A new-to-scene, East Coast brand is trying their hand at technical ski apparel. And if the kit I tried is any indication, Terracea will soon have a lot of fans.
At one point, I recall having my mountain bike, a paddleboard, a pair of hiking boots, and skis all loaded up in my Subaru. Those are the good days — where you can pile in the gear, and if the locale and weather is right, do it all.
The span of spring to summer for me usually consists of a ton of hiking, biking, and paddling. But this particular season, I was on a spring-skiing streak. I traveled to half a dozen resorts and still never got tired lapping the main runs back home. Through it all, this Terracea Moonbeam bib was an essential piece of gear.
Terracea was founded in 2017 in New Hampshire by a man from Hawaii. The brand started with one humble product: a three-in-one winter everyday jacket. Now, it’s upping the ante, with a promise to pursue and offer more technical skiwear to weather the elements — like the Moonbeam bib. I wanted to put that claim and the Moonbeam to the test.
So I got my hands on Terracea’s winter 2022 apparel — a shell jacket, insulated midlayer, and shell bib pant — and hit the slopes.
In short: While I used the midlayer frequently through fall and spring for both ski days and hikes, the Moonbeam bib was my absolute favorite technical piece. It’s the piece from Terracea’s winter apparel that I used most for spring skiing last year. The material is durable, the waterproofing is great, and the fit and style are top notch. It’s got a rear zipper, thigh vents, kick guards, and more. And while for some it may be low on pockets, for me, it worked great.
Terracea Moonbeam 3L Bib Review
I really enjoyed this bib in testing. It joined me on cold and wet days, sunny days, powder days, and even late-season laps (paired with a T-shirt) for my local resort’s closing day. What I loved most about the bib at first was the color, style, and fit. After a full season, I also fell in love with its waterproofing, performance, and durability.
This bib is comfortable. It stretches and moves very well with you, and the fabric is durable.
That being said, the 75-denier Taffeta fabric feels heavier in hand than other shell bibs I own (notably, the Outdoor Research Carbide and Patagonia Powder Town, both of which made the list for our favorite bibs this year). The pros? The fabric is slightly heavier, strong, and durable, while still providing enough stretch. The cons? It’s not as light.
Terracea uses its own in-house laminate for the shell, and a PFC-free DWR for waterproofing.
The color of the Moonbeam bib is very light, so it can show marks (another downside if you tend to scuff up your gear). But it spot cleans well. Pair with your favorite fleece or puffy and shell, and you are good to go for a resort or backcountry ski day.
Terracea Moonbeam 3L Bib Pant
- Materials: 20K/20K waterproof breathable fabric
- Shell: Three-layer
- Seams: Fully taped
- Pockets: 3
- Features: PWC-free DWR, two-way thigh vents, zippered rear drop panel
- Sizes: XS-XL (with adjustable waist)
- Weight: 760 g
- Price: $399
Pockets and Features
There are only three pockets on this bib (compared to five to six on bibs like The North Face Freedom Bibs or the Flylow Foxy Bibs). Though, sometimes, less is more.
All of the Moonbeam pockets are well-placed and protected, with zippers and magnetic snap covers. There’s a zippered chest pocket for small essentials or a lift pass, and a small lift ticket grommet on the left belt loop.
The other two pockets are located on both thighs. Both are drop-in pockets, zippered with a fabric cover to keep snow and weather out. One is slightly deeper and more rectangular, while one is ever so slightly offset. One has become my phone (or beacon) pocket, while the other is reserved for quick access to things like liner gloves and snacks.
I do wish the left (offset) cargo-style thigh pocket was a bit deeper. There’s a good amount of stretch in the bib fabric, but not quite enough, so this pocket feels more tight than roomy.
Style, Fit, and Sizing
Terracea’s bib pants (and jackets) fit true to size, for the pieces we’ve tested. And if you are the type of person who likes a looser or tighter fit, there’s plenty of adjustability in the waist (via Velcro straps) to fine-tune size.
I’m the type of person who will err on the looser side, for mobility and stretch. But I still usually end up adjusting most bibs, given my thin frame. Most importantly, the adjustable waist, once set, stays put.
The Moonbeams are not baggy, but we’d peg them as a relaxed fit. The tailoring in the torso and chest is flattering.
Finally, the drop pant zipper access, which curves all the way from the side of one hip around the back to the other side, is smooth to slide and easy to use.
The Best Backcountry Skis of 2023
Conclusion
After months of testing the Moonbeam bib, I can easily says it’s one of my favorites. It now lives rolled up in a packing cube, stashed in my trunk, next to an old, patched-up neon puffy. No matter where my travels take me (hopefully, to the mountains), I have this bib on-hand and ready for an impromptu shred sesh.
Powder day? I might grab this bib and a reliable shell. Bluebird day? This bib and a grid fleece or puffy jacket. Anything in between? This bib and whatever other gear I have on hand. Because this bib is that good in wet, light snow, heavy snow, cold, sunny, or warm conditions.
Compared to shell bibs I have from bigger brands like Patagonia and Outdoor Research, the Terracea bib is slightly heavier in weight. And for some, the small number of pockets may be a con. But in my book, its waterproofing, fit, and comfort prove the Moonbeam can hang with the best of them.
About the Brand
First, the name Terracea (another time my many years of Latin comes in handy!). Terra means “Earth,” and the ending -acea, means “belonging to,” or “together.” So in all: “Belonging to the Earth.” As a brand, Terracea is all about embracing its roots on the ground (in New Hampshire), and about exploring the elements.
Beyond the brand’s first humble SKU, it plans to kick off fall with over 40 more, including technical two-layer and three-layer ski jackets, bibs, and pants, and more lifestyle-oriented items like pullovers and down parkas.
Eric Hui, the founder and CEO of Terracea, was born on the island of Oahu in Hawaii. He wants to bring a new perspective on what makes sense for good-looking, cold-weather, premium outerwear apparel.
As someone who also hails from a warm-weather, coastal climate, and has since put down roots in mountainous Colorado, I was intrigued. Can someone who wasn’t always surrounded by snow understand it enough to create gear for winter?
If Terracea’s Moonbeam bib is any indication, the answer is absolutely.
The Best Women's Ski Bibs of 2023
The post Terracea Moonbeam 3L Bib Review: Brand’s First Technical Bibs, Great Skiwear All Around appeared first on GearJunkie.