What size rucksack?

A snowHead

Hoping to get into some half day/day touring a little off the beaten track (but not mega). I'd want a compartment for safety gear, warm/dry layers, some food and drink.

What size/litres do people go for?

A snowHead

I do loads of touring, I've got Ortovox tour rider 30, it's got sections for safety kit and the back opens, and the helmet fits in a net on the outside. I love it.
Hth. Ange

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Touring not my thing but I do have a tendency to pack far too much stuff. I've got the Scott Patrol E1 30. A big chunk of space is taken up by the pump and the airbag, but everything fits in. Things I like:
Airbag
Price I got it for (considering the electric airbag)
Options for ski carrying and helmet carrying
Comfortable
Not worrying about setting the thing off
Being able to actually test and repack the airbag
Plenty of space but still quite slim

Things I'm not so keen on:
The pocket for shovel and probe isn't ideally positioned for the rest of the bag (I'd rather have it on the front than in the main pocket), but it is still easy to access. I much preferred other bags where the probe had a separate pocket to the shovel.
A few extra pockets would be nice to take account of small things, especially on the waist
Would be nice to be able to fit a camelbak and tube (I assume the difficulty is being able to fit it without getting in the way of everything else)
A better solution for the crotch strap would be good to make it easier to take off/put back on for lifts.

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I have a pack obsession Very Happy

Current favourite is Deuter Freerider 30 - about the right size for a day and a well thought out design that carries well, and isn’t too much of a strap fest.

I have a BCA float E2 25l that I really like, low profile and as airbags go it’s ok to ride with.

For really minimal missions I have a black diamond cirque vest pack, it’s great for what it is. Can’t carry that much, but that’s the point of it. It’s easy to get to stuff without taking it off as well, and nice to have things to hand in the vest pockets.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

Already there is a clear preference to the 30 litres size. @hammerite,
Purely for information and perspective, I have a Deuter Freeride 26, super little sack for lift accessed off-piste shovel , probe etc. Simply too small once the skins and a flask of coffee get loaded.
My day tour sack is a North face 32 litres my wife uses a 35 litres Ortovox.
The greater sizes for day tours allows for "ease" of access when the jackets are coming off and then going back on.

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I've been using a Ortovox Ascent 32 over recent seasons. A nice light pack (but no longer made?) but slightly small on some occasions (boot crampons, decent first aid kit and group shelter etc etc).

I've just picked up a Deuter Freerider 32+10 which weighs in at 1160g and should allow for extra volume if needed.

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I'm using a blue ice yagi 25L which works perfectly for a full day touring or just a bit of lift accessed (doesn't get on the way on a lift). Very well made, comfortable, and has some nice features too.

To add, I can fit a 2L bladder, skins, food (lunch & snacks), first aid kit, shovel, probe, midlayer, and crampons on the inside with room to spare; helmet, jacket and axe on the outside. It gets a little crowded (doable though) when you have axe/skis/helmet/jacket on the outside all at once but I imagine bigger packs have this issue as well...

After all it is free

I agree with the posts above that suggest a 30l(+) and the fact that there are acres of sacs of that size to choose from echo that assessment. Most of my skiing is touring (in the alps) and a 35l sac does it all. Look for good convenient and robust ski and helmet carry systems, separate storage for shovel and probe and possibly easy ski and boot crampon storage and access.

I think 25l is the minimum and 30-35 gives you the best flexibility.

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@hammerite, funny how we are all different. I have used 2 bags for years. I am weak and wobbly so pack fastidiously and buy the lightest of everything.

For use as you outline I use a 22 litre Osprey ski bag. This gets used about 50+ days a year. I have a 32 litre Patagonia Descencionist for bigger efforts. Only reluctantly dragged out if I know I need to take crampons (I often only take an axe as crampons are unnecessary more often than one might suppose), 30 metre rope, axe, Chamonix Toolbelt and the big mission flask of tea. Used this for overnight hut trips as well

The idea of using a bag of 30+ litres regularly would put me right off.

If there is a mission which requires a bag of over 32 litres I don’t go.

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I also use a 22l pack for day tours and free touring. Comfortably carries shovel, probe, skins, 1.5l hydration pack, a couple of extra layers, a decent packed lunch & whatever else I need short of crampons.

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Gotta say if i need to haul a 40litre pack any kind of distance i book a helicopter Very Happy

I have only really done light touring, and (it's not a regular thing) or cat/heli (also infrequent), and no ski mountaineering. I have an Osprey Soelden 32, which has a couple of nice features like helmet net and a pouch on the lower waist support. Outer pocket for shovel/probe etc. Its comfortable, seems water resistant enough and is relatively low profile. The latter matters more to me as it gets abused as a resort day pack carrying kids' stuff more than any other use, for which 32 litres is fine. I hang their skis off each side on uploads and at end of day when they are tired etc.

My wife, who doesn't wear a pack in resort, likes to load me with stuff. Her Christmas present this year is jacket and trousers with more pockets on them Smile

You know it makes sense.

Thanks all. Seems 30l-ish is the way to go.

I'm unlikely to be going anywhere I might need an axe or a rope so I don't need to worry about that. I probably won't go with an airbag at the moment either. It's just for making sure I can get in all the necessary stuff without crushing my sandwiches, and with easy access for layers.

Annoyingly, when I look why do so many of the online shops not have photographs of their bags with the safety equipment in?

Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:

@hammerite, The Deuter walk through video is quite good:

http://youtube.com/v/oQe3clu7hTo

A snowHead

A snowHead

I am remarkably similar to @HammondR,

For normal day tours I use a 22l mammut airbag. (Not sure if the 22l includes space taken up by the cannister or not). I find that is adequate for all I need to fit - avalanche equipment, flask, snacks, goggles, down jacket, mittens, skins, some basic tools/equipment.

For more "serious" stuff I use the decathlon 30l freeride bag. I get in the same as above plus - boot crampons or splitboard crampons (just pick one depending on terrain), rope, and ice axe attached to outside. Can also fit my harness (with crevasse rescue stuff attached), if there's a long approach/walk out I don't want to wear it for. There's still a fair bit of space left over.

Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?

Hi- th esize of the ruck sack you have alreday if big enough to get the stuff you need in it. I think you are overthinking. Needs- decent straps, hip and ideally chest straps. A lid, stuff to attached skis to. That's it. Best to have a compartment for avi gear- but not essential. Use a rubble sac to keep stuff dry / sepertae from avi gear if necessary.

Alternatively anything from 20-30lt that can get the stuff in. Limiting factor is the size of your shovel. Best to have everything inside the sack rather than festooned about it.

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@ed123, thanks. I've only really been doing piste touring so far (at night on permitted pistes after work) so no specialist safety gear and only out for a few hours. I've used my 14l mountain bike bag so far and my mountain bike helmet, so would need something bigger for being out longer and with the avi equipment in.

Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.

@hammerite, if you live near enough to a resort to go touring after work presumably there are a few shops around selling backpacks? Best thing to do is take your gear (avy equipment, skins, helmet, extra layers etc.) and see how they fit into different size bags - as not every "x"L bag is the same anyway. Also see how they feel to wear as some body types find different model bags more/less comfortable.

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@ed123, makes the most important comment so far. "Best to have everything inside the sack......."
I have experienced several occasions where mountain guides have asked/told clients to put gear inside the sack. When the reply is "I'm short on space" invariably the guide has suggested a marginally bigger sack. The alternative is to carry less gear....

Then you can post your own questions or snow reports...

@boarder2020, yes, plenty of shops nearby. Just wanted an idea first of a rough ball park size and what's available first before going.

Help!!

What size rucksack?

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