***Giveaway entry form below review***
This year, I’m sporting a one piece snow suit ... and love it! I’ve never worn a one piece before or, as a few of my cynical friends call it, a onesie. And, I realize there is a bit of a stigma attached to this getup. (If you’ve ever skied “gaper day” at Jackson Hole, you know what I’m talking about). But when I found the Tobe Vivid Mono one picece snow suit I could tell this was different.
First off, Tobe’s onsies look great. Second, the quality appeared – even on the web – to be second to none. The Tobe Vivid Mono one piece snow suit includes Kevlar protection in areas that get a lot of abrasion. Other features include a hood that fits over helmets, tons of pockets and vents.
The backstory
A year or two ago, we published an article here at Garage Grown Gear on the Top 10 one piece ski suits of all time. It went semi-viral becoming our most visited article of all time.
Tobe’s founder, Tomas Berntsson, came across this article and sent us an email. Based out of barn in Sweden (because who needs a garage when you have a barn), Thomas soon introduced us to the two guys who handle North American sales, Brian and Jake.
Brian and Jake offered to send us a Tobe one piece snow suit to review. I happily volunteered to write the review, shelving my 16-year-old ski bibs. I was really damn excited to test the one piece out. When the chili pepper red suit arrived, I strutted around the house as proud as could be.
The Tobe Vivid Mono one piece snow suit review
So how does the Tobe Vivid Mono perform? Simply put ... it’s the best one piece snow suit out there, as far as I can tell.
It looks great. My wife even commented that I would be a “trend setter.” I wisecracked back that 40-year-old men don’t usually set the trends, but then what happened? A friend of mine saw me in the suit and promptly ordered one for her husband as a Christmas present. So, who knows, maybe I am a trend setter ... or maybe Tobe is.
Super functional. Everything from the vents, pockets, zippers and hood are all dialed. The hood fits great over a helmet and is removable if you’d prefer not to use it. I often ski with my kids and I really appreciate all the pockets both inside and out. Plus, when bending over to help my 4 year old get her skis on, it is nice not to get a cold draft up my back. I’ve even found myself doing flips off the cat track with the kids. Because why not? There’s no way for snow to get in.
Quality and Durability. This is where the Tobe Vivid Mono one piece snow suit really shines. The attention to detail is impressive. I really appreciate the Kevlar protection in areas that get a lot of abrasion – around the inside of the bottom of each leg and on the knees. I feel this suit is going to last for many years to come. It may not quite be a suit you pass down for generations, but it’s close.
A few negatives
Price. Many people I talked to were surprised about the price. I’m not ... remember you are getting pants and a jacket here and some of the finest craftsmanship and materials available. Still, $750 is a hard pill to swallow for some.
Versatility. If you spend all your time skiing powder days at the resort, heli skiing, cat skiing or snowmobiling, this could be your do-it-all piece of winter wear. That being said, if you are like me and spend about 50 percent of your time at the resort and the rest backcountry skiing, this won’t always do the trick. For resort days, I don’t think I’ll wear anything else, but for backcountry skiing, it’s just too much. When I’m earning my turns, I prefer to go light and fast, often times not carrying much more than a lightweight shell and an emergency puffy in my pack.
Sizing. I’m 6’1” and 165 pounds with a 34” inseam. I wear a large in nearly every piece of clothing or gear I own, but when I sent my dimensions to Brian he recommended a medium. It fits great, but be aware that sizing might be different than what you are used to.
A note to snowmobilers
The Tobe Vivid Mono one piece snow was originally designed for snowmobilers. If you’ve ever spent much time snowmobiling, especially off trail, you know how hard it can be to stay warm, dry and comfortable ... and find gear that will hold up to the abuse.
While I’m now primarily a skier, I’ve spent more than my fair share of time on a “sled,” as they call them here in Idaho. And, I absolutely believe this suit would rise to the occasion.
Bottom line
If you are looking for a next level piece of outerwear that will fight the elements like a ninja, take a look at the Tobe Vivid Mono one piece snow suit.
GIVEAWAY
Use the entry from below to enter the giveaway for a Tobe Vivid Mono one piece snow suit ($750 value!!!). You pick the size and color.
Share the giveaway on social media and with your friends to get more entries and up your odds. Engaging with Garage Grown Gear and Tobe on social media will also earn you bonus entries.
Please note: entering the giveaway signs you up for updates from Garage Grown Gear and Tobe. All sweeper accounts will be disqualified.
