The Stio Women’s Environ Bib – A Great Daily Driver

Able to handle uphill, downhill, cold, hot, windy, bluebird, blower and everything in between.  

Pros & Cons

Fit: Stio markets the Environ Bib ($449) as a high-waisted mini-bib, which means they are functional as well as flattering on a wide array of body types. The waist is high enough to keep powder out but still allows extra layering and movement up top. The straps are well-placed (i.e. don’t awkwardly lay over your boobs) and easily adjustable. There are two nicely sized upper hand pockets and a lower thigh pocket. I do wish the pockets were bigger, but they are still very functional- room for a gloved hand to access snacks, phone or pass. However, I was disappointed (i.e. very sad, a little angry) to realize there is not an internal loop for a beacon clip in any of these, so you’ll need to wear a beacon hardness. Your venting comes from the thigh zippers. There are not any inner thigh vents, but the fabric breathes so well that you won’t necessarily miss them.

Favorite feature: the thigh zips turn into an awesome drop-seat for skin track pit-stop access. I also enjoyed that all three pockets, as well as side zippers, are accessible in a harness; perfect for any type 2 adventures. The overall fit is fairly flattering, but these bibs are only available in one inseam and come up a few inches short of ideal on my 5’10” frame. However, the only thing affected by this is my “steeze”, because the internal gaiters still cover my boots and keep snow out.

If you’re someone who likes to match your outerwear, the color choices are plentiful and appealing. Stio does a good job and choosing colors that aren’t the typical women’s “Over-Used Magenta” and “Yet Another Shade of Light Blue”. 

Stio Environ Bib

Tech: The material is a 3L Dermizax waterproof shell. The fabric is rated to 20,000mm of waterproofness (enough to cover you in a wet, heavy snowstorm) and 10,000 g/m2/24hrs breathability (the upper-middle end of breathability). They also have an 80/20 DWR treatment and are fully seam-sealed – water won’t be sneaking in anywhere. It’s easy to tell these were designed to withstand the wet conditions that are common at the bottom of the Jackson Hole tram. 

You also get water-resistant zippers, articulated knees, and an abrasion-proof Cordura kick patch. The 3L Dermizax shell is 150 denier, which means it is thin enough to move and stretch with your body. Overall, the materials definitely make this more of an uphill bib. You can still go ride the resort on a cold day, but layer up.

As a company, Stio puts considerable effort into its manufacturing process. They are BlueSign certified and use a high amount of recycled content in their materials. They also are also RDS (Responsible Down Standards) certified, so you can feel good wearing all of their products.

Testing conditions: I’ve worn these bibs around 15 days, about 70% uphill and 30% lift accessed. I own a size medium in Gold Grass. I am 5’10” in ski boots with an athletic build (read: skier thighs and a big butt). The testing conditions ranged from -14F, nighttime, and blowing winds all the way to 45F, calm, and sunny. They do a great job keeping the wind out and regulating the temperature in any uphill condition and so far have been very comfortable for touring. However, I’ve gotten chilly riding lifts, even when the sun is out- so as I mentioned above, layer up if you’re riding chairs.

Overall: Would I buy the Stio Women’s Environ bib again? Probably. Are there things that need improvement? Yes. 

I currently own three pairs of bibs (including the North Face and Mountain Hardware), and these are arguably my favorite. Their 3L waterproof, breathable and versatile fabric is hard to beat. The functional outer thigh zips, drop-seat, and functional pockets are winning features. There isn’t any awkward unsnapping/unzippering of things when I bend over to buckle my boots (no one wants their bibs unzipping at the top of their line!) However, they could benefit from an internal beacon loop, inner thigh zips, and more inseam lengths. Despite these few shortcomings, the Environ Bib will be my first choice for all uphill pursuits this winter. 

I hope this review was helpful, have fun out there! Check out the Environ Jacket and Pants in Men’s and Women’s as well. 

 

 


Women's Environ Bib

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Becky Walter

Becky has been living the ski bum life in Summit County, CO for close to a decade. Originally from Chicago, she moved to Fort Collins in 2007 and graduated with a Biomedical Science degree from CSU in 2011. She decided to “take a year off” before grad school, moved to Breckenridge off a Craigslist ad, and never left.

Her main passion is skiing, closely rivaled by mountain biking. You can also find her rafting, climbing, and mountain running in the summertime.

Becky has her AIARE 2 and companion rescue certifications and has completed both EMT and technical ropes certification classes from CMC.

In her free time, she’s a volunteer guide for the 501(c)(3) organization High Country Veterans Adventures, a non-profit dedicated to bringing Veterans together in the mountains. When she’s not outside, she’s playing the violin in the Summit Community Orchestra. Life in the mountains is good, the stoke is high.