Snowboard Backpacks

What size backpack do you need?

10 to 20 litres covers most riding days and most everyday use. That is enough for a water bladder or bottle, a mid layer, sunscreen, snacks, phone and goggles, without the bulk of a pack that feels like you are carrying camp on the chairlift.

Bigger is not better here. A pack that sits too proud catches on the lift bar every time you sit down, which gets old fast. Step up in volume when you are genuinely carrying more on longer days out, not by default.

Which features actually matter?

• Helmet carry covers the walk from accommodation to the mountain and the ride down at the end of the day, so you are not carrying it under one arm.
• A fleece-lined goggle pocket keeps lenses scratch-free and away from wet gloves. Lenses are the easiest thing in your kit to ruin, and it is almost always storage that does it rather than a crash. The same pocket works perfectly well for sunglasses or a laptop sleeve the rest of the year.
• Hydration compatibility matters more than people expect. Altitude and cold both dehydrate you faster than you notice. On genuinely cold days look for an insulated hose, because the hose freezes long before the bladder does.
• Board carry comes in vertical, diagonal and A-frame. Only relevant if you are walking or hiking in, but essential the moment you are.

Resort day or heading out of bounds?

The range here covers both, and the difference is what you need the pack to hold.

For lift-served days you want something compact and low-profile that carries water, a layer and your goggles without throwing off your balance. For touring and side-country you need board carry, dedicated space for a shovel and probe, and a harness that stays comfortable under load on a long climb.

If you are going beyond the resort boundary, a transceiver, shovel and probe are not optional, and neither is the training to use them.

Do these work as everyday backpacks?

Genuinely, yes, and a lot of ours are bought by people who never take them near snow. A pack built to survive a season of wet chairlifts, thrown gear and being dumped in a lodge is overbuilt for a commute, which is exactly why it lasts.

Water-resistant fabrics, reinforced bases, proper harnesses and laptop or tablet sleeves make them strong options for commuting, uni, travel and hiking. If you are buying purely for everyday use, look at the resort-sized packs rather than the touring ones, since board carry straps and avalanche tool pockets are dead weight off the mountain.

How should a pack fit?

Snug against your back with the load sitting high and close, not sagging at your waist. A loaded pack that hangs low pulls you backwards, which you feel most on a traverse or a steep entry, and which wrecks your posture on a long walk.

Use the sternum strap. Most people ignore it, and it is the thing that stops the pack shifting across your back mid-turn.

Which brands do we carry?

Dakine, Jones, Burton and more. Brands with real snowboard heritage and development input from riders, rather than general outdoor packs with a board strap added as an afterthought.

Buying a backpack in Australia

Free shipping on orders over $90, with same and next-day dispatch from our Richmond store in Melbourne. If you are packing for touring rather than resort days, come and talk to us, because pack choice depends on the terrain and the safety kit you carry.

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