Top 10 Snowboard Backpacks

As you start improving your snowboarding skills, you may want to stay longer on the slopes or even get outside the boundaries of the ski resort. Whether you need to store some snacks, an extra layer, or some avalanche tools, make sure you get a good snowboard backpack for your next adventure.

Before making a choice, you must consider important features such as capacity, water resistance, storage compartments, pockets, and straps. Don’t worry; today I’m going to talk about all these features. In addition, I’ll review the best models of the year, so that you can find the one that best suits your style.

Take a look at other articles to find the best snowboard jackets, pants, gloves, hats, ski racks, and snowboard bags.

THE BEST SNOWBOARD BACKPACKS

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OSPREY KAMBER 30

The Osprey Kamber is a medium-sized backpack designed for short but demanding expeditions. This model includes advanced touring features, such as glove-compatible zipper pulls, helmet clips, a front panel and back panel for easy access, ice ax straps, a hydration sleeve for up to 3 liters, straps to carry a board vertically, and a dedicated avalanche tool pocket.

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OSPREY KAMBER 20

If you are not really into long expeditions, the previous model will probably be too big for you. The Osprey Kamber 20 is more compact and lightweight, which makes it perfect for a day on the slopes and short sidecountry tours. Despite its small size, this model includes some helpful technical features, such as a double access panel and several straps that you can use to attach your snowboard, poles, ice ax, and other gear. This backpack is quite popular among climbers and freeriders.

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MAMMUT LITHIA

The Mammut Lithia is a compact and lightweight backpack designed for female riders. This is a frameless model, so you can fold it and pack it into another bag. Due to its high versatility, you can use it for snow sports, hiking, climbing, and other sports. It features side straps for attaching your ski poles and a hydration sleeve, but it doesn’t include snowboard carrying straps. It’s designed mainly for short tours and ski resorts.

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BURTON DAY HIKER 25

The Burton Day Hiker is one of Burton’s most popular unisex backpacks. This model is designed for snowboarding, hiking, and short trips. The snowboard straps can be used to attach a skateboard too, and the pack has a padded compartment for a hydration bladder or laptop. It’s not designed for backcountry skiing, but it’s a fantastic option for resorts and weekend outings.

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DAKINE EXPLORER

The Dakine Explorer has a compact design that is comfortable for a day at the ski resort. It has enough space to store a pair of gloves, a hat, an extra layer, and some snacks. In addition, it features a padded laptop compartment and skateboard carrying straps, which makes it popular for city use.

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BURTON KILO 2.0

The Burton Kilo 2.0 is an urban backpack that can occasionally be used for snowboarding. It features special compartments for laptops and tablets, as well as side pockets, external zippered pockets, and straps for attaching a skateboard or tripod. Overall, it’s a comfortable, resistant, and versatile model at a great price.

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DAKINE MISSION PRO

The Dakine Mission Pro offers a comfortable size for the track while including advanced features for short sidecountry tours: snowboard carrying straps, an avalanche tool compartment, a hydration sleeve, an insulated shoulder strap that prevents the tube from freezing, a fleece-lined goggle pocket, and two attachment points for climbing carabiners.

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OSPREY DAYLITE

The Osprey Daylite is a great option for day trips, whether you’re snowboarding, hiking, or mountain biking. This model has a tablet compartment, a hydration sleeve, two mesh side pockets, and a comfortable suspension system. Despite its compact size, it offers enough space to store an extra layer, a bottle of water, and some snacks.

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CAMELBAK BAG

The Camelbak Bag features a water reservoir compartment and a tube, both thermally insulated to prevent the water from freezing on the coldest days of winter. This model is perfect for riders who need a hydration bag with space to store a few small items.

CHARACTERISTICS OF SNOWBOARD BACKPACKS:

VERSATILITY

Many backpacks on the list are highly versatile, which means they can be used for several outdoor sports, including snowboarding, skiing, climbing, mountaineering, hiking, etc. This is a great advantage, as you won’t need to buy one backpack for each activity. A versatile model should feature well-padded shoulder straps, high water resistance, and an efficient ventilation system.

CAPACITY

10-20 liters

Compact backpacks are particularly suited for snowboarding at the resort. They have a comfortable size while providing storage for some snacks, a pair of gloves, a beanie, and a bottle of water or a hydration bladder.

30-40 liters

These models are designed for sidecountry and backcountry riders, as they offer enough capacity for technical equipment such as a helmet, an ice ax, a pair of ski poles, and avalanche tools.

40-50 liters

High-capacity models are used mainly for longer backcountry tours, whether you’re sleeping in huts or camping in the outdoors. If you’re planning to camp along the route, your backpack should have enough space to store a sleeping bag, a tent, a stove, and other basic utensils. Generally, these backpacks include several straps with which to attach your board, helmet, ice ax, rope, etc.

MATERIALS

Nylon

Nylon is commonly used for backpack manufacturing because it has excellent water resistance, abrasion resistance, and durability. In addition, it’s quick-drying and it can be stretched considerably before breaking, which makes it ideal for products that will need to withstand a lot of “action”.

Nylon is generally more expensive than other synthetic fabrics, but if you’re looking for a material that can take a beating, this might be your best option.

Polyester

Polyester is a strong and durable material that can withstand lengthy exposure to the sun without degrading. It’s widely used for sportswear manufacturing because it maintains its insulating properties even when wet. Polyester is also an excellent material for backpacks.

Polypropylene

Some budget backpacks are made from polypropylene, which is a good thermal insulator, doesn’t absorb water, and is quick-drying. The downside: It’s not as UV-resistant as nylon or polyester, so it doesn’t offer as much durability.

FRAME

Many compact models designed for short outings don’t include an interior frame, so they are lightweight and can be packed very small.

On the other hand, most high-capacity packs have a frame that provides rigidity. Frames slightly increase the pack’s final weight but are essential in models designed for multi-day expeditions.

SNOWBOARD STRAPS

Most snowboard backpacks have some sort of straps with which to attach your board vertically. This feature is especially important if you are a freerider or backcountry snowboarder, as there will be times when you’ll have to hike or climb.

Keep in mind that carrying your board on your back isn’t really pleasant. If you’re planning to travel long distances, carrying your board can be quite uncomfortable, especially when you are climbing over rocks or passing between trees. The board can get hooked on branches, hit your legs, etc.

Keep in mind that many compact models don’t have board-carrying straps because they are not designed for ski touring. These models are better suited for the ski resort.

HYDRATION BAG

As you know, you must stay hydrated when practicing any sport. Many models include side meshes to store water bottles. However, if you are planning to occasionally get off-piste, I recommend that you look for a backpack that is compatible with a hydration bladder (usually sold separately).

If you’re planning to snowboard in extreme temperatures, keep in mind that regular hydration sleeves will not do the job. You will need to store the hydration bladder in an insulated compartment to prevent the water from freezing. The tube must be insulated as well.

AVALANCHE SYSTEMS

Many riders look for lightweight backpacks or even hydration packs for resort snowboarding. However, backcountry riders should go for models designed specifically for off-piste expeditions, which are equipped with safety systems.

The most effective avalanche systems are:

1- The Avalung, which is a valve that supplies air to the rider if he or she is trapped under an avalanche. This increases the probability of finding the rider alive.

2- The Airbag, which inflates around the rider’s head, protecting him or her from impacts and keeping the rider closer to the surface, so that he or she is not sucked in by the avalanche. Airbag-equipped models are usually quite expensive but they are also really helpful in the event of an avalanche.

3- The Avy Gear compartment, which is a dedicated pocket in which to store special avalanche gear, like a shovel and a probe. These tools must be easy to access quickly.

TORSO LENGTH

If your backpack doesn’t fit you, it will be uncomfortable to carry and could even affect your stability You’ll see that some models are one-size-fits-all (especially compact models), while others are available in different sizes: S, M, and L.

Some packs have an adjustable torso, which is great for fine-tuning the right length. Keep in mind that most women’s models have a shorter torso length.

ATTACHMENT POINTS AND STRAPS

Backcountry riders should look for a pack with enough attachment points and straps to attach a helmet, a pair of ice axes, a rope, and other technical gear.

WATER RESISTANCE

When you’re snowboarding, you’ll be continuously exposed to snow, water, and wind. Therefore, make sure all your gear, including your backpack, is completely waterproof.

Snowboard backpacks must be made from waterproof materials that keep your belongings dry at all times. In addition, they should be equipped with waterproof zippers, sealed seams, and special reinforcements to improve weather performance.

ARE ALL BACKPACKS UNISEX?

Most—but not all—backpacks on this list are unisex. Some models feature a shorter torso design and a suspension system specially created for female riders.