The ski season is fast approaching and, depending on where you live in Canada, some lucky ones have already made their first tracks in the fresh powder snow. For those who haven’t had snow yet, now is a great time to shop for ski gear—and that includes choosing one of the top backcountry backpacks for your future adventures.
Let’s break down the essentials:
OUR SKI TOURING BACKPACK SELECTION
our top choice
Brand Name | Product Type
Product Name
Price: 0.00$
Affordable, simple, efficient, and resistant, the Mammut Trion 35 Backpack is ideal for all skiers and mountaineers who don't compromise on equipment. It has a large opening that gives you easy access to its contents, while its 35-litre format is suitable for a day of backcountry touring.
Price: 0.00$
best backpack for skiing and snowboarding
If you’re looking for a bigger ski touring backpack that won’t weigh you down, consider the Atomic Backland Touring Backpack. This 30L pack is lightweight and ergonomic, and boasts a wide array of useful features.
This includes an expendable skin and crampon compartment, dedicated ice axe/pole storage, an array of pockets, and extra gear loops on the hip belt. Meanwhile, the water-repellent construction and reflective logos also make it a safe bet in bad weather.
Price: 0.00$
Brand Name | Product Type
Brand Name | Product Type
If you’re looking for a bigger ski touring backpack that won’t weigh you down, consider the Atomic Backland Touring Backpack. This 30L pack is lightweight and ergonomic, and boasts a wide array of useful features.
This includes an expendable skin and crampon compartment, dedicated ice axe/pole storage, an array of pockets, and extra gear loops on the hip belt. Meanwhile, the water-repellent construction and reflective logos also make it a safe bet in bad weather.
Price: 0.00$
the most versatile backpack
With a ring belt for hanging gear, pockets on the back of the backpack for shoulder strap access when needed, and integrated bindings for helmet and ropes, the Osprey 22L Mutant is designed for real backcountry skiers and mountaineers.
Its ice axe attachments are easy to use with gloves. Extremely comfortable and stable, this backpack is a good companion for hiking all year round. Also comes in a larger 38L model.
Price: 0.00$
Brand Name | Product Type
Brand Name | Product Type
With a ring belt for hanging gear, pockets on the back of the backpack for shoulder strap access when needed, and integrated bindings for helmet and ropes, the Osprey 22L Mutant is designed for real backcountry skiers and mountaineers.
Its ice axe attachments are easy to use with gloves. Extremely comfortable and stable, this backpack is a good companion for hiking all year round. Also comes in a larger 38L model.
Price: 0.00$
top long trek backpack
Are you leaving for more than one day? Then the Gregory Targhee FastTrack 45L Backpack is the ideal companion to carry skis, clothes, water and food and all your safety equipment. Its zips with moulded zip pulls are compatible with gloves and mittens—perfect for the cold weather at the summit.
Price: 0.00$
Brand Name | Product Type
Brand Name | Product Type
Are you leaving for more than one day? Then the Gregory Targhee FastTrack 45L Backpack is the ideal companion to carry skis, clothes, water and food and all your safety equipment. Its zips with moulded zip pulls are compatible with gloves and mittens—perfect for the cold weather at the summit.
Price: 0.00$
best big load backpack
With well thought-out compartments that simplify the organization of your equipment, the Klättermusen Trud 44L Backpack is ideal for minimalist backcountry skiing, mountaineering, and expeditions all year round.
In the event of an avalanche, the outer pocket of the backpack features a safety pocket that can be used to store the appropriate tools that may save your life. It’s also worth noting that the Trud is compatible with the Helmet Holder to keep your helmet secure when not in use.
Price: 0.00$
Brand Name | Product Type
Brand Name | Product Type
With well thought-out compartments that simplify the organization of your equipment, the Klättermusen Trud 44L Backpack is ideal for minimalist backcountry skiing, mountaineering, and expeditions all year round.
In the event of an avalanche, the outer pocket of the backpack features a safety pocket that can be used to store the appropriate tools that may save your life. It’s also worth noting that the Trud is compatible with the Helmet Holder to keep your helmet secure when not in use.
Price: 0.00$
other top choices
The Burton [Ak] Dispatcher 25L Backpack is strong and distributes the load naturally to offer greater freedom of movement during ascent and descent. The Dispatcher is equipped with a quick-access dedicated snow tool compartment, hydration sleeve, and a snow-repellent compression moulded back panel with airflow zones.
Price: 0.00$
Brand Name | Product Type
Brand Name | Product Type
The Burton [Ak] Dispatcher 25L Backpack is strong and distributes the load naturally to offer greater freedom of movement during ascent and descent. The Dispatcher is equipped with a quick-access dedicated snow tool compartment, hydration sleeve, and a snow-repellent compression moulded back panel with airflow zones.
Price: 0.00$
Best lightweight ski backpack
Those who like minimalist expeditions will find something to suit them with the Falketind 35L Ski Backpack, from the experts at Norrøna. Weighing only 830 grams, it offers enough storage space for all the essentials and more. It's a featherweight bag that doesn't weigh you down too much on the way up.
Price: 0.00$
Brand Name | Product Type
Brand Name | Product Type
Those who like minimalist expeditions will find something to suit them with the Falketind 35L Ski Backpack, from the experts at Norrøna. Weighing only 830 grams, it offers enough storage space for all the essentials and more. It's a featherweight bag that doesn't weigh you down too much on the way up.
Price: 0.00$
last, but definitely not least
You can never go wrong with a Patagonia product! The Ascensionist 35L Backpack is more functional than ever. It is both big enough to accompany you in the mountains and small enough to not to get in the way during the ascent. Like most of our products, it is bluesign-certified.
Price: 0.00$
Brand Name | Product Type
Brand Name | Product Type
You can never go wrong with a Patagonia product! The Ascensionist 35L Backpack is more functional than ever. It is both big enough to accompany you in the mountains and small enough to not to get in the way during the ascent. Like most of our products, it is bluesign-certified.
Price: 0.00$
how to choose a backcountry backpack
Your backpack is one of the most important pieces of equipment when you go outside the resort boundaries. You want one of the top backcountry backpacks—big enough to hold all your gear, but not so big that it compromises your mobility and ability to move around safely and comfortably.
With the increase in technology for avalanche safety equipment, many bags have appeared on the market that include avalanche airbags that inflate when triggered. These airbags allow your body to stay above the snow in the event of an avalanche. It is important to remember that these bags cannot guarantee that you will be 100% safe when you wear one, but they do increase your chances of escaping an avalanche unscathed.
What equipment to carry
In addition to your backpack, you need appropriate avalanche safety equipment. This includes your shovel, probe and beacon or transceiver. Ideally, you should take an avalanche safety course before you go, because having the equipment is one thing, but knowing how to use it properly is another and could very well mean the difference between life and death in an undesired situation.
Many brands offer a variety of avalanche safety equipment, including Mammut, MSR, Black Diamond and Backcountry Access. An even larger collection of brands offers top backcountry backpacks for whatever activity you fancy.
Ski touring Backpack Features
1. Straps and belt
When choosing your backcountry backpack, there are a few important features to consider. I recently purchased the Gregory Targhee for myself and I’m looking forward to using it this season. I looked at a few bags before settling on the Targhee and the most important feature for me was the shoulder straps. You’ll often have a lot of gear in your bag and sometimes you’ll also be carrying your skis or board, so having thick, comfortable shoulder straps will make it easier to comfortably carry heavy loads.
I was also very picky about the waist straps. You want something thick that isn’t flimsy or thin, and doesn’t hurt the sides of your waist. Like a hiking or travel backpack, you want the majority of the weight of the bag to rest on your hips, not your shoulders. If the weight of the bag is on your shoulders, you may get tired faster or end up with a sore back in the middle of the day.
2. Pockets and compartments
Other important features are pockets and zips. You want to have enough room for your avalanche gear, your skins if you use them, as well as extra layers, toques and gloves in case the weather changes. The Targhee has a large number of pockets that are the ideal size for the gear many need to wear.
Look for ski backpacks that have all the necessary features and try it out. Always check that the size is suitable for your body shape and that there are no points where the bag could rub uncomfortably. If you have to go on long backcountry expeditions, you should make sure your backpack is comfortable enough that you almost forget you are wearing it.
3. Zip fasteners and zipper tabs
The size of the zips is another feature to consider when shopping for backcountry ski backpacks. Keep in mind that you’ll often be wearing gloves or mittens, and that larger zips with buckles or tabs will make your life much easier. When it comes to zips, most backcountry backpacks have heavy-duty zips, but it’s always a good idea to check. Try to open and close the bag several times to make sure there is no place where the zip will jam.
4. Ski and board carrying options
Whether you intend to hike with your board or skis on your bag or not, having this option is a luxury and will make your experiences more enjoyable. Some bags are equipped with a side and diagonal carrying system for skis and a front carrying system for snowboards. Often there will be small side straps where you can also attach your poles if you have them.
5. Compatibility with hydration tanks
Finally, make sure to consider compatibility with a hydration tank or bladder. Having one of the top backcountry backpacks should mean hydration compatibility. You don’t always have time to make constant stops to drink when on terrain not ideal for frequent stops. Hydration is just as important in winter as it is in summer, so don’t forget to drink! If you can find a backpack that is compatible with hydration, buy it. Also, remember that cold winter temperatures often cause your water to freeze, so look for an insulated hydration system. There’s nothing worse than carrying a bulky block of ice all day.
Ski touring Backpack Sizes
As far as the size is concerned, you generally don’t want to go below 20L, as you will fill it up to the seams.
A 40L bag may be too big, but it depends on the type of equipment you ski with and the amount of stuff you have to carry (and, of course, how long you’ll be outside).If you are a guide, you may need extra space for extra equipment.
A 25 to 35 litre bag is ideal for day trips into the backcountry. Our selection offers you some interesting options.
This does not mean that bags under 20 litres are a bad choice and bags over 35 litres are too big, but you should choose the size that suits you best, when choosing one of the top backcountry backpacks.
Pack that pack and ski anywhere!
Each bag has unique features that appeal to different skiers—it’s always worth comparing ski backpacks. You may discover a practical feature you never noticed before. Once you’ve chosen your backcountry backpack, head over to our resources about helmets, goggles and jackets. Then pack up your gear and go on an adventure!
Need advice on how to choose the rest of your ski equipment? Our experts will guide you through the purchase of your board, skis, boots, and bindings for ski and boarding to start the season on the right foot.
Advice for skiers:
Advice for snowboarders: