I’ve had a few ski touring packs, some better than others, but none ticking all of my ideal tick list of features, hoping for some ideas to widen the search.
I’m looking for more of a traditional alpine sack shape, than a free ride pack, top opening with a top pocket, a side zip is purely optional, but a separate internal or ext pocket for Avi gear would be good. About 40l give or take, and somewhere around 1kg. Integrated hip belt pockets are essential, I find them too useful to forgo, and aftermarket ones always seem to hang poorly and fall off at I inconvenient moments. As well as A frame carry, I’d like a front carry system, ideally something like the straps on the Deuter Rise so could carry skis together with boots attached. Finally an external helmet carrier system, and 2 ice axe holders that will hold technical tools.
I don’t want much!
The closest I’ve come is the BD Cirque 45, but has only 1 hip pocket, and that one is a bit useless, open it and it seems to catapult its contents out. And no vertical ski carry option except A Frame. Otherwise it’s pretty close. The Patagonia Descensionist looks similarly close. I didn’t get on with the Osprey Kode, too heavy, too many pockets, not streamlined enough.
I’ve got a feeling the pack I want doesn’t exist, but here’s hoping.