Best Snowboard and Ski Backpacks
While having a great snowboard or ski backpack may not be a totally essential piece of ski gear (like skis, boots and poles), it can definitely be a nice piece of equipment to have when you are up on the mountain. Whether you are casual ski holidayer who makes it up to the mountain a few times a year, an experienced front-country skier or a badass backcountry superstar, a having a great backpacking for skiing can make hauling all the essential items for the day a whole lot easier.
Like with all gear, ski and snowboard backpacks come with various levels of extra features and built for various types of use that vary from something sleek and comfortable to carry your cash, bagged lunch and extra goggles in, to fancier packs that have built in hydration packs, the ability to strap on your skis, and avalungs on for backcountry touring.
Since these packs should last you several seasons, do research and pick a bag that is sure to not only meet all of your ski needs this year, but your ski needs of the future. Hoping to get more into backcountry skiing? Then you may want to spend the extra dollars to invest in a better touring pack that features a potentially life saving Avalung. Whatever you ski or snowboard backpack needs, weigh out which features are most important to you, how much you want to spend, and whether the bag meets all of your powder riding needs.
There are a hundred different kind of great ski and snowboard backpacks out there, so here’s a list of some of the best and best reviewed packs out there on the market:
High End Avalung Backcountry Packs
Black Diamond Outlaw Avalung—All purpose ski and snowboard pack for the backcountry that may save your life ( Buy Black Diamond Outlaw Pack w/ AvaLung)
Black Diamond Bandit Avalung—a sleeker, smaller bag than the Outlaw, while maintaining with the ability to save your life ( Buy Black Diamond Bandit AvaLung Pack)
Black Diamond Alias Avalung—Perfect pack for those looking for a traditional top-loading designing without bells and whisteles—except of course for the Avalung, which could save your life. ( Buy Black Diamond Alias AvaLung Pack)
Black Diamond Covert with Avalung—A great pack for backcountry day-trips or quick missions out of the resort gate, with the avalung to protect you just in case of a slide ( Buy Black Diamond Covert 32 with AvaLung Pack)
Black Diamond Anarchist Backpacks—a great winter pack for those who live to ride the backcountry (Buy Black Diamond Anarchist with Avalung Winter Pack - 1953-2563 cu in)
Other Backcountry Packs
DaKine
Dakine has a great reputation for making niot only stylish looking, but also extremely practical, durable and great ski and snowboard bags.
Dakine Pro 2—a pack that can carry everything from racing skis, to fat powder skis to a snowboard with ease. ( Buy Dakine Pro 2
Dakine Heli Pro DLX Backpack—great combination ski/snowboard with quick draw camera belt for capturing those epic lines ( Buy DaKine Team Heli Pro DLX 20L Backpack)
DaKine Heli Women’s Pack—what could be better than a badass backcountry backpack built specifically for the ladies (that also happens to be pretty) ( Buy Dakine Heli Pack - Women’s)
Dakine Mission Backpacks—a great pack to pop into the backcountry with or pack up your gear for the plane (Buy the DaKine Mission Pack)
Dakine Tactic Backpacks—A great pack for inbound and backcountry with hydration bladders and pockets for all your backcountry gear ( Buy DaKine Tactic Pack
Gregory
Gregory Targhee—a great backcountry pack that’ll carry everything from your skis to your avalanche equipment with ease
Gregory Drift Backpack—a scaled down version of the Targhee, this pack is perfect for riding the chairlift or quick backcountry day trips
DC
DC Gooley Backpack—A pack that’ll hold all your riding essentials that’s also great for traveling when storm chasing.
Marmot
Marmot Eiger 35—a classic, comfortable daypack perfect for alpine style climbs and forays into the backcountry ( Buy Marmot Eiger 35 Backpack)
Marmot Diva 45—This pack designed specifically for women is a to-loading pack big enough for a day or two in the backcountry that allows you to strap on your skis and ice axe ( Buy Marmot Women’s Diva 45 Backpacking Pack)
Marmot Diva 35—A smaller and scaled down version of the Diva 45 perfect fopr day-trips out of bounds (Buy Marmot Women’s Diva 35 Backpacking Pack)
Other Brands
Millet Prolight 27—a stripped down prolight that’s best when going up
Deuter Cruise 30—tough, sensible mountaineering bag big enough for avalanche equipment and hydration bladder (Buy Deuter Cruise 30 Day pack
Mountain Hardwear Direstissima—the perfect bag for the big trips with a comfortable suspension system that can handle heavy loads
Arc’teryx Silo 18—The perfect bag for cutting between the back and sidecountry ( Buy Arc’teryx Silo 18 Backpack
Osprey Switch Backpacks—an ideal pack for all-day ski mountaineering and touring adventures