Looking to buy a new backpack...what fits on the lift?

[harpo-the-skier]

so i ended up with a Life-Link Granite. Been happy with it for an in-bounds and short o/b resort treks.

over labor day weekend, however, i used it for a 5 mile r/t and another 3 mile r/t and it didn't fare too well. the shoulder strap broke with the weight of my skis, boots, and hydration bladder (duct taped it). additionally the lack of a padded waist belt made the trek a bit uncomfortable.

also i've decided that i'm not a fan of the diagonal ski carry, especially on longer hikes.

i realize that this pack is not meant for longer hikes, which is why i'm now in the market for something with a bit more girth (padded waist belt, A-frame and/or vertical ski carry).

any suggestions beyond the ones above...

current potentials include:
Wookey Sundog (Medium size)
Kigali 35 (but not sure if it has ski carrying capabilities)
Osprey Switch 26
BD Covert w/ avalung (though not sure if i really need that feature at this juncture as i'm just getting into the whole hike-for-turns).


Thanks!

I had a Covert 32 Avalung for resort days and a Anarchist Avalung for long BC days, but I ended up selling the Covert to reduce my pack quiver. The Anarchist is a great long day pack (Lou's son Louie has used his to carry both mountaineering and overnight gear on Ranier), but it also collapses down small enough by tightening the compression straps that it works fine on the lifts. Not ideal for lift riding, but it does the job just fine, and as a bonus, you have a killer, light pack for big days. The only problem I have had with it is holes in the outside of the shovel pocket on the back of the pack. But this is caused by diagnol ski carry, and BD says it did not design the pack for that because it uses such light weight nylon. The light weight construction has held up elsewhere, and I am sure my local seamstress can sew on burlier material to the shovel pocket if I bribe her with enought beer and wine. You won't have this problem if you use an A-frame carry.

[ak_powder_monkey]

I've got a dakine pro II that I've loved for a long time

[FixedGrip]

thinking about pulling the trigger on a life-link rando X pack, primarily for bc day trips.

needs to fit avy gear, extra layers, food, water, nikon d40. at 2500ci/40liters, seems about the right size, i like the ski carry options, ice axe attachments, hydration, and quality material (i think?) -- but as i'd be getting it online, can't try it on and can't return it. anyone have experience with it? anything comparable?

[brown9]

Stadium condom

[cmelo15]

camelbak hellion. done and done

[Diesel]

thinking about pulling the trigger on a life-link rando X pack, primarily for bc day trips.

needs to fit avy gear, extra layers, food, water, nikon d40. at 2500ci/40liters, seems about the right size, i like the ski carry options, ice axe attachments, hydration, and quality material (i think?) -- but as i'd be getting it online, can't try it on and can't return it. anyone have experience with it? anything comparable?

Check out the Mammut Spindrift on Backcountry.com (I think it's in their outlet section?) Bomber pack, 40L, room for everything, and cinches down small for minimal days. On sale for 130-ish.

[lemmycaution]

these have both been mentioned but i had an osprey switch 16 that was very well designed but it IS NOT low profile (not good on the lift i did not think) you can put a helmet in it which makes it stick way out. i now have a BD bandit which is small but is great, i like it a lot and the diagonal carry is good on it. for bigger trips i have an osprey switch 25+5 which is also excellent. ospreys are my personal favorite for backpacking also- though they were better before outsourcing all manuf to yes, china.

[Core Shot]

I had a Covert 32 Avalung for resort days and a Anarchist Avalung for long BC days, but I ended up selling the Covert to reduce my pack quiver. The Anarchist is a great long day pack (Lou's son Louie has used his to carry both mountaineering and overnight gear on Ranier), but it also collapses down small enough by tightening the compression straps that it works fine on the lifts. Not ideal for lift riding, but it does the job just fine, and as a bonus, you have a killer, light pack for big days. .

same boat here. Sold my covert to keep the anarchist.

Why do I use a 42L pack for inbounds lift skiing?

1) the only thing in the bottom half of the pack is my shovel, probe and a puffy that are compresed down to nothing in thickness

2) I am tall, and the torso is much better than the shorter packs (waistbelt is actually on my waist when hiking with skis)

3) all extra day gear is in the top panel. This is why I like top loaders.
MY SANDWICH or goggles do not get SMASHED.

4) even if I carry more gear, like a layer of fleece or a shell I had to peel off, I tend to keep it in the expandable stuff sack portion above my shovel, and the shovel still stays flattened and thin at the bottom of the pack. In this fashion, you are never pushed out of the chair by a full pack.

Bottom line = my 42L pack us usually skied as a tiny avy gear pack with a small fanny pack size lunch carrier at the top.

You may not want to go 42L (I only did so since it was the smallest top loading avalung) but you may want to try a top loader if you are tired of being pushed out of the chairlift by a thick pack.

YMMV

[Diesel]

The Ospreys are nice if they fit you. I've just sold my Switch 26 because I truly hated the lack of any lumbar padding. Size wise, it didn't hold much...definitely meant for a shorter tour.

[Spyderjon]

Arc' Silo 30 is money. I'm 5'9" so I've got the slightly shorter 28litre version.
As pictured I'm carrying a camelback, food, shovel, probe, gloves, goggles, sunnies, mid weight fleece, first aid kit, hat, face mask, phone, camera, tool kit, compass, whistle, torch, wallet etc & the excellent compression straps keep the load flat enough for any lift.