Review: Mammut Spindrift 32L Ski Pack

The Mammut Spindrift Ski Pack is full of hidden features that won’t just keep your gear organized, but also makes access a dream. This 32L pack is a good choice for any skier or snowboarder looking for an all-around ski/ski mountaineering day pack. This bag is not the lightest, so not for race training. Nor is it the heavy workhorse a ski guide would want. … Continue reading Review: Mammut Spindrift 32L Ski Pack

Review: Gregory Alpinisto 38 LT

An in-depth review of the new Gregory Alpinisto 38 LT This new addition to Gregory’s popular line of Alpinisto alpine climbing packs isn’t just a lighter version of the Alpinisto 35 so much as a redesign. With different fabrics, panels, features and pack volume the new Alpinisto 38 LT has a very different feel though there are still a lot of similarities between the two. … Continue reading Review: Gregory Alpinisto 38 LT

Arc'teryx Alpha AR

Review: Arc’teryx Alpha AR 20 Pack

Arc’teryx added to their Alpha line of alpine & rock climbing packs with the Alpha AR. This new pack comes in 20L and 35L versions with a larger, 55L version in the works. This article will focus on the smaller of the two sizes, the 20L multi-pitch pack. We will be working on a review of the 35L pack this summer though so stay tuned. … Continue reading Review: Arc’teryx Alpha AR 20 Pack

Osprey Kamber 42

Review: Osprey Kamber 42

Osprey’s new Kamber line of packs replaced the familiar Kode line and features a trio of pack packs specifically designed for the needs of the male ski touring or splitboarding crowd. The female version of the packs are found in the Kestra line. This review focuses on the largest of the Kamber packs, the Kamber 42. A cavernous pack that’s meant for multi-day trips but can still … Continue reading Review: Osprey Kamber 42

Osprey Mutant 38

Review: Osprey Mutant 38 Pack (2018)

Osprey expanded and updated the popular Mutant pack into a line of climbing and mountaineering packs for 2018. This included the introduction of a new Mutant 22, an update to the Mutant 38 and the inclusion of a new Mutant 52 to replace the Variant 52. For this review we’ll focus on the Mutant 38, a great pack size for one day alpine and mountaineering … Continue reading Review: Osprey Mutant 38 Pack (2018)

Climbing Packs

Summer OR 2018: Packs

There were some really cool alpine and mountaineering packs to check out at OR this summer though not as many as usual. Companies like Osprey, Deuter, Gregory, etc. seemed to have focused their efforts in other areas such as cycling and hiking this year. However I met up with the Arc’teryx crew in Vancouver before the show so I can include their new alpine climbing … Continue reading Summer OR 2018: Packs

Gregory Alpinisto 35

Review: Gregory Alpinisto 35 Pack

The Alpinisto 35 backpack from Gregory is exactly what the name suggests: an alpine climbing and mountaineering pack. With features like a crampon pocket, ice tool attachments and a top-lid cut-out that allows a climber to look up while wearing helmet, this pack was designed with technical alpinism and ice climbing in mind. Of course it also makes a great mountaineering and scrambling pack. But … Continue reading Review: Gregory Alpinisto 35 Pack

Patagonia Descensionist Pack

Review: Patagonia Descensionist Ski Pack

The new Descensionist ski touring / ski mountaineering pack from Patagonia is based on the design on the popular Ascensionist, an alpine / mountaineering pack. This means that many of the attributes that made the Ascensionist such a hit are present on the new pack, just with a focus on back country skiing. The Descensionist has the key features required for touring in a light-weight … Continue reading Review: Patagonia Descensionist Ski Pack

Deuter Freerider Pro

Review: Deuter Freerider Pro 30

While Deuter makes several winter packs in the mid-size range we chose to review the Freerider Pro 30. Designed as a versatile ski touring pack I felt it more relevant than some of the other ski guide or race inspired offerings. The main compartment of the Freerider Pro 30 has two separate access points, through a zipper on the top of the pack and via … Continue reading Review: Deuter Freerider Pro 30

Long-Term Review: Osprey Kamber 32

I’ve been testing Osprey’s Kamber 32 for over a year now on a variety of ski trips in all kinds of conditions over BC and Alberta and this well designed pack has proven to be a worthy companion. Well featured, durable and comfortable it quickly became my go-to ski touring pack. And like a lot of pieces that I really like, I found myself using … Continue reading Long-Term Review: Osprey Kamber 32