Thread: Douchebag Ski Bag Review

(Apologies if this has already been covered - I searched TGR for 'douchebag' - naturally it returned a veritable avalanche of results)

The Douchebag is the result of a collaboration between pro skier Jon Olsson and two Norweigan entrepeneurs, and was developed in conjunction with a Norweigan University and 150 local skiers for testing. It is designed to address the sag issues with variable ski lengths, reducing weight while maintaining adequate protection, hands-free rolling for long walks with your skis, and also compresses to a very compact volume for storage while not being used.

I can confidently report that it addresses all of those factors in a most clever and ingenious way.

Length / Compression:

The key to the concept is a pair of strips along the top & bottom of the bag sewn in 7-8cm intervals. These strips facilitate the handle component, which has a group of four hooks which attach top/bottom, left/right and can be tightened for compression.

So when a pair (or pairs) of skis is placed in the bag, the excess length is simply rolled up, and then held in place by the hooks/handle, and you have a rigid bag. You can also attach the shoulder strap to the handle for handsfree rolling.
When not in use the bag can be completely rolled up for compact storage either at home or in your ski lodge/hotel room.



Weight/Protection:

The Douchebag is lightly padded on the bottom and sides, but instead of using heavy padding to protect your beloved equipment which adds much unwanted weight, there are a series of plastic ribs sewn in to the construction of the bag to provide impact protection and cut down on weight.

This is clearly shown in this photo - you can see the striped stitching - in every second section a plastic rib is contained. The alternate sections are empty, but with light padding, and this facilitates the rolling:


The net result of this arrangement is a bag with adequate protection that tips the scales at a meagre 3kg. A full featured, padded double wheelie ski bag is usually in the 5-7kg range. I hate to think what my K2 sarcophagus weighs.

Capacity:

As you can see here it comfortably fits two pairs of skis with much room for other bits & pieces, Mrs Aussieskier and I tend to put our climbing skins, harnesses, crampons, shovels & probes in our ski bags and I can't see why we wouldn't be able to do the same with this bag.



Additionally there is a small zipped compartment on the end of the top flap for storing loose items or the supplied shoulder strap

Other Views:

On the top of the bag you can see the two padded handles - these are perfectly placed for balance & easy lifting of the bag in & out of cars etc:





There is also a handle on the side, and attachment loops for the included shoulder strap.

The wheels are large which should prevent pesky pebbles jamming and dragging in front of a wheel

Specs:

Maximum volume: 120 liters
Minimum storage size: 15 liters
Maximum length: 210cm
Width: 34cm
Height: 20cm
Weight: 3.2kg
Outside and inside garment: Polyester 600D
ABS protection ribs
Zinc-Alloy buckle
9.2mm PP Wheels
EPE padding
Silk logo printing
Strong 12.6mm nylon zipper
Polyethylene back-protection plate
PP Protection Spine

Conclusion:

The Douchebag has rethought the ski bag concept, and in my opinion has won. It has clearly been conceived by people who travel a lot with skis and understand the various pitfalls of this pursuit. I have used it on one snow trip and also some city driving to pick up/drop off skis for review. This hasn't allowed me to test how well it is for lugging on long distances via the shoulder strap, and also of course I can't yet comment on its long term durability.

But what I do know is that I wish I had one in January, one shouldn't complain about ski travel when you have a lot of fun awaiting you at the other end, but I did a huge amount this year and while the skiing was great my trips were structured that I moved around a lot, and I can think of dozens of occasions where I would have been far better off with a Douchebag.

I'm looking forward to this being part of my equipment arsenal for many years to come.

(Review Disclosure: The Douchebag was supplied at no cost for review purposes by the Australian Importer Bent Square)

More info & pics at: http://aussieskier.com/equipment/dou...ki-bag-review/

this space reserved for smart-assed douchebag comment.

(bag looks good).

Love the concept. Not sure how I feel about the name. Carting around a big long bag that says DOUCHEBAGS it is just kind of crying out for abuse.

Yeah I posted this on reddit as well and most of the commentary has been on the name.

From an Aussie point of view it's not a big deal, here it's just a generic US sourced insult, nobody really knows what it means, and in Europe it will be less so. I had to explain to my wife what the negative connotation was.

But it could be an issue in the US.

So it's a similar design with/battens that "pros" shat upon. Way to reinvent the wheel dickbags

Originally Posted by CarveMan

Maximum length: 210cm
Width: 34cm
Height: 20cm

I just paid Japan Airlines $130 for oversized ski bag. Sum of L, W, H > 203cm

First time the fukkers have stung me for it as well.

I am at the airport and just wanted to complain.

Be skiing soft fresh snow by Thursday so what ever.

If I did not have to drive 6 hours right of the flight, I'd be trying to drink back my 130 bucks overnight with free booze inflight.

Originally Posted by CarveMan

But it could be an issue in the US.

They may as well named it the Jersey Shore.

Price is 200 Euro, which is $250 (ouch) now who's the douche?

I just did a search and couldn't find anyone in the US selling them. I have the Dakine Concourse and like that but its pretty big. I would like something about the size of a douchebag without the vinegary smell

Looks like a cool bag. Does the handle come when you open it? If yes, TSA will loose it if they open your bag for inspection.

Does douchebag mean something different in your part of the world? I can't believe they will sell a lot of them in America with a name like that.

It reminds me of story I read a long time ago about a handheld computer from Taiwan that was originally named the "Handjob".

No the zippers open from the other end of the handle. There is a velcro flap at the wheelie end that conceals the zips.

Like I said in Australia it's an insult we know that Americans use, but my wife has informed me that it's not part of a typical Australian's hygiene routine, hence the lack of bad associations with the word.

Not sure about US sales outlets, I would keep an eye out in the Fall I guess.

this is a bad joke, right...
seriously what DB is going to pay money to carry this around?
so i think its a joke.
or somebody really sux at marketing
really

no it's not a joke. seriously.

But guys it has facilitated handles!

Buy any large ski-bag with wheels from any of the large brands like fischer, völkl, atomic etc and everything that these douchebags claim to be a "feature" they have "developed", is easily done/already there but a whole lot cheaper, without the hype, the stupid brand-name and without paying that silly overprice to jon fucking olsson...

or be a douchebag and buy one...

Can someone recommend a bag that does the adjustable length thing well?

Originally Posted by BoatBound

no it's not a joke. seriously.

it's a joke AND real. They knew what they were doing.

I'm parked in the snow in my campervan, its snowing, I skied boot deep soft but dense today, listening to CCR, drinking beer and cooking, skiing again tomorrow.

And you guys are arguing about a ski bag.

I'll be skiing some fresh tomorrow

In fact I will be skiing most days until I see you!

no ones arguing. but we would rather be skiing

Maybe I am one, but I don't see me openly advertising that I am..... What about complimentary bags? .... Dirtbag, dickbag, shitbag, cuntbag, fukbag, scumbag, ?

Originally Posted by Hohes

I'm parked in the snow in my campervan, its snowing, I skied boot deep soft but dense today, listening to CCR, drinking beer and cooking, skiing again tomorrow.

And you guys are arguing about a ski bag.

haha well said mate. I skied pow all day yesterday. Heading up to Sydney today, hopefully there are some waves. Enjoy the oz pow!

Hey PPP! Soft again today. So white. Love snow.

(and yeah, I know no one was really arguing)

I always find my concourse double is absurdly big- and i only need the extra length occasionally. This looks like a good solution.

My buddy has one - it is a nice, well thought out bag with some features which I haven't seen elsewhere. Not for me because I prefer to put my skis in one bag and the rest of my junk in another, rather than fight with a huge double ski bag... and it is very expensive.

Also, the first time he used it, my buddy got laughed at by the cabin crew coming off a flight from the US