I think the main question is do you want to prepare for backcountry or not, meaning designed shovel compartment, and designed ski carry.
If you don't need these features, then a regular hiking pack may also fit the bill. I see tons of people on the lifts with just hiking daypacks.
Osprey has a s/m and m/l for different torso lengths. The kamber pack doesn't have adjustable shoulderstrap positioning; but my talon hiking packs does have ability to adjust the back pad to adjust where it sits on your back.
Yes, I like the fact that Osprey has sizes.
Yes, I am looking for a pack for:
- Skiing
- Lift served
- Bootpacking
- Ski Touring (skinning)
So yes, as mentioned in point 4, I do want a dedicated shovel/probe pocket (as well as using that compartment for other wet gear). Sorry for not using a more clear term!
I also want ski carry, but just about every pack has that, and otherwise it's easy enough to add.
I agree about the clean lines, although I still wouldn't wear it on the lift most of the time.
On the lift I usually flip the pack around to the front. My wife came up with that and it works great. You leave the waistbelt on, pull your arms out and spin it around. It prevents snagging but you still have your hands free for poles and loading. It also keeps wind off your chest and allows you to dig in the pack while riding the lift.
The majority of ski packs will use a hydration bladder because it is too cold for an external water bottle, which will freeze over. A bottle can fall out during crashes or even just leaning over, and will not be centerly weighted on your back. Even a hydration tube that isn't covered within the shoulder strap with also freeze over if you don't have tube insulation. If you're not into the hydration tubes, at best you can stash a small plastic flask-type bottle, like an REI 8oz in the hip pouches.
I live in Northern Minnesota, and hike, ski, dog-sled, ice-climb and overnight all winter long, so I like to think I'm fairly aware of water-in-cold-weather issues.
This is actually one of the reasons I want side pocket water bottle storage. Regular bottles are far more reliable in any case, but especially in cold weather. Once it get's really cold, and you are out for a longer time, it becomes impossible to guarantee a bladder and hose system won't freeze. I prefer not to deal with the hassle. I will still use a bladder on milder days and shorter outings, but otherwise,
insulated bottles are where it's at.
If the side pocket is tall enough, a bottle won't fall out very easy. For the ski down, you can always stash it inside the pack, normally I wouldn't drink while skiing down. Drink on the skin track or lift.
Regarding the weight, this is a non-issue. There will also be a tradeoff for you as you want more robust pack, with heavy zippers that won't ice up, fabric that won't be shredded by branches and whatnot, as well as all the various straps for carry that also tuck away.
How is weight a non-issue? It adds more effort on the climb and messes with your posture and balance on the way down. If you don't care, that's fine, but I prefer to haul less weight uphill. I don't think I am the only one as evidenced by all the lightweight ski and backpacking gear coming out these days.
I do know that it's a tradeoff with robustness. Notice I didn't ask for that? We have lightweight Wingnut packs and my wife uses hers all the time, including while skiing and mountain biking, and it's still going strong after 6 years. So, it
is possible to make a lightweight pack that's durable enough.
Yes, I know that tuck away straps add weight, that's what I don't like about them.
Ultimately though, I would say you shouldn't need to worry about the weight because it can be entirely cancelled out by how much water you decide to carry.
Umm, Water weight doesn't cancel out pack weight, it just adds
even more weight.
You ski ability should have progressed to have proper upper body separation where your torso isn't really pivoting away side to side anyway, so an extra pound doesn't matter.
Are you really saying that I should pass a ski test so that I can get a pack? Wouldn't it be better to make sure that a backpack didn't require any specific skiing ability? I'm pretty sure even expert skiers don't mind a lightweight, backhugging pack either...
