What says ‘protection’ more than the words GORE-TEX and bibs? Jumping into the Outdoor Research Hemisphere bibs before a day at the mountain or skin track feels like jumping into a fortress, and I was lucky to have the bibs for this unpredictable PNW winter.
- Adjustable Suspenders With Quick Release Buckles
- Avalanche Beacon Pocket With Clip in Right Hand Pocket
- Highly Articulated Fit for Mobility
- Internal Snow Gaiter With Power Strap Slot
- Right Side Top-Entry Stash Bib Pocket
- Swing Hatch for Answering Nature’s Call
- Tough Puncture and Tear Resistant Scuff Guards
- YKK® Aquaguard® Zip Hand Pockets
- YKK® Aquaguard® Zip Outer Thigh Vents
- Zip Secure Center Bib Pocket
- Zip Secure Left Side Bib Pocket with Avalanche Beacon Clip
- MSRP: $655 (currently on sale for $478)
Unbeatable protection:
Like I mentioned in the intro, the Hemisphere Bibs are a very high-protection piece of gear. I mean that to say they are engineered in kind of a maximalist way. The 3L GORE-TEX is tough, the waterproof zippers are tough, the scuff pads are tough. While I did use these bibs on some tours, I spent most of my time wearing these in the resort. These are very versatile, and can broadly appeal to people exploring in bounds, out on tours and snowmobiles.
The foundation of the Hemispheres is a 3L GORE-TEX fabric. The outer laminate is an 80D recycled nylon face which totally has a bulletproof feel to it. The membrane itself is GORE’s new standard ePE fabric which I have been consistently impressed with, and the whole thing is lined with a C-KNIT backer for a bit more next-to-skin comfort. The scuff guards are reinforced with Kevlar. In sum, it’s a Cadillac fabric built to withstand very hard use. A lot of touring bibs are built with 30D or 40D fabric, so this is nice and beefy.
The theme continues as we look at some of the components and features of the Hemispheres. One of my favorite decisions that Outdoor Research made is the use of YKK Aquaguard zippers for the hand pockets and thigh vents. I really like these big, toothy zippers because they pull easily and are super durable. Waterproof zippers can be touchy and easy to snag, which is one of the most common failures I see on otherwise premium shell garments. The YKK Aquaguard is a larger gauge, AKA wider, zipper. It’s not as light, but it’s going to hold up better.
Outdoor Research put a ton of thought into the layout of pockets and vents. There are two thigh pockets, and the right-hand one has a clip for an avy beacon for those who don’t like the chest harness. These pockets both sit down nicely on the thigh and don’t interfere with a pack, and I didn’t get too annoyed by the contents bumping against my thighs over time. There’s an elastic phone pouch in the right thigh pocket, which really helps reduce bumping around. Your mileage will vary depending on your specific fit.
Up top, the chest piece has three pockets. The right is a simple stuff pocket for quick access and the middle and left pockets are zippered. The left pocket also has a clip for a beacon. The back torso is a stretch panel, so it keeps precipitation out without feeling oppressive. The suspender straps are broad, stretchy and comfortable.
Outdoor Research built in thigh vents on each side, and the vent on the right side comes all the way up to the top of the garment for a drop-away ‘Swing Hatch’ so that it’s easy to get your butt out without getting totally undressed. For urinating, there’s also the front fly. I did wish that the fly had an easier-to-grab zipper, but I appreciate that it’s a two-way one so I don’t have to unzip my shell to get to it.
Down lower on the bib, we’ve got tough Kevlar-reinforced such guards for ski edges or crampons. These are tough and big, and I love wearing the Hemispheres in the resort for exactly this reason. I’m a skis-together kinda guy thanks to a dad who was a ski instructor in the 80’s. My boots and hems always get scuffed, so I need a good patch of fabric down there.
The hems are generous, which I personally really like. They never felt too big or flappy on the downhill, and they gave me flexibility for getting over my boots (which I leave fairly loose) on the skin track. If you’re around camp or a hut, you can walk around in unstrapped boots and still have coverage. The powder skirt does its job perfectly and you can also thread your boot’s power strap through a slot.
Like I said, I used these mainly for resort skiing with touring mixed in. I think the Hemispheres have a broad appeal in part because of how tough they are. There are lighter bibs out there, but with the absolutely massive thigh vents it’s not like you’re going to overheat in these. They are definitely full coverage and come up high on the chest. Some people will love that, others will find it overbearing on the uptick. For me, I can appreciate the fact that these are bibs that will put up with a ton of abuse without premature failure in the fabric of zippers. If you’re looking for a do-it-all bib, the Hemispheres are hard to beat.
Size information: I’m 5’11” and 200lbs and the size Large were a bit big on me