Columbia Bugaboo Omni-Heat Pants - Women's Review
Cons: No vents, limited features
Manufacturer: Columbia
Our Verdict
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Columbia Bugaboo Omni-Heat Pants - Women's | |||||
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| Awards |  |  |  | | |
| Price | $105.80 at Amazon | Check Price at REI Compare at 3 sellers | Check Price at REI Compare at 2 sellers | $349.00 at Backcountry Compare at 2 sellers | Check Price at REI Compare at 3 sellers |
Overall Score  |
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| Star Rating | |||||
| Pros | Price, warmth | Comfortable, high-performing, pocket space, 'core' look | Comfortable, warm, RECCO | Comfortable, flexible fabric, affordable, lots of features | Affordable, warm, stylish |
| Cons | No vents, limited features | Narrow upper thigh, cuff guard | Not great for backcountry use, waterproofing | Not completely weatherproof, gets dirty easily | Limited use, hard to size right |
| Bottom Line | This is a basic pant that is a solid option for a first timer who isn't sure if they want to invest in the sport | A comfortable and high-functioning bib for sidecountry missions and resort laps | This pant offers resort style with comfort and warmth | Technical yet comfortable and affordable, we recommend these pants for backcountry use with occasional resort days in between | A warm, stylish, and functional pant that comes at a great price |
| Rating Categories | Bugaboo Omni-Heat P... | Flylow Foxy Bib | Insulated Snowbelle... | Black Diamond Recon... | Freedom Insulated |
| Weather Resistance (25%) | |||||
| Fit And Comfort (25%) | |||||
| Ventilation (15%) | |||||
| Warmth (15%) | |||||
| Features (10%) | |||||
| Style (10%) | |||||
| Specs | Bugaboo Omni-Heat P... | Flylow Foxy Bib | Insulated Snowbelle... | Black Diamond Recon... | Freedom Insulated |
| Measured weight (lbs) | 1.4 lbs | 1.4 lbs | 1.4 lbs | 1.5 lbs | 1.1 lbs |
| Waterproofing | Omni-Tech | 3-layer Intuitive stretch stormshell | 2-layer H2No Performance Standard | 3-layer BD.dry | 2-layer DryVent |
| Vents | None | Inner and outer thigh | Inner thigh | External thigh | Inner thigh |
| Insulation/Lining | 60g Microtemp XF II polyester | None | 100% polyester taffeta | None | 60g Heatseeker |
| Main fabric | 100% nylon twill | 3L Stretch Stormshell Intuitive | 75D 100% polyester | 84% Nylon / 16% Elastane, 4-way stretch | 100% nylon |
| Waistline construction | Button & zip fly | Bib | Button & zip fly | Button and zip fly with removable belt | Button & zip fly |
| Pockets | 2 zippered hand | 2 mid thigh, 2 chest | 2 zippered hand | 2 zippered thigh | 2 zippered hand, 1 cargo |
Our Analysis and Test Results
The Columbia Bugaboo Pants spiked our curiosity thanks to its mostly positive customer feedback and low price tag. We had to check it out ourselves and see what it was all about.
Performance Comparison
Weather Resistance
We put the Bugaboo Pant through our shower test—a two-minute test where we stand in the shower in each pant, focusing on seams, pockets, and the material of the pant.
The Bugaboo held up surprisingly well. We noticed no leaking into the pockets or into the inside of the pant. The pants are critically seam sealed, and come with Colombia's Omni-Tech waterproofing. We did notice, however, that the pants did feel heavier after our test, meaning that some water was absorbed by the pant material. We were happy, though, that the moisture didn't reach our legs!
Fit and Comfort
We found the Bugaboo Pant to run slightly large in the waist compared to other pants of similar sizing. Thankfully it has large wait adjustment tabs, which helped us secure a snug fit.
Other than its waist, the pant fits comfortably all around. Its Omni-Heat thermal reflective material provides added comfort, as it is smooth to the touch.
Ventilation
These pants are the only ones we tested with no ventilation. If you like to have vents and the option to regulate temperature, these are not for you. Without any vents at all, we recommend sticking to resort laps only with these pants.
Warmth
These pants are primed and ready to keep you toasty on the hill. They have 60 grams of Heatseeker insulation and have room for those who get cold easily to layer underneath. We did not get cold while wearing these pants.
Features
A very basic pant, the Bugaboo keeps it simple with limited features. It comes with two zippered thigh pockets, which have room for a phone or wallet, adjustable waist tabs, and a lower leg pocket. This pocket is roomy enough to fit a phone, but not very convenient for use as it is far down the leg. We also felt like it would be risky to store a phone in this area. We aren't sure why Columbia put a pocket in this spot.
If you're fine with keeping it simple and don't feel like you need more than something to keep you warm and dry on the mountain, you may consider these.
Style
Similar to features, the style on these pants is fairly basic. A straight leg cut with not much extra, these are designed to simply get the job done. That being said, we did like the color options they came in (especially the white that we tested, though it gets dirty easily).
We also like that these pants come in short and regular. We hope to see the addition of a long option, eventually, as these options allow people of different heights to pick a pant that matches their style.
Value
This pant comes at a great value for someone who is not ready to invest in a more expensive pant. You get what you pay for: basic style and construction that performs well enough without technical features.
Conclusion
We recommend buying these pants if you need something to get you through a couple days on the hill. If you spend more time skiing or think you may face frequently changing conditions, we recommend looking for a more variable pant. But to start, these are a fine and simple option that can get you out there without breaking the bank.
— Sarah Sherman