REVIEW: Plus Size Ski Jacket and Ski Bibs
Ski Season is upon us! We asked Emily Williams to test out the Outdoor Research plus size Carbide Bibs and Carbide Ski Jacket. In January 2025 she was blessed with amazing snow in Scotland, so she took them out for a cross country spin. Here's what she thought:
Ski-Specific Features
Both the Carbide Jacket and the Carbide Bibs are loaded with ski specific features - the jacket has a generous hood, that can be worn over a ski helmet if needed, four main pockets on the body (all easily able to take a phone or wallet) and a ski pass pocket in the sleeve as well as a really effective snow skirt. Importantly for me there are pit zips to give some ventilation on the up hill bits.
The bibs have lovely adjustable comfortable wide elastic straps and come really high up the body. The legs are re-enforced at the ankles in to protect against rub on your boots, have an elasticated snow cuff and are sized to wear over downhill/back country ski boots. They also incorporate ventilation zips on each side, and plenty of pockets (including one that you can use to secure an avalanche beacon).
Plus Size Fit Ski Clothing
Based on my hip measurement, I am bang between a size 2X and 3X on the Outdoor Research plus size sizing and chose the 3X bibs and the 2X jacket.
The jacket has quite a boxy generous cut and has enough space on my hips in the smaller size while fitting really nicely over my bust and shoulders.
For the bibs I chose the larger size to allow plenty of room for movement and mobility over my bum and thighs.
As usual for Outdoor Research clothes, the trousers are a couple of inches too long in the leg (I have really really short legs) but this isn’t a problem at all if I am wearing ski boots - even my cross country ones - as the cuffs are held up around the ankle.
Technical Materials
The jacket and bibs are made from 3-layer Pertex fabric with fully taped seams, which makes them waterproof and windproof. As someone who runs hot, the fact that they are a 'shell' type construction and aren’t insulated at all is brilliant, as I can layer them up or down depending on the weather and what I am doing.
For cross country skiing on a still day I found wearing just the bibs with merino base layers was perfect, and because they come up so high on my body they gave plenty of protection when I inevitably fell over.
On a windier day I chose to wear the jacket as well, and used the pit zips for some ventilation on the up hill sections. For downhill skiing on a cold day I might add winter leggings and an insulated layer under the jacket.
Overall Impression
I really like both of these! It’s the first time I have been able to test out plus size ski clothing that is designed for backcountry skiing rather than having to compromise, which is an amazing feeling.
For me having something really versatile is important - the conditions are fickle up here in Scotland, so while I sometimes go downhill skiing I am just as likely to go cross country or sledging with the kids.
Being able to layer according to what activity I am doing and what the weather is like is game changing - it means that I can be out on the tracks and not get too hot and sweaty, or if I am going to be queuing and on lifts then I can make sure I wear an insulated layer as well!
I tested the snow skirt/cuffs out both falling over and by going sledging, and for the first time didn't end up with loads of snow where it shouldn’t be.
I think wearing the jacket and bibs I managed to have the most pockets I have ever had on an outfit - which I really enjoyed though I did keep putting things in different places and forgetting where they were! I’m definitely looking forward to getting some more snow so that I can get out and use these again!
*Emily was sent these items to test and give her honest review. The colours are 2023 season.
Take a look at the current season plus size Carbide Jacket and Carbide Bibs.
