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Mammut Haldigrat HS Bib Review

These best-in-class bibs feature a comfortable fit and excellent weather resistance
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Mammut Haldigrat HS Bib Review
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi
Price:  $499 List
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Manufacturer:   Mammut
By Jeff Dobronyi ⋅ Review Editor  ⋅  Jan 17, 2024
84
OVERALL
SCORE


RANKED
#2 of 19
  • Weather Resistance - 25% 10.0
  • Fit and Comfort - 25% 10.0
  • Ventilation - 20% 8.0
  • Warmth - 10% 4.0
  • Features - 10% 6.0
  • Style - 10% 8.0

Our Verdict

The Mammut Haldigrat HS is a hardshell ski pant with plenty of weather resistance and great features, earning our Editors' Choice award for the best ski bibs on the market. These pants keep water out, vent like a dream, and are super comfortable to wear. Their fit is excellent, thanks to great tailoring through the legs and a thin, stretchy bib that is way more comfortable than any other bib we've ever tested, and doesn't restrict motion when skinning or hiking for turns. The hard shell material is more breathable than Gore-Tex alternatives but doesn't feel too light or flimsy, and it blocks cold winds decently well. The features are pretty good as well, with enough pockets for inbounds or backcountry use. Our review of the best ski pants shows how it stacks up versus competing products.
REASONS TO BUY
Comfortable
Weather resistant
Great features
Excellent price
REASONS TO AVOID
Not warm
Less durable than other hardshell pants
Editor's Note: Our review was updated on January 17, 2024, to share info on the latest version of the Haldigrat bib.

Compare to Similar Products

 
Awards Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Bib Pant
Editors' Choice Award
Best Overall Ski Pants
Top Pick Award
Best for Backcountry
Best Buy Award
Best Bang for the Buck
Best Buy Award
Best Bargain for Bibs
Price $499.00 at Backcountry
Compare at 2 sellers
$424.99 at Evo
Compare at 2 sellers
$249.00 at REI
Compare at 3 sellers
$109.73 at REI
Compare at 4 sellers
$198.95 at Backcountry
Compare at 5 sellers
Overall Score Sort Icon
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Bottom Line The best bibs out there, these pants are comfortable and protectiveExcellent ski pants in every regard, and you'll pay for itComfortable, flexible pants for ski touring and sunny days at the resortPlenty of performance for a low priceDecent ski bibs for an excellent price
Rating Categories Mammut Haldigrat HS... Arc'teryx Sabre Pant Outdoor Research Tr... Helly Hansen Legend... The North Face Free...
Weather Resistance (25%)
10.0
10.0
5.0
7.0
7.0
Fit and Comfort (25%)
10.0
9.0
9.0
8.0
7.0
Ventilation (20%)
8.0
8.0
9.0
5.0
5.0
Warmth (10%)
4.0
6.0
4.0
7.0
4.0
Features (10%)
6.0
7.0
10.0
7.0
6.0
Style (10%)
8.0
10.0
8.0
6.0
6.0
Specs Mammut Haldigrat HS... Arc'teryx Sabre Pant Outdoor Research Tr... Helly Hansen Legend... The North Face Free...
Main fabric Polyamide Nylon Nylon/Polyester/Spandex Polyester Recycled Nylon
Insulation None None None Polyester Recycled polyester
Waterproofing Drytech Pro Gore-Tex Ventia 3L Lower Legs Helly Tech DryVent 2L
Waistline construction Bibs Integrated belt Snap/zipper fly with adjustable tabs Snap/zipper fly with adjustable tabs Bibs
Weight (in pounds) 1.34 lbs 1.28 lbs 1.64 lbs 1.30 lbs 1.52 lbs
Weight (in grams) 608 g 581 g 744 g 590 g 689 g
# of Pockets 3 2 5 3 5
Vents Outer thigh zips Outer thigh zips Outer thigh zips Inner thigh zips Inner thigh zips
Ski-specific features Transceiver pocket, cell phone slot, elastic gaiters, scuff guards Scuff guards, transceiver pocket, elastic gaiters, integrated belt Elastic cuffs, scuff guard, transceiver pocket, gussetted ankle zipper Elastic Cuffs, Scuff Guards Elastic cuffs, scuff guards
Recco No Yes No No No

Our Analysis and Test Results

These bibs are unique for their snug fit around the torso, which provides a comfortable fit with a better range of motion than other bibs since there's less extra baggy material in the torso.

Performance Comparison


mammut haldigrat hs bib - colorado is the perfect testing site for early-season snow.
Colorado is the perfect testing site for early-season snow.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi

Weather Resistance


Bibs are made to keep out snow, wind, rain, and everything else that winter weather throws at you. The Mammut Haldigrat HS does a great job at keeping the user protected, with taped seams, a protective waterproof fabric, and a chest bib to keep the powder from getting into the pants from above. We used these bibs in driving snow and howling winds and felt as protected as we did while wearing the burliest Gore-Tex bibs.


The pants consist of a three-layer hard shell fabric made with Mammut's DRYtechnology Pro waterproof and breathable membrane. This material is softer than most Gore-Tex fabrics, but we find that it protects us nearly as well. We couldn't feel the wind through these pants, and they are just as waterproof as the best of them.

mammut haldigrat hs bib - waterproof zippers complete the weather resistant package on the...
Waterproof zippers complete the weather resistant package on the Mammut Haldigrat HS Bib.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi

The bib design on these pants is different than most others; the torso component is made from a thin, stretchy, and breathable fabric that closely hugs the body. The bib material isn't waterproof, but these pants still keep out any snow that might penetrate up underneath a jacket.

mammut haldigrat hs bib - the bib cut on the haldigrat might be lower than many other options...
The bib cut on the Haldigrat might be lower than many other options, but we've found it's just as effective at ensuring snow stays out of your inner layers.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi

Fit and Comfort


The Haldigrat fits better than most other pants on the market. The legs are slightly articulated and well-tailored, allowing a comfortable fit without being too tight. The legs are the perfect width, not too tight and not too loose. The same can be said about the waist and crotch. There are two hook-and-loop flaps on the outside of the beltline that allow the waist fit to be customized, and we find that the fit doesn't suffer if the tester tightens the waist belt all the way. It's an excellent design.


The hardshell material itself feels slightly stretchy, probably because of how soft it is. We didn't feel restricted when making long lunge movements while skinning uphill.

mammut haldigrat hs bib - the mammut haldigrat hs bib has a nice fit through the legs, trunk...
The Mammut Haldigrat HS Bib has a nice fit through the legs, trunk, torso, and shoulders.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi

The bib component fits snugly around the user's torso, from the waistline to the bottom of the pectoral muscles. This is a different bib design than what most users are accustomed to, but we find that it increases comfort and mobility because it eliminates the need for lots of baggy material around the torso. It allows the Haldigrat to feel like a normal pair of pants instead of bibs, which is a comfortable upgrade.

mammut haldigrat hs bib - we love the fit of the mammut haldigrat hs bib.
We love the fit of the Mammut Haldigrat HS Bib.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi

Ventilation


The Haldigrat HS features a breathable hard shell fabric that allows decent ventilation, perhaps slightly better than Gore-Tex competitors, but not by much. The main ventilation features are two zippered outer thigh vents that measure 12 inches long.


These two vents are placed a little lower than we prefer, starting right above the knee and extending up toward the middle thigh. We like vents that are placed a little higher, by the upper thigh, and close to the torso, where we produce more body heat. The upper body bib on these pants is much more breathable than any other bib, thanks to the permeable material placed around the torso.

mammut haldigrat hs bib - long external thigh vents with no mesh add great ventilation to an...
Long external thigh vents with no mesh add great ventilation to an already very breathable shell fabric.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi

Warmth


Like most hardshell pants, these bibs won't keep the user warm on their own. The material effectively keeps out inclement weather, including cold wind, but the shell is thin, and heat is easily conducted away from the body while sitting on cold chairlift seats. You'll need to wear the appropriate base layers to keep warm.


Bibs often trap more warm air around the critical torso area than normal pants, and the Haldigrat is no exception. However, rather than capturing heat in the upper body with a thick, less breathable hard shell “pouch,” the Haldigrat adds warmth by using the torso bib as an additional polyester baselayer. In our testing, this added a small amount of overall warmth compared to a hardshell lower body pant.

mammut haldigrat hs bib - no insulation here, just a high-quality three-layer shell.
No insulation here, just a high-quality three-layer shell.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi

Features


The Mammut Haldigrat HS has smart features that don't overload the user. There are two thigh pockets, each large enough to hold multiple items, like a cell phone, wallet, car keys, or avalanche transceiver. One of the thigh pockets has a sleeve for a cell phone or transceiver, though there isn't an internal loop for a transceiver leash to clip. The chest pocket does have a transceiver loop.


The cuffs have scuff guards, which are stiff enough to fend off sharp ski edges and crampon points without adding too much weight. There are elastic powder cuff gaiters and metal buttons on the outside of the shell cuffs to reduce the circumference while bootpacking.

Thigh pockets and a torso transceiver pocket comprise the Mammut...
Thigh pockets and a torso transceiver pocket comprise the Mammut Haldigrat HS Bib's slew of pocket features.
The suspenders are stretchy and comfortable to wear, crossing in the...
The suspenders are stretchy and comfortable to wear, crossing in the back where you can't feel it.

Style


We love the style of these pants. They feature clean lines and an athletic fit without too much baggy material. These high-performance bibs aren't as loose and “steezy” as other pants, but we think they strike the perfect balance between performance and cool.


Freeride style is all the rage these days, and these pants have a performance look that lets people know that you like to look good, but you like to ski even better. Also, the style is versatile, fitting in with all crowds, from the ski bum bar to the billionaire club.

mammut haldigrat hs bib - the mammut haldigrat hs bibs are some good-looking pants!
The Mammut Haldigrat HS Bibs are some good-looking pants!
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi

Should You Buy the Mammut Haldigrat HS?


These pants outperform the rest with excellent versatility and awesome features. They are protective enough for stormy days at the ski resort and breathable enough for long ski tours. We think these are the best bibs for a wide variety of users, and only very occasional skiers or those looking for niche pants should look elsewhere.

mammut haldigrat hs bib - skiing in the mammut haldigrat hs bibs in on a groomed slope.
Skiing in the Mammut Haldigrat HS Bibs in on a groomed slope.
Credit: Jeff Dobronyi

What Other Ski Pants Should You Consider?


These pants cover the needs of most users, but they are not the best for everyone. If you are looking for a much cheaper bib alternative, The North Face Freedom Bib is the best value on the market, but it won't compare to the fit, comfort, and protection of the Haldigrat. If you want a non-bib pant with great features, the Norrona Lofoten Gore-Tex has tons of pockets and a roomier fit. If style is your most important consideration, but you still want a good pair of pants, the Arc'teryx Sabre Pant looks great and performs as well.

Jeff Dobronyi