Best Ski Packs of 2025, Tested and Reviewed

Should you have multiple ski packs?

The answer to this one is “it depends.” Having one pack to do it all seems like a great idea, especially if you only ski in the same zones all year, or only backcountry ski a few times a year. In that case, choosing one pack to do it all makes a lot of sense.

However, if you switch up the type of backcountry skiing you’re doing throughout the season, travel to ski a lot, or frequently ski technical ski mountaineering lines that require extra gear, it might be worth owning two packs that are better suited to your needs. For example, I tend to ski most of the season with a 30-liter airbag pack (ski touring and skiing resort-access backcountry), but switch to lighter-weight and slightly larger ski mountaineering pack when chasing technical objectives, spring skiing, or traveling.

The Airbag Debate

In backcountry skiing circles, there’s a long-running debate about whether to ski with an avalanche airbag pack or not. What is an airbag, you may ask? It’s a ski backpack that contains a large inflatable balloon that can be inflated by the skier if they get caught in an avalanche. The balloon is designed to keep the skier atop the moving debris, preventing burial. There’s no doubt that airbags can save lives, with plenty of evidence showing this every season. In fact, nearly every ski patrol (that does avalanche control) and many guide operations require their workers to carry them as on-the-job PPE. If you want to add a layer of protection to your kit, especially if you spend time in avalanche terrain, an airbag is certainly a good idea.

Then why doesn’t everyone ski with one when in the backcountry? They can be quite cumbersome, they’re significantly heavier, and lots of backcountry skiers intentionally stay away from avalanche terrain.

It’s worth mentioning that a second technology has appeared this year, designed to provide a longer-lasting air pocket to an avalanche burial victim. It’s called Safeback, and has been integrated into several backcountry packs and vests. It is not designed to prevent a burial, merely to keep a victim alive for longer if they do get buried.

Best Ski Mountaineering Pack: Raide Research LF30

Probably the most hyped backcountry skiing product of 2025, Raide Research’s second-generation LF30 pack is a near-perfect example of a ski mountaineering pack. Designed by Kyle Siegel, Raide’s 30-liter pack balances ultralight construction with a really well thought-out feature set. There’s an innovative quick-access shovel and probe pocket, the best helmet carry in the game, a comfortably-padded and zippered backpanel, and a roll-top closure to adjust volume. It’s durable, comfortable enough, and definitely has the cool-guy aesthetic.

Read our full review of the Raide Research LF30 here.

Best Airbag Pack: Arc’teryx Micon LiTric 30

Avalanche airbag packs have come a long way since the days of huge compressed air canisters, unreliable triggers, and cumbersome pack construction. Arcteryx’s second venture into the world of airbags features the electronic LiTric system (designed in partnership with Ortovox) built into a super-minimalist 30-liter pack. It’s sleek, comfortable, and weighs less than a lot of non-airbag packs, though the fit can be a little challenging to dial in for some users. The 30-liter volume easily compresses down for smaller days, resort/sidecountry riding, and travel. Speaking of, the electronic system can easily fly with you, making travel to ski pow that much easier (and safer). This is hands-down our favorite airbag on the market right now. It also comes in a tiny 16L and larger 40L version.

Read our full review of the Arc'teryx Micon LiTric 30 here.

Best Ski Touring Pack: Rab Khroma 38L

General-use ski touring packs are the jack-of-all-trades in this world, and Rab’s Khroma 38L has been flying under the radar for a few years as one of the best. This minimalist-ish pack is actually loaded with all the features you need, has enough volume for everything from longer day tours to a multi-day hut trip like the Haute Route, and carries heavy loads really comfortably. We’ve even found the Khroma 38L works great as an on-mountain photo pack, thanks to the large zippered back panel, and a shape that easily accommodates an internal camera cube. Two things we wish Rab would update are the addition of a diagonal ski carry system and a second ice axe loop.

Read our full review of the Rab Khroma 38L here.

Best Resort Pack: The North Face Slack Pack 2.0

If you’re looking to rip around the resort with an extra layer, a few snacks, and your avalanche safety gear, The North Face’s Slack Pack 2.0 has you covered. Its tiny 20-liter volume carries just the essentials in a sleek, low-profile manner, keeping the weight close to your body and letting you easily sit on chairlifts without taking the pack off. This pack isn’t quite large enough for ski touring, and doesn’t feature a helmet-carry system, but features like a ski/snowboard carry, shoulder strap glove carry and an easy-access safety tool pocket make this the perfect companion for resort riding or lift-access backcountry.

Best Vest Pack: Dakine Poacher RAS Vest

If you’re looking for an added level of safety and comfort for lift-access or mechanized backcountry skiing, Dakine’s Poacher RAS Vest is the ticket. This vest-style pack has plenty of room for the essentials (safety gear, snacks, layers, water), plus features a removable Mammut RAS airbag system. On the front, there’s six pockets to fit all the little things right at your fingertips, meaning you won’t need to take your pack off for snacks, water, or to access small tools. The vest sits snugly against your body, meaning no more of that dreaded pack-bounce when skiing aggressively, hitting airs, or getting faceshots on your snowmobile.

Best Minimalist Pack: Samaya Ultra 35

Sometimes you want all the features, and sometimes you want none of them. If you fall into that latter category, let Samaya’s Ultra 35 be your guiding light. The French minimalist brand’s alpine climbing and ski mountaineering pack takes the ultralight ethos and perfects it into a pack that’s actually usable for skiing. It can be stripped down to a paltry 490 grams, is fully waterproof, and has features like a ski carry, dual ice-tool carry, helmet carry, and one large internal compartment to hold all your gear. The bag also does double-duty as a sleek and stylish summer hiking, climbing, and general use mountain-town pack.

Read our full review of the Samaya Ultra 35 here.

Best Expedition-Style Pack: Hyperlite Headwall 55

There are times when bigger is better, and multi-day overnight backcountry trips are one of those. Hyperlite has long been in the game of making ultralight minimalist gear for backpackers, and entered the backcountry ski game a few years ago developing a pack alongside Cody Townsend for his human-powered antics on the Fifty Project. The result was the Headwall 55, and it still holds fast as our favorite pack for human-powered winter camping missions. Inside, there’s plenty of room for your sleeping pad, a few days worth of food, extra clothes, and technical gear. Outside, there’s a dedicated safety pocket large enough to carry an ice axe and crampons. The best part? The pack compresses nicely so you can use it as a technical daypack when you're actually skiing your objective.

Read our full review on the Hyperlite Headwall 55 here.

Other Packs We’ve Loved:

Mountain Hardwear Snoskiwoski 30

Another great ski mountaineering pack loaded with features and light on the weight.

Patagonia Descensionist 37

Patagonia’s third-generation Descensionist pack keeps the minimalist vibe and ups the comfort level.

Ortovox Avabag Litric Tour 30

Ortovox’s counterpart to the Arc’teryx Micon LiTric pack, with more features, extra padding, and a different fit.

San Util Designs Pisteachio 25-35L Custom Ski Pack

San Util Designs’ custom ski pack is now available in a smaller day-tour-sized package.

Apocalypse Equipment Custom Sac.Ski

Teton-based mountain guide Gavin Hess’s custom-made Apocalypse Packs have a cult following among hardcode backcountry skiers, and for good reason.