Mustang Survival Callan Bib Pants

Andrew Piotrowski

 

The Mustang Survival Callan Bib Pants $349 are burly waterproof pants meant for action on the water.

 

The Friday cancellation call from Captain Clint was no surprise as I had been checking the weather incessantly all day. We had scheduled an all-day winter fishing trip for Chesapeake Bay monster Rockfish out of Cape Charles VA. However cold temps and high winds looked to keep us on dry land all weekend. We decided to drive down to the Cape anyway as we already had a hotel booked and could use the weekend away.

 

 

Just before we left, I grabbed my pair of Mustang Survival Callan bibs just in case. These bib pants are designed for harsh wind, cold temps, and getting wet so I thought they would be perfect if we actually got out on the water. Late on the day Saturday Clint called and explained that he felt safe to take us out Sunday, but it wouldn’t be pleasant. We all agreed that at worst it would be an opportunity for a fun boat ride and I figured it was the perfect time to test out the Bibs.

As the small fishing boat entered the open water a large wave splashed over the entire deck and we knew we were in for a wild ride. The large cooler I was sitting on started sliding back and forth as the boat speed up and down the rollers. By the time we reached our fishing spot, everyone had been thoroughly drenched. However, my legs and core area stayed both warm and dry despite the onslaught of freezing wind and cold water.

My friends wore a rag-tag combination of old ski pants. Jeans and hiking pants did not fare nearly as well. They looked at me with envy as I sat on the deck in the late day sun drinking a beer as they shivered huddled together near the boat’s cabin on the ride back to port.

Key Features:

Marine Spec Fabrics – Mustang has used a combination of durable, flexible, and waterproof fabrics that keep you dry without sacrificing mobility. I found the Bib to be very comfortable and unrestrictive.

Knee Pads- the bib has built-in knee pads that protect your knees but don’t weigh you down. I did not even notice they were there until I knelt down to get in the cooler. I also used them a ton while paddling my large canoe solo or getting on and off the SUP.

Zipper- the YKK zipper is water-tight, easy to use (even with gloves), and seems very durable. It also has a top and bottom zipper that makes using the restroom less of a production.

Adjustable shoulder straps– I love this feature as it allows you to adjust the fit based on the amount of layer you are wearing. For example, I used the bib on a paddle trip and had only a light layer on underneath but was able to adjust the straps to fit snug. For the cold-water fishing trip, I had many layers on and had to open the straps up a bit to make everything fit comfortably.

Adjustable ankle closure- the Velcro closure allows for a good fit with multiple types of shoes. I wore some light water shoes with them in the fall and then changed to a mid-size muck boot in winter. The closure opens enough to go over the wide opening on the muck boots.

If you’re looking for a durable, waterproof, and comfortable bib that can be used for a variety of sports/activities, then these are for you.

MSRP: $349

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Andrew Piotrowski

Andrew is a trail runner, climber, paddler, snowboarder, marketer, and most importantly a dog dad. Andrew grew up in suburban Philadelphia and now lives on Maryland’s Eastern Shore.

While he lives pretty far from the mountains, he puts a heavy focus on preparing for them and inspiring others to do the same. He first fell in love with the mountains on family trips to the White Mountains and the Adirondacks. He spent the majority of his early life competitively running and leisurely paddling, however after college he began focusing on learning to climb, snowboard, and backpack.

Over the past ten years since then, he has been fortunate enough to gain some amazing experiences exploring North America. Some of the most memorable thus far are alpine climbing in the Sierra, trail running in Alberta, learning to splitboard in NH, countless days hiking in the Catskills, or a plethora of mellow days paddling the Chesapeake Bay with friends.

When he can’t be in the mountains Andrew is often running or hiking with his favorite training partners, his two rescue dogs Calvin and Enzo. Andrew is also a self-proclaimed gear junkie and confessed that his gear loft is the most organized place in his home.

Blog: Flatcityclimbing.com

Instagram: pack_mule_piotrowski