I’m a big bib enthusiast for resort skiing, but big names charge a car payment for their high-end options. REI Co-op, luckily, is here to save the day with a GORE-TEX bib shell pant for a third of the price of most other options.
The REI Co-op First Chair GTX Bibs for men are a simple, streamlined, and (relatively) affordable pair of ski bibs that’ll appeal to skiers on a budget and minimalists who don’t want a ton of pockets, zippers, and features all over their outerwear.
This two-layer GORE-TEX build offers plenty of weather protection. But if you think you need more protection for extreme weather, check out some of the higher-end options in our Best Men’s Ski Bibs Guide. These are true shell bibs that skip insulation, so you can layer underneath to adjust to the conditions. If you’re always cold, you may want to consider an insulated bib.
In short: The REI Co-op First Chair GTX Bibs ($269) are a straightforward ski bib shell for resort days that gives you plenty of protection from precipitation and lets you save money to help pay for those lift tickets.
REI Co-op First Chair GTX Bibs
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Waterproofing and Breathability
7.5
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Fit and Mobility
8.0
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Drop Seat and Fly Access
8.5
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Pockets
7.0
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Best for:
Resort and backcountry -
Fit:
Regular -
Waterproofing:
GORE-TEX ePE membrane, recycled 2-layer fabric -
Pockets:
2 drop-in thigh pockets — 1 with a zipper, 1 with hook-and-loop closure
Pros
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GORE-TEX weatherproofing
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Stretchy fabric
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Minimalist design
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Tricot liner in upper legs for warmth
Cons
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Limited pockets
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Steamy for hiking, touring
REI Co-op First Chair Ski Bibs Review
It seems rude to suggest that the best thing about the First Chair Bibs is the price, but it’s true. There aren’t a lot of options when you start looking for GORE-TEX bibs under $300, so the price kind of steals the show, despite some nice features and materials. (The North Face Freedom Bibs are one very similar option in build and price.)
The savings come with a few small compromises that likely won’t affect your ski day much, but are worth considering. Not all GORE-TEX is the same, and the two-layer construction here has some performance drawbacks we’ll get into, though it’ll keep you just as dry as three-layer GORE in most conditions.
I tested the First Chair Bibs over 6 days of midseason resort skiing at Breckenridge Ski Resort, including colder, stormy conditions and warmer, bright-sun days in January.
Performance
The two-layer GORE-TEX construction uses the same high-quality waterproof-breathable membrane as the three-layer iterations, but it has a free-hanging fabric layer on the inside that protects the GORE-TEX.
On one truly frigid day in the single digits, I layered with long john bottoms and insulated knicker shorts, which were welcome on the chairlift rides. The First Chair Bibs handled wind well and have a thin tricot liner that adds a little warmth, but they’re still shell material, so you’ll want to be ready with appropriate layers to handle colder ski days.
During my mid-winter testing, the First Chair Bibs were great for riding the chairlift, but they heated up quickly after a few short but intense runs. For the most part, I wouldn’t be concerned about overheating while resort riding in these bibs, but I can imagine them getting swampy on a hot, sunny spring skiing day.
Comfort, Fit, and Style
Comfort is one of the main reasons I prefer bibs. With so many layers on top and bottom in a ski clothing system, you can end up with a mess of competing hems around your waistline. Bibs overlap your upper layers to help keep snow out while also preventing top layers from pulling up and exposing your waist to the cold.
Bibs come in different heights; however, some are a little more than pants with suspenders. The First Chair Bibs are a mid-height bib that comes up just below the chest, which is plenty to keep you warm and avoid the layering traffic jam around your waist.
For your average North American skier, the First Chair Bibs should be a comfortable, familiar fit. I am 6’0, 190 pounds, and a touch chesty, and I didn’t feel cramped in a size large, which is my normal bib size. The legs are roomy without being baggy, though they might feel that way if you’re used to a highly tailored ski pant.
Around the midsection, they’re more tapered than some bibs I’ve tested, but any restrictions are relieved by the very elastic fabric. Ski shell outerwear is usually super-stiff and lacks much stretch, but the First Chair face fabric blends polyester with 29% spandex, making it surprisingly mobile and comfortable.
Pockets and Features
Pockets are one place where the First Chair Bibs let me down. One of the reasons I love bibs is the extra storage, but these don’t offer much. There are two Velcro cargo pockets on the front of the thighs, and one has a zipper closure, and that’s it. The cargo pockets are generously sized, but they also sit a touch too low, with heavier items bouncing around at the tops of my kneecaps.
Having gotten used to other bibs with multiple chest-height pockets, I kept reaching for them to stash items, only to forget I didn’t have that option in these bibs. I like the minimalism of the First Chair, but it would’ve been nice to have a few more pockets. For security, I would add at least one zippered chest pocket as my first addition.
As with the First Chair Jacket, there’s a mysterious D-ring at the waist I wanted to find a purpose for. Helpfully, the product description explains that you can use it for clipping gloves or an old-school lift ticket. There are standard elastic powder cuffs at the bottom of the legs, and a generous reinforcement to protect against ski and boot scuffs.
Drawbacks
Beyond the limited pocket storage, the biggest drawback is the lack of breathability. As someone who skis mostly in three-layer jackets and bibs, the silky inner layer felt comparatively clammy when I started to heat up. The only time I truly overheated in the First Chair Bibs was when I took them ski touring, where their limited breathability was a real drawback.
REI Co-op First Chair Bibs: Who Should Buy?
The First Chair Bibs are a solid bib option that provides GORE-TEX weatherproofing for a fraction of the cost of higher-end bibs. Skiers who do a lot of hiking, touring, or experience a lot of mixed rain and snow might want to spend the premium for a three-layer build, but the First Chair is plenty of bib for most.
To find out how the First Chair GTX Bibs compare to our other favorite ski bibs, check out our Best Men’s Ski Bibs Guide.
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