Raide LF 30
“The most unique avy pocket on the market,” said a retired ski guide. The probe is accessed from the bottom of the pack and the shovel handle and blade can be pulled out by removing one strap and swinging the bag to the front. “It’s a little weird to need an instruction manual to pack my pack, but once I dialed it in, it was great.” While the LF 30 is light on grams, it doesn’t lack features. It has a hip belt pocket, dual ice-axe holder and moveable ski carrier, separate wet pocket for skins and two zipper pockets on the front and inside the back panel. The helmet carry blocks the roll top, but there’s still zippered access via the top and through the back panel. “Too often, ultralight packs lose comfort or functionality, but the Raide’s back panel sits snuggly, and the hip belt distributes weight evenly,” concluded our tester.
Where to buy
Raide Research LF 30
Backcountry Access Stash Pro UL 40
Just like the late 2000s’ day to night work wear, BCA has created a pack for day tours and overnight epics. “The rolltop was great. It gives the versatility between being a day and overnight pack,” explained a tester who used the Stash Pro UL 40 for multiday volcano tours. He continued, “The clips can attach to any place on the sewn on daisy chain. It was easier than the tightening buckles that other rolltops use.” He found the two hip belt pockets, internal zipped storage and the standard avy tools pouch helped with organization, especially when fitting camping gear. While he liked the side access from BCA’s Side Stash, he noted the lower compartment was too big for skins and too small for a tent or sleeping bag. He opted to remove the separator to expand the main compartment’s volume instead.
Where to buy
Backcountry Access Stash Pro UL 40
Hyperlight Mountain Gear Crux 40
“A capable, lightweight mountaineering vessel that can double as a large daypack,” summarized our tester of this Dyneema bag. For its ultralight nature, the Crux has a fair number of features. Our tester highlighted the two ice ax holders that can be unclipped with the pack on, a wet storage stretch pocket, two daisy chains on the outside and a removable hip belt with a storage pocket and gear loop. A back access panel is atypical for rolltop bags, and our tester appreciated the feature but warned you had to pack judiciously for it to be effective. He docked points for an internal avalanche pocket that could get blocked by gear and for the brain attachment, which was secure only with a full pack. Still, he was very impressed with what he called a “semi-frameless design,” two aluminum stays supporting the load. Of the setup he said, “Super comfortable, sits nicely on my back and stays secure at all times.”
Where to buy
Hyperlight Mountain Gear Crux 40
Mountain Hardware Snowskiwoski 40
“I like its simplicity. It’s not over built. It works well and isn’t trying to reinvent the wheel,” said a guide who used this as his daily work pack. The Snowskiwoski 40 uses 210D Ripstop and 500D Cordura to cut weight while remaining stormproof and durable. After a season of wear and tear, our tester backed the claim, calling the materials “high quality.” While he griped about wanting a zipper pocket in the main compartment, he noted, “The skin side pockets are one of the only skin pockets that fit my skins,” of the separate wet compartment that he could access while wearing the pack. “It’s comfortable for all day guiding and teaching,” he continued. “It fits everything I need for work without exploding or having too much extra space.” Our guide suggests using it for long days in the mountains where ropes might be necessary but called it “on the small side for an overnight pack.”
Where to buy
Mountain Hardware Snowskiwoski 40
These reviews were originally published in Issue No. 160. To read more, pick up a copy, or subscribe to read our gear reviews earlier when they are published in print.
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