Sizing / Fit
Jonathan and I were both very happy with the fit of the Stash, which has a nice, loose fit at the thigh that is maintained down through the lower leg (the Arc’teryx Micon also features the same sort of straight-leg fit).
The Eagle’s cut, however, is a little different from the Micon or Stash. Similar to the Trewth Bibs, they’re wide at the hips and thighs with a slightly narrower pattern below the knee. While this is certainly a matter of personal preference, I don’t know that I prefer the fit of the Eagle over a straighter pant leg. Nonetheless, I would definitely still consider it a “freeride fit.”
Trew’s sizing is pretty ordinary (at least by today’s standards of a baggier freeride cut). Jonathan felt inclined to downsize from a large in the bibs, which I think I agree with, but I wouldn’t say the same thing of the Eagle—they don’t simply seem to be a pant-version of the bibs with an identical fit.
The Eagle is far from slim, offers plenty of room for mobility, and certainly aligns with a progressive, newschool style. A large in the Eagle is just right for me (6′ 3″, 32 x 32 in a pair of jeans). I still wear a belt with these, but it really isn’t needed—they fit perfectly. If the Velcro tabs at the waist are left un-cinched, the pants stay up well on their own but are in no way too snug.
Notable Features / Design
Everything Jonathan said about the durability of the Trewth Bibs should be said about the Eagle pants. With respect to Trew’s Superfabric cuff guards, they are practically indestructible. This point bears repeating, as I tend to beat up the inside panel and heel seam of most ski pants.
After two weeks of hard riding and a couple of pretty hard falls, there are no tears to be found on the Eagle. Even if you do manage to put a slice in the Superfabric with a ski edge, I cannot imagine that the stuff is going to unravel (and allow the tear to propagate) as a more traditionally woven material might. It’s as bomber, and probably more so, as any other material used on the market. (Though I’ve heard Kjus is using Kevlar impregnated with spider silk for their cuffguards, or maybe it was frankincense and myrrh? I’ll have to investigate.)
The cuff material is noticeably stiffer than the rest of the Gelanots fabric (though it does soften up a little after a few days of use). Subsequently, the material through the lower leg can stack or bunch up on top of your boots. If anything, this just helps keep the cuffs clean and out of the way a little more. If you prefer a more flared out look, back out the cuff’s zippers an inch or so to let the cuffs hang more naturally.
I’ll be brief in speaking about the Eagle’s pocket and zipper setup, as you can gather most of that from Trew’s site. The bottom line is that it’s all very well thought out. The two cargo pockets and front hand pockets are massive (12oz beverage carrying capacity test pending). The smaller “mini-cargo” pocket is great for carrying a phone, keys, or anything you need to get at quickly.
The Bottom Line
The full $400 MSRP is not hard to justify when you consider the durability of these pants alone—as far as I can tell, there’s no way you’ll be replacing them anytime soon for poor production quality, but if there is an issue, Trew’s warranty covers the full lifetime of the product.
If you’re for the burliest of the burly in a ski pant, but want something with some fashion sense, you should consider the Eagle. Plus, they’re currently listed on Backcountry.com at $239, or 40% off retail.