Thread: Anyone tried an Osprey Karve yet?

Filling out my pack quiver. I have a giantor Osprey Aether 70L, my daily driver Millet Pueterey 40L, and now want a dawn patrol/sidecountry pack.

I have my eye on a Dakine 20L which I've checked out and liked (a friend has one), but saw that Osprey has a new "Karve" series of packs. There's a 6L, 11L and a 16L. I have my eye on the 16L, but they seem new this year and can find no reviews other than product description on the various sites selling them. Anyone try one of these out in testing last year or anything? Not thrilled that probe/shovel handle are stored semi-outside the pack, but can't tell how good the retention device on it is.

Also dig the Basecamp vests, but that may be too small.

i'm intrigued. found this

http://offpistemag.com/permalink.asp?id=581

I skied with the karve 11 and 16 for the latter part of last year. Nice pack. It carried skis very well. The ouside probe and shovel handle pocket seemed very secure( there is a little clip system that tightens the top of the pocket which was snug to begin with). My only gripe with it and many of the osprey packs is that I wish is had a slightly burlier waist strap.

Awesome, good info folks.

The thin waist strap is a slight turnoff, but I'd only be cross carrying skis and whatever trouble I can get in with 16L. Hmmm....

Originally Posted by deeppo

I skied with the karve 11 and 16 for the latter part of last year. Nice pack. It carried skis very well. The ouside probe and shovel handle pocket seemed very secure( there is a little clip system that tightens the top of the pocket which was snug to begin with). My only gripe with it and many of the osprey packs is that I wish is had a slightly burlier waist strap.

Yah ... I'm going to be that guy who bumps this month-old thread.

Per the ski carrying you mentioned, can you comment further on set-up you carried and how it handled? The Off-Piste review said it does so fine, but it might be over-burdened with a regular alpine or resort set-up.

I've ruled it out due to the thin waist strap and lack of waistbelt camera. probably gonna go with a Dakine HeliPro DLX

Necro-bump...

Looking at the 16. Anyone else use this pack this past season? I'm kinda teetering between this and the Osprey Kode. Love to hear some more reviews...

I tested one out last winter. My review:
http://www.gearinstitute.com/skiing/...sprey-karve-16

Nice small pack for side/slack country, though the waist belt is lame. I like the Kodes too - pick between them according to how much you want to carry, but the Kodes are more versatile.

Thanks, Bob - super review! Very helpful!

Just wanted to mention that Mystery Ranch makes some great packs in this size range that carry really, really well. Granted, they are a little heavier and a little pricier, but I think it's worth it. The Blackjack may be the best pack I've ever owned, and my brother loves his Fuze as well. For reference, I think the Blackjack carries much better than my Osprey pack, even though it weighs at least a 4# more (most of that is obviously the WARI kit). I think the Saddle Peak would make a perfect sidecountry pack, but I'm waiting until they make one that accepts the WARI kit...

Just my .02$. If you're not a fan of MR, that's fine. But figured I'd mention it since nobody else has.

I personally find all the current Osprey ski packs (Karve and Kode series) to be a pain in the ass to use. They carry quite well, but the straps/zippers/pockets/etc. are too busy and difficult to manipulate with gloves on.

Mammut is making the best designed ski packs right now, IMHO.

^^^^^Agreed. I bought a Mamut last season and it carries better than anything else I've tried. Avi pocket works well, and ski carry is best I've used.

Originally Posted by Stowelen

^^^^^Agreed. I bought a Mamut last season and it carries better than anything else I've tried. Avi pocket works well, and ski carry is best I've used.

Huh. I hate the Mammut 30L pack I got for Christmas two years ago. Ski carry was decent and the harness system was okay, but nothing to write home about. Poor design in every other regard -- smallest 30L I've ever owned, and I feel like the design pushed the weight away from the body.

Unless they've drastically stepped up their game, I can't see them being better than MR.

EDIT: To be clear, I'm talking ski packs only, not backpacking or mountaineering.

EDIT2: The pack I had was the Respect 30L, which I can only assume was discontinued for a reason. It was too short and wide (away from the body) for my taste -- when the avy gear pocked had a shovel and probe, the main compartment was almost impossible to use, and all the voluminous gear had to be stored at the top of the pack. It made the pack short, wide, and topheavy. (Gave it to my mom to use as a touring pack, and she isn't a huge fan either.) Just wanted to back up my rationale for bashing Mammut packs. Think that was their first try at a ski pack, and it sounds like they've come quite a ways since then.

Z,

The two mammut packs I got last season are the tits, they both carry extremely well (ride 30L is ski specific) and hold all the gear I need well, and accessible. They do not compare to a MR 3 day or black jack though. The MR packs are currently on a pedestal of their own, with no one really close when it comes to ease of carry, and accessing the load.
The two issues I have with the Mammut 30L Ride, is that it will puff up quite easily making the goggle/sunglass pocket a bit tighter then I would like, and the lack of a useful compression strap lower on the pack.

I still plan on getting a Mystery Ranch 3day because I am a gear whore.

I put about 30 days on with my Karve 16. Love it.

Regarding the zippers, I did some hacking and affixed some bright orange cording for the shovel pocket and used some paracord for the shovel attachments.

It carries quite well, which I attribute mostly to the plastic frame sheet. The durability has been excellent. Quite honestly, it has really surprised me.

For reference, i did consider the Kode, but found it too big for nearly all the pack skiing I do in that size.

I did check out the Mystery Ranch Saddle Peak, but for price, material and fit; it just didn't add up. MR has some great designs, but when it comes to the little details and the materials used, it's tough to keep pace with the other, larger manufacturers like Mammut, Osprey and Black Diamond.

Great feedback guys!

I looked at a Kobe 30 tonight, and certainly a well thought out pack, but kinda busy, and a bit too big for what I'd use it for. It's almost the same as my BCA Stash BC, which I'm looking to replace - with something a bit smaller/compact, and lower profile.

Originally Posted by axebiker

Great feedback guys!

I looked at a Kobe 30 tonight, and certainly a well thought out pack, but kinda busy, and a bit too big for what I'd use it for. It's almost the same as my BCA Stash BC, which I'm looking to replace - with something a bit smaller/compact, and lower profile.

Karve is your answer if you're price conscious. Otherwise, the Mystery Ranch Saddle Peak will do if you want everyone to know how core you are.

Originally Posted by axebiker

Great feedback guys! ...

Check your PMs.

Originally Posted by Meadow Skipper

Check your PMs.

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