Free of Forever Chemicals: The North Face Women’s Summit Series Verbier GORE-TEX Ski Bibs

I made a few quick turns through the steep spruce and fir forest before leveling out my snowboard to milk speed over the flat. Exiting the glades, I glided across the firm track left behind by the cat. The closing run of the 5-hour day delivered us to the floor of a rocky, steep-walled cirque and our winter basecamp in British Columbia’s Valhalla Range.

After spending the upcoming night in expedition tents, our group would rouse early for back-to-back cat skiing with Baldface Valhalla. The conditions were blustery and freezing, with spurts of snow. So, wearing a winter kit that could last two full days without drying out indoors was essential. Enter: The North Face Women’s Summit Series Verbier GORE-TEX Ski Bibs.

These high-performing women’s ski bibs integrate GORE-TEX’s ePE fabric, meeting the brand’s pivot away from human-made forever chemicals that persist in the environment and humans. Known as PFAS (perfluorinated and polyfluorinated alkyl substances), the toxic substances are now illegal in apparel sold in New York and California. The substances are also restricted in apparel sold in Europe.

So, does the new technology stack up to the longstanding weather endurance of traditional GORE-TEX three-layer and two-layer fabrics? In a word, yes. But, it’s different.

In short: Made with GORE-TEX’s innovative ePE membrane, The North Face Women’s Summit Series Verbier GORE-TEX Bibs ($600) are durable, waterproof, windproof, and breathable. These women’s ski and snowboard bibs are also stacked with top-notch features including a functional drop seat, smartly designed pockets, inner leg vents, and high-denier kick patches to lengthen the bib’s life.

Read our fully vetted selection of women’s ski bibs in The Best Women’s Ski Bibs buyer’s guide.

The North Face Women’s Summit Series Verbier GORE-TEX Bibs Review

While the GORE-TEX ePE fabric isn’t debuting in The North Face outerwear, the brand rolled out PFAS-free GORE-TEX across its apparel in fall 2024. New this winter, The North Face Women’s Summit Series Verbier GORE-TEX Bibs fit squarely in that camp.

I wore these women’s snow bibs while backcountry riding on a 2-day cat skiing adventure with Baldface Valhalla, at the operation’s Valhalla tenure in the Selkirk mountains of British Columbia’s West Kootenays region. The conditions were blustery with blasts of snow and temps around 10 degrees plus windchill. I never wear a puffy all day beneath my shell, but I did on this overnighter.

Despite being in the elements for 5 hours and basecamping in expedition tents (with nowhere indoors or warm to dry outerwear), these bibs felt fresh, dry, and ready for day two. I ventured with the Verbier on for 13 miles and 5,600 vert, and the following day, they provided a solid shield for another 6 hours, 20 miles, and 6,700 vert. I also tested these bibs for two frigid days of snowboarding at Whitewater Ski Resort and RED Mountain Ski Resort.

Material: You Need to Wash It

The big story of The North Face Women’s Summit Series Verbier GORE-TEX Bibs is that these snow pants are made with the new ePE membrane from GORE-TEX. The three-layer fabric is made with PFC-free DWR and recycled polyester, making a triple-win whammy. Plus, the carbon footprint is lower than that of the traditional membrane and textiles.

Ultimately, I experienced no difference in performance from the traditional membrane that’s made with PFAS. I haven’t yet tested every PFAS-free textile across all the brands. But, this material felt as dense as a traditional textile. I had to fact-check multiple times with the brand: Are you sure this is PFAS-free?

According to conversations I’ve had with designers and experts, one of the potential concerns of PFAS-free material is that the leanness could make the fabric more susceptible to tearing. The potential thinness of the material also creates a close-to-skin sensation that feels a tad less protective against cold temps and wind despite that it’s fully blocking moisture. But each brand creates its own material blend using this new membrane: No two textiles are alike.

These ski bibs aggressively blocked precipitation, moisture from deep snow, and harsh wind. The fabric combines 75-denier and 40-denier plain-weave fabric, which is plenty stout. Despite sweating (which I do, even when it’s frigid out), these snow pants were completely dry despite camping overnight and getting back on the cat the next day. They didn’t even smell bad from the moisture.

The biggest difference is that you need to wash these bibs frequently, due to the ePE textile. Commonly, snow enthusiasts don’t wash their GORE-TEX garments for fear of reducing their effectiveness or lifespan but that’s not the case here.

How to Wash Your ePE Fabric: Enhance Performance

Washing your PFAS-free fabric reactivates the DWR and removes the oil and grime that decreases the waterproofness and breathability. “PFAS-free DWR coatings require more frequent wash and care to maintain water repellency on face fabrics. Technical wash detergent is ideal because it does not have any additives,” explained GORE-TEX expert Marshall Balick at an outdoor industry presentation I attended in Nelson, British Columbia.

According to Balick’s presentation, it’s ideal to use a technical detergent. If one isn’t available, choose a conventional product that is scent-free and does not have fabric softener, like Seventh Generation.

That said, if you only have a detergent with a scent and fabric softener, such as Tide, then it’s still better to wash your garment than to not. But be sure to double-rinse. At a later time, it’d be best to wash your garment with a technical detergent, which will remove the additives from the fabric.

Now that you need to wash your ski bibs to make sure they stay highly waterproof and breathable, how frequently does it need to be done?

When your garment wets out and water no longer beads on the surface, it’s time to wash. You’ll hang the layer to dry. Then, you need to put it in the dryer for 20 minutes on medium heat to fully reactivate the DWR. I know. Mind-blowing.

If that process hits a roadblock and no longer rejuvenates the face fabric (to enable droplets to bead), then you need to reapply an after-market product like Nikwax.

Pockets & Drop Seat

One of the most standout elements of this ski bib are the pockets, including multiple pockets with a security pouch and clip for an avalanche beacon, a.k.a. transceiver. It’s important to have multiple options for beacon carry, so that each person can wear a beacon in the best place. For instance, cat skiing operations require guests to wear beacons, and the device needs to be located a minimum distance away from a phone or other electronics.

I’ve also never seen a wide mesh drop pocket on the inside of a bib’s torso. Now I have a hammock to more securely toss my gloves or skins, whether or not my pack’s hip belt is clipped on or I’m using the belt loops.

A deep, wide chest pocket has a mesh pouch and clip for a beacon. There’s also a loop to route a cord through, like if you’re listening to music on your phone.

Two hand pockets with a straight top entry are lightly fleece-lined and comfortable. They’re roomy enough for a large phone, but the phone does dig into my hip if I bend over with it in my pocket.

Here’s the solution: Two deep thigh pockets sit below the hand pockets, which also fit a large phone. In those, my phone didn’t dig into my hip crease. Each of those pockets has a secure flap that covers the zipper. One pouch has an elastic strap and a fixed loop for a radio. The other side has a stretchy mesh pouch and clip for a beacon.

Overall, the drop seat is easy to use. The top of the side zip has two side-by-side snap closure options for slightly different circumferences.

Vents & Cuffs

I really like the cuff design of these bibs. The lower hem is reinforced with sturdy 500-denier fabric that reaches 2 inches high. There’s also a large interior kick patch made of the same material, which reaches 7 3/4 inches wide and tall.

To easily slide over the neck of boots — even wider snowboard boots with a double BOA setup — there’s a side zipper with three snap options to adjust the circumference. The opening is gusseted to keep snow off your boots, too.

The interior leg vents are easy to use. While they don’t offer the widest window, they are adequate with a 7 3/4 inch length. Along the right side, the side-zip, which provides the drop seat, has a double zipper.

When one zipper has the teeth pulled shut, a second pull allows you to create an opening to dump heat. At 20 inches long, this zipper is big! A large opening is great for climbs up a skin track. However, the left side of the bibs lacks an exterior vent.

Suspenders

These suspenders are unlike any I’ve seen on other bibs. Rather than having two adjustment points — on each strap — there’s one spring-loaded locking cam on the left side. You simply lift the mouth of the lightweight cam, and the suspenders adjust with a single pull.

At nearly an inch wide, the elastic band is a bit broad, which disperses pressure and increases comfort. The suspenders provide a fair amount of stretch.

Changes & Critiques

Personally, I found that the inseam length of legs were a tad short compared to the regular-fitting circumference and the kit’s matching jacket, which is relatively lengthy, especially for a standard fit.

I’m a bit under 5′ 6″, field-tested a size small, and later had a later fit check with a medium. Even when sizing up one tier, the legs rode up above the ankle when I sat down, let alone crouched or kneeled. The size medium had more material in the torso length, which bunched up when I sat. I’d prefer to see a bit of length added to the legs of this silhouette.

While the spring-loaded locking cam for the suspenders works fine, the design also means there’s a single tail at the end of the elastic. That excess length is noticeable, and there’s currently no garage to park it.

While the overall concept of these women’s ski bibs will remain, there are two updates in the fall 2025 version.

First, the bib’s entry will have a pretty big revision. There will be center-front access in addition to the current side-entry access that enables the drop seat. To accomplish the update, the suspenders will be reconfigured.

Based on feedback from athletes and everyday skiers, center-front access will make the bib easier to enter and exit. The extra zip adds another option for ventilation. And when women wear midlayers with pockets, a center-front zip allows them to access those pouches.

Second, the silhouette of the bibs will be a bit straighter and roomier. That said, the fit will remain standard. Meaning, it won’t be a freeride cut that’s oversized or relaxed nor will it be an athletic, streamlined cut. The goal is for the leg to have a natural drape for skiers or snowboarders.

Conclusion: Who These Women’s Ski Bibs Are For

Don’t go tossing perfectly good bibs into the landfill for fear of PFAS. Honestly, that’s not the best solution for the environment, either. Our bodies absorb PFAS through consumption of water or food versus body contact.

But if your bibs need to be replaced, it’s a good idea to consciously purchase a PFAS-free pair that supports the market’s evolution away from these toxic chemicals. The good news is that options like The North Face Women’s Summit Series Verbier GORE-TEX Bibs are very durable, totally weatherproof against moisture and wind, and feel just as protective as a traditional textile. These bibs do not feel flimsy or thin.

The Verbier has a set of quality pockets that are among the best I’ve tested in women’s ski bibs for resort, sidecountry, or full backcountry adventures. I also love the gusseted cuffs and reinforced kick patches.

I have not yet ski-toured or snowmobiled in these bibs. While the material certainly seems stout, I prefer a longer inseam length for protecting my boots and keeping snow out when I ride on mechanized or human-powered days.

The ski tours I do often require long ascents, so I also prefer big exterior vents on both sides. That said, I imagine most female ski tourers would not find issue with the lack of an exterior zipper on the left side. I tend to run hot compared to most of my peers.

Pickiness aside, the Verbier women’s bibs are among the best out there, from the innovative textile to the functional details. The combination of these snow bibs with the matching The North Face Summit Series Verbier GORE-TEX Jacket looks sharp and stylish. These Verbier ski bibs are an excellent choice for resort days, cat skiing, as well as ladies who occasionally venture out on a ski tour — especially in windy, cold, and snowy conditions.