Features
This season, TREW redesigned the bib’s suspenders so that they have adjustable velcro straps. The front part of the suspenders can be adjusted to the appropriate length, while the back part of the strap is made of a stretchy elastic material. The two straps are connected by a piece of this stretchy material to help prevent them from slipping off the shoulders.
The Chariot’s suspenders have a good range of adjustability. I definitely could have benefited from being able to tighten them more – when wearing the bibs in a size Medium, at least – though I imagine the range of adjustability would have been totally satisfactory in a size Small. Since the legs and crotch were still pretty long at the smallest suspender setting in a size Medium, I tried to tie the straps to make them tighter, but that left me with a pretty awkward bulge on my shoulder. I was able to shorten the straps a bit more by crossing them in the back, but that made the back of the bib fold up and stick out.
The Chariot bib has plenty of pockets, allowing you to carry lots of odds and ends with you, if necessary. The two large hand pockets are deep, but relatively narrow. The left leg has a large cargo pocket, which is perfect for storing a hat or thin pair of gloves while touring, but is a bit to small to fit my Smith I/OS goggles. The pants have another large zippered pocket on the right leg, as well as two small pockets on the upper part of the bib, one with a zipper and one with a velcro closure.
Like the Tempest pants, the Chariot has the same durable cuffs, which I really like. While I’ve torn the cuffs on virtually every pair of ski pants I’ve owned, I’ve yet to find any holes in the cuffs of the Chariot. Several inches of the inner cuff are also lined with the same SuperFabric. While I haven’t put a full season in the Chariot yet, I will be sure to provide an update if I run into any issues with the cuffs’ durability, though I don’t expect to.
The bib has zippers running down either side from the top part of the bib to a few inches above the knee. These large vents have two zippers to open from either end and, as I mentioned above, provide plenty of ventilation for warmer days in the resort or on the skin track.
The long side zippers also make it really easy to go to the bathroom without taking off numerous jackets, which can be a huge annoyance. Simply unzip one of the side vents, move the pants to one side, do your thing, then zip that side back up. The stretchy suspenders also come in handy here, allowing you to pull the bib pretty far down with the straps still over your shoulders.
Bottom Line
Although I will most likely still wear ski pants on especially warm days, I’m a big fan of bibs, and the TREW Chariot bib is an excellent, durable, women’s option. They’re warm yet breathable, very comfortable, and have a cool, stylish look.