backpack

Planes, Trains and Automobiles. My new Dakine Network Backpack travels everywhere with me and easily carries all of my necessary portable electronics and gear when I’m on the run. I travel all year long for work and chasing snow and finding a backpack that actually works well, is durable and can handle some serious abuse is a rarity. Luckily, the Network seamlessly integrates into my nomadic lifestyle and keeps me organized, which isn’t easy to do.

The best part about my Buck Products KnappSack is that there’s almost nothing on it that will break. There are no zippers, snaps or excessive straps. It’s simple. It’s a bag. It has two straps and two pockets. That’s it. How has life gotten so complicated where people feel they need more than this?

I stand behind Da Kine packs 100%. These packs are designed with the working guide or proficient backcountry rider in mind.

I went through the process of buying a sidecountry backpack this past fall and walked away from it fairly disappointed. The pack I ended up buying works fine, looks okay and fits well enough, but it's nothing out of the ordinary. As such, it wasn't much of a surprise to me that packs started catching my eyes while wandering the floors of SIA this past January. The one that stood out to me the most was Arc'teryx's Quintic 28 backpack because it not only looked good, but was thoughtfully designed in a functional way that few other of today's packs seem to be.

With its 40-liter carrying capacity, the Black Diamond Anarchist Avalung Pack is a solid choice for the backcountry skier who is going farther and wants more space for extra layers, food and equipment. Popular with ski guides and those who work in the snow, the pack has a dedicated pocket for avalanche safety tools while the integrated Avalung system means you’ll never forget the life-saving tool when skiing in backcountry terrain. …

This is THE perfect day bag. Fleece lined pockets for your cell, iPod, sunglasses...you name it. Perfect for the organizational freak that I am. Retractable water bottle pocket can be used for other things.

The pack seems to have a fairly decent amount of internal storage space for all those extras you'd like to have on the mountain for the day. Strap positioning seems comfortable and won't be an issue wearing it while snowboarding. The materials seem sturdy and what you would expect at this price point and intended use. Very thick and comfortable gel padding on the back of the pack will keep those hard items inside from poking you.

The avalung is a great tool to help increase your chances of survival if caught in an avalanche. however, it should not be involved in a decision making situation, ie; "well, this snow pack looks sketchy but Ive got my avalung so.. lets go." Building it into the pack is a great way to decrease this impulse.