I've got two kids who will turn 10 and 13 this ski season. We do almost 100% resort skiing and we skied 30+ days last year. When outer areas open, both of them are game for hiking, but they get tired climbing while carrying skis in one hand and poles in another. I will sometimes carry the younger's skis plus mine and have him carry my poles and his, but even that isn't ideal. The older has done a 700 foot vertical climb on two occasions to access the good stuff, and the younger is ready for that sort of thing if it opens.
I'm looking for good resort backpacks for them that will enable them to easily strap skis to it so that they can hike and use their poles as they climb. I don't need a huge pack for them - I'd like it to be big enough to carry a probe and shovel and skins and maybe a little clothing when we start branching out into backcountry, but I would be the main hauler in that situation. I'd also like to look for a resort pack for me. I'm definitely tempted by the Mystery Ranch D-Route, but I'm not sure how that will work on their smaller frames. I love MR's stuff (I've got a Swift and a Sphinx) - it's a little heavy, but it's bomber gear and I love the way the packs ride and how easy it is to get to stuff.
Thoughts? Anyone have something they love for their kids? I do have transceivers for both of them, and they wear them every time we ski, even at the resort - I figure if you've got it, you might as well wear it. That said, I'm not sure I feel they need airbags at the resort.
I'm looking for good resort backpacks for them that will enable them to easily strap skis to it so that they can hike and use their poles as they climb. I don't need a huge pack for them - I'd like it to be big enough to carry a probe and shovel and skins and maybe a little clothing when we start branching out into backcountry, but I would be the main hauler in that situation. I'd also like to look for a resort pack for me. I'm definitely tempted by the Mystery Ranch D-Route, but I'm not sure how that will work on their smaller frames. I love MR's stuff (I've got a Swift and a Sphinx) - it's a little heavy, but it's bomber gear and I love the way the packs ride and how easy it is to get to stuff.
Thoughts? Anyone have something they love for their kids? I do have transceivers for both of them, and they wear them every time we ski, even at the resort - I figure if you've got it, you might as well wear it. That said, I'm not sure I feel they need airbags at the resort.