December is here and, for many, that means it’s time to figure out gifts for loved ones. With that spirit of giving in mind, we’ve rounded up eight awesome bag and pack options for the skier in your life.
Grand Tour — MountainSmith
One of the industry’s first backcountry ski packs, the original Grand Tour debuted in the mid-90s to help out-of-bounds skiers push their boundaries. In 2016, Mountainsmith revived this heritage pack, combining the vintage design with modern technology for adventures to the mountains, the office, campus and back.
Freerider Pro 30 — Deuter
The best of the Deuter snow sports product line, the Freerider Pro will take you into the backcountry with comfort and style. It easily stashes everything you could possibly need, including a separate pocket for your safety gear. An additional two-way opening at the back allows access to the main compartment without having to unfasten skis. Bomber, functional, rad.
The Douchebag — Douchebags
We love this bag, plain and simple. It features a maximum of 150 liters of storage–that’s enough room for a pair of skis, poles, boots, a helmet and ski apparel, or two pairs of skis and outerwear, all while staying under the 50-pound threshold. ABS protection “ribs” safeguard your valuables and incredibly beefy wheels up the durability factor even further. It rolls into a super compact unit for easy storage, so you can kiss those messy hotel rooms goodbye. The ski bag also pairs with the Hugger 30L via a convenient hook and loop system, enabling you to truck your luggage around with ease. The Hugger 30L features a laptop pocket suitable for a 15-inch MacBook Pro or similar computer, 30 liters of storage as well as the aforementioned ABS protection ribs to keep your goods safe through any endeavor.
*The Hugger 30L is sold separately and retails at $159.
Stash 30 Backpack — Backcountry Access
Backcountry Access (BCA) revamped its Stash series of backpacks for 2016-17, employing a combo of tough nylon and hypalon, a material that’s both durable and water resistant. With a 30-liter storage capacity, this back-panel-access pack has enough room to stow everything from your backcountry essentials to extra layering, lunch and a hydration system. Hip belt pockets add to its storage capacity and an adjustable waist belt accommodates a variety of torso sizes. Compression straps help it cinch down tight without blocking any pockets, too. Rely on the Stash 30 for those long days in the wilderness.
Split Roller 100L — Dakine
Dakine produces some of the most highly-touted luggage in the skiing space, so it makes total sense that we’re so wowed by the Split Roller. It’s got three specialized inner compartments: a large one for your clean clothes, one dedicated to ski boots and another for keeping your dirty, smelly garments away from your pristine ones. The best feature, however, is that it’s collapsible, allowing you to stow ’er away when you’ve reached your final destination.
Guntower Pack — Oakley
The 25-liter Guntower Pack is built for seamless transitions from the airport to the car to the slopes to the office and everywhere in between. Its carry-on size makes for easy air travel and it features front and top zipper access so you can effortlessly retrieve your belongings. A dedicated, padded eyewear pouch provides storage for your sunnies and a durable ripstop construction in the upper pack helps prevent damage through all of your adventures.
Splash 25 — Klymit
This fully waterproof pack is an ideal adventure companion for those that regularly find themselves in wet environments. Welded seams and a roll-top closure aid in combating moisture, while its “Airframe” suspension utilizes a integrated hand pump to boost or reduce air pressure, depending on your preference, for the ideal amount of padding. It also boasts a 25 liter capacity and only weighs 21 ounces. From the rivers to the beach days, this pack has got you covered.
Women’s Poacher RAS 26L — Dakine
The Dakine Poacher RAS 26L is built specifically for the female body. An S-shaped curve in the straps helps eliminate pressure points, the sternum strap sits higher on the chest for improved fit, a slim shoulder strap width provides balanced weight distribution and a shortened back panel length accommodates female torso size—at least on average. The pack, which provides interior access from the back panel, is also built with diagonal and A-frame ski-carry systems, a dedicated avalanche tool pocket, an ice axe loop and a helmet-carry system. To round it out, it’s compatible with Mammut’s Removable Airbag System 3.0, which is sold separately.
