The best ski backpacks 2024: for adventures on and off-piste

The very best ski backpacks aren't just functional and stylish, they also keep you safe on the slopes and in the backcountry. Designed to hold everything you need for skiing adventures, some contain truly remarkable technology.

Once you get into the realms of exploratory backcountry skiing, the threat of avalanches becomes much more real compared to resort skiing. Some of the best ski backpacks have been designed with features to mitigate this risk, such as airbags that inflate in the event of an avalanche and keep you above the snow.

Of course, not all boast this kind of tech, which usually comes at quite a price. Several other features set your standard ski packs apart from the best hiking backpacks, such as loops for skis and snowboards, fuzzy goggle pockets and snow safety pockets. They're also made from hard-wearing fabrics to protect against razor-sharp ski edges.

In this guide, we bring you a range of packs, with the finest options when it comes to avalanche safety, the best medium capacity ski backpacks, what we think is the best ski backpack for women, technical packs for ski mountaineering and ultralight packs that are ideal for skimo racing.

Best ski backpacks for avalanche safety

The safest pack you can buy, POC’s thoughtfully designed Dimension Avalanche Backpack is also one of the most durable. Many packs feature metal buckles only on the waist strap, but this pack uses metal buckles everywhere. The Dimension is made from 133 pattern pieces and 66 distinct webbings designed for durability, user-friendliness and safety. 

An avalanche airbag pack, the Dimension uses Alpride’s E2 rechargeable Electronic Airbag System with supercapacitor technology. It’s lighter, with more volume in the balloon than previous Alpride packs, and it also deploys faster than previous versions. Though it’s battery-powered, it’s extremely reliable in the cold, and it’s significantly smaller and lighter than previous versions of Alpride. It’s a canister-free system (many other avalanche airbags rely on compressed air for balloon inflation). The Alpride system now has a tiny LCD screen showing battery levels so you know when the pack is charged and ready for action. 

In addition to Alpride, the Dimension has an embedded RECCO reflector, which makes a user searchable to rescue teams, and a twICEme medical ID NFC chip that stores first aid data for first responders. 

Four internal pockets in addition to a goggle pocket, a shovel pocket and an extremely spacious main compartment help you stay organized and make it quick to grab items when you need them, be it a first aid kit, ski repair kit or lunch. You have the option of carrying skis diagonally or A-frame style, while snowboard carry is vertical. 

Arva designed the world’s first eco-oriented avalanche airbag backpack, using the fewest components and the least complexity possible to limit fabric scraps and manufacturing waste. The Reactor airbag system is designed, manufactured, and assembled in France, near Arva’s headquarters, by subcontractors located within 50 miles / 80km. The Calgary 18 is made from recycled polyester, which generates four times less CO2 emissions than virgin polyester. 

Arva’s Airbag Reactor Calgary 18 is also one of the most affordable avalanche airbag packs around. The Arva’s Reactor airbag system features dual balloons. Each 75L air chamber fills independently, and together, they offer the security that if one is slashed by a tree or rock when you’re caught in a slide, the other one will stay inflated, increasing your chance of survival. 

The pack, which carries skis and snowboard, has three pockets: a main storage area that also contains the airbag system, a shovel pocket with an easy-to-see red zipper, and a brushed goggle pocket. The webbing waistbelt secures with metal hardware and a crotch strap. And despite this pack’s compact design, it comes with a webbing ice axe/trekking pole loop that tucks away when not in use. 

Skis carry A-frame, and the pack can also tote snowshoes. A helmet holder is sold separately. This pack is only available in one size, and it works best for smaller riders and skiers. 

For heli-skiing, cat skiing, and lift-assist backcountry, when all you need is safety gear, a liter of water, a Snickers bar and your down jacket, this is the perfect pack. It’s also a great resort pack and sidecountry pack. 

Unique to the Poacher is compatibility with Mammut’s Removable RAS Airbag System 3.0 – so it’s an everyday pack, and also an airbag pack depending on the day. That makes the Poacher a great choice for skiers and riders who want to buy a pack that can grow with them, one that they can upgrade when they’re ready to take a big trip. 

Our tester loved this pack’s low profile, burly construction, and streamlined features. You can ride the lift without taking it off, it holds goggles and the main gear compartment stores snow safety tools and extra layers. Both shoulder straps are insulated, so you can run a hydration hose in one, and the Airbag System trigger in the other. 

The front of the pack is highly ruggedized to resist cuts from skis being carried diagonally. It’s a pack that carries well, holds essentials and is so streamlined you’ll forget you have it on. 

Best medium capacity ski backpacks

If you’re looking for a pack that won’t ever go out of style – and which will be part of your quiver for the rest of this decade into next – this is it. Practical and spacious, BCA’s Stash 30 has a highly tuneable fit and, despite its size, it’s one of the most affordable packs out there designed for avid skiers and riders. 

Spacious pockets and divided storage help with organization, and thanks to dual insulated shoulder straps you can run a radio and a hydration reservoir at the same time. The oversized dual hip pockets keep everything you need close at hand. 

With backpanel entry, you can grab extra layers and anything else required from the main compartment without taking your skis off the pack, and you can also access the main compartment through a top zip. The snow safety pocket has a zippered mesh pocket for smaller snow safety tools and the goggle pocket is generously proportioned. The helmet sling tucks inside a front panel flap for descents. 

This pack has the space to hold a full day’s worth of gear and the toughness to be scraped across rocks and ice without showing wear and tear. 

The Khroma is made from fabric with Spectra, which is 15 times stronger than steel by relative weight and helps make this ski pack seriously abrasion-resistant, but also light. Rab also treats the Cordura nylon Spectra Ripstop fabric with a water-resistant finish. Inside, an aluminum frame helps support the load. 

Many lightweight packs restrict how you can carry skis, but this pack gives A-frame and diagonal ski carry options, and it carries snowboards. A rear-entry zipper gives access to the main storage compartment, even with skis on your pack. Oversized hip pockets keep snacks, lightweight gloves, a hat and an emergency beacon close at hand. The detachable helmet holder lets you pare down for the ascents. 

Ripping down the mountain with the pack stuffed to max capacity, our tester found the Khroma stable and balanced. 

The best ski backpack for women

Packs you wear ski touring aren’t just about carrying your extra layers and water, they’re also about having your avalanche gear and ensuring you can access it quickly if needed. The Mammut Aenergy ST 32 checks most of the boxes of an ideal backcountry pack. It’s also unique in that it has dimensions specifically tailored for a women’s fit and the aluminum frame ensures comfort even when the pack is fully loaded. 

The 32-liter storage capacity of this backpack is a perfect size for a full day of ski touring and even an overnight hut trip if you can pack lightly. The pack’s polyamide material is water-resistant and durable which is necessary for winter backcountry ski touring, whether you encounter a blizzard or a track that takes you through dense trees and branches. 

A large full zipper makes for easy access to the pack’s main compartment, and the Mammut Aenergy ST 32 has plenty of convenient pockets, integrated features and straps for ideal carry options of all your gear, including ski and snowboard haul options, an integrated helmet carry and dual ice axe loops. The separate compartment for avalanche gear is positioned well on the pack, but it does take two zippers to get to it, which isn’t the most ideal when an avalanche rescue effort needs to be efficient.

Read our full Mammut Aenergy ST 32 ski backpack review

The best ski backpack for ski mountaineering

The Fjäll 34L Backpack is intended as a one-quiver bag for skiers and boarders alike. A ski bag, snowboard bag and travel bag all in one, it’s a smartly designed and capable all-mountain pack. It’s so versatile and smart you can even use it for commuting to the office. Only the telltale roll-top closing system gives a clue that this is a pack created for technical adventures. 

The Fjäll is a cleverly thought through bag, made from premium materials. With the exception of the roll-top buckle, which is plastic, all of the buckles are made of metal. Straps are reinforced and should stand up to years of abuse. Unlike many backpacks, which need to be full to hold their shape, the Fjäll keeps its structure even when it’s completely empty. With 34 litres to play with it should be able to hold as much gear as you would need for a full day in the mountains. In fact there’s probably enough space for an overnight adventure. 

The Fjäll has dedicated attachments for skis and snowboards. Skis go on the side while snowboards strap to the back face of the pack. Meanwhile Velcro loops can hold ski poles or ice axes. There’s a detachable goggle pouch that can be carried internally or externally. The main compartment is wide enough to slide a ski helmet into.

It will suit anyone seeking a ski mountaineering pack that’s extremely well designed with bulletproof build quality. 

Made for big days in big mountains, the Snoskiwoski is a haul bag for ski mountaineers who need to carry heavy gear without a heavy pack. The lid-free Snoskiwoski is flexible and lets skiers get to gear without taking the pack on and off, which saves energy on all-day missions. 

Most of the pack’s volume is in a single main compartment, which is ready to carry ropes, technical climbing gear, or a sleeping bag plus food for a hut trip. That compartment is accessible from the top and the side. A metal buckle top strap is also long enough and strong enough to secure a climbing rope when needed. 

Ski carry is diagonal or A-Frame, with a movable tail strap that can be rigged up on either side of the pack, and an adjustable right shoulder strap to hold ski tips that lets you get skis on and off the pack without taking it off. Flexible features like cord lock loops attach to the daisy chain front of the pack, which can be used to secure axe handles and trekking poles. 

The Snoskiwoski has a dedicated front pocket for snow safety gear that can be accessed instantly. A zippered side pocket holds skins, extra gloves, ski straps and a water bottle, in a place where you can get to them without taking off the pack. A side pocket and gear loop adorn the contoured hip belt, and an aluminum frame inside the pack keeps heavy loads centered on your back. 

Burly Cordura on the front and bottom of the pack resisted cuts from ski edges and prevented a cut from a rock. Mountain Hardwear uses undyed shell fabric in the pack and lining for maximum durability and minimum water pollution during production.

Best ultralight ski backpacks

For early-morning tours, spring ski-mountaineering missions and in-bound storm days, the light-and-fast Black Diamond Dawn Patrol 15 Pack helps you lap your favorite run, or tag a quick summit without weighing you down. 

The recycled-fabric pack bats above its weight class when it comes to features. A front snow-safety pocket stores an avalanche safety kit. The pocket clips shut to keep your shovel and probe contained and to keep it from getting tangled in other pack contents. 

One of the packs’ most unusual features is an oversized insulated shoulder pocket that holds a hydration tube, soft flask or radio. The pack carries a snowboard vertically and it carries skis diagonally. An adjustable loop at the bottom of the pack holds ski tails – it extends to accommodate most ski widths. 

It pairs with a tip-wrapping strap that tucks into a dedicated pocket on the right shoulder when it’s not in use. A sewn-in, tuck-away helmet sling can be used high on the pack, with skis or a board loaded, or low when skinning.

Read our full Black Diamond Dawn Patrol 15 ski backpack review

Skimo racers and skiers whose top priority is dashing to the top of a mountain as fast as humanly possible will find features to support their passion in this pack. More than any other ski pack we tested, the Dynafit Speed 20’s design works to diffuse sweat. And skimo racers do sweat – they’re essentially running up the mountain. So Dynafit makes the stabilizing backpanel foam and shoulder strap foam breathable with cutouts that let sweat escape. They also make the hip belt out of mesh to keep ski racers cool, and to save on weight, so that racers aren’t carrying anything more than necessary up the mountain.

The Speed 20 has two feature sets: one for racing, when a skier hopes to transition from uphill to downhill without removing their pack; and one for training. For racing, the pack has a ski carry system that loads and unloads with the pack on. It consists of a stiffened mesh loop for ski tails, and a metal shoulder clip attached to a bungee in the right shoulder strap that pulls to tighten and secures skis for bootpacking. A lumbar pocket held emergency gear and an extra layer. I could access pocket contents without interrupting my stride. 

For training days, the pack’s main compartment holds enough gear for a long day. A waterproof pocket inside the pack was a great place to stash a phone or emergency beacon. For skinning, an insulated water bottle holder is located on the left shoulder strap. The right shoulder strap has an oversized mesh pocket for a flask or food. 

The front of the pack is articulated to hold a shovel blade. A bikini sling holds it in place. Dedicated sleeves in the main compartment kept my shovel handle and probe where I could grab them fast. And the pack holds an ice axe and a helmet too. 

It’s a purpose-built pack with a specialized feature set that will help speed demons train hard. And when it comes to winning races, this pack gives skiers the best chance of reaching their potential.

Best ski backpacks comparison table

How we tested the best ski backpacks

While testing these ski backpacks our writers took them out on to the slopes and into the backcountry hills and peaks of the USA and northern Europe, putting them through their paces in a mixed range of conditions on both short and long days.

For more details, see how Advnture tests products.

Choosing the best ski backpack for you

Ski packs come in all shapes and sizes, and they carry a wide range of price tags depending on their level of functionality and, importantly, the degree of safety they supply. The best ski backpack can be a serious investment, so consider the following factors before making a purchase. 

1. Fit

This is the single biggest consideration. On the uphill, a pack needs to do a lot of things, but its job on the downhill is even harder – the best ski packs fit and carry so you forget they’re there. Check each pack’s specs to see if the pack’s torso length matches your own, but don’t just slip an empty pack on in the store and call it good. If you can, load a pack with skis or a board, a down jacket, some water and other gear you might pack for backcountry skiing, and wander around your local shop to get a sense of how the pack carries. If your shoulders and back are still happy after shopping fully loaded, you know the pack is for you, and you can be confident it’ll help you have a great day on the snow

2. Size

Think about how long you’re likely to be going out for, and what kind of skiing you’re most likely to be doing, and these considerations will typically inform how much you carry. A multiday hut trip obviously requires a lot more pack space than a dawn patrol lap before work. Some ski packs come in multiple sizes; many are one size only. 

3. Carry capacity

Look carefully at how a pack carries your skis and/or snowboard. Check whether it has a helmet sling or not, and if the zippers are easy to operate with ski gloves on. Wherever you ski, and whether you opt for an airbag pack or not, buying a snow sports-specific pack that feels good loaded is key. 

4. Avalanche airbags

There are pros and cons to avy airbags in a ski pack. An avalanche airbag pack can save your life in a slide, but packs equipped with airbag systems are heavy and considerably more expensive than non-avy airbags. They’re also only useful if you ski or ride in avalanche terrain. If you don’t, you likely don’t need an airbag pack. (See also: Avalanche safety.)

What to do with your old ski backpack

Backpacks, including ski backpacks, are extremely difficult to recycle due to all the different components and materials used in their construction. If your pack still has some life left in it, there are several programs that will be able to give it a second life. Gear collectives are usually small setups run by a group of volunteers, so try searching for one in your area.

If your bag is in good condition, you could sell it through GearTrade, or trade it in via REI's Re/Supply program. Check out which brands and items REI accepts.