The first rays of sunlight illuminated the Elk Mountains on the periphery of Crested Butte Mountain Resort on a below-freezing December morning. My truck actually says it’s -15 degrees Fahrenheit, as I drive to the backcountry trailhead, trailer in tow. There’s 6 inches of fresh snow in town — meaning the backcountry likely (and hopefully) picked up triple those numbers. As I gain elevation, the temperature rises.
By the time I step out of the truck at the trailhead, it’s -10 degrees. I decide against layering a pair of puffy pants beneath my ski bibs. Once I start climbing above the inversion, the ambient temps will be considerably warmer. I’ve just gotta survive the 10-mile snowmobile drive to the start of the skintrack.
As I drive 40 mph through the frigid air, the Arc’teryx Sabre Bib Pant is pleasantly stouter than I expected, given how lightweight the fabric feels. Despite straddling the snowmobile seat, cold air wasn’t cutting straight through to my legs.
Starting up the skintrack, I’ve ditched my shell jacket down to a midweight puffy jacket that fits snugly underneath my bibs. Kickturns are the name of the game today to reach the top, and the mobility of my bibs let me reach all forms of the splits on some of the more dynamic kickturns. This same freeride fit lets me charge on the downhill without the worry of snow getting in, even if my run ends in a tomahawk in the powder.
In short: The Arc’teryx Sabre Bib Pant ($700) is a perfect blend of lightweight, durable textile and comfort. The backbone of these bibs is the newly updated three-layer ePE GORE-TEX fabric, which is lighter, leaner, and warmer than the bib’s previous textile. The kicker is that the fabric is PFAS-free. There’s a light, 80-denier flannel backer along the interior, plus an integrated RECCO reflector. The construction is carbon-reduced thanks to recycled and Bluesign-certified materials.
All this comes together in a men’s winter bib that’s built with the mobility for freeride skiing and snowboarding, whether that’s a day carving up the resort or slashing through the backcountry. There might be better bibs for solely resort or backcountry riding. But with proper layering, I found that these bibs can handle everything.
Peruse our full picnic of men’s ski bibs in the Best Men’s Ski Bibs buyer’s guide.
- Best for: Backcountry touring/freeride
- Fit: Regular/relaxed
- Waterproofing: 3L ePE GORE-TEX waterproofing, DWR finish
- Pockets: Two zippered thigh, one zippered chest
Pros
- Lightweight yet durable fabric
- Lightly insulated — provides great balance of warmth
- Small chest rise and compact shoulder straps provide mobility but keep powder out
- PFAS-free and Bluesign-compliant
Cons
- Lack of color options
- Pricey
- Minimal pockets
- Chest pocket is on the small side — barely fits an iPhone 15 pro max
- No beacon tether in thigh pockets
Arc’teryx Sabre Bib Pant Review
Fitment, Light Fabric
Comfortable Shoulder Straps
Pockets
Bib Vents & Dropseat
Durable: Cuffs & Gaitors
Critiques
Arc’teryx Sabre Men’s Bib Pant: Conclusion
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