A great snowsports backpack is essential for adventures both on and off the piste.
Whether you’re in the market for a compact rucksack for a family ski holiday or a big behemoth of a bag that you can strap your skis onto for touring adventures in the backcountry, you’ll need to choose something weatherproof and comfortable – like one of our 11 top-rated snowsports-ready backpacks for men and women.
What features should I look out for?
The main factor to keep in mind when shopping for a new ski backpack is size. Backpacks are measured by the capacity they hold in litres – usually a 15l-30l backpack is called a daysack or daypack, which as the name suggests holds the kit you need for one day’s ski adventure, such as your lunch, first aid kit and spare layers. A bag with a capacity of 40-50 litres is suitable for multi-day use - such as a two-day ski tour, or if you head off the beaten track and tend to bring along bulkier mountaineering equipment, ski skins or avalanche safety kit.Backpacks are usually either top-loading (an opening at the top, which is more watertight and good for deep snow) or front-loading. Other useful features to look out for include easy-to-access zipped pockets for valuables and outer mesh pockets for water bottles, plus compression straps for cinching a bag down to make it more compact.
Some ski packs have a built-in RECCO reflector – this passive transponder makes you searchable to mountain rescue teams in the event of an avalanche and is a good idea for expert skiers and snowboarders leaving the pistes. Mountaineers should look for external loops and clips to hold their ice axes or hiking poles snug, and an elastic front pocket makes it easy to stash a helmet or a rope on the go.
Most backpacks aren’t fully snowproof – we recommend picking a pack either with a removable rain cover you can pull out if a snowstorm approaches, or made with water-resistant or waterproof material, which can usually withstand snowfall. You can also pack your belongings in a dry sack inside your rucksack to keep them watertight.
Do I need a gender-specific ski pack?
Backpacks can be unisex or aimed specifically at men or women. When picking a smaller daysack we’ve found after testing many models that unisex packs usually perform just as well as gender-specific designs. If you’re in the market for a bigger pack for carrying skis or other heavier kit you may find a gender-specific pack more comfortable, as they have differently placed hip and shoulder straps as well as larger or smaller back frames.
Shop the best ski backpacks below
Rab Khroma 22 Litre Backpack
After a smaller daysack? You won’t find a more reliable model than this compact design from Rab. The Khroma easily fits a day’s worth of kit and is one of the most comfortable packs we tested thanks to well-placed shoulder straps and a padded hip belt that fits so nicely you may forget you’re wearing a rucksack at all.
A pack panel allows easy access to your kit and you can carry skis on the outside of it. There’s lovely attention to detail here – even the zips are designed to work with mitts.
Buy now £150.00, Ellis Brigham
Red Adventure Waterproof 30 Litre Backpack
When fresh snow is looming, a waterproof backpack is very handy indeed. Red Equipment specialises in equipment for water sports but the brand's new Adventure backpack is perfect for frostier climes too.
This recycled bag won’t let a drop of water near your belongings thanks to a roll-top closure. There are handy external pockets for stashing kit, including a waterproof zipped pocket ideal for holding your phone and two water bottle pockets, and the pack even has a safety whistle attached. If you’re after a super-snowproof design, this is our top pick.
Buy now £114.95, Red
Mammut Aenergy ST ski touring 32 Litre Backpack
Female snow sports fans may find that a backpack designed specifically for skiers and snowboarders suits their bodies best. Mammut’s Aenergy has anatomically shaped shoulder straps for a snug, stay-put fit no matter how hard you hit the slopes, plus a lightweight aluminium frame and a comfortable hip belt that helps reduce weight.
Mountain-specific features include attachments for carrying your skis, helmet, rope and ice axes. The 32-litre size is ideal for big days out in the hills, and the Aenergy sports great pockets, too.
Buy now £101.95, Alpine Trek
Fjallraven Bergtagen 38 Litre Backpack
The recycled fabric outer material of Fjallraven’s Bergtagen is both waterproof and resistant to rips and tears, so it’s tough enough to last you for years of mountain adventures. A ‘snowlock’ closure keeps snow out and your belongings dry, and we like the plentiful pockets and loops, including a stretchy outer pocket for stashing layers, a security pocket that’ll keep your phone safe and hooks for ice axes.
The back frame is made of wood, which sounds rather retro but gives a lightweight, springy feel to the pack. Various colours are available but we like this eye-catching orange, which will make you more visible on the pistes.
Buy now £250.00, Alpine Trek
Mountain Warehouse Extreme Piste 38 Litre Backpack
Great ski backpacks don’t need to cost a bomb – currently reduced from £180 to £60, we think this design from Mountain Warehouse is a bit of a bargain. The 38-litre size is generous for one or two-day forays and this pack will work just as well for summer hiking trips after your winter holidays are over.
The back frame stood out on test, too – it’s adjustable to fit different heights and uses mesh to wick away sweat, so you won’t overheat even on stiff mountain climbs. This pack won’t repel water well, so save it for blue-sky days.
Buy now £59.99, Mountain Warehouse
Osprey Soelden 22 Litre and Soelden Pro 22 Litre Backpacks
Serious skiers will get on well with Osprey’s Soelden, a compact daysack that’s lightweight and comfy to wear but still sports lots of ski-specific bells and whistles, including loops for carrying your skis or snowboard, a helmet net and a big front panel designed for stashing avalanche kit.
Smaller pockets hold snow goggles and your phone. If you’re a ski athlete or winter sports professional, consider investing in Osprey’s Soelden Pro – while this backpack costs an eye-watering £1,400, you’re getting top-level protection thanks to a built-in airbag system that will deploy in the case of an avalanche.
Buy now £150.00, Osprey
Musto EVO 40 Litre Dry Backpack
Heading out in heavy snowfall or love to explore in deep powder? A fully waterproof backpack is a sensible choice. This design from Musto is half dry bag, half rucksack, and a roll-top closure means not a single drop of sleet will get in – perfect for more challenging weather conditions.
Shoulder straps are comfortable and padded but there’s no waist strap, so this pack is best suited to more casual skis rather than challenging terrain. We like the large mesh external pocket for quickly storing layers on the go but would have preferred extra pockets for water bottles and goggles.
Buy now £100.00, Musto
& Sons Nordic Rucksack
If a modern outdoors kit just doesn’t meet your aesthetic and you’re into all things vintage, you can still ski in style - &Sons’ rather gorgeous Nordic backpack is still tough enough to take to the mountains.
Built with wax-coated, water-repellent canvas and a roll top, this is a surprisingly rugged rucksack, and generous bottle pockets, bungee cords and lash loops make it easy to tie it to the outside on the go. A laptop compartment makes it suitable for daily use when you’re back from the slopes. A lovely pack for the mountain lover who has everything.
Buy now £225.00, Wolf & Badger
Kovered Roe Waxed 20 Litre Backpack
Another backpack with classic looks that’ll work for hiking and daily use when you’re back home from the mountains, this good-looker from Kovered is made with snow-resistant waxed canvas and reclaimed leather and has super-comfy padded straps with mesh to keep you cool.
This holdall is easy to customise for whatever winter adventure you have planned, and will especially suit photographers, who can use the adjustable dividers in the front-opening pocket to allow easy access to lenses and kit. Or use them to keep ski kit, clothing and snacks neatly squared away.
Buy now £120.00, Kovered
Sierra Designs Flex Hike 20-30 Litre Backpack
Not sure what size pack you’ll need for the peaks? Get two sizes in one with Sierra Design’s Flex Hike, which has expanding panels so you can switch from a 20-litre to a 30-litre backpack when you need the space or cinch things down for a streamlined daysack.
Comfortable shoulder straps and a wide hip belt make this pack comfortable even if you’re covering long distances on skis. Plentiful, well-placed mesh pockets are the icing on the cake and we like the wide zip opening, which makes it easy to see what you’ve packed away.
Buy now £150.00, Camping World
Helly Hansen Capacitor 65 Litre Backpack
If you’re venturing far from the beaten track on ski adventures, a RECCO detector is a really good idea – these small transponders emit a directional radar signal that makes you searchable to mountain rescue teams in the event of an emergency.
Our pick of the packs with built-in RECCO is Helly Hansen’s Capacitor, which at 65 litres has enough room for overnight hut-to-hit kit and all your ski touring equipment, is easy to pack on the go and is compatible with hydration packs. The hip belt is excellent and makes even a heavy load feel comfortable to carry all day long.
Buy now £220.00, Helly Hansen
Verdict
There’s a backpack to suit every skier – if you just need a smaller daysack, Rab’s Khroma is an excellent all-rounder, while Osprey’s Soelden will suit athletes and ski professionals. After something bigger? Helly Hansen’s Capacitor has built-in avalanche protection. For heavy snowfall, Red’s fully waterproof drybag design is a snowproof choice.
