What pack should I buy

A pack with wings that deploy once an avi is sensed..

2nd on Deuter. And the dakine pro 2 I used for a few years and I liked overall for pack design. The only complaint I have is it doesn’t carry weight very well, and when you strap on your splitboard to boot up a couloir, you feel the weight on your shoulders. The Freerider Pro 30 carries weight much better so I liked that pack more. I would continue with the Deuter this year, but got an ABS pack. Haven’t found a zip on I liked much so far.

My other recommendation is to not go 22L option. While that could work for sidecountry, any backcountry days that are bigger it will be too small. I always bring repair, first aid, and a puffy on backcountry days, and I think that size is too small. And once you start bringing things like crampons / harness, you certainly have no room. I’ve liked 30L as my size for all days. I don’t bring mountaineering gear much.

My sled/shred/day trip/light over night pack is the Black Diamond Outlaw avalung. It’s like a 30L pack and I absolutley love it. After a full season and a summer it still lools brand new. I dig the intagrated avalung, hydration compatibility and how much shit i can pack. My big pack is a Deuter Guide 65+, very big and very comfortable. Both lacks fit me very well and do not cause me any pain on stupid long days.

I also have a old school dakine heli pack 18L and a newer heli pack that is like 12L that I use on occasion for resort freeriding or sled trips. The dakine packs are awesome, but they really just are not nearly as comfortable as some other options. I really like osprey packs, they are very light and comfy. Someone else said not to go 22L, I fully agree, 30L minimum up to a 35/40 for touring days. You can always sinch the pack smaller, you can’t make it bigger!

Head down to your local outdoor shop and speak with a tech about packs and try some on, you will never gauge a fit by looking online. If the shop is very helpful, support them by buying local. If they suck, as some do, then buy through a core site like this one 🙂

Ski packs are too small.

Why do they make them fixed lengths?

I use a Kestral 48. its a nice pack but lacks in snow specific features.

The ability to move the torso length with their velcro shoulder harness adjustment is obvious, but no one makes that type of adjustable winter pack. (Except Mystery Ranch)

But even the MR packs http://www.mysteryranch.com/adventure/skiing-snowboarding-packs go from the small 24 L volume to a sensible 43 L, and the Avy Bag Blackjack http://www.mysteryranch.com/adventure/skiing-snowboarding-packs/blackjack-pack pack is more than i need. I spend my time in NH Appalachian range, an airbag is excessive.

I always bring repair, first aid, and a puffy on backcountry days, and I think that size is too small. And once you start bringing things like crampons / harness, you certainly have no room.

Summersgone is right on, always travel prepared, then there is less stress when your out there.

Layers, Bivvy, 1st Aid, Avy Tools, Water, Food, & Maintenance this stuff adds up and these packs that i can’t adjust to sit just above my hips with the weight distributed correctly are ill-designed. It just doesn’t make sense that a company wouldn’t want to be able to cater to each one of our individual spines so we can be as happy and healthy when were out there.

Does anyone have experience with the Mammut Spindrift http://www.mammut.ch/en/productDetail/251002291_v_0067_45/Spindrift-Guide.html Guide 45 L pack? This is adjustable to 3 different sizes, but i haven’t got my hands on it yet.

Ben

I’ve had dakine packs for years, and this year decided to switch to the osprey kode 38. It carries much better than my old dakines as I have a long torso and osprey offers a L version that fits nice. I like the way the hydration is integrated. It has a huge avy pocket(maybe too big). My only complaint is I find the dakine packs have more handy little pockets that can be dedicated to different things.

I was also interested in the mammuts and deuters, but BC.com had the kode on sale. Don’t get smaller than a 30, packs compress well.

THESE LOGICAL AND INFORMATIVE RESPONSES MAKE IT IMPOSSIBLE TO TURN THIS THREAD INTO A HARDBOOT / SOFTBOOT PISSING CONTEST.

@Draizuh wrote:

+1 for the Osprey Kode 38.
Pretty happy with mine besides a few snapped buckles and some parts of the ski carry but hopefully that can be fixed.

x 2 on the buckles

Sold a few of these and the A frame carry buckles last one tour :nononno:

Repalced with buckles that are replaceable in the field