The 8 Best Ski & Snowboard Backpacks of 2024
By: Jordan Berde: Ski Buyer | October 31, 2023
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. New for 2024 there is a Jill Perkins pro model colorway for the women's Dakine Team Mission. 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
This Year's Best Ski & Snowboard Backpacks:
Dakine Heli Pro 20L
As the slimmed-down version of the backcountry-standard 24L Heli Pro, the Dakine Heli Pro 20L Backpack is perfect for quick hit missions and sidecountry shredding. This little pack has everything you need to get after it: plenty of carry options for skis and snowboards, a dedicated pocket with quick access to your snow safety tools, and enough room for an extra layer, a hydration bladder, and a snack or two. And most importantly it's snug, supported, and ergonomic, so you can forget all about it when you're on the way down.
| Capacity | Special Feature | Original Price |
| 20L | Rescue Whistle on Sternum Strap | $99.95 - $119.95 |
Dakine Team Mission Pro 25L Jill Perkins - Women's
The Dakine Team Mission Pro 25L Jill Perkins Backpack puts a fresh new spin on one of the most useful packs in the industry, with an "everywoman" black with pink and yellow highlights colorway and a "ransom note" Dakine logo that'll set you apart.
| Capacity | Special Feature | Original Price |
| 25L | DK Impact Spine Protecter Compatible | $189.95 |
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 | Snow Tool/Shovel Pocket | $194.95 |
DB Equipment Snow Pro 32L
Gear up for epic mountain escapades with the DB Equipment Snow Pro 32L Backpack. It's your portal to peak-pushing thrills. From the quick-access side pocket for your adventure essentials to the avalanche compartment that's ready to rumble, and plenty of pockets to secure the essentials, it's all packed into a structured frame that ensures everything stays in place. Thanks to the roll-top design, you can unlock extra space when needed, while the detachable goggle pocket keeps your specs secure and cool. With ergonomic straps and a molded back panel that promises all-day comfort, you're set for daring missions and photo-worthy moments. Whether it's scaling peaks or capturing epic shots, the DB Equipment Snow Pro 32L Backpack is the ultimate adventure accomplice.
| Capacity | Special Feature | Original Price |
| 32L | Detachable Hip Belt & Goggle Pocket | $229.00 |
Patagonia Snow Drifter 20L
The light, fast and simple Patagonia Snow Drifter 20L Backpack is designed for lift-served backcountry, cat and heli skiing where the intent is to keep the load to a minimum. 20 liters of space with internal compartments for your avy gear and straightforward clamshell entry make this the perfect slackcountry pack.
| Capacity | Special Feature | Original Price |
| 20L | Hydration Compatible | $159.00 |
Mammut Nirvana 30L
The Mammut Nirvana 30L Backpack is the freeride pack you've been dreaming of. Its 30L size hits the sweet spot for backcountry versatility -spacious enough for a fully loaded day tour but compact enough to wear on a chairlift for sidecountry laps. Mammut's CONTACT V Frame™ construction guarantees all day comfort and wearability, and a plethora of thoughtful features make life on the skin track a breeze.
| Capacity | Special Feature | Original Price |
| 30L | SOS Label w/ Emergency Instructions | $169.95 |
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.
| Capacity | Special Feature | Original Price |
| 26L | Hide-A-Way Waist Straps | $99.95 |
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 too thanks to its thermo-molded foam back panel, ergonomic shoulder straps, and a hipbelt.
| Capacity | Special Feature | Original Price |
| 25L | Integrated Saftey Whistle | $149.95 |
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 Best Beanies
The Selection Process:
Our ski buyers have an endless amount of knowledge on all things skiing stemming from years of experience in the ski industry in tandem with their countless hours spent on slopes everywhere from groomers to the remote backcountry around the world. 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.
Jordan Berde
Jordan (she/her) is a Ski Buyer at evo. Before working in this role, she worked at the evo Denver store for two years, where she began as a bootfitter and quickly moved into Store Lead and then Store Supervisor roles. Prior to evo, Jordan worked as a bootfitter at other shops, a mountain bike instructor for kiddos in Colorado, a ski patroller in Alaska, and a liftie in Taos. She's an avid backcountry skier and ski mountaineer and recently summited Mt. Baker as a fundraiser for SheJumps, a non-profit committed to getting more women involved in the outdoors.She started sliding on snow later than most (in her late 20s), but now she’s the friend getting up at 4 am to make sure she can get a dawn patrol lap in before work! Jordan is passionate about diversity and inclusion and making outdoor activities more inclusive to all genders, races, and ability levels. When she's not skiing, Jordan is likely on her mountain bike exploring all that Colorado and Washington have to offer with her wife. Some say she never stops moving…