Trew Gear Astoria Ski Bib Review

Still relatively new to the scene, Trew Gear has already made a name for itself in the ski and snowboard markets thanks to high-quality and clean-looking designs. The women’s-specific Astoria Bib is no exception: The 2-layer design comes well equipped with tons of storage, features thick fabrics that hold up well over time, and has a stylish, freeride aesthetic that we love. Backcountry skiers should look elsewhere due to the Astoria’s heft, bulk, and lack of breathability, but it checks all the boxes for avid resort-goers at a solid value to boot. Below we break down our experiences with the Astoria Bib. To see how it stacks up to the competition, check out our article on the best women’s ski bibs. And to complete your kit, we’ve also tested and reviewed the Astoria Jacket.
 

Table of Contents

• Weather Protection
• Breathability
• Comfort and Mobility
• Build Quality and Durability
• Weight and Packability
• Key Features
• Fit and Sizing
• What We Like/What We Don't
• Comparison Table
• The Competition

Performance

Weather Protection

Like the matching Astoria Jacket I tested this winter, Trew Gear’s Astoria Bib utilizes an in-house, 2-layer PNW construction that’s been reliable in most conditions. It’s been an unseasonably warm season in the Lake Tahoe area thus far, which has resulted in less snowfall than usual, but occasional storms and a few days of heavy rain gave me the opportunity to truly test the Astoria Bib. In light to moderate snowfall, the Astoria kit performed well, shrugging off the moisture without wetting out. In heavy rain, however, the exterior grew saturated quickly. Moisture never made its way through the shell, so my baselayers stayed dry, but the jacket did grow noticeably heavier. To be fair, everyone else’s outer layers appeared similarly drippy when looking around the lift lines, including my partner’s Gore-Tex-equipped jacket. In other words, both the Astoria jacket and bibs strike me as adequately weather-worthy for all but the wettest of conditions (which aren’t fun to ski in, anyway).
 

A host of protective features round out the Astoria’s design. The bibs are fully seam-taped for added assurance against moisture, and Trew equipped all the exposed pockets and vents with water-resistant zippers. You also get internal boot gaiters, which were a little difficult to snug over my ski boots (the K2 Mach1 MV 95 W) but created a very reliable seal. And I'd be remiss not to touch on coverage, which is excellent: The bibs cover most of my torso, and I have no qualms about wearing them with nothing overtop on mild spring days. Finally, the Astoria Bib comes with a built-in Recco reflector, which is a passive device that transmits your location to rescuers (like ski patrol) in the event of an emergency.
 

Breathability

Unsurprisingly, the Astoria wasn’t a standout in the breathability department. First and foremost, 2-layer designs are inherently less breathable than 3-layer offerings due to their hanging liner (3L shells have an integrated liner). The Astoria’s thick construction doesn’t help, either. Thankfully, Trew equipped the bibs with vents at the inner thigh, which do an adequate job dumping excess heat on mild days and short hikes into the sidecountry. There's also a long, armpit-to-knee zipper on the right side of the bibs, which makes it easy to get the bibs on and off, helps streamline bathroom breaks, and allows you to tailor airflow via the two-way zipper. But for true backcountry days that involve any serious mileage, I’d recommend opting for a more breathable 3-layer alternative—we like Trew’s own Chariot Bib Primo for mixed resort and backcountry use, while Outdoor Research’s Skytour AscentShell is a highly breathable, purpose-built option for dedicated backcountry riders.
 

Comfort and Mobility

I found the Astoria Bib to be quite comfortable. The interior features a soft-touch nylon liner that’s smooth and slides nicely over baselayers. Additionally, the suspender straps are wide and very stretchy, and the adjustment buckles are low-profile enough that I’ve never noticed them while skiing, even when wearing a pack. Trew didn’t incorporate any stretch into the face fabric—something that you get with the pricier Chariot Bib Primo—but I experienced no mobility issues with the Astoria. I’ve been able to adjust my boots and bindings, high-step into my truck camper, and reach overhead to load skis in and out of a rear-mounted cargo box without any tugging or discomfort.
 

Build Quality and Durability

Like the Astoria Jacket, the matching bibs are durable and built to last. The 200- by 320-denier (D) nylon shell has a confidence-inspiring feel and has held up pretty well to a full season of resort riding. After a lot of less-than-careful use, the only signs of wear are a few small snags and loose threads at the base of the right cuff. I can’t pinpoint what caused the damage, but it’s not overly concerning and has done little to hamper my enthusiasm for the bibs. Apart from the right cuff, everything else is holding up flawlessly: The exterior looks like new and continues to repel moisture, the zippers continue to operate smoothly, and the Velcro used to secure the cargo pockets has maintained its stickiness. Taken together, the Astoria has exceeded my expectations in terms of build quality for the price.
 

Weight and Packability

The Astoria is on the heavy end at 1 pound 12 ounces, which shouldn’t concern most resort skiers but will be a deterrent for weight-conscious backcountry riders. For comparison, REI’s similarly resort-focused First Chair GTX Bibs check in a little lighter at 1 pound 9.4 ounces, while Flylow Gear’s more versatile 3-layer Foxy Bib shaves off even more weight at 1 pound 5.6 ounces. There are certainly heavier options on the market, but the Astoria has enough bulk that it was noticeable on the slopes. This didn’t impact mobility, but the difference was immediately apparent when wearing the bibs back-to-back with my Patagonia PowSlayer pants (which have since been discontinued), which weigh 1 pound 1.5 ounces.
 

To be fair, the Astoria’s added coverage is certainly a contributing factor, but it’s clear that keeping weight low wasn’t a priority with the design. Features like the fabric flaps over the thigh vents and cargo pockets, bulky 2-layer membrane, and thick fabrics all add to the heft. And the bibs don’t pack down well for storage, either—they take up a good chunk of space in a duffel bag, which isn’t ideal for travel.
 

Key Features

Trew Gear made no concessions with the Astoria Bib’s feature set. Storage is particularly generous with six total pockets: two zippered hand pockets, one flap-protected cargo pocket at the right thigh, two kangaroo-style chest pockets (one zippered and one with a Velcro flap), and a small zippered pocket at the rear. Most of the layout is entirely practical, but I did come away with a couple of gripes. Specifically, the rear pocket is very small and not useful for resort use since you’ll be sitting on the chairlift frequently. And the zippered kangaroo pocket is deep but positioned right behind the flap-protected chest pocket, making it easy to overload this area, which can lead to sagging and a noticeable amount of bulk.
 

As I mentioned above, the Astoria Bib also comes with internal gaiters that were a bit tight but very secure over my ski boots, along with inner thigh vents to regulate temperature and a Recco reflector for transmitting your location to rescue personnel. Rounding out the feature set are scuff guards at the inner ankle for fending off snags and tears from sharp equipment, along with a generous zipper at the right side that extends from the armpit to just above the knee. The zipper is two-way, meaning the opening can be unzipped from the bottom or the top. All told, the design makes bathroom breaks relatively easy and is great for releasing excess heat, allowing you to adjust the amount of airflow by tweaking the size of the opening.
 

Fit and Sizing

The Astoria Bib is offered in sizes from XS to XXL, and my usual women’s small fit on the looser end of the spectrum. Overall, I like the freeride-inspired fit: It makes for easy layering underneath, doesn’t inhibit movement, and has a very flattering look, in my opinion. Those who like to earn their turns will likely prefer a more streamlined and closer-fitting design like the Outdoor Research Skytour AscentShell Bibs, but the Astoria’s relaxed fit lines up well with its resort intentions. And if you’re concerned about not being able to try the bibs on before you buy, know that Trew has a very helpful size guide on the Astoria's product page (above the “Add to Cart” button), which includes key specifications like inseam, knee width, etc. to help you dial in the right fit. I do wish Trew offered the bibs in multiple inseam lengths to accommodate a wider range of body types, but the 33-inch inseam (it varies by size) was spot-on for my 5'6" frame.
 

Sustainability

We’re excited to see many outdoor brands making strides on the sustainability front, and Trew Gear is no exception. In this case, the Astoria Bib has a fully PFAS-free construction that forgoes the use of harmful perfluorocarbons, which are also known as “forever chemicals” due to their inability to break down over time. With many states stepping up to ban PFAS, it’s a logical measure and one that many companies have begun incorporating into their apparel collections. We hope to see even more improvements in a future update—such as recycled and/or bluesign-approved materials—but we nevertheless appreciate the steps Trew has taken so far.
 

Other Versions and Men’s Trew Gear Jefferson

I tested the Astoria Bib for this review, and the collection also includes a matching jacket that I’ve been wearing with the bibs all season (you can read my in-depth review here). Like the bibs, the Astoria Jacket retails for $329, comes in six sizes (from XS to XXL), and features the same tough, 2-layer PNW construction. As far as downsides go, the jacket is hefty and bulky like the bibs, but I’ve enjoyed the reliable protection, excellent coverage, and relaxed fit. On the men’s side, the Jefferson Bib is largely identical to the Astoria but with some tweaks to the storage layout, including vertical rather than horizontal chest pockets. It’s also sold in a matching jacket that lines up closely with the Astoria Jacket but features a different cut, weighs slightly more, and omits flaps over the hand pockets.
 

What We Like

• Reliably wind- and waterproof with excellent coverage for deep conditions.
• All of the features we look for in a quality resort bib, including generous storage, internal gaiters, scuff guards, and inner thigh vents that do an adequate job dumping excess heat.
• A very solid value for what you get at $329.
• Built to last with thick fabrics that hold up well to frequent (and not particularly careful) use.
• Freeride-inspired fit is flattering, easy to move in, and lines up well with its resort focus.

What We Don’t

• Heavy for an uninsulated design at 1 pound 12 ounces with a noticeable amount of bulk, especially when wet.
• Not particularly breathable due to the 2-layer membrane and thick fabrics.
• Storage layout could be improved: The rear zippered pocket went unused all season due to its placement, and it’s easy to overload the overlapping chest pockets.
• Our bibs accumulated a couple snags and loose treads along the right cuff.
• Only offered in one inseam length, which won't work for everyone (although it does vary slightly by size).
   

Comparison Table

The Competition

The Astoria checks a lot of the boxes we look for in a quality resort bib, but those who like to earn their turns on occasion may want to step up to Trew’s Chariot Bib Primo. While considerably pricier at $519, the Chariot offers upgrades in protection and breathability thanks to its more premium 3-layer construction. In practice, we found Trew’s in-house PNW Primo waterproof membrane to be on par with Gore-Tex in both look and feel, keeping our tester dry and comfortable in everything from thigh-deep powder to icy rime and gale-force winds. All the other requisite features are there, including a well-executed storage layout, a wide drop seat for bathroom breaks (which is more convenient than the Astoria’s side zipper), and a relaxed fit that’s flattering and unrestrictive without feeling overly baggy. The Chariot isn’t particularly lightweight or breathable enough for fast-and-light days on the skin track, but it handily gets the edge over the Astoria for those who like to split their time between in- and out-of-bounds use.
 

Moving back to 2-layer designs, REI Co-op’s First Chair GTX Bibs cost even less than the Astoria at $269. The most noteworthy inclusion is the Gore-Tex membrane, which you don’t see frequently in this price range. It’s still a 2-layer design, resulting in subpar breathability and a good amount of bulk, although it undercuts the Astoria in weight by a few ounces and feels lighter on the slopes. The REI also features outer (rather than inner) thigh vents, which we’ve found to be more effective at quickly releasing heat. That said, the First Chair’s shell fabric strikes us as thin and susceptible to wear—REI doesn’t publish a denier specification, but the Astoria feels more impervious by comparison—and it’s not particularly wind-resistant, leading to chilly drafts making their way through the exterior on blustery days and when skiing downhill. These drawbacks are enough for us to recommend the Trew Gear over the REI, but the latter will save you some cash while still checking most of the boxes for casual resort-goers.

Helly Hansen is another notable player in the ski apparel market, and their Powderqueen Bib Pant is a classic choice that nicely balances price and performance. As its name suggests, the Powderqueen puts a clear emphasis on protection against deep and wet conditions with the brand’s top-end Helly Tech Professional membrane. Both the Powderqueen and Astoria have 2-layer constructions, meaning they’re best suited for resort use, and the Helly Hansen also tacks on a thin fleece liner at the rear, which adds a nice dose of warmth on frigid chairlift rides. The Astoria boasts an additional pocket and comes in one more size than the Powderqueen, but both are quality resort choices that are high on value.
 

A final alternative to have on your radar is Outdoor Research’s Carbide, which costs the same as the Astoria at $329 but is far and away the more versatile design. In lieu of a budget-friendly 2-layer build, the Carbide ups the ante with a 3-layer Pertex Shield construction that’s noticeably more breathable. It’s pretty thin at just 40D (compared to a whopping 200 x 300D for the Astoria), but the advantages in ventilation, weight, and bulk are noteworthy for heart-pumping sessions on the skin track. Another area of obvious streamlining is the Carbide’s storage layout, which comprises just two pockets, although we appreciate the addition of outer thigh vents and thin tricot backer, which adds a nice dose of next-to-skin softness. Heavy resort use will likely push the Carbide’s limits, but it’s a nice match for the 50/50 crowd who likes earning their turns just as much as taking the lift.