Finding the perfect pair of ski pants can be a daunting task. With so many options available, it's essential to consider factors like waterproofing, breathability, insulation, and durability. We’ve tested dozens of ski pants throughout several seasons, and we’re hard-pressed to find a better bang-for-buck pair of resort ski pants than men's and women's The North Face Freedom Insulated Pants. The North Face Freedom ski pants are an excellent choice for skiers or snowboarders looking for quality pants for the resort without exceeding your budget.
The TNF Freedom snow pants-which come in an insulated and non-insulated version, a bib option, and short, tall, and plus sizing-offer great function and performance for most resort skiers and snowboarders at a very friendly price.
In this review, we'll delve into the features, performance, and overall value of The North Face Freedom Insulated Pants, focusing on why they might be the perfect choice for your next winter adventure.
The North Face Men’s Freedom Insulated Pant | GH Review
Best for The North Face Freedom pants are designed for resort skiing; these windproof and waterproof pants are an excellent choice for all but the nastiest weather.
Two Treeline Review testers wore the Freedom Insulated Pant over two seasons of skiing, from warm and sunny days with temperatures in the high 30s to chilly and snowy days in the single digits. Additionally, we tested the plus size version of these pants to ensure quality remained consistent across sizing. The author skied in The North Face Freedom insulated pants for two seasons in all sorts of conditions to test these snow pants.
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We tested the insulated version of these pants and found them ideal for riding chairlifts: It’s warm without being too bulky and great for toasty legs that won’t overheat when you start working hard.
If you prefer the option of layering and like pants that are cooler for warm spring ski days, consider the men's non-insulated version of the Freedom or women's non-insulated bibs.
What We Like About The North Face Freedom Pants
First and foremost, The North Face Freedom pant offers excellent value. While they are not the least expensive ski pants on the market, they offer great value with quality performance features that will last most skiers multiple seasons of use. The Freedom pants are versatile resort pants, ideal for most days on the mountain.
After a couple of seasons of testing, we’ve been impressed with how well these pants perform in various conditions, especially for the price. We tested them in the full range of conditions: groomer laps on warm, sunny days all the way to mid-winter storm skiing.
We also love the options in the Freedom pants, particularly that they’re available in plus sizing. The Freedom pants are offered in standard sizing, from XS-XXXL, and in plus sizing from 1X-3X, and short and tall sizing. The pants come insulated or non-insulated, and the Freedom bibs (more on bibs below) are offered in insulated and non-insulated versions as well-all available in both standard and plus sizing.
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We tested the North Face Freedom pants in varying conditions and found them to be plenty warm with waterproofing and wind resistance for all but the nastiest weather.
Technical Features
Waterproofing and Material
For weatherproofing, the North Face Freedom pants utilize TNF’s DryVent 2-layer shell fabric-both wind and waterproof-along with a PFC-free DWR (durable water-repellent) coating for additional moisture shedding. We tested the pants in various conditions over two seasons of skiing, from warm and sunny days with temperatures in the high 30s to chilly and snowy days in single digits.
The insulation in the pants provided plenty of warmth and the DryVent fabric kept us dry in all but the wettest and nastiest conditions. These pants don't breathe as well as higher-end shell fabrics, mainly because they are insulated. Most resort skiers won't miss it, though.
The Freedom snow pant offers impressive breathable performance at a fraction of the price of these more expensive models. These pants fare reasonably well against severe weather, though they aren’t entirely as windproof or waterproof as higher-end models, though in those conditions, many skiers may opt to stay inside. For most resort skiers, these pants are an excellent choice.
Windproofing
The Freedom pants stood up well to the wind during testing. We primarily skied them at Breckenridge resort, known for its nasty wind. We tested the North Face Freedom pants in varying conditions and found them to be plenty warm with waterproofing and wind resistance for all but the nastiest weather.
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Insulation and Warmth
We tested the Freedom Insulated pants. This insulated model is filled with 60 grams of TNF’s Heatseeker insulation, a synthetic polyester premium insulation made with 90% recycled materials. But they have enough warmth for most days on the hill, with just enough room for an extra base layer and ski socks underneath on particularly bad days. These pants aren’t the lightest, but we don’t consider that as a priority with pants intended for resort use.
The North Face also offers a shell version without insulation.
Ventilation
There are two inner thigh zippers to vent heat. Nonetheless, we appreciated the vents on warm and sunny days when temps on the slopes reached the high 30s. These inner thigh vents The North Face Freedom Insulated pants are not the most breathable ski pants out there, but that is not to be expected with insulated, resort-oriented pants.
The North Face Freedom pants come with a reinforced kickpatch and hem on the inner ankle, an area more likely to see wear from normal use on ski pants. This provides protection against wear, increasing its long-term durability. The design includes several features to aid in the longevity.
For example, they feature a reinforced kickpatch and hem on the inner ankle of the ski pants to provide some level of protection against wear.
A key to maintaining the longevity of your gear is good maintenance, most of which doesn't require much time or equipment. See How to Clean and Repair Gore-Tex and Other Shells for step-by-step guide on how to revive waterproofing. Our Cleaning, Repairs, and Maintenance section has other repair guides.
Value
Over the past several ski seasons, we’ve tested dozens of pairs of women’s and men’s ski pants. When it comes to value, few compare to The North Face Freedom pants. Still, the Freedom Insulated pants are an excellent choice for folks who ski at the resort and can appreciate the increased warmth, whether you’re a beginner or an expert.
Overall, the performance and durability are great - if not unmatched - for a pair of snow pants at this price. With more expensive ski pants, what you're getting is a little more versatility. For example, pants more breathable shell materials and no insulation are better for backcountry skiing and can be layered under for cold resort days.
But we think for skiers mostly resort skiing, we think you'd be happier using the money saved on another lift ticket or two. If price is a concern for you, the North Face Freedom pants can also be found used at The North Face Renewed and at REI's Good and Used.
However, take care when purchasing snow pants (or anything with waterproofing). This guide to gifting used gear discusses how waterproof and weather-resistant items may lose moisture protection when purchasing used.
Sustainability and Ethical Manufacturing
The North Face is known for maintaining ethical and sustainable manufacturing practices with their gear. These pants, in particular, are made with insulation composed of 90% recycled polyester, and the PFC-free DWR coating on the shell eliminates many harsh chemicals used in other DWR treatments.
Specs and Details
Pockets
The North Face Freedom insulated snow pants have two secure zip hand pockets-enough space for car keys, snacks, thin liner gloves, or a smaller phone, but not particularly spacious. One Velcro cargo pocket on the thigh is spacious enough and more comfortable for carrying larger phones (maybe your goggles in a pinch). While we like zippered pockets for peace of mind, we never experienced any issues with the Velcro pocket opening unexpectedly.
Internal Gaiter
The stretch vent gaiter with gripper elastic is an internal ankle gaiter system to keep deep snow from getting into boots, and an additional layer of abrasion-resistant material on the reinforced cuffs to minimize snags and tears from sharp ski edges.
Fit & Comfort
These pants have Velcro adjustment straps and belt loops that allow you to get a comfortable and secure fit at the waist. The adjustable waist tabs worked well for testers of both sizes (see below for more on sizing). For both pants we tried, testers found the pants to run close to true-to-size, if not a touch small.
If you’re on the fence, we’d recommend sizing up for comfort, but if you like a snugger fit in your ski pants, your regular size should be fine. These pants are also offered in plus sizing, though we have only tested versions from the standard sizing line. One tester, who typically wears a small in ski pants but prefers a slightly looser “freeride” fit, tested a small in these pants.
They work, but she would prefer a medium for more comfortable freedom of movement. Our plus-size tester tried the Freedom Insulated Bibs in an XXL. She is typically either that size or a plus size 1X or 2X. The bibs fit her, though, like the pants our other tester used, they’re slightly snug.
This allows you to dial in the fit with base layers as needed. You'd be hard-pressed to find another outdoor brand making such efforts to size for most skiers than The North Face. If you've historically had a difficult time finding your size, you may also consider L.L.Bean, Columbia, and REI Co-op Brand are also making strides in this effort.
Plus and Extended Sizing
The Freedom Insulated pants (as well as the non-insulated and bib versions) are offered in a wide range of sizing. Additionally, sizes available with shorter and longer inseams.
The Freedom Pants are offered in men's short sizes and tall sizes (for non-insulated). Additionally, they are offered in women's short sizes and tall sizes.
Kids' Sizing
For those who are skiing as a family and looking to get the kids started early, the Freedom Insulated Pants are offered in boy's and girl's sizing.
Where to Buy
The The North Face Freedom are popular, so you have options when it comes to retailers. Here are some of the pros of the retailers.
- REI
- Pros: 100% satisfaction policy for 1 year; 10% dividend for members.
- Men's and women's
- Amazon
- Pros: Free 2-day shipping with Amazon Prime membership
- Men's and women's
- The North Face
- You can sometimes find more options when purchasing directly from the retailer.
- Sometimes, purchasing directly from the retailer can make it easier if you need to make a warranty return, such as if there is a defect.
- Men's and women's
In general for pants, we recommend purchasing from a place with easy or free returns like REI or Zappos. Trying on pants is an important way to get the sizing right. With both those retailers, if your funds allow, you can buy two sizes and easily return one.
Bibs and Other Versions
As mentioned, the Freedom pants come in multiple iterations. The women’s Freedom Insulated Bibs are made with the same shell material as the Freedom Insulated Pants. The North Face uses the same DWR treatment, and the bibs have the same synthetic insulation.
While bibs are available in men's sizing, as of time of publishing, we could not find men's insulated versions. See below for more on the non-insulated Freedom bib.
Our plus-size tester tried the Freedom Insulated Bibs in an XXL. She is typically either that size or a plus size 1X or 2X. The bibs fit her, though, like the pants our other tester used, they’re slightly snug.
Overall, if you’re considering these pants or bibs and want comfort and room for layering, size up one. We tested The North Face Freedom insulated bibs for skiing in varied conditions and found them to be warm for riding the chairlift, but not enough to overheat when we started working.
We were thrilled to see the North Face Freedom Insulated bib is available in a similarly wide variety of sizes as the Freedom Insulated pants. The North Face Freedom Bibs are also available without synthetic insulation for those who ski in spring and prefer layering with base layers for warmth.
They’re more widely available than the insulated bib-in men’s and women’s sizing as well as women's plus sizing and women's tall sizes. The Freedom bibs are similar to the Insulated Bibs in shell fabric, features, and design, but without the additional synthetic insulation. As a result, they're about $20 less than the insulated version.
What Could Be Better
While the pockets on the Freedom pants are pretty good, we would love for the hand pockets to be larger (for ski gloves) and for the thigh pocket to have a zipper for extra security and peace of mind. Considering the price of these pants, there are few other things we could complain about.
While more expensive ski pants on the market might take the cake for severe weatherproofing or supreme durability, those pants cost nearly four times the price of these. The North Face Freedom Insulated offer high-quality performance for an affordable price, and will have the durability to last many seasons of skiing at the resort.
Why You Should Trust Us
A true mountain dweller, Stasia feels far more at home on a high alpine ridge than on a busy city street. She writes primarily in the outdoors, adventure travel, and environmental realm. She’s worked as a backpacking guide in Southeast Alaska, has held WFR, AIARE 1, and Avalanche Rescue certifications, and is working to become an avalanche education instructor.
Her bylines can be found in Backpacker Magazine, 5280 Magazine, and REI Co-op Journal, among others. She is also the managing editor of the new print zine, Trails Magazine. Stasia is a lifelong skier, backpacker, mountain biker, and trail runner with a passion for lowering barriers to entry for outdoor sports.
When she’s not writing or cooking, you’ll find her in the mountains, probably above treeline, and probably testing gear. Stasia has spent every winter season skiing since she could walk. She grew up skiing in the mountains of northern Utah and now calls Breckenridge, Colorado home, where she gets out on skis almost every day as long as there is snow to be found somewhere.
Additional Considerations
When choosing ski pants, keep in mind the following:
- Waterproofing: Because pants spend more time in contact with the snow and potentially wet surfaces like chairlifts, waterproofing is more important than in jackets.
- Breathability: While it’s crucial to keep water out, you also want your ski pants to be breathable, so sweat vapor doesn’t leave you wet from the inside. Look for pants with breathable membranes and venting zippers. For the resort, mesh backed vents are best, so you can ski with them open.
- Insulation: Consider the level of insulation you need based on the conditions you typically ski in and your personal preference. Uninsulated shell pants, paired with base layers, offer versatility. Insulated pants will always be warmer and are good for colder regions.
- Fit and Mobility: Adjusting what you are wearing is part of the strategy for staying comfortable while skiing, which means being able to fine tune the fit of your outerwear is important. Look for pants with adjustable waistbands and shoulder straps. Articulated knees, gussets and stretchy materials help with mobility, which plays into fit.
- Durability: Metal edges, kneeling in the snow, sitting on chair lifts, all take their toll on ski pants.
Testing ski pants is all about vertical. The more time our testers spend sitting on chairs, turning on snow and hiking to the goods, the better judge they will be of whether a pant is good or great. To make our test team, testers have to log at least 30 days per season.
Other Ski Pants to Consider
While The North Face Freedom Insulated Pants are a great choice, here are some other options to consider: