Review: Strafe Willow 3L Shell Half- Bib & Bliss Jacket

StrafeWillow 3L Shell Half Bib Specs

• Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
• Fit: Tailored 
• Material: Recon Elite 3L 
• Women's Colors Available: Timberwolf, Black

Strafe Bliss Jacket Specs

• Sizes: XS, S, M, L, XL, XXL
• Fit: Tailored
• Material: Recon Elite 3L 
• Women's Colors Available: Wisteria, Sapphire, Tropical, Black

Sizing & Fit

At 5’5” and 120-ish lbs, I’m more often than not a true size small in most outerwear. However, as a Gen Z’er, I’ve been indoctrinated into thinking baggy clothes are cool and therefore, have been opting for a size medium in most ski gear, which tends to be fairly oversized on me. True to this, I got a medium in both the Bliss Jacket and the Willow bibs. 

Although they’re marketed to be "slimmer" fitting, I found the Willow bibs to be a bit too slim in the thighs and butt, even in a size up, which limited range of motion when touring and the ability to use the thigh pockets for much. The cuffs flare out from the bottom of the bib leg and come with a zipper for extra space but are still a bit of a tight fit over ski boots. On the flip side, the waist was so large on me (fair, I sized up) that I felt a bit like an Oompa Loompa. While a size small likely would have fit me better in the waist, I think the sizing in the legs would have posed even more of an issue.

The Bliss Jacket fit much better than the bibs. It was roomy enough for layers underneath, even a particularly thick puffy, but still gave a tailored look, even in a size up. The arms on the medium were pretty long, but I did size up, and the thumb-hole cuffs still lined up nicely under my gloves. All things considered, it fit pretty true to size.

In The Field

I tested the women’s Strafe kit on a few mild-weathered days touring and a handful of resort days at Mt. Bachelor in various conditions as well. Overall, I was super impressed with the features on the kit, particularly on the Bliss jacket, and general breathability of the fabric.

Both the Willow 3L bibs and Bliss Jacket are made from Strafe’s Recon Elite 3L fabric, which boasts an ultra-durable four-way-stretch fabric in a 3L membrane that doesn’t use any PFAS. Perhaps what stands out the most is the breathability of the Recon Elite 3L fabric in both the shell and bibs. On the uphill, the mesh panel on the upper half of the bibs as well as the leg fabric vented heat easily and allowed for adequate airflow. When worn on warmer days early season, the Bliss Jacket proved similarly breathable on lift-accessed hot laps. Despite having a more softshell-like feel, the fabric proved plenty waterproof in wetter storm conditions but seemed more durable than some other similar fabrics. On the flip side, it’s breathability was definitely noticeable on chillier, windy days, so it’s worth layering up underneath in colder temperatures.

The Willow 3L Shell Half bibs are a pretty minimalist bib, which is something I really appreciate especially for touring. Like another of my favorite bibs, the Willow half bib hits just below the chest and has a mesh fabric panel above the pant waistband with an integrated beacon pocket. If you don’t use a harness for your beacon, using this upper pocket leaves the slant pockets and a single thigh pocket open for your phone, snacks, or whatever other smaller items. They have outer leg vents, one of which acts as a full side zip drop seat so you can use the bathroom without fully undressing. As mentioned before, there are also zippers on the pant cuffs to accommodate more boot space, although the cuffs could stand to be wider.

The Bliss Jacket is advertised as a 50/50 resort-backcountry shell, but it truly shines on high-output ski days. Features like the two large chest pockets, seamless shoulders, underarm zips, and interior mesh drop pocket make it ideal for wearing under a backpack and storing things like skins, a bar, or otherwise on your body. The Bliss Jacket does have an interior cuff on the sleeve with the ever-polarizing thumb-hole. I’m a fan of said thumb holes so these are just a bonus to me, but something to beware of for thumb-hole-haters. There’s also a removable and adjustable powder skirt, helmet compatible hood, and pass pocket helping the jacket transition nicely to lift-accessed ski days. 

What type of skier is the Strafe Willow Half-Bib and Bliss Jacket best for?

If you’re a skier who spends the majority of your time in the backcountry or hiking within resort boundaries, and likes a slim-fitting kit, the Bliss Jacket and Willow 3L Shell half bib might be right up your alley. Both these pieces shine in high output environments where breathability and thoughtful features matter most. In a world of buying things online, however, this is definitely a kit that's worth trying on in person.