A little larger than your 30L request, but here is one option…Deuter Glide

Don’t personally have one, but a lot of people on here do. Check out the Osprey Switch series:

http://www.ospreypacks.com/Packs/SwitchSeries/

If you dig around, there’s some other threads on these packs as well.

If you can find the Mammut Snowstorm anywhere you may want to check it out. It’s a great daypack size and has all the features you’re looking for, plus IMO a better board carry system than the Osprey Switch, and an actually functional helmet carry system. I just picked one up at Mammoth Mountaineering. The jury is still out on it for me though, only because I’m not sure I need all the bells and whistles, and the hip belt pockets don’t leave enough belt free for me to use my tried and true quick-deploy camera system… which believe it or not may be enough to make me not want to use the pack.

I’ll try and post up some pics of the Snowstorm later.

Here’s the camera system mounted on an old pack:

Unfortunately it’s not on the BD website yet, but I will be interested to see how well their snowboard-oriented Avalung Pack works for Vertical Board carry. The Outlaw looks to be ~30L and has the insulated should strap for hydration system. It is definitely on tap for Fall ’08, so if somebody gets their hands on one, let us know how it carries.

Shep

these look nice too:

http://www.backcountry.com/store/TNF2603/The-North-Face-Patrol-35-Backpack-2150cu-in.html?AID=10285443&PID=2315910

http://www.backcountry.com/store/TNF2605/The-North-Face-Off-Chute-22-Backpack-1325cu-in.html?AID=10285443&PID=2315910

http://www.backcountry.com/store/DTR0021/Deuter-Razor-18-Backpack-1100-cu-in.html?AID=10285443&PID=2315910

thanks Shep, did you get a chance to strap a board to it?

(personally, I prefer the BD avy 2, Im not sure if I like the integrated backpack feature. It seems less secure, plus I switch backpacks depending on what Im carrying that day…)

BCR,

I decided to pick up those north face packs (yes, both of them, I know I have a problem) I took the Patrol out for a day hike today (its the bigger one) and I have to say I was pretty impressed. It is a comfy pack, and can fit about all you need for a nice all day slog, or possibly an overnighter if you pack well (it has two aluminum support rods behind the back panel). It has a dedicated shovel pocket, which is put towards the bottom of the pack, so the board should carry angled up towards your head, not your feet (one of my pet peeves). It also has a probe holster, and pretty good ski loops if youre into that. I dont think they are wide enough for the split, but you can rig the 2 board straps for a-frame carry.

I bought the smaller one for slackcountry or resort pow days.

Ill post up more after I do a board carry…

edit: Oh, and it has a cool dedicted skin pocket on the bottom of the pack

I rock both of the north face packs, one is a 22L and the other is 35L, The north face has the best board carry system I have seen. Both of them lack back panel access but i don’t have to much trouble getting my stuff out so long as i think about its placement. The both have good internal organization ie. bladder storage, avy eq. storage, goggle pockets and main storage. The patrol 35 has a great suspension system for carrying a load, the off chute 22 is also very comfortable but has less of a suspension system for carrying heavy loads, but it is also 22 liters how much stuff are you going to bring? Both have been great pakcs to use depending on what I needed to carry.

@HikeforTurns wrote:

…I decided to pick up those north face packs (yes, both of them, I know I have a problem)…

@brg wrote:

I rock both of the north face packs, one is a 22L and the other is 35L

My name is Sam and I too have a gear addiction. I have looked at what I thought was nearly the whole gamut of backcountry packs but these North Faces one are new to me. I have a long torso and that keeps me from enjoying most one-size-fits all packs. Would you say these two North Face packs are sized like most other packs or no?

@HikeforTurns wrote:

…the waist strap is closer to the belly button on me…

That’s my biggest annoyance with one-size-fits-all backpacks. The waist strap ends up going around my damned stomach! Thanks for the descriptions of how the packs fit.