Skiing backpacks: a rant

[Spats]

Note to backpack manufacturers: Please attempt to physically carry skis for more than an hour before claiming your pack has "ski carry".

1) Just having compression straps on the side is NOT sufficient to claim "A-frame carry": ski edges are very sharp and will eat through the pack cloth in a couple hours. You need some sort of protection on the carry loop and the pack cloth.

2) This isn't 1995. "Ski carry" loops 110mm wide won't actually hold anyone's skis anymore. Yes, Ortovox, I'm talking to you.

3) If I can rip the "ski carry" loop off in the store by accident when trying to fish it out of its compartment, it probably won't hold a pair of skis. Yes, Dakine, I'm talking to you.

4) Traditional top-loading backpacks and A-frame carry don't mix. How the hell are you supposed to get into the pack with skis on it? Come on, people.

5) Packs that are thick front to back carry like crap, because the weight swings around and pulls at your shoulders...especially with diagonal carry. We're adults, not midgets...make our packs tall and thin to keep the weight close to the back. Especially if you're making regular and tall sizes, but the "tall size" doesn't even clear my shoulder blades. WTF? Just about every manufacturer is guilty of this one...only Life-Link seems to understand, and they're defunct.

6) If you're going to claim diagonal carry or ice tool carry, you need to have something that actually keeps skis or ice tools in place. Adding dangling gear loops at the bottom, and then just sort of hoping that the top of your skis or tools can be partially restrained by some combination of existing top pocket straps and whatever useless compression gewgaws your marketing department asked for, isn't enough. Hint: if the skis or ice tools can fall out when the pack is turned upside down, you're doing it wrong. If they can move around the pack at all, you're still doing it wrong.

[advres]

someone has sand in their vag

[Tye 1on]

You pretty much just described the Marmot La Meije.
Bomber hypalon layer for edges.
Long straps for diagonal carry, sewed in tight.
Dedicated slot and strap for axe.
U-shaped zipper on back pad to access water, food, gear. Full flap on back for avi tools.

But, the medium is pretty small. Get the large.

[hutash]

You pretty much just described the Marmot La Meije.
Bomber hypalon layer for edges.
Long straps for diagonal carry, sewed in tight.
Dedicated slot and strap for axe.
U-shaped zipper on back pad to access water, food, gear. Full flap on back for avi tools.

But, the medium is pretty small. Get the large.

I was going to say the same thing. Just buy a pack designed by a skier for skiers. Coombs knew a thing or two about skiing/climbing with a pack.

[Meadow Skipper]

Osprey Switch? You may not be able to find the Marmot Meije any more.

[adimmen]

Wow. Every complaint is spot on.

I had 3 separate La Meije packs and none lasted longer than 2 months. The buckles are extremely fragile especially the diagonal ski carry one. Carrying skis like the 120s and 138s quickly rips the material around the A-frame carry and renders it useless. I like the design but the durability simply isn't there.

[JoeStrummer]

You pretty much just described the Marmot La Meije.
Bomber hypalon layer for edges.
Long straps for diagonal carry, sewed in tight.
Dedicated slot and strap for axe.
U-shaped zipper on back pad to access water, food, gear. Full flap on back for avi tools.

But, the medium is pretty small. Get the large.

I wanted to like that pack but couldn't. Filled with Haute Route gear it carried like shit. I liked the features though.

I have 3 packs for skiing and each of them has flaws. Osprey Switch from 3 years ago is my fave but it isn't perfect. Perhaps some mag seamster / seamstress can make the ideal ski pack?

[cold_smoke]

...And snap buckles break, make them replaceable without have to take the damn think to a tailor to replace the sternum buckle (yeah, I'm talking to you Da Kine).

The Arc'Teryx silo 30 is super tall, the ski carry is one of the most bomber I have used (with edge protection).
But,...still trying to figure out what to do with the outermost pocket (too small for shovel blade, crampons etc). Alao, avy gear has seperate envelopes INSIDE the main compartment which allows the chance for used shovel/gear to get snow on dry stuff.
Oh, and mine is for sale...

[shirk]

Deuter Guide 35.

Deuter Cruise 30.

Deuter Freerider 26.

Deuter Eric Hjorleifson Edge.

All of the above meet your requests.

[likwid]

I wanted to like that pack but couldn't. Filled with Haute Route gear it carried like shit. I liked the features though.

I have 3 packs for skiing and each of them has flaws. Osprey Switch from 3 years ago is my fave but it isn't perfect. Perhaps some mag seamster / seamstress can make the ideal ski pack?

I almost wonder if Wild Things or Ragged Mountain Equipment would be interested in building an "ultimate maggot ski pack" if given enough orders.

[truth]

Heh...I was thinking Dueter as well. I bought the Attack mtb pack this summer and it's friggin bomber. I'd have confidence in any their products. Only issue I've had is with the hydration bite valve being a bit leaky which would really suck in the cold. Their bladder is by far the best I've seen.

[bradski530]

Here's my complaint with the Osprey Switch...

When using the A-Frame carry, one side of the brakes hit my back and hurt. Anyone have a fix for this?

[JoeStrummer]

Here's my complaint with the Osprey Switch...

When using the A-Frame carry, one side of the brakes hit my back and hurt. Anyone have a fix for this?

Harden the Fuck Up?

[Meadow Skipper]

Harden the Fuck Up?

<snork> That, or something with duct tape.

[XtrPickels]

Here's my complaint with the Osprey Switch...

When using the A-Frame carry, one side of the brakes hit my back and hurt. Anyone have a fix for this?

Only happened to me with my lotus', but I know what you mean.
Also, the Switch 26 carries A Frame better than the 36, which is a lil fatter.

[Ted Striker]

I'm with you on every point.

As mentioned already, this is an opportunity for someone to step up a la PM Gear.

[chocolatecoveredbacon]

Wow. Every complaint is spot on.

completely agree.

i spent a long time looking at packs this fall trying to find a new one and was pretty disappointed overall. there were a lot of packs with really good features, but at the same time, i felt like there were none that combined everything useful.

maybe i'm too much of an engineer for my own good when it comes to gear, but i feel like i could put my thoughts to good use...

[Arno]

another vote for the Marmot La Meije being nearly perfect but a bit fragile. I guess they didn't want to use very heavy duty material in order to keep the weight down. not sure whether this has been addressed on the most recent version

[gorgeskier]

I like my BD Anarchist 42 w/ Avalung. Seems like a bomber pack with all the goodies in the best layout I have experienced (former packs - Dakine Pro II, Blade). I now have a ABS Vario 30 which, in reality, has a chitty pack, but obviously I love the ABS portion of it. Complaints I have with it are:

too small of a shovel pouch - pain in the ass to get my Voile in there
only top loading - no side access like the BD or Dakine Blade
elasticized top - its a pain

there is no A frame carry due to the airbags but the vertical back carry is actually decent.

I would like to try the Millet backpack that zips onto the ABS line. Since they are a dedicated backpack manufacturer they might have something with some more/better features.

[Game Over]

ill do it.

my friends company makes backpacks for wildland firefighting. we have talked about making a ski pack many times, just havent for some reasion or another.

his head seamstress is amazing. she has made all kinda of custom shit for many outdoor sports.

[bl2000]

his head seamstress is amazing.

Just TOO easy.

[khyber.pass]

6) If you're going to claim diagonal carry or ice tool carry, you need to have something that actually keeps skis or ice tools in place. Adding dangling gear loops at the bottom, and then just sort of hoping that the top of your skis or tools can be partially restrained by some combination of existing top pocket straps and whatever useless compression gewgaws your marketing department asked for, isn't enough. Hint: if the skis or ice tools can fall out when the pack is turned upside down, you're doing it wrong. If they can move around the pack at all, you're still doing it wrong.

Black Diamond, I'm talking to you.

Anarchist & Alias are the worst built packs I have ever seen. The 'minimalism' on the Alias is a joke. The ice axe loop is a floppy POS, and when used for skis, utterly fragile. The stitching is slave-labour quality.

[Hugh Conway]

So in summary pretty much everything can be fixed by getting off your ass and taking some webbing to your local cobbler and telling him where to add it.

Cool

[mntlion]

anyone used the Dueter?

[Chainsaw_Willie]

Gotta agree with the complaints here. I've been looking and looking and still haven't found a so-called ski pack that's worth a crap.

First the Dakine Heli-Pro. Not a bad pack, I liked the diagonal carry on it, but a bit small and didn't carry weight well at all.

Next up, the Osprey Switch 26. MUCH better carrying with better waist and shoulder straps and pretty bomber diagonal carry straps. But, as mentioned, kind of a pain to access gear when carrying in the A-frame configuration and the divided main compartment is kinda weird, but I guess a good idea to keep gear dry. It's also not very tall, so tends to hang quite a ways off your back. It's close, but not quite.

I bought a Dueter Futura Zero 30 for summer overnighters & dayhikes and really like the way it rides and thought with a few modifications it would make a decent ski pack, but if Dueter makes some ski packs I'll have to see if I can find them and check them out.

I really think I could design a really good ski pack. It would have a back panel zipper in an upside down 'U' configuration and a divided main compartment, just like my North Face daypack/book bag that I carry for school. No separate top compartment. The outer compartment would have an ample shovel and probe pocket and enough room for skins and maybe some shoes too. It would have a couple of small drain holes at the bottom so melting snow could easily drain out. The main compartment would have a hydration bladder pouch and be roomy enough for some extra layers and snacks. It would also have a half-height zippered mesh pocket for carrying stuff you want to easily be able to find.

The pack would have a simple inverted 'U' fiberglass rod frame to give it some rigidity yet still remain flexible and minimize weight. Adjustable molded hip and shoulder belts would round out the package. I have an old REI pack with a "ladder" style of adjustment for the shoulder belts that could also be used for the hip belt. This would make the hip/shoulder belt highly adjustable to fit different torso lengths.

A larger version of this pack would be roomy enough for an overnighter. The overall shape would be fairly tall, narrow, and thin to keep the profile low and the weight as close to your center of gravity as possible. This configuration would also work well for snowboard carry.

Keep the weight down by minimizing excess straps and buckles but use heavy duty materials throughout.

Hope you're able to understand my description. Honestly don't know why someone hasn't made a ski pack like this, or if they have, why it's not more popular.