ProView – Beringia St. Elias Jacket & Bib Set Review

Winter is here!!! (Sorta). If you live in the Rockies or on the West Coast, like me, it’s been a slow start to the season. But on a positive note, this gives us some more time to train and evaluate our gear.

So let’s take a look at an outerwear kit I’ve been eager to check out.

You probably recognize Gore-Tex as a household name in outerwear construction but you may not have heard of a technical apparel brand named Beringia out of Bozeman, Montana. They are offering a new, unique fabric, in collaboration with Pertex, that challenges the status quo.

Curious about this alternative fabric construction (dubbed the Täsmä precision-response fabric by Beringia) that is reportedly exceedingly breathable, waterproof and comfortable, I was eager to see what the hype was about.

Their St. Elias Jacket and Bibs utilize this Täsmä construction, which I am excited to be testing this winter season.

This kit is primarily designed for freeskiing and is billed as being a be-all, do-all shell kit that can handle a wide range of conditions. I’ve worn this kit both backcountry skiing and during resort days at local Colorado ski resorts to evaluate how it performs, both when earning turns and riding lifts. From uphill travel to early-season variable resort conditions, this setup has already endured surprisingly diverse conditions during a non-typical start to winter.

I’ve been testing the St. Elias Jacket and Bibs here in Colorado in what has been a mixed bag of conditions to start the season. Split between backcountry days and resort skiing, conditions have ranged from cold and stormy to dry, very warm, and bluebird with temperatures spanning from single digits to well above freezing.

I’ve spent years skiing in technical outerwear across multiple brands and styles, but most have utilized Gore-tex based fabrics. These products have tended to be more rigid, lightweight yet thin and plasticky feeling. Excited to try something new, the Beringia kit promised something different. Reviewers have consistently reported a soft, comfortable fabric that handles the elements well. Zipper durability, fabric feel, breathability, and fit with movement are a few areas I’ve paid close attention to, largely because I’ve had issues with all of them in the past.

So with that in mind, I took this kit to the mountains to see how it performed.

Fit & Comfort

The St. Elias Jacket and Bibs feature a looser, modern fit that feels intentional rather than oversized. There is room for layering, but it doesn’t have excess bulk, and the cut allows for unrestricted movement while skinning, booting, and skiing. The bibs in particular strike a good balance between mobility and durability, never feeling restrictive at the knees or hips.

Comfort is one of the standout aspects of this kit. The fabric has a soft hand feel that’s more reminiscent of a soft shell than a traditional hard shell, which makes long days far more pleasant. There’s no crinkly or stiff sensation, even in colder temperatures. The fabric is also noticeably stretchy, again, more akin to a soft-shell feel than a rigid hard shell feel that is common in other brands.

At 6’ even and 190 pounds, I went with a size large in both the bibs and jacket. I found the fit to be true to size (again with the intended roomier fit in mind).

Look & Style

Aesthetically, the St. Elias kit has a modern style, roomy but not “baggy”. This isn’t the tight euro look found in many backcountry-oriented kits, and that’s refreshing. I find the Tsuga Green colorway stands out without being loud and overall looks equally appropriate in the backcountry or at a resort. This is technical outerwear that doesn’t sacrifice style for performance, which is not always a given in the category.

Features

Both the jacket and bibs are thoughtfully designed with a ton of skiing-specific features.

Ventilation is effective and easy to use, which proved to be critical during an uphill outing on Vail Pass. After the biggest storm of the early season, I found myself setting a skin track through fresh over-knee-deep powder. I was working overtime to push through the deep snow, and despite this effort, didn’t find myself overheating.

Pocket placement is intuitive and functional, accommodating essentials without interfering with movement or pack straps. On bibs, I prefer an easily accessible leg pocket, for beacon placement, and the St. Elias pockets are a great size for this. Interior drop-pockets on the shell can accommodate skins, goggles, or other items that need quick stowing.

The bibs feature both velcro waist adjustment and belt loops, depending on your preference. For me, the velcro works great, no need for adding a belt. The bibs also have one of the more robust anti-slice protections in the ankles I’ve seen. I really like this, as I tend to have a skis-close-together stance that often shreds snow pants in this area.

One feature worth highlighting is the zipper system. Beringia uses extremely robust zippers that feel bomber and function smoothly. Having experienced zipper failures in other shells, this was a noticeable and welcome difference. The main zippers on both the jacket and bibs are two-way, which comes in handy when making a pit stop.

Weight & Packability

While not ultralight race-oriented pieces, the St. Elias Jacket and Bibs have a solid balance between durability and weight. They feel substantial enough to handle harsh weather while remaining comfortable for long touring days. These pieces feel designed to be worn all day rather than packed away frequently, and they performed well in that role.

When touring, I often find myself almost never wearing a shell as I would easily overheat. With this kit, however, I found that the shell is warmer than a traditional shell, and I could wear fewer layers. I toured uphill with the shell still on at times, something I have almost never done, unless in very stormy conditions. This reduced the number of layers I needed and was really nice to not have to be constantly taking off and putting on layers throughout the day.

Function & Performance

Functionally, this kit has excelled across all terrain and conditions. In the backcountry, breathability was excellent during sustained climbs, and the fabric managed moisture well without me feeling clammy. On descents and on windy ridgelines, the jacket shed wind and snow, buffering the elements just as you’d want.

At the resort, the jacket and bibs performed exactly as expected from a premium shell system, giving protection and flexibility in changing temperatures without over layering. The soft-shell-like feel never compromised waterproofing or wind resistance.

Durability & Construction

The construction quality is excellent. All the components feel purpose-built for long-term use. The durability of the zippers stands out, as does the fabric’s ability to handle abrasion from packs, ski edges and regular wear without showing premature signs of damage.

Friendliness to the Earth

According to Beringia, they emphasize longevity, repairability, and material responsibility as part of their design philosophy. The St. Elias Jacket and Bibs use recycled polyester components, which helps reduce reliance on new materials. Rather than focusing on fast seasonal turnover, Beringia aims for extended use, which is an often overlooked but meaningful aspect of sustainability. I hope to be skiing in this kit for years.

The Final Word

The St. Elias is a premium shell system that combines soft-shell comfort with hard-shell performance and is made for skiers who demand durability, mobility, and breathability, coupled with a sweet design. One of the more surprising finds is how well the kit both insulates and breathes. This means less layering is necessary. Even more importantly, it means less time messing around with layers when you’d rather be skiing. This is gear for people who value feel, construction quality, and features with high performance.

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