The 10 Best Ski & Snowboard Backpacks of 2023
By: Kevin Katsafanas: Ski & Snowboard Bags Buyer | November 4, 2022
Whether you’re going out for a long backcountry tour, or just a few laps inbounds, any time spent skiing or snowboarding is a good reminder of how valuable a good backpack can be. In the backcountry, it’s essential, you need a place to carry your avalanche gear, extra food and water, and spare layers. Inbounds, a snowboard backpack means that you’ll always have snacks, that extra goggle lens, and your camera close at hand. Either way, the right ski backpack makes all the difference. The best ski & snowboard backpacks are specifically designed for time spent in the mountains. They’re durable and fit well so that you can move your body fluidly while wearing them. And they’ll have special features to make essential gear easier to get to, as well as straps to help you carry your skis or board.
New This Year:
Of course, there’s no one “best ski backpack ever” because everyone is looking for different things out of a day on skis. So instead, we’ve put together this list of the best options we’ve found. We’ve got everything from small, light packs, with room for just the essentials, perfect for inbounds days or short tours, to bigger, higher-capacity packs that can carry all the gear you need for a big mission. So think about how much gear you want to carry, and how long you need to be self-sufficient, and then choose a ski backpack
Dakine Poacher 22L
The Dakine Poacher 22L Backpack is your key to carrying everything you need for either lift-served riding or fast-n-light sidecountry tours. The clean and proven Dakine Poacher design is a staple among the backcountry community and simply works. With a smaller 22-liter capacity but all the same beloved bells and whistles of the larger Poacher packs, the Dakine Poacher 22L Backpack is the lightweight, low-profile pack you've been waiting for.
| Capacity | Special Feature | Original Price |
| 22L | Back Access Pocket | $194.95 |
Dakine Poacher 14L
The Dakine Poacher 14L Backpack is Dakine's smallest and lowest profile snowsports day pack, built to hold your avy tools securely along with a day's food and water but not push you off the chair when you're riding up. Ideal for lift-served riding or heli or cat-accessed terrain where you don't need a ton of gear, the Poacher 14 is an essential part of your pack quiver. This pack keeps your essential gear close at hand but disappears when it comes time to rip some turns.
| Capacity | Special Feature | Original Price |
| 14L | Radio Handset Routing | $109.95 |
Black Diamond Dawn Patrol 25L
The Black Diamond Dawn Patrol 25L Backpack is a full-featured daypack meant for day touring or sidecountry use, and ready to let you travel stealthily through the mountains with everything you need nicely organized. Built with 100% recycled body fabric and designed to carry your essentials and more like you aren't even wearing a pack, the Dawn Patrol 25 "has your back" in more ways than one. This pack works well for everything from quick after-work laps, to full-day backcountry missions. It’s versatile and durable.
| Capacity | Special Feature | Original Price |
| 25L | Seperated Snow Saftey Pocket | $179.95 |
Mammut Nirvana 35L - Women's
Gear up for missions into the high alpine with the Mammut Nirvana 35L Backpack. CONTACT U Frame™ construction ensures all day comfort and wearability with heavier loads, with a spacious main compartment that means you'll never have to leave that just-in-case layer behind. The full rear zipper provides speedy access when you need to grab emergency PB+Js lurking at the bottom of your pack, and the adjustable helmet carry system keeps your dome protection well secured. The backcountry isn't the place for compromise, grab the Mammut Nirvana 35L Backpack and get after it!
| Capacity | Special Feature | Original Price |
| 35L | Ice Tool Attachment | $189.95 |
Helly Hansen Ullr RS30
Introducing your new favorite mid-sized winter pack, the Helly Hansen Ullr RS30 Backpack. Easy to load and unload thanks to the zippered back-panel access to the main compartment, plus an alternative quick-access zippered entry at the top of the pack, the Ullr RS30 is an efficient and feature-rich snow pack. Hosting everything you need to get out and get after it, the Helly Hansen Ullr RS30 Backpack has an avy tool pocket, fleece-lined goggle pocket, helmet holder, and glove-friendly zipper pulls, and more.
| Capacity | Special Feature | Original Price |
| 32L | Side Compression Sack | $180.00 |
Union Expedition
Whip out your approach skis, your Union Expedition Backpack, and have a great day of type-2 fun in the mountains. Made to support the Rover System, this specialized backcountry snowboard backpack has everything you need for an efficient and safe day beyond the orange rope. Vertical, horizontal, A-frame, and side carry provides various options for your Rovers and solid board. Gear loops, a specialized avalanche equipment pocket, and a fleece-lined pocket for your goggs ensure all the essentials are stored safely, with bright orange coloring to stand out on the skin track and hydration compatibility to help you stay out longer. All the split boarders out there, stop trying on ski-specific bags on the rack. Strap up the Union Expedition Backpack and get out there.
| Capacity | Special Feature | Original Price |
| 24L | Rover Support System | $179.95 |
Dakine Heli 12L
The super slim Dakine Heli 12L Backpack is designed to be as out of the way as possible for backcountry freeriding. The pack is just big enough to carry your snow safety tools and a few other essentials for backcountry travel, and not much else. For minimalist missions where downhill performance is the highest priority, the Heli 12L is the way to go. All the gear you need, nothing that you don’t, light, fast, and free - that’s the Heli 12L.
| Capacity | Special Feature | Original Price |
| 12L | External Quick Stash Pocket | $79.95 |
Jones DSCNT 25L
At 25 liters, the Jones DSCNT 25L Backpack is the goldilocks size for the majority of splitboarding endeavors. With dedicated storage for avy gear, goggles, a hydration reservoir, helmet and more, this mid-size touring pack enables you to move efficiently and effectively through backcountry terrain. Built around an internal aluminum suspension frame, the DSCNT 25L Backpack is extremely comfortable when loaded down thanks to its thermo-molded foam back panel, ergonomic shoulder straps, and a hipbelt.
| Capacity | Special Feature | Original Price |
| 25L | Interior Aluminum Suspension Frame | $194.95 |
Dakine Poacher RAS 26L
The Dakine Poacher RAS 26L Backpack has the snug fit, molded backpanel, and dedicated avy tool storage of the larger Poacher in a more streamlined package. Multiple ski and snowboard carry options will get you anywhere you want to go, and it's compatible with the Mammut Removable Airbag System 3.0 for maximum safety out of bounds.
| Capacity | Special Feature | Original Price |
| 26L | Mammut Removable Airbag Compatible | $254.95 |
evo Sea to Sky 26L
From the skin track to the work slog: the evo Sea to Sky 26L Backpack is a multi-functional day bag that makes it from the office to the outdoors with ease. Featuring a laptop sleeve that doubles as a shovel pocket and dual internal water bottle pockets that also store your probe, it's never been easier to close the computer and hit the skin track. This is an affordable pack that gets the job done.
| Capacity | Special Feature | Original Price |
| 26L | Laptop Sleeve | $99.95 |
Learn More With Our Other Accessories Guides:
- Sunglasses - How to Choose
- Sunglasses - Style & Face Shape
- Goggles - How to Choose
- Goggles - How to Wear Goggles with Glasses
- Goggles - How to Prevent Fogging
- Helmets - How to Choose & Fit Guide
- Helmets - MIPS Technology
- Gloves & Mittens - How to Choose
- Hats - Types, Styles, & Materials
- Socks - How to Choose Ski & Snowboard Socks
Discover Our Favorite Accessories:
- The Warmest Mittens
- The Best Face Masks, Neck Tubes & Balaclavas
- The Best Ski & Snowboard Mittens
- The Best Ski & Snowboard Helmets
- The Best Kids' Ski & Snowboard Helmets
- The Best Ski & Snowboard Socks
- The Best Ski & Snowboard Gloves
- The Best Kids' Ski & Snowboard Gloves
- The Best Ski & Snowboard Goggles
- The Best Kids' Ski & Snowboard Goggles
- The Best Value Ski & Snowboard Goggles
- The Best Ski Bags
- The Best Ski & Snowboard Boot Bags
- The Best Ski & Snowboard Backpacks
- The Best Snowboard Bags
- The Best Ski & Snowboard Wax
- The Best Snowboard Stomp Pads
- The Best Ski & Snowboard Glove Liners
- The Best Snowboard Wrist Guards & Protective Gear
- The Best Heated Ski Socks & Ski Boot Heaters
The Selection Process:
Our snow accessories buyers have an endless amount of knowledge on all things snow accessory related stemming from years of experience in the outdoor industry in tandem with their countless hours spent outside in all conditions around the world. From hot to cold, snow, rain, wind, and even sunshine, they know what accessories will keep you comfortable or make traveling with gear that much smoother. evo's buyers assess all products coming to market, lean into this knowledge, and put together this selection of the best products. They have a unique perspective as they truly see everything offered across the category.
