Best winter backpack ?

[Justin Mckinney]

Can you’ll give me your favorite winter packs. I’m thinking they need to be sturdier, more water resistant, lots of loops to attach gear , like snow shoes and poles and able to carry more weight . What are your thoughts ?

[Stephen M]

My McHale Sarc is by far the best winter pack I have ever used.

[D M]

My McHale LBP and if I want a bit lighter for shorter trips with just microspikes my GG Mariposa.

[Ralph Burgess]

I’ve tried several times to negotiate the McHale website, and given up every time.   it’s a chaotic mess.   How did you guys who own their packs go about figuring out what you want?    I can’t tell what pack models are, what the difference is between them.   No weights seem to be listed anywhere.

[Stephen M]

I spoke to Dan via telephone, told him what I wanted and he sent me a demo pack.

 

 

[Bob Moulder]

 Can you’ll give me your favorite winter packs. I’m thinking they need to be sturdier, more water resistant, lots of loops to attach gear , like snow shoes and poles and able to carry more weight . What are your thoughts ?

As with anything else, it depends on where you’re going, what you’re carrying, the conditions you’ll encounter, and for how long you plan to be out (food weight), and water availability and frequency, (and whether it’s running water or obtained from melting snow — which means much more fuel will be needed). If the pack isn’t going to be dragged over ice and rock, it needn’t be made with nearly as heavy a material as one that will, and if the temperatures will remain well below freezing, it needn’t be water resistant.

A light pack might do, or it might not. Similar to other UL pack decisions, the first thing to figure out is what you’re going to be putting into the pack, and so it is often suggested to buy the pack last.

There is a wide chasm separating UL 3-season backpacking and UL winter backpacking, and it is best spanned with a lot of experience. The ability to do quick trips a short distance into the backcountry to test gear and technique is golden. A good mentor with winter UL knowledge and experience in your area is highly advised.

 

 

[David Chenault]

The Seek Outside Unaweep is great for winter stuff.  The main bag is weathertight, the Talon system can carry all the snow toys and tools you might want, and the suspension can carry (well) more than you can.

The old Golite Pinnacle was a good cheap option so long as you kept the weight down.  The Osprey Talon 44 is a decent budget option.

[Ethan A.]

+1 Bob = it depends. I’ll add another dimension to Bob’s list – your mode of transport. For example, if you’re going to wear a pack while skiing, you’re going to want the pack and the weight close so it moves with you, and you won’t want that pack to be so large it interferes with your movement (you can also go the pulk route if you’ll have snow, and can build a pulk fairly easily and cheaply). Another factor to consider is volume – you need to allow extra volume in winter for bulkier gear including warmer sleep systems, puffy insulation clothing, larger snow melting pots, etc.

@DaveC, I’ve read great things about the Unaweep from you and others – I only wonder whether the external frame pack makes sense when skiing on uneven ground. I’ve never tried skiing with an external frame pack. Then again, historically packs used in the Nordic countries by skiers must have been external frame packs, though I’m guessing they tended to use pulks for heavier bulkier items.

My Talon 44 is a great pack for the price (especially on sale), but like a lot of lighter packs you’ll have to take care if you’re securing sharp metal items such as shovels, snowshoes and crampons.

[David Chenault]

The frame of the Unaweep is outside the bag, but it doesn’t really have anything else in common with traditional external frames.  The Unaweep rides closer and is more stable under dynamic movement than just about any “internal” I’ve used.

The base of the pack is wide (14″) and I could see that a small person might have issues with their arm swing skiing hitting it, perhaps.  That’s the only hypothetical disadvantage I can think of for skiing.

[Edward Jursek]

Given all the variables of fit, needs, gear, etc. I settled on a used HMG Porter “Expedition” (now the 4400 Porter).

[Eric Blumensaadt]

I have an old, heavy (7.5 lbs.!) Dana Design Terraplane that hauls anything I can stagger beneath. It’s a great pack but WAY overbuilt.

But I will be using my UL Osprey EXOS 58 with sleeping pad strapped on the bottom for a short 2 night trip in the Spring Mountains near Las Vegas this winter. I’ve hauled 45 lbs. with that pack in hunting season with no problems.

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