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How to Pick Your Inseam Length

By Katherine Donnelly on

Sometimes figuring out what size to get can be nerve-wracking, and with our new addition of short, regular, and tall inseam lengths to our signature bibs it can seem overwhelming when choosing the right bib for you.

But take a deep breath and relax a little...these new inseam lengths actually make sizing easier than ever before, and we're here to help you find the right length (and bib) for you!

Where to start

There are many folks out there who know from experience that they need a short or tall leg length; these are the people who have struggled to find pants that fit them and constantly battle with tripping over hems or the dreaded ankle gap - and they likely have a trusted tailor on call for regular alterations. If you fall within this group, then you may not need to read on....but please feel free to keep scrolling along with the rest of us to learn more about how our lengths work here at TREW. 

Why we made different inseam lengths

Due to high demand for length options in the past few seasons, we introduced our signature bibs in different lengths - hurray! We know that there is a vast variety of body shapes, types, and sizes out there, and we're on a mission here at TREW to make bibs that can fit them all; our short, regular, and tall inseam lengths are the latest development towards this lofty goal. 

What is an inseam

The inseam can be looked at in a few ways, but for the sake of this article we will stick to the terms natural inseam and garment inseam.

Your natural inseam is the measurement from the very top of the inside of your thigh/crotch straight down to the floor while barefoot. 

The garment inseam is the measurement from the crotch of the pant/bib to the hem of the garment.

How to find your natural inseam

Figuring out your natural inseam is pretty easy, all you need is a minute of your time and a measuring tape. We recommend using a soft tape measure if available, but a rigid tape will also work.

While in a standing position, measure from your crotch all the way down to the floor below your ankle. 

The easiest way that I have found to do this is to step on the tape, making sure it is under my ankle bone, and then pull the tape end (marked as 0") up to the center of my crotch. From there, you can bend down and see where the tape meets the floor.

 

Once you have your natural inseam measurement, we can move on to the fun part and pick the right length for you!

Choosing your garment inseam: Short, Regular, or Tall?

In general, we suggest that you take your natural inseam and add around .5"-1.5" to get your desired garment inseam - and from there, find the garment length that most closely matches this number. 

This will almost always get you setup with a pant leg that falls around the ankle of your boot and covers the top buckles effectively, leaving you both feeling and looking good for your mountain adventures.

When your bibs arrive...

...make sure to try them on with your ski/snowboard boots before taking the tags off and getting out on snow. This will ensure that you have the right bib for you, and once an item is worn out on the slopes we cannot allow for a return. 

When you first try on your bibs without boots on using the standard method above, you will likely find the bibs to fit long - but fear not. Try them on with boots before making any decisions!

I have a 33" natural inseam. Pictured above, you can see how the Regular (left, green) and Tall (right, purple) lengths fit without boots - 32.5" and 35" lengths respectively.

It's all about personal preference

There is no right answer, just your preference! While our +.5-1.5" rule will set most people up for the right length, many people do have their own preferences on what fit + style they are after.  

For example, I enjoy a shorter length bib when given the choice for touring and a longer bib when I ski resort; as such, I wear a W Capow Bib in Regular (32.5") for touring, and the Chariot Bib in Tall (35") for resort riding.

A side look at both the Regular (left, green bibs) and Tall (right, purple) lengths when worn with boots. 

*If you like a shorter pant leg, stick with your natural inseam measurement  (or even subtract up to an 1") and choose the length option that most closely matches that number. 

*If you like a longer/baggier leg, add 2-3" to your natural inseam to get your desired garment inseam, and then choose the length option that most closely matches.

A look at our bibs and their lengths:

All of our 3-layer bibs now have different inseam lengths to choose from. 

Classic Fits

In addition to these different lengths, we also have our Classic Fits available in the TREWth Bib + Chariot Bib at this time. The only difference in these compared to our Short/Reg/Tall options will be the length on them, and they come in the traditional length grading - meaning that as the size increases, so does the length. Specific inseam information can be found on those product pages. 

PNW 2L Collection

Our 2-layer collection - including the Jefferson Bib and Astoria Bib - will only come in the traditional graded lengths at this time.

PSA: Take care of your cuffs!

As an added note here, it's important to mention that taking care of your gear will keep it happy and performing well for season to come. While the materials we use are strong and durable, especially the SuperFabric we use on the cuffs and kick-patches of our bibs, they are not indestructible!

When you are not wearing ski/snowboard boots with your bibs on, we strongly suggest rolling the cuffs up into the boot gaiter so that they stay out of the way and don't get stepped on. This goes double for anyone who went for a longer, baggier length.

It's also a good idea to roll or flip the cuff up when you are hiking or touring, so that your cuffs don't get caught or scuffed up by your buckles + edges. If you are not a fan of this look, then you will want to buy a shorter length bib so as to avoid this. Having a shorter length or rolling the cuffs when hiking is really nice to access your hike/ski mode, as well as your buckles, easily throughout an ascent.

Okay, so I may not be winning any fashion awards anytime soon, but my cuffs have yet to see any harm and my bibs are much happier for it. 

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1 comment

  • Chris on

    30” is still to long. My inseam is 24. So do you carry any really short bibs or pants at that length?

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