Arc’teryx Sabre Bib Pant Review

Some days, you just need the most coverage. It’s cold, it’s blower, it’s wet: whatever. Those days are what the Arc’teryx Sabre Bib Pant are for. These full-coverage bibs are built with durable materials and an aggressive cut for the biggest free ride lines, or long resort days when free powder refills are on offer.

Arc’teryx Sabre Bib Pant Features:

• GORE-TEX three-layer construction waterproof/breathable performance
• WaterTight™ thigh vent zippers
• Regular fit allows freedom of movement and layering
• Full-height front bib design with adjustable suspenders and belt loops
• Articulated patterning adds to mobility
• Two zippered thigh pockets and front bib pocket for storage
• RECCO® reflector built-in
• 100D Cordura® PowderCuffs™ fit over boots
• Keprotec™ instep guards
• MSRP: $700

Big coverage for big days:

Let’s start off by situating these bibs in the Arc’teryx lineup for their intended use. Arc’teryx’s ski pant lineup includes, roughly from lightest to burliest, the Rush soft-shell touring pant, the Rush GORE-TEX bib (reviewed here),an insulated version of the Sabre pant, and the resort-specific Macai pants. Our review today, the Sabre bibs, sits towards the top end of the spectrum. These clock in at about 1lb 10oz (7oz heavier than the backcountry-oriented Rush bibs).

So, what’s the niche? The Sabre bib pants are a good fit for resort skiers who want maximum coverage and a boost of extra insulation. They’re also for people who are doing primarily helicopter or cat served ski touring, with a mild to moderate amount of exertion. The front of the bib rises high on the chest, and the sides are perhaps just a palm and a half’s width beneath the armpit: so, truly full coverage.

The backbone of the Sabre is a three layer GORE-TEX membrane bonded to Arc’teryx’s N80p-X. This is a fancy name for their in-house 80D nylon face fabric. It’s a great fabric: 80D nylon is pretty darn tough, and you often will see lighter weaves like 40D on shell products like this. 80D is a great balance between strength and light weight. It leans a bit more towards the strength/abrasion/tear resistance end of the spectrum.

The inside of the fabric is a brushed liner which reminds me of GORE’s C-Knit backer, although it is not that product. Basically, it’s a soft, brushed fabric that almost feels fleecy…. but more plastic-y and not as soft as fleece. It’s certainly cozier than a conventional membrane. Arc’teryx refers to this as a ‘flannel backer’, which could be confusing for consumers expecting a nice, fleecy patterned interior.

Features are carefully selected. There are two thigh pockets, which are nicely positioned off the knee to not bang on your kneecap while touring. A drop-in pocket with a key leash dominates the chest panel. It’s a nice, generous pocket, and it’s also the only storage option not mounted on your legs. The issue with relying so much on a main chest pocket is that you have to open your jacket every time you want to access it. As I’ll mention later, these run trim through the thighs which can be an issue given that the two pockets are there.

Two generous vents run from from the knee up to the waistband. These seal with a waterproof zipper, which pulls really easily. The one on your right goes all the way up into the waistband so that you can basically drop the back of the bibs if nature calls. I always find this design a bit fiddly and prefer bibs where both vents can unzip to truly let things fly in the back. No one wants human waste on their GORE-TEX.

The hems are classic Arc’teryx: heavily built up with totally bomber Keprotec instep guards. I love these and have skied Arc’teryx pieces with Keprotec for years: I’m a legs-together skier and am super hard on my boots and pants, but these have totally fended off my edges over the years.

Hidden within them are a 100D Cordura PowderCuff, which I had no trouble fitting over my Scarpa Maestrale’s or Dynafit Radical Pros on the uphill. They are more than generous enough for touring or resort boots.

Some other subtle features include the metal Slide-n-Loc rivets to secure your Arc’teryx shell to the bibs. There are also belt loops. The suspender design is comfortable for long days and is easy to adjust, although I did feel like the straps ‘crept’ throughout the day so I had to re-tighten. These suspenders are extremely stretchy, which I personally like but some prefer a more rigid fabric.

Let’s talk about fit. I’m 5’11” and 200lbs. I wore the Large Arc’teryx Sabre Bib Pant with the regular inseam length and they fit well, running on the trim side. The bummer with this is that two of your main storage options are those thigh pockets. Remember, you have to unzip your jacket to access the chest pocket. So trim thighs plus pockets located on the thighs means that storing anything there makes the thighs feel even tighter.

Arc’teryx offers this in three inseams length and if you can try them on in person I think that’s a good call. The reason is that having the correct inseam length on such a high-coverage garment is really going to help their range of motion. I probably could have used the longer inseam, as I was feeling some pinching in my crotch while ski touring. The flip side is that I loved how much they snugly moved with my body. Remember, these aren’t the ideal pants for dedicated uphill travel, but they can throw down when they need to. If you prefer a baggy feel typical of resort-specific pieces, size up.

Fit: I’m 5’11” and 200 lbs., wearing the size medium. 

Buy now: Available from REI.com