Stop me if you’ve heard this before: the winter of 2017-18 wasn’t exactly stellar here in Utah. Resorts had meager amounts of terrain open for the holidays, and touring season didn’t start until well into the new year (for me, anyway). When the snow finally came, the weather was variable, even by Utah standards. All season long, I’ve been wearing the Sogn Bib Pant by Helly Hansen, which was ready and willing to take anything this weird winter dished out.
Light on Weight, Heavy on Details
As with many Helly Hansen products, these bibs are chock full o’ features. These are some of the highlights:
• Helly Tech Professional 3 Ply fabric
• Beacon specific pocket
• Adjustable suspenders
• Fully seam sealed
• Vent zippers on back thighs
• Reinforced bottom hem protection
• 2 cargo pockets
• Double-pull zipper from waist to chest with Velcro storm flaps
That’s a lot of features for what is essentially a simple shell bib. That is what I love about these pants, and Helly Hansen in general. They pack a lot of useful tech into their garments, and I put every one of these list items to the test on the slopes of the Wasatch.
Outstanding Performance No Matter the Weather
Snow, rain, slush, wind…it just doesn’t matter what the weather holds, the Sogn Bib will handle it with ease. Even during whiteout storms with heavy snow, these pants did not show any sign of becoming saturated. On windy ridgelines, they did a great job of keeping my legs warm (I always wore a wool base layer underneath).
I was very impressed by the ventilation zippers. I’ve never used ones that are located on the back of the thigh, and it seemed like just opening them an inch or two provided an instant cooling sensation. Even on the hottest uphill slogs, I kept from overheating. And it’s worth pointing out that the two-way zipper on the front of the bib makes for easy bathroom breaks. The cargo pockets hold a good amount of items (food, extra gloves, etc.), and the reinforced bottom cuffs have been impervious to parking lots and forest assaults.
From touring days to resort laps, I couldn’t find a weak spot on the Helly Hansen Sogn bib. They have a clean style, with just a couple of high-vis details that I don’t mind at all. I don’t have any real complaints, but here are a couple of head-scratcher details I discovered while testing.
Devil is in the Details
My first beef is the Beacon pocket; specifically, it isn’t very big. Not a problem if you have a fancy little beacon, but my BCA Tracker DTS has zero chance of fitting in there. I guess Helly Hansen wants me to step my game up. Another potential issue on the Sogn Shell Bib is the short inseam length. I had to max out the suspenders to keep my crotch comfortable. If you are in between sizes, definitely move up. Finally, the lack of adjustability on the bottom cuff was a bummer, but hey, these are just “simple” shell pants, so maybe you can’t have it all.
The Verdict
Not a hard decision: these bibs are killer. Nearly every feature works to perfection, and most importantly they will keep you warm and dry no matter what the weather is up to. Versatile and bomber, the Helly Hansen Sogn Bib Shell pant will have a spot in my closet for years to come. The price tag might seem a little high, but as your grandpappy advised, you get what you pay for.