day trip ski tour pack size?

[Socialist]

I have been using a "DAKINE Heli Pro 20L Winter Pack - 1200cu in". It is just barley big enough.
I like using the wet side pocket for my skins. The main compartment barley fits my mid-layer and jacket when skinning up - with everything else (food, safety stuff, water).

Can't find a good place for the shovel or probe. I've got them to work, but it is always awkward. I attached some bungee cord and 550 line to make a harness for the shovel.

Is 20L just too small for day tours?

[moose pit]

yes

35 at least especially if you ski where is gets cold

[Jethro]

I'd say 32 to 40 liters is a good size for an average sized guy. I have a 40L avalung pack, which works well for me but I am a sloppy pack packer and I am a big guy.

[gregL]

I attached some bungee cord and 550 line to make a harness for the shovel. Is 20L just too small for day tours?

You're tying your shovel on with a bungee cord? I think you answered your own question.

With a 30 liter pack, I can just barely get the following inside (really inside): mid-weight puffy, super compressible shell, extra gloves/hat, goggles, ski crampons, liter of water and sometimes a thermos, skins, some food, first aid/repair stuff, shovel/probe. I don't want to leave any of those behind.

Anything smaller is just for lift skiing on high-avy days when just a shovel/probe/water goes inside.

[hutash]

A well designed 22L packed efficiently works fine. Bigger is better especially if you just want to throw shit in.

[D(C)]

My 22L BD Covert seems to fit pretty well what I'd bring on a day tour in Coastal BC. In the outside pocket, I keep my probe, shovel and skins. In the main pocket I have a Montbell micropuff type jacket in a small stuff sack, 2L of water (either in bottles or Camebak if it's warm enough), food, goggles, gloves, some first aid stuff though nothing very bulky (just some bandages, gauze, etc.) and room for both my shell and fleece if I need to take them off. It is a tight fit, though and having something around 30L would definitely give more room to work with, especially on colder days where I'd be wanting to bring more extra clothing. The good thing about a smaller pack, though, is that if forces you to pack efficiently.

[hoarhey]

I find my 32L BD Covert gives me the flexibility to carry some extra stuff for a day tour.
I had the 22L, but I didn't like the limitations of the smaller volume.

I have shovel and probe in the outer pocket (suprised you can get skins in there D(c))

[D(C)]

(suprised you can get skins in there D(c))

They fit in there if I put them in individually without the skin bag - not having the bag or skin savers, etc. saves fiddling anyway. They're also Glidelights so I'm not sure if a thicker skin like an Ascension would go, but I have no issue getting them in there like that.

[hoarhey]

that makes sense

[Rob Stokes]

My 20l BD agent pack can take....water/food, shovel, probe, crampons, skins, axe(outside), spare gloves, SMALL repair/first aids kit, synthetic layer, goggles, 30m rope and crevasse gear(hung on the bottom of shoulder straps for when I need it!).....AWESOME little pack.

35l is good for longer days when you need more gear....longer rope etc...

[Name Redacted]

My BD outlaw 32L is perfect all around. I can use it for quick sidecountry jaunts with just avy gear and it's low profile enough to ride the lift without taking it off. It is also perfect for longer day tours. Along with avy gear I have carried skins, down layer, goggles, gloves, first aid, crampons, ice axe (outside), camera, cornice cutter, and full water bladder and had room to spare. It's also my everyday pack, for anything more I have a 45L pack.

IMHO you want something in the 30's at least. Small packs are nice for sidecountry but if you want to get further out you shouldn't let you pack size determine what you can/cannot bring.

[Kai]

35liters is the perfect size. Can cover anything you might need to do in a day, and with some careful packing and thoughtful gear selection, could even work for an overnight.

[neufox47]

35L with good cinch straps. Smaller packs waist strap never seems to get down to the top of the pelvis and are less comfortable than the 35L when skiing. Even if I have only 20L of gear, I would rather have it in a long thin package than a stuffed backpack.

[LeeLau]

I've used a Life Link Granite 15l quite successfully in the past without the dangling outerwear and shovels and shitshow all the place that appears to be in the vogue for backcountry travelling these days. Minimal stuff though - small puffy, skins, shovel, probe, saw, one water bottle, food and tiny first aid kit - basic slackcountry.

Osprey Variant 28l pack review

Black hole packs fit more stuff than packs with different compartments but that's skier preference.

[Hugh Conway]

Except for the helmet and cloths worn, everything in the picture went inside the 32L Covert:


edit: as well as the dSLR that took the pic.

you could easily go less than 30L with some care. Amazing how much useless crap people carry in 40L packs

[skis_the_trees]

I use two packs depending on the day. Cold or variable weather, long tour, etc and I bring my "large pack" DaKine Poacher 45L.

Day trips or anytime I know I can run light and I bring my K2 Pilchuck 35L pack. With compression straps I can scrunch it down to be very slim against my back. Fits my DSLR and gear without ever being bulky. Can still A-frame my skis securely.

[skis_the_trees]

Canwilf: I previously had a DaKine Blade from around ~2005 that was around that size and fit me well @ 6'3" -- it was tall and slender. My current DaKine Poacher is similarly tall and slender but is bigger @ 45L (I upgraded for more room). You might try some of the brands/packs that have different sizes like Osprey (although not sure all of their ski-specific packs come in multiple sizes).

[powtario]

I'm looking for ~30L backcountry pack rec's. The last real thread I could find was from 2009. I've looked at a couple so far, but would like some solid maggot imput and any other suggestions. I'm 6'2, 185 and I'm looking for a bag with a solid diagonal ski carry.

Packs I've looked at:

Dakine Tactic - looks really nice, does having the diagonal ski carry attach to the outer pocket cause the bag to slump?
BD Covert - sloppy diagonal ski carry?
Marmot Backcountry - seemed bulky and kind of sloppy

Cheers

[pfluffenmeister]

^^^ gregory targhee - great ski carry system.

[Hugh Conway]

BD Covert - sloppy diagonal ski carry?

decent enough on the older model. Great all around ski pack ime.

[XXX-er]

I think its a bora 40L arcterxy I use for touring ,also good to overload for a weekend backpack BUT kind of fucking heavy ...I might look around for a lighter si pack

for the hill I have a dakine apex which is really a bike pack or an old 28liter MEC which is a good size but the pack is getting a little done