It’s a perennial bestseller. So what’s the deal?
It’s no secret: We’re ski nerds. So it’s rare that a piece of clothing develops a cult-like following among our customers and staff in the same way a really cool ski does. The Flylow Baker Bib is one of those items. I’m going on about four years of Flylow fanboyship, and yet I was one of the few people at the shop who had not skied in the Baker. So in the name of product reviews, I fixed that—and grilled fellow staffers about their experiences.
Flylow Baker Bib Review: Field Notes
Flylow bills the Baker Bib as their flagship piece for freeride skiing. While they use a proprietary polyester face fabric rather than Gore-Tex, they claim about 20K/20K waterproofing and breathability. Big vents, reinforced denier material at the knees and cuffs, plenty of pockets, freeride style—at first glance the Baker Bib checks the boxes for freeride snow sliding.
Fit / Comfort
A note on sizing. Here at the shop, we sometimes say “you’ve either got a Flylow body or you don’t.” That refers to the way Flylow’s sizing can feel variable from product to product. “Yo, I’m a medium in the flannel, but the medium Baker is too big.” When it comes to the Baker Bib, I would say it runs on the slightly larger side for a medium. I measure 5’7″ and a couple cheeseburgers north of 160. I for sure would buy the medium, but I would have to get used to some extra material around my legs. Freeride!
I quickly realized one of the main reasons for the Baker Bib’s popularity. It’s comfortable. Especially for a three-layer piece. While other bibs can feel rigid or crinkly (one of the big drawbacks of three-layer Gore-Tex), the Baker Bib feels like you won’t mind wearing it all day. The cut, the adjustability—it’s clear Flylow had comfort in mind when they built this piece. That, and making a pair of bibs that doesn’t ride up your crack when you dig a snow pit.
Waterproofness
I’m a bit of a “Gore-Tex-or-bust” person when it comes to weatherproofing. If I’m going to be exposed to truly gnarly conditions, or when I’ve lived in a wetter environment (ie, not Colorado), I tend to choose pieces built with Gore-Tex. That said, the Baker Bib does a good job holding up to the elements. It wets out (rather than beading moisture) quicker than three-layer Gore-Tex pants I’ve used, but it keeps the moisture away from your baselayers. The burly reinforcement at the knees protect your legs if you’re kneeling in the snow. And the upper half of the bib doesn’t compromise any protection, which you see in some other more streamlined bibs. On a big resort pow day, when snow is flying everywhere, this is a top-choice bib for feeling bombproof.
The Baker Bib’s weatherproofing limitations could kick in, again, if you find yourself outside in a wetter environment for a long period of time. Places like Alaska, the Pacific Northwest, or New England tend to demand Gore-Tex in the minds of avid recreationists. If, however, you’re a normal resort skier who rides lifts, takes short hikes, and doesn’t want to spend Gore-Tex money (which describes a lot of people), the Baker Bib’s weatherproofing will be plenty for you. Add to the three-layer protection the Baker Bib’s fully taped seams, and you get solid waterproofing for most ski applications.
Breathability / Warmth
Did I mention resort skiing? Well, the Baker Bib is a top-tier option in large part because it’s balanced. It’s kind of an everyman’s pair of bibs.
What does that mean? Well, although it’s not insulated, you’ll find plenty of shell pants and bibs on the market that feel daintier and colder than the Baker Bib. Even during mid-winter storm days, a baselayer is sufficient insulation down low, plus a midlayer under a shell up top. These aren’t flyweight bibs that you’ll be jamming fleece-clad legs into. They’re more versatile than that. And as a needy person who despises insulated pants but demands protection from the elements, I enjoy that balance quite a bit.
That extra protection does come with a price, and that’s on the breathability side. Again, for normal resort skiing, airflow in and out is perfectly sufficient. But when temps rise, you hit a long bootpack, or you take the Baker Bib skinning, you’ll notice that it feels warm…in a sweaty way. Lucky for you, Flylow introduced a more breathable and tour-happy version: the Baker Perm. Perm HD fabric kicks up the airflow in that piece and makes it the better pick for high-output skiing, especially on warmer days.
Also lucky for you? Flylow absolutely nailed it with the Baker Bib’s vents. Long zippered vents on the inner and outer leg create abundant airflow. If you wonder whether your internal body temp sits higher than average, like I do, these vents are godsends.
Durability
The 1000 Denier cuffs and knee reinforcements certainly look cool. They also help the Baker Bib hold up to the abuse you’re likely going to put it through as a freeride skier.
Abrasions from rubbing and general/normal use don’t bother the Baker Bib. However, I have had a propensity for tearing or poking holes in multiple pairs for Flylow pants, including the Baker Bib and the Chemical Pant (the pants-only version). These have all involved normal skiing (no tree branches or multi-tools, etc), so all the damage I’ve noticed has likely come from ski edges. This is a classic pitfall for ski pants, especially when they’re trying to balance durability with comfort. I’ve absolutely owned pants that were less resistant to this wear and tear than the Baker Bib. I also currently own pants that are more resistant to it (the Norrona Lofoten GTX, which are built with Gore-Tex Pro). So, solid durability for the Baker Bib, but not top-of-class.
Bottom Line
The Flylow Baker Bib deserves its place as one of our bestselling pieces of outerwear…ever. It balances all the features and details that skiers care about with a reasonable price point, and it’s made by a US company that we all like to support. For specific users on the more extreme ends of the skiing spectrum, it could come up short in breathability, weatherproofing, or durability. But for 95% of skiers on 95% of days, it’s an ideal add to the kit.
I’ll hand the microphone to Powder7 staffer, and Baker Bib wearer, Ryan to bring us home:
“A loose, freeride fit provides ample range of motion, while large, zippered vents running down the inside and outside of the legs make it super convenient to dump heat. Add in features like a dedicated beacon pocket, reinforced knees and cuffs, and all the cool colors to choose from, this is easily my favorite bib on the market!”
