Review: Klattermussen Skade 2.0 Bibs
What we liked
Quality build
Strong braces
Functionality
What we didn’t
Lack of transceiver attachment loop in pocket
Super slim bib fit
The Verdict
THE SHORT READ…
Excellent bib pants to see you through all but the roughest of mountain adventures. Built with not just touring in mind, the Klattermussen Skade 2.0 (which translates to Damage), are strong enough to use for downhill riding and light climbing/scrambling, yet light enough to make great touring pants.
A nice elasticated mid-height bib, with great braces and really functional snug and adjustable leg cuffs, all go to making the Skade 2.0 a top pair of mountain bib pants.
THE LONG READ …
Heritage brand Klattermussen have a plan! It’s to let the world know that they’ve been making excellent mountaineering equipment since 1975, with a view to taking on the better known premium high street brands. Their kit isn’t cheap, but it is scandinavian quality and build to outlast lesser brands.
The Skade 2.0 (available in three colours) are good and light, with the medium size coming in at 822g, yet that lightness doesn’t equate to weakness, the Skade 2.0 bib pants are strong and are Klattermussen’s most waterproof & windproof.
Starting at the top, the braces are of a size and weight that does not see them constantly getting tangled, which can happen on thinner elastic straps. The bib section is elasticated and fits snug to the body, if you don’t have a six pack, you could find it too snug - it’ll fit but will show-off your tummy in the same way a wetsuit does, having said that, most of the time your coat will be over the top of the bib anyway. The bib does have a small pocket, too small for most smartphones, but a good size for a snackbar or credit card.
The two way fly zip allows easy access for a quick pee and has a small toggle and loop at the top to stop it coming down .
The elasticated waist adjusters work well, with a sturdy metal release buckle. The braces all attach to the front of the trousers, so you can unclip the two poppers (one on each side) and undo the full length side zips to allow for toilet time. I did find the poppers hard to reach and even harder to do up, but that wasn’t helped by the size of my gut and the snug fit.
The side zips are easy to reach and undo, and there’s a buckle and loop halfway down the leg so you can easily vent the top half of your legs without the zip working its way undone as you skin up the mountain.
The main fabric is Klättermusen's 3-layer Cutan®, which is completely waterproof, fluorocarbon free and bio-based. There are small knee reinforcement pads and I’d happily scramble in the Skade 2.0, but I’d be looking for something thicker if taking on ice climbing or technical alpine rope routes.
Now for my main gripe! There is a cool right hand zipped thigh pocket, with an inner elasticated sleeve for your transceiver, but no loop to clip your transceiver to. This missing loop means that I had to clip my transceivers cord to a loop on the waist band, which meant I couldn’t close the pocket fully and had an cord running up my leg that could get caught on a branch… I don’t understand the omission of a simple internal loop, especially when they have it on other bib pant products.
The inner leg cuff has a vertical velcro strip and a popper, on an elasticated hem. It easily fitted over my Key Equipment hard boots, and the outer leg cuff has an elasticated pull cord and a single popper on the wide closing flap, possibly another male popper for wider boot fitting would be good here. The bottom hem of the pants is reinforced with a tough Aramid fabric but the snug fit around your boot means there’s no real friction or chafing between your two legs.
SUMMARY…
My new favorite pants for almost all alpine adventures, great for downhill, perfect for touring, light weight, snug fitting, easy number one and two drop offs, and, once I’ve added my own little internal thigh pocket loop I can’t really find any faults.