Introducing Raide: Light packs and apparel you’ll actually enjoy using.

[concierge]

TLDR: Website | Instagram

I’m excited to introduce everyone to the new brand I am launching today called Raide. Raide means steep in French, inspired by what makes mountain objectives the most memorable to us. Raide makes premium equipment and apparel for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains. Our products ensure that light actually means fast by combining low weight with the right features, access, comfort and durability. It’s the compromise that I think most people are looking for: light products you will actually enjoy using, but aren’t the lightest on the market.

I am a skier who values performance on the uphill and downhill equally. I care about going uphill fast and skiing down with style. The company was born out of the frustration the brands are usually building gear for the uphill oriented skimo athlete or the downhill oriented freerider.

The frustration really hit a peak (no pun intended) when I took a ultralight pack on Rainier that ended up slowing me down significantly because of poor access, organization, and comfort. This made me realize that light only equals fast when you combine low weight with the right features, access and comfort. Thus the Raide LF 40L was born. I started with just wanting to make one pack for myself that combined all the features I could dream of in a 1kg pack, but the project really took off when I got into one of the best pack factories in the world.


The pack was recently featured in Powder and Blister and we have had incredibly positive reviews from some of our athletes like Jim Ryan, Michael Wirth, Teague Holmes, Bernie Rosow, Pat Gephart and Dan Corn.

Some of the features are:
- 40L, that expands to 50L with a rolltop.
- 1090g and strippable to 900g.
- Comes in Black and White with 2 back panel lengths in each color.
- Back panel access.
- 2 quick access stash pockets for no zip transitions.
- Removable frame to distribute heavy loads
- Removable back panel insert for sitting, splinting, etc.
- A-frame and diagonal ski carry.
- Vertical snowboard carry.
- Integrated helmet carry.
- Glove stash strap on shoulder strap.
- Carries 2 ice tools and keeps ice tool picks enclosed.
- Hip pad pocket that actually fits your phone.
- 9mm of foam in the shoulder straps.
- Radio/hydration pass through port.
- Drainage holes out of cinch top and avy tools pocket.

This is my dream pack and we have a lot of exciting products in the pipeline that are geared towards the skiers/snowboarders the big brands have forgotten. Please checkout our website and Instagram for more information. Reply with any comments or questions you may have!

[tang]

Concierge - Sweet, picked one up! Hey, check your font color. Shows up for me as black on blue background for the body text (bullets are blue). Not sure re others

[EWG]

Looking forward to seeing your apparel offerings.

[Island Bay]

Would buy one in a heartbeat, but $200 shipping (to NZ) is just too painful.

[TCNROMPER]

Would buy one in a heartbeat, but $200 shipping (to NZ) is just too painful.

I’ll be flying to NZ in December and could transport for you if you are interested?

[Island Bay]

I’ll be flying to NZ in December and could transport for you if you are interested?

That's one hell of a generous offer. Thank you.

Will PM you.

[concierge]

Would buy one in a heartbeat, but $200 shipping (to NZ) is just too painful.

Island Bay DM me if TCNROMPER doesn't help you out. I am sure I can get the shipping cost lower than that. I am not sure why it is quoting you that high.

[Island Bay]

Island Bay DM me if TCNROMPER doesn't help you out. I am sure I can get the shipping cost lower than that. I am not sure why it is quoting you that high.

Another kind offer - what a day!

Thank you, Concierge. Not your fault with the shipping.

TcnRomper has been in touch, and I'll try to order a pack later today. Yeeew!

[zlatham]

Pack looks amazing, any plans for a 30l-ish version? Cheers-


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[ezgzy]

Just bought one after following some of your posts in the pack thread and reading powder’s review, i’m more than sold.


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[concierge]

Pack looks amazing, any plans for a 30l-ish version? Cheers-


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Thanks for the positive feedback! I am working on a 30L, but it will not be released this season.

[bennymac]

Concierge- Congrats on what appears to be a home run! That Powder review says it all.

[Lee Murian]

Congratulations on your launch, I just ordered mine

[Core Shot]

I was thinking this was spambot sales. Then I read the blister and powder.

Seems like a great idea. And real skiers trying to make a better product.

[tgapp]

strong work Concierge, looks like a sick pack

Dan Corn is a great dude and an amazing athlete, if he likes this pack then I am definitely keen on it too

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[McShortyShorts]

Just bought your ZGTP forward lean mod. It's a pricey hunk o' metal but exactly what I needed and a far better execution than what I could have done in my basement

[nyskirat]

Definitely interested in grabbing a 30l bag next season. This looks amazing. Nice work!

[cydwhit]

Context on the Powder writeup:

After my first video call about this pack, where Concierge walked me through all the features and philosophy, I walked downstairs and started gushing to my partner about how this is my absolute favorite part of the job. It's really cool to see a new brand bring a product to market that specifically addresses a bunch of small pain points that my friends and I have experienced in the backcountry, at a lower price than the competition.

The preproduction pack I got to play with is going back in the mail today, but I'm so excited to get my hands on one for a full review.

[zlatham]

Thanks for the positive feedback! I am working on a 30L, but it will not be released this season.

Right on thank you, looking forward to seeing it in the future-


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[concierge]

Thanks for the support everyone! To anyone that has bought one, thank you so much I am so grateful you are spending your money with Raide.

Just bought your ZGTP forward lean mod. It's a pricey hunk o' metal but exactly what I needed and a far better execution than what I could have done in my basement

You are going to be psyched on the part! It completely changes how the boot skis. It's a pricey hunk of metal on my end too!

[alpinevibes]

I’m excited to introduce everyone to the new brand I am launching today called Raide. Raide means steep in French, inspired by what makes mountain objectives the most memorable to us. Raide makes premium equipment and apparel for efficient human-powered movement in the mountains. Our products ensure that light actually means fast by combining low weight with the right features, access, comfort and durability. It’s the compromise that I think most people are looking for: light products you will actually enjoy using, but aren’t the lightest on the market.

I am a skier who values performance on the uphill and downhill equally. I care about going uphill fast and skiing down with style. The company was born out of the frustration the brands are usually building gear for the uphill oriented skimo athlete or the downhill oriented freerider.

Love the pack and design, as well as launch and branding stuff - really really good.

It's odd to see the detracting comments about the rolltop on Blister's IG post and just want to say: I think you've got a great design that has thoughtful, intentional reasons behind it. I have the Dorsa 27 , love the rolltop and the expansion capabilities, simplicity and lighter weight. If the social media jockeys want a zipper, I guess they just need a different pack?? Not sure why they need to complain to a new, small-scale, one-man show about not making "their" preferred product. Anyways, small rant but I thought those two were a bit classless (in a very social media way) and keep doing a great job with your packs. Clearly the majority are stoked on them!

[deft_funk]

Was in the market for a new bag this year and following on the everyday touring pack thread, picked one up this morning.

It's a little bigger than what I planned on buying (I've found my old 30L that does not expand to be tight but sufficient even for long days with sharps), and was intrigued by a few features built into some other packs (running vest style front pockets; access to ski carry, crampons, axe without removing the pack)... but this checks more boxes than anything else and I had some concerns about those other features being too gimmicky or specific. I..e, front pockets great in the spring but useless midwinter when they will just collect snow and I want my phone and water as warm as possible.

Nice work, looking forward to seeing it in person.

[riff]

Only 9 left in the preorder deal, strong work there Concierge!


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[Marshal Olson]

RAIDE 40L - FIRST LOOK
I have been fortunate to have spent the last week playing around with the new Raide 40L pack, and wanted to share a few impressions.

BACKGROUND
Over the past ~25 years, I have gone through a lot of packs, from Contour Mtn 40s and Bomb Packs back in the day, to the Wookey Sun Dog and Khamski, then an Alpha SK, and most recently Dynafit DNA and Cirque 22s. While trying to find the right blend of features for my needs, which certainly have changed over the years, sadly almost all of them have had some kind of fatal flaw for my use.

• Over-engineered harnesses and/or excessively heavy builds that were too stiff and restricted movement while skiing
• Under-engineered harnesses that sucked to carry weight
• Under-structured / lacking compression so gear would slosh around while moving
• Insufficient/loose fitting avy tool storage that lead to stuff obnoxiously banging around
• Limited entry that made for either hard-to-access gear or hard-to-physically fit gear

Most recently, with the DNA and Crique 22, I love the weight and general layouts, but they both lack compression straps, so I ended up carrying an extra puffy in the pack (that I never use) to prevent gear from rattling around, and their harnesses really only carries <1000g setups (ski+binding) with any comfort.

THE RAIDE PACK
So, admittedly, I was a bit skeptical about going back up in size to a 40L pack initially. It just felt overkill to my minimalist brain. But when the package arrived, weighing less than 2.5lbs, and was about 1” thick, I knew I wasn’t thinking about the pack in the right way. Here is what stood out to me, right off the bat:

• Best-in-class materials look to be very durable and quite light.
• The stay shape provides a nice structure to the pack, even with nothing in it.
• Compression straps in all the right places mean it loads up and carries ~15L of gear better than my previous micro pack, while still expanding to carry enough gear for a hut trip.
• Thoughtful top access + back panel access means the pack easily swallows verts when they are needed, instead of lashing them to the outside or forcing them into openings that are just a shade too small.
• Small details like the removable splint and the relief in the avy tool compartment for the blade’s handle insertion point abound all over the pack.
• The harness and ski carry design feels up to the task of carrying my heaviest setup (C132 at ~2100g/ski with binding) without any trouble at all.
• Hip pocket that I am actually going to try using for my beacon

PERSONAL SETUP
It is actually ~150g lighter, once loaded with all the same gear than my (soon to be listed for sale, haha) Cirque 22, since I can leave the extra puffy and beacon harness at home. The pack also looks to ski much better in terms of feeling like its a part of my body, instead of being something strapped TO my body.

A few small changes that I am going to test once the snow is flying:

• Added a ring on the hip belt for the beacon’s leash, so I can store the Beacon in hip pocket, as previously mentioned.
• I really like quick-mount ski carry straps (skimo style), and while the included G hook accomidates this style, I will probably swap it out for a gated triangle biner + tri-glide at some point. Right now, I have the strap from my Cirque 22 on there so I can try it and the stock configuration first.
• I have gotten used to a crampon pocket on my skimo-style packs, and mainly use them to store and quickly access my goggles + putting my skins in them when skiing to the car. I am actually really excited by both the integrated helmet storage pocket for my goggles as the main quick access location, since I can (barely, stupid multiple shoulder surgeries) access it without taking my pack off, and also trying the glove strap for quick access to goggles for 1000 vert yoyo laps.
• I subbed the safety buckle on the waist for a metal tactical buckle, just due to personal preference when operating with gloves. I do this to every non-vest-style pack as I have broken one too many cold pastic buckles and fumble around with safety buckles.

CONCLUSIONS
You can tell that Concierge spent ALOT of time thinking everything through. The execution is top notch, and he got just about everything right. Which is saying something as basically every other pack I have owned, from all the majors, has blown at least 1 important aspect to their pack design.

I personally hate switching gear between packs (as I will inevitably forget one important thing), so having something that can TRULY do it all is super impressive: It should capably carry everything for all day trips, but gets small and light enough for quick strikes. Can’t wait to get this sucker on snow. At least during my parking lot test, it checks every requirement I have.

[PNWbrit]

Concierge

This little typo leapt out at me. https://raideresearch.com/pages/team