Obermeyer Ski Pants
If you’ve ever gone skiing, you know how difficult it is to find flattering, functional ski pants and bibs.
Everything about the sport is expensive, so it’s even more painful to buy expensive snow pants that look frumpy.
I’ve been obsessed with skiing lately, so I set out to find the best ski clothes.
I tried everything from affordable brands, to popular name brands and even designer ski fashion brands, to see if I could find the perfect pair. Did a cute affordable ski pant exist? Do designer ski pants hold up to actual skiing?
I’m doing quick reviews and first impressions of every ski pant and bib that I try. All the reviews are here if you want to search by brand.
Today’s review is of the Obermeyer Clio ski pants.
Obermeyer Clio Pants
Available on Zappos, Backcountry, Moosejaw & Amazon
Browse all colors and sizing here
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Obermeyer
Obermeyer is a ski brand that really surprised me!
The ski apparel brand was founded in Aspen, Colorado. Founder Klaus Obermeyer started skiing in the Bavarian alps from the early age of 3.
He studied to become an aeronautical engineer in Germany before arriving to the states at 27, where he eventually settled in Aspen as a ski instructor.
At the time, skiing was still a new sport and Obermeyer saw a gap in the market for proper ski clothing. He took a down blanket his mother had packed for him when he first left for America, and crafted a jacket out of it, creating an early version of the down ski jackets.
Today the company is still family owned and focuses on high performance ski wear. They make everything from ski jackets to snow pants, base layers and a whole range of winter accessories.
I tried out a couple of the brand’s ski bibs and liked them, so I wanted to try out their ski pants too!
Out of all the brands in the $150-300 price point (which is about ‘average’ price for snow pants), Obermeyer’s fit impressed me the most.
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Obermeyer Clio Ski Pants
I previously reviewed Obermeyer’s Malta ski bib and Cybele softshell ski jumpsuit, but pants are more versatile, so I also looked at their women’s ski pant line.
The brand has 2 popular styles: the Bond ski pant and the Clio ski pant. I couldn’t really tell the difference between them online, so I ordered them both to try.
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Obermeyer Clio Ski Pants Review
Fit
The Clio is very similar to the Bond pants.
Both are sleek, fitted ski pants with a flared leg. If anything, I found the Clio to be just a touch more relaxed fit wise and not quite as skin tight.
The snow pants are fleece lined and warm, so they’re great if you like an insulated ski pants.
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Sizing
I picked up the Clio in a size 2 and thought they fit true to size.
They’re comfortably fitted, and just roomy enough to slide over a set of base layers. But, if you like a roomier fit, you could probably size up with no problems. I ended up going up a size in the Bond pants, but didn’t need to for the Clios.
I’ve also noticed that ski pants don’t tend to have that big a difference between sizes, especially once you account for your thermal layers underneath.
Finally, these pants have a mid-rise waist rather than high rise with a slightly higher back.
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Pockets
What I really like about the Clio is the design.
These snow pants are fitted and sleek, but designed to look like regular pants rather than traditional bulky snow pants.
They have metal zippers on all the pockets and there’s a decent amount of pockets!
You have two diagonally placed pockets on the front waist as well as a small zip pocket on the back of the waistband.
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Legs
Like all good ski pants, the Obermeyer Clio has powder cuffs with gripped elastic under the legs, to block out snow and wetness.
They also have zippers on the sides of the pants, so the legs can expand over your boots. I like that the boot zips have the same exposed metal zipper design!
I do think these run slightly short on me, and might be a great fit if you’re 5’5″ or shorter.
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Overall, I thought the Obermeyer Clio pants were both flattering and functional. They're a classic waterproof snow pant in a unique sleek style.
I love the metal zippers, handy pockets and wide range of colors. They're not too expensive and are well designed to be comfortable on the slopes.
If you like fitted ski pants with pockets, I'd check these out! They also seem like a more affordable alternative to the popular Perfect Moment ski pants.
Shop on Zappos, Backcountry, Moosejaw & Amazon
Shop Women’s Ski Pants
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Ski Wear Haul
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I posted a couple try-on hauls of all the ski wear brands that I’ve tried. You can check them out on my Youtube channel here.
I also did a livestream on Amazon Live chatting all about dressing for the cold.
I talk about winter fashion essentials, ski gear and cute (but affordable) ski clothes that you can shop on Amazon!
Watch a recap of the video here. Make sure to follow my Amazon shop page to join future livestreams!
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Read More: in our ski style series:
Ski Trip Packing Essentials
What to Wear Skiing: Packing List Must Have's
The Best Ski Pants for Women (Stylish & Functional)
I Found the CUTEST Women's Ski Pants (Video)
Are Designer Ski Pants Worth It? (Try-On Haul)
The Best Ski Sweaters for Apres-Ski
Planning the Perfect Ski Trip
What to Know Before Skiing in Vermont for the First Time
Ski Trip Recaps + Mountain Guides
Lake Tahoe, California: Heavenly, Kirkwood & Northstar
Montana: Big Sky
Vermont: Stowe
Catskills, New York: Belleayre Mountain
Quebec, Canada: Mont Tremblant
+ More Ski Vlogs on Youtube
Follow me @Sher She Goes on
Beautiful! Just bought these. What coat would you pair with these pants?
Author
i wear this jacket – it’s super affordable, has tons of handy pockets and all my friends can always spot me on the mountain ha.
and i recently got this ski suit which i’m obsessed with (it’s a one piece outerwear suit)
but i’m still on the hunt for a nice, ‘fashion-y’ ski jacket!