Burton Avalon Bib Review

One of the most unique things about the Burton Avalon Bib is its immediate curb appeal. From viewing them online to getting them in our hands, these bibs are straight-up cute and stylish. They are soft to the touch and have a lot of stretch, which makes up for the skinnier cut. They weren't the most weatherproof option we tested, and the thigh pockets do not have zippers, which brought down the score. However, if you are going for style, you're sure to be stoked on these.

Weather Resistance

The Avalon features Burton's DRYRIDE 2-layer fabric with a 10,000mm DRYRIDE waterproof shell. They also come with fully sealed seams to help block out water.

When we put the bibs through our 2-minute shower test, we focused on pockets, zippers, vents and the general pant material. The seams and material did seem to keep water out, but the zippers provided issue, with water going through. This resulted in a lower score for weather resistance.

Comfort & Fit

The Avalon Bib comes equipped with a stretchy back panel that allows for adequate movement and keeps the fairly formfitting pants comfortable. It also comes with two adjustable bib straps that allow for a customizable fit. We did notice these straps were a bit uncomfortable at times while skiing. These bibs seemed to run long on us (tester is 5'7" and wore a size Medium).

One thing we noticed throughout testing was that the drop seat zippers (one on each side!) had a tendency to slide down to the hip during movement throughout the day. They have a snap on the top of the zippers to hold the top of the bib together, but we were disappointed to notice this multiple times. Finally, the overall feel of the bibs is great. They are incredibly soft both on the outside and the inside.

Ventilation

While these bibs technically only come with two vents on the inner thighs, an awesome bonus is the dual drop seat zippers. These extend well down the upper leg, and can be used to dump heat quickly when needed. That being said, they do not have an upper and lower zipper on the drop seats, so you will need to make sure they are buttoned up top so your pants don't drop.

The inner thigh vents come with a mesh lining to help keep snow out, and start from just below the crotch to just above the knee. They aren't the largest, but allow for some airflow on warmer days.

Warmth

While the Avalon Bib is not technically insulated, they do come with a thicker shell material than most shells that provides a layer of comfort and warmth. They come with Burton's Living Lining Thermo-Regulating Technology, which means that the “pores” of the pant are meant to expand in the heat to allow breathability and shrink in the cold to retain heat.

We found these bibs to be plenty warm on an average day, and with the addition of a baselayer, should be well equipped for a colder one.

Features

One of our favorite features on this bib is the dual drop seat. The only bib that we tested that had that feature, it allows for you to pick which side you would like to drop when nature calls. It can also be immensely helpful when putting the bibs on.

That being said, we did find putting these bibs on to be more complex than some other bibs we tried. The straps are not elastic, meaning they had to be unstrapped and restrapped each time we put them on.

Another thing to note is that the Avalon Bib's two thigh pockets do not come with zippers. This made us avoid putting valuable items such as a wallet or phone inside. We did test them out, and nothing fell out, but if you take a hard tumble, this could be a potential issue. The chest pocket was great for putting valuable items but is limited in size.

Since Burton is primarily a snowboarding company, there are no reinforced patches on the instep of each pant leg to protect them from sharp ski edges or hard shell boot chafing. This is fine if you're a snowboarder, but might mean a shorter shelf life for skiers.

Style

The Avalon Bib truly thrives in the style department. These bibs initially look like average streetwear, effortlessly pulling off an overalls look. They made our testers feel hip and cool when being worn and garnered a lot of positive feedback from others when worn. They do run intentionally narrow on the pant, so if you prefer a wider leg, consider other options.

Value

For their cost, the Burton Pant provides value through their style but has limited functionality and some potentially problematic features. That, combined with the wear and tear to be expected without a cuff guard, means that they may not be the most durable.

Conclusion