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12-02-2019, 02:20 PM #1
What Day Pack Do I Want? (non airbag)
I need a new pack for day tours. Don't need an airbag. Pack will be used for single day tours, and also some lift accessed side country (that often requires putting skis on the pack).
Criteria:
-30-35 Liters
-good diagonal ski carry (so skis can be on the pack in 30 seconds without a bunch of fiddle-fucking around)
-good helmet carry (that still works well when skis are mounted diagonally)
-more concerned with having burly material that won't abrade / wear through than having a lightweight pack
-simple is better. The more straps and weird buckles that're attached to the pack, the more skeptical I am.
-avy tools compartment that's easy to get at, and is tall enough that long-ish shovel handles and probes aren't sticking out the zipper
-multiple avenues of access into the main compartment is a plus, but not a necessity
-obviously it should carry well
Current front runner is a BCA Stash 30. It fits my criteria pretty well, but I haven't been super impressed by the quality of BCA packs I've had in the past. Anything else I should be looking at?
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12-02-2019, 02:28 PM #2
Poacher?
Fits most everything, except the helmet carry + diagonal ski carry, maybe.
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12-02-2019, 02:34 PM #3Registered User
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- Mar 2008
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- northern BC
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- 30,885
I go 40 on a day pack cuz a larger pack carries skis better, fits everything and you can always leave shit out if you want
I use a Rab helmet holder to keep the helmet outside
its important to try on a pack
of buy one on line and sell it cuz you don't likeLee Lau - xxx-er is the laziest Asian canuck I know
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12-02-2019, 02:51 PM #4
I agree with this, I just got the Poacher 36L airbag which I believe is the same thing as the 32L non-airbag Poacher. It's really nice. Helmet carry and diagonal carry don't work at the same time, and upper diagonal strap is just a touch more fiddly than it probably should be but otherwise it hits all of your bullets.
Helmet carry with diagonal ski carry at the same time is tough to find, pretty much means the helmet carry needs to be on top rather than on the backpanel. Only one off the top of my head is the Osprey Kamber 32. I hated previous Osprey ski packs, way too complicated, but the Kamber series looks pretty nice. Worth fondling.
I think BCA packs carry like shit. YMMV.
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12-02-2019, 02:54 PM #5
Salomon X-alp 30 fits most of the criteria except it doesn't have a dedicated tool compartment, just a sleeve I use for proble & shovel handle.
It's burly, the diagonal carry is fast to setup and works well, and the reinforced crampon pouch I thought was a gimmick is nice, it either takes crampons + ski crampons or wet skins that I want to keep away form the dry stuff in the main compartment. Zipper access from the top or through the back panel. No experience with the helmet carry though.
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12-02-2019, 03:20 PM #6
Yeah, if a 40L option fit the bill perfectly, I'd be fine with it. Only reason I try to keep it a little smaller is for lift bumps - just a bit easier to wrangle a smaller pack when on a chair with 3 random tourists.
Right on. I'll add the Poacher to my "to check out" list.
And agreed on the Osprey packs. I'm replacing a Kode 32, which is like 70% of what I want on most criteria. But every possible element of the pack is twice as complicated as it needs to be, which makes me hate it. I should probably look at the Kamber though.
I like the general layout / features of the BCA. I just wish someone would make a nicer version of it with a better harness and materials that last more than a year.
Looks like a nice pack, but doesn't look to have any helmet carry options. I'm sure I could rig something up, but something that's clean and integrated is preferred (since I have a helmet strapped to the pack almost any time I'm skinning).
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12-02-2019, 03:34 PM #7
I think you could adapt the BCA helmet carry system to the pack but it would probably conflict with the skis once they're on the pack. I've actually latched a helmet on the top of that pack a couple of times last season when I was going to ski steep stuff and it worked well with a low profile climbing helmet, might not be as good with a ski helmet.
Standard advice would be to wear your lid at all times since you could get nailed on the head while going up... but I can't imagine skinning more than 2 minutes with a helmet on.
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12-02-2019, 03:34 PM #8
I really like my alpha sk 32 from last season. Checks all your boxes except maybe the helmet carry doesn’t work great if the pack is super full. But price is the main drawback.
A couple friends have the kamber (one of both sizes) and really like them too.
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12-02-2019, 03:44 PM #9
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12-02-2019, 03:44 PM #10
The old Thule Upslope 35L fit all of those criteria perfectly except for simultaneous diagonal carry and helmet. Best day touring pack I've ever owned, well thought out and super bomber. It got changed this year, but it doesn't look like the changes made it any worse, and now there's more size options. I've never had a pack that size, with that much capacity, that felt so small an out of the way on my back. Only reason I'm not using it now is I got an airbag so the lady friend got dibs on it.
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12-02-2019, 03:54 PM #11
I'm sure smart people can make it work without taking the pack off as it's a hook-based design, albeit a very small hook that I latch on the pack strap. You've seen me transition though, speed isn't really my thing so the pack goes on the ground for skit attachment. If you want to take a look I can bring you the pack at some point...
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12-02-2019, 04:07 PM #12
Good call. That looks like a good option, although the new version appears to be airbag compatible. I'd need to see if the airbag fittings got in the way of the functionality of the pack for non-airbag use.
But I played with some of their bike packs at the trade show. Nice stuff. Although fuck me sideways, they don't come cheap.
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12-02-2019, 04:16 PM #13
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12-02-2019, 04:25 PM #14Registered User
- Join Date
- Jan 2015
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- 236
Wookey Sundog or Shovel pack if 30L isn't actually important..
Wary Avi pack, but it has an airbag (actually designed by the Wookey design studio)
Mystery Ranch Saddle peak... close to 30L, but super slim for easier rides on a lift for slack-country..
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12-02-2019, 04:33 PM #15
I used this pack for spring touring the last 2yrs or so. At moderate capacity, it was the most comfortable pack I've ever owned. Less so at full capacity. I usually rigged my helmet by attaching the straps to the ice axe bungee loops. A bit fiddly but secure - probably not a good option for multiple transitions (winter touring) but good for more objective-based outings. No separate avy tool compartment either.
I launched the X-Alp out of my roof box a few months back and have been looking for a good replacement. The Thule is near the top of my list.
Check out the Mammut Spindrift for similar build (26L version) w/o airbag. More affordable as well.
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12-02-2019, 04:37 PM #16
Does Wookey still make packs? Doesn't seem like it. Wife has a Wary Avi pack that's pretty sweet. Something similar minus the airbag would be great.
Looked at the mystery ranch stuff. Nice packs, but they're all just slightly not what I want, for one reason or another.
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12-02-2019, 04:41 PM #17
I'd say get your hands on the Kamber and check it out. It's simpler than the old ski pack we have by them - forget the model name.
But I'm an Osprey fanboy. We own tons of their bags. Best warranty service I've ever experienced. Most recently my kid bought a Nebula, managed to tear out a little portion of the liner seam, and when we contacted them about it they had us send it back and they sent him a brand new pack within a week. They've done that kind of thing over and over. They've even sent free bite valves for their bike packs.
If I can convince myself an Osprey will work, that's what I buy.Last edited by beece; 12-02-2019 at 06:01 PM.
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12-02-2019, 05:08 PM #18Registered User
- Join Date
- Mar 2015
- Posts
- 552
Gregory Targhee 32. Goes a-frame or diagonal ski carry. Separate well organized avy tool pouch. Very roomy google/sunglass top compartment. I researched the same looking for 32 L pack last year. Also comes in a L=long size if your tall. I'm a little passed I just looked and they are on sale $75 less than a year ago...of course.
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12-02-2019, 05:28 PM #19
I am in the same boat. Finally replacing a BD covert avalung that I hate. Rolling the dice and went with the Ortovox Haute Route 32. It was between that and the Deuter freeride pro as they are pretty cheap with activejunky cash back on backcounty.com. Both of those seemed to have checked all my boxes.
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12-02-2019, 06:38 PM #20
Can anyone comment on the Patagonia Descensionist? I’m looking hard at the 40l version. Mostly same criteria, plus some minir ski mountaineering stuff.
Sent from my iPhone using TGR ForumsGravity always wins...
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12-02-2019, 06:54 PM #21User
- Join Date
- Oct 2003
- Location
- Ogden
- Posts
- 9,111
I used one for half of last season. I really like it, intuitive and not a lot of bells and whistles that I don’t need. But I would put it on the lightweight spectrum and not in the burly category. Love the lid/closure system, simplicity.
The photo below is a close up of some small picks where my binding rubbed in diagonal carry, doesn’t look like it’s in danger of tearing through, but not burly. I’ll probably just sew a patch of keprotec or something there eventually.
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12-02-2019, 07:20 PM #22Registered User
- Join Date
- Oct 2009
- Posts
- 536
Arcteryx Khamski should be considered, simple, light, bomber and efficient. Love mine.
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12-02-2019, 07:21 PM #23
Went and fondled the Osprey stuff and the Patagonia Descenonist tonight. Osprey Kamber 22 looks like they fixed a lot of the things that I hate about my old Kode. Unfortunately the Kamber 32 doesn't have most of those fixes. The Patagonia has a cool top closure, but otherwise I'm not a fan. The diagonal carry looks not great (bottom loop isn't adjustable, and doesn't look like it'd fit fat skis), it doesn't have a helmet carrying system, the avy tool compartment doesn't have any real organization (except drawstrings, which seem guaranteed to get tangled with your probe when you're trying to be quick), and overall the material seems like it wouldn't hold up all that well.
That looks like a nice pack. Doesn't appear to handle helmet + diagonal skis at the same time, but other than that, I like the look of it a lot. I think that and the Thule might be at the top of my list.
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12-02-2019, 07:40 PM #24Registered User
- Join Date
- Nov 2016
- Posts
- 30
Check out the Mammut Nirvana Flip. On the smaller end at 25L but checks most of the other boxes. I have been using for a number of years and love it.
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12-02-2019, 09:58 PM #25Registered User
- Join Date
- Mar 2012
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- SW, CO
- Posts
- 1,598
Had this debate last season as my Osprey Kode from years ago finally bit the dust and I hated that pack anyways. I ended up going with the BD Cirque 35 since I got a discount with my job last winter.
The Cirque is a great pack. Easy to use, light, durable and the side access zipper is super clutch. Great ski carry in both diagonal and A-frame, also carries ice tools securely if you're into that sort of thing.
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