Arc’teryx Rush Bib Pant Review
The Arc’teryx Rush Bib Pant is a bib made with GORE-TEX Pro for skiing, snowboarding, and/or winter travel up, down, or around the slopes. It has thigh vents, four pockets, instep patches, a RECCO reflector, and perhaps most importantly, adjustable suspenders.
The Rush Bib Pant is also the lightest bib in the current Arc’teryx lineup coming in at 1 lb 2.9 oz / 536 g. Here’s everything you need to know about the Arc’teryx Rush Bib Pant.
Testing Conditions & Notes
I have been using the Arc’teryx Rush Bib Pant as my primary bottom for resort riding and backcountry touring all winter in the Sierra Nevada. I use the Rush Bib Pant in a size medium and have found the fit to be perfect. A large would be too big on me and I can’t see the small fitting any better. That said, they’re either exactly right or just a little too big – sometimes it’s hard to tell. That said, I don’t think I would opt for a different size.
Pros and Cons
+ Made with lightweight, waterproof 3L GORE-TEX PRO
+ Comfortable and functional construction
+ Fabric is waterproof and durable
+ Waterproof thigh pockets
– Front waist pockets too small
– Only one vent that extends to waist
– Front zipper only unzips from top
– Expensive
The Specs
- Weight: 1 lb 2.9 oz / 536 g
- Materials: 3L GORE-TEX PRO (70D plain weave, 100% nylon face) and Fortius DW 2.0 (88% nylon, 12% elastane)
- Fit: Regular
- Pockets: two thigh pockets with zips, two bib pockets with zippers
- RECCO Reflector: Yes
- Vents: Two thigh
- Country of Origin: China
- Colors: Forange (dark gray), Phenom (orange), Relic (brown), Graphite (light gray)
- Sizes: S-R, M-R, L-R, XL-R, 2X-R
- MSRP: $650
Photo Gallery
The Good
The Waterproofness
It wouldn’t be worth discussing the Arc’teryx Rush Bib Pant if they weren’t completely waterproof. I’ve yet to experience any issues with the bib soaking through or allowing water to penetrate. Even when sitting directly on the snow (which can get chilly because the bib isn’t insulated), there’s never a time I find water creeping in. I also trust the zippered pockets completely and typically leave my phone in one of the thigh pockets all day without issue.
The Comfort
The Arc’teryx Rush Bib Pant is comfortable. Whether skinning up or riding down, I’ve yet to feel restricted in my movements with the bib. Toward the feet, the bib flares out a bit (presumably to allow for easy coverage of the top of your boots), but it isn’t so much that it gets in the way of itself. The stretch fabric around the waist and abdomen is also incredibly comfortable. It feels like the bib is hugging me (or maybe that’s just my belly trying to escape).
The Versatility
One of the reasons I opted to get the Arc’teryx Rush Bib Pant was because I imagined it as being a piece of gear that could find a home in many different situations in the backcountry and at the resort. The bib isn’t insulated but it provides plenty of room to layer underneath should you find yourself in colder temperatures. The side vents allow you to quickly and easily dump heat (I run incredibly hot on the skin track) which makes it great for the uphills and the downhills.
The Okay
The Suspenders
The suspenders are one of my favorite parts of the Arc’teryx Rush Bib Pant. They’re comfortable, adjustable, and stretchy. That said, it can be a bit annoying to attach and detach the metal hooks on the suspenders to the elastic loops on the waistband of the bib. It isn’t too frustrating, but for a $650 piece of clothing, I would expect something a little more advanced or user-friendly. Maybe I’m just being dramatic, but I can’t imagine I’m the only person who wishes there was a different attachment system for the suspenders.
The Pockets
You have two sets of pockets on the Arc’teryx Rush Bib Pant – two at the waist and two at the thigh. The two at the thigh are great. No complaints. I can fit a large cotton beanie into one and forget it’s even there after a couple of minutes. However, the pockets at the waist are another story. They’re incredibly small. I can’t fit my phone into one. My car keys fit, but just end up being a bulge that stabs me in the stomach. Honestly, they’re probably best suited to carry something like a single bar or gel for snacking on. Mine typically end up empty most of the day.
The Bad
The Front Zipper
My biggest issue with the Arc’teryx Rush Bib Pant is the front zipper. This is an issue specific to anyone who pees standing up. The bib zips up from your crotch to your abdomen with a single zipper. This means that if you want to gain access to your netherregions, you need to unzip from the top. This can be a huge annoyance when you have multiple layers on. Oftentimes I need to unzip my shell and lift a series of mid-layers to get to the zipper. Why there isn’t a second, bottom zipper on this bib of this quality and price is baffling to me. Honestly, I wouldn’t be surprised if there’s a reason for its omission, but I would love to know why if that’s the case.
The Leg Vents
Along the same lines as the front access zipper, the Arc’teryx Rush Bib Pant has just a single vent that extends to the top of the garment. This means that should you need to take care of more than just a pee in the backcountry, you’re going to have to disrobe your top half until you have access to your suspenders, and then unhook and pull down the entire bib to get your squat on. I don’t know why this wouldn’t simply have been built into the bib in the first place, but I have to assume that people smarter than me made this decision for a reason. Or maybe not. Maybe there’s no good reason both zips don’t extend to the waist. If you have any insight, please let me know.
The Price
At $650 before tax, the Rush Bib is not a piece of gear if you’re planning to use it just once. It’s a prohibitively expensive piece of gear that only solves the lower half of your waterproofing puzzle. That said, it is a quality piece of gear and Arc’teryx does offer a warranty for the “Practical Product Lifespan”. Arc’teryx says that this period “will be determined in the reasonable discretion of an authorized Arc’teryx Customer Service representative who shall take into account at least the following factors: the type and nature of the Product, the nature of the use of the Product, nature of the Product issue involved, and age of the Product.”
Wrap-Up
Despite a few misgivings I have with the functionality and user-friendliness of the Arc’teryx Rush Bib Pant, it’s still my current go-to as I have found the performance to be excellent.
I’ve yet to be in doubt that the bib is going to soak through, tear, or let me down in the backcountry. I wouldn’t hesitate to bring the bib out in inclement weather at the resort or for a multi-day backcountry trip (I’ve already used it for both).
Questions, comments, or personal experience with the Rush Bib Pant? Leave a comment below or get in touch and let me know! Check out the Arc’teryx Rush Bib Pant here.
Rating + Recommendation
Arc'teryx Rush Bib Pant Review
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Comfort
(5)
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Durability
(4)
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Waterproofness
(5)
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Versatility
(5)
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Functionality
(3.5)
Summary
The Arc’teryx Rush Bib Pant is an all-mountain and backcountry bib designed with 3L GORE-TEX PRO. Despite some issues with the pocket sizing and some questionable zipper placement, it is a comfortable and functional piece of clothing that will keep you dry and protected in-bounds or in the backcountry.
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