snap at the top of each thigh vent so you can fully open the vents while keeping the bibs snug around your waste. If you need a little extra customization around the waist and want to make sure to keep those base layers in place, the bibs also have a low profile, adjustable belt system. If you’re like me and don’t find a need for it, it doesn’t get in the way.

Bathroom Friendly Design

And you know we can’t review a bib without mentioning the ease of using the outdoor loo. The outside thigh zip is just long enough to leave plenty of room for getting these North Face Bibs out of the way while you do your business. That self adjusting suspender set up assists in the process, allowing enough give in the elastic suspenders to not have to fight against them, but once you’re done, the bibs return back to place without much adjustment necessary. Just zip back up the thigh vent and snap the top button and you’re on your way. Really though, these are one of the easiest ski pants I’ve ever peed with.

3L DryVent

The fabric is what you’d expect from a North Face product: durable, breathable, waterproof, comfortable, and with reinforced and waterproof zippers (plus, I’m really digging the Wild Ginger color). TNF used a 3 Layer DryVent material making these perfect for backcountry pursuits, and overall I found them on the warmer side. Over time, I’ve lessened the amount of layering and the thickness of my base layers to adjust to how warm they keep me even in windy and wet conditions.

Like most ski and snow pants, these have reinforced kickpatches at the bottom of the pant legs, a reinforced hem (that actually seems like it’ll hold up against a winter’s worth of boot packing), and StretchVent gaiters with grippy elastic that you’ll thank when they keep snow from getting up your pant legs on a powder day.

The North Face Ceptor Bibs Pros & Cons

Pros:

• Higher chest panel with two functional pockets
• Self-adjusting suspender straps for consistent fit
• Outer thigh venting system for ventilation

Cons:

• Snugger thigh/hip fit
• Thigh pockets placement and tightness

Overall Impression

Overall, The North Face Ceptor Bib Pants ($399.99) will be my go-to this winter, and especially on storm days when I could use a little more warmth and a few more pockets.

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