Here in Santa Fe, New Mexico, where ϳԹ’s offices are headquartered, the leaves have fallen, but the snow hasn’t—and we’re anxiously awaiting.Summer is behind us, and we’re ready to throw on our ski bibs and hit the slopes. Naturally, our ears perkedwhen we heard about , which launched this fall. Backcountry’s in-house apparel and gear impressed us this summer (we reviewed its climbing line, as well as some pieces in its travel and bike collections.) Although we haven’t had a chance to get waist deep in powder this season, we decided to take a peek at Backcountry’s new collection.
Backcountry Women's Cottonwoods Gore-Tex Bib Pant ($350)
The first thing you'll notice about this bib is that it's convertible: a zipper around the waist converts it into a pair of pants, and back again. If you’re on the fence between the two options, that versatility is a plus. Three-layer Gore, taped zippers, and heavier-weight fabric have me hopeful that itcanstand up against Pacific Northwest wetness and Montana cold. We haven’t put itthrough the wringer, but burly reinforced cuffs and a 100 percent nylon facenod towards durability.
The cut feels reminiscent of workwear—it’s flattering but practical, with ample room for strong thighs and articulated knees for movement. Vents on the inner thighs are a smart feature that would come in handy during high-output days, but I wouldn’t take this bibout for a long tour—there are a lot of details that add weight, warmth, and chafe potential. Overall, this isa solid, good-looking in-bounds bib. – A.B.
Backcountry Men's Cottonwoods Gore-Tex Jacket ($400)
My one gripe with ski and snowboard shells is that too often theirconstructions feel boxy and stiff, like superrigid rain shells. I understand why: truly waterproof material often has a burly, heavy build. Those jackets feel more like a tarp than a piece madeto move with you in the snow. I can't say the same about the men's Cottonwoods jacket—it was flexible and felt “broken in” out of the box.Althoughit was designed to be paired with multiple layers, it was comfortable to throwon top of just a single long sleeve layer on first wear.That's partially due to the interior: it's soft and silky to the touch, and it has a forgiving cut around the sleeves and shoulders which doesn't feelconstrictive.Like the other pieces in the collection, this jacket is fully-seamed and built with Gore-Tex for waterproofing.
Similar to Abigail's takeaways from the women's bib, I most likely wouldn't use this onthe early mornings I'm huffing it up the ski hill for a quick skin. The thick membrane would bea bit too heavy for thosesessions, but I can see this as a solid jacket for the resort. The thumbhole cuffs, deep pockets at the chest, near the waist, and on the arm make it a feature-rich package that's ready for downhill adventures. -J.R.