Ski Touring Backpacks

What is Ski Touring?

Ski Touring or Skinning is a challenging winter sport, in which you first ascend the slope before skiing down. Before the first-ever ski lift was invented in 1908 by German, Robert Winterhalder, the only way to get up a mountain was by hiking or climbing.

As years have gone by, most of us now choose to use a ski lift, however, you may have seen those people walking up or people heading off into the backcountry, not on the piste, they are ski touring.

Ski touring is more about uphill than it is downhill, It's about the physical challenge of skinning up and hiking to the top of the mountain before descending down. The rewards of ski touring are massive, not only will ski touring allow you to see parts of the mountain many will never see, but it will also get you really fit at the same time.

The rewards of the downhill ski are a lot more rewarding knowing you have earned it.

With ski touring being such a demanding winter sport, a comfortable and well thought out touring pack is a necessity.

What makes a good Ski Touring Backpack?

A high-end technical touring backpack shouldn't be a chore to wear on your back. Over the years they have evolved from being heavy and clunky to now very streamline and comfortable ready for any demanding ski tour. Here's what to look out for in a good ski touring pack: 

Volume:

Every good touring pack should come with enough volume to pack for multi-day trips, ranging from 30 to 45 litres of usable volume, this should allow you to pack all of the ski touring necessities such as:

• Skins
• Crampons
• Base Layers 1 / 2
• Ski jacket
• Ski Shell
• Spare Gloves & Hat
• Compass
• Shovel
• Probe
• First Aid Kit
• Thermals
• Goggles
• Water Bottle
• Head Lamp
• Sunglasses
• Tool Kit (VersaTool, Binding Screws, Steel Wool, Lighter, Voile Straps)
• Ski Scraper

You can also find the occasional 20 litre ski touring packs which is enough for small day tours when just packing a spare layer, camera and lunch.

Back Shape:

When ascending and descending the mountain the last thing you need is a pack that slides around when you move.

The Ski touring packs we supply from Ortovox, Osprey and more adapt to the natural S-shape of the spine through a Predetermined Curvature of the back systems and ensures that the backpack closely Surrounds The Back.

With optimal body-hugging fit, the padded back systems and stable hip belts make the packs secure with any movement.

Brands like Ortovox & Osprey offer ski touring packs specially made for those with shorter back lengths.

Materials used:

All brands believe in their own choice of fabrics but they all hold the same features, they're strong, resistant to abrasion and weatherproof which is exactly what you need in a good ski touring pack.

Here's what brands use in their packs:

Ortovox 

• Haute Route - Nylon 420D Oxford (PFC FREE)
• Ascent - Nylon 420D Robic  - Nylon 100D Robic Ripstop 

Osprey

• Soelden - 210D High Tenacity Nylon Shadowbox
• Sopris - 210D High Tenacity Nylon Shadowbox
• Kamber - 420D High Tenacity Nylon Recycled BASAPP CO
• Kresta - 420D High Tenacity Nylon Recycled BASAPP CO

Scott

• Backcountry Patrol -  Composition: Shell Fabric - 100% polyamide, Lining: 100% Polyester, H/T 420D Nylon Plain, W/R, 1,500MM, H/T 210D Nylon Double R/S W/R, 1,000MM

Alpride

• SuperCap/Light - N210D HD R/S SD PU, DYNEEMA HAS W1403-001, N210 D HD R/S SD deep blue

Dakine

• Poacher RAS -  840D two-tone nylon ripstop with water repellent finish / 500D high tenacity nylon heather plain weave with water repellent finish

Standard Features of a Ski Touring Backpack:

All good ski touring packs come with a set of standard features, you can find these in almost every pack we supply:

Avalanche Safety Compartment Immediate access to your emergency equipment such as your Shovel & Probe, First Aid Kit

Diagonal Ski Fix (D-Skifix) All good touring packs come with a Diagonal ski fastener, versatile in use

Compression Straps Simple backpack compression with little content. Also serves as a side ski fastener. Not found on any of the Airbag compatible Backpacks.

Snowboard and Snowshoe Fastner Flexible carrying fastener for snowboards, snowshoes, and others.

Rope Attachment  Simple attachment of a rope on the main compartment.

Ice Axe and Hiking Pole Attachment Simple, rigid fastener allows rapid access to ice axe and poles.

Helmet Net Net for convenient and secure fastening of a helmet.

Hydration System Compatible  Secure holder for all common drink bladders. A must for ski touring backpacks, Its important to stay hydrated on the mountain.

• Hip Pockets
• Key Holders
• Map Compartment 
• Crampon Fastening And More