Outdoors & Fitness
The Best Ski Touring Backpacks: 4 Compared (and One to Skip)
We compared four 30 to 35 litre packs on ski carry, avalanche tool pockets, back access, helmet carry, hydration, and airbag availability.
The short version
The Black Diamond Dawn Patrol 32 is our best overall pick, with a separate snow safety pocket, a tuck-away diagonal ski carry, and zippered back-panel access at 1.17 kg. The Mammut Aenergy ST 32 is the value pick, adding an A-frame ski carry and an integrated helmet carrier at 1150 g. The Dakine Poacher 32L suits splitboarders and riders who want every carry option and do not mind carrying 1.79 kg. The Arc'teryx Aerios 35 is a good hiking pack, but it lists no ski carry, no shovel pocket, and only a roll-top closure, so skip it for touring. If you are choosing an airbag or a beacon, see our guides to avalanche beacons and hydration packs. Best for: ski tourers who want a dependable 30 litre class pack, with a diagonal carry or A-frame carry matched to how they carry skis.
Our picks at a glance
- Black Diamond Dawn Patrol 32 - Buy. A 32 litre touring pack built around the things you touch every lap: a tuck-away diagonal ski carry, a separate snow safety pocket, and back-panel access.
- Mammut Aenergy ST 32 - Buy. A lightweight 32 litre touring pack that offers both diagonal and A-frame ski carry, an integrated helmet carrier, and full-zip access to the main compartment.
- Dakine Poacher 32L - It depends. A snowboard-friendly 32 litre pack with every carry and safety feature, but at 1.79 kg it is heavy for long skin tracks.
- Arc'teryx Aerios 35 - Skip. A well-made day-hiking and overnight pack that has no ski carry, no shovel pocket, and no back access, so it is the wrong tool for the skin track.
The verdict in 30 seconds
What mattered most
- Volume
- Weight
- Ski carry
- Avalanche tool pocket
- Back access
- Helmet carry
A ski touring pack has to do jobs a day-hiking pack does not: hold skis on your back, keep a shovel and probe within reach in seconds, and let you get at a layer without dumping the load in the snow. We looked at four packs in the 30 to 35 litre range from Black Diamond, Mammut, Dakine, and Arc'teryx, using each maker's own product page for every feature. Two earn a buy, one suits a narrower rider, and one is a day-hiking pack that skiers sometimes grab and should not.
A 32 litre touring pack built around the things you touch every lap: a tuck-away diagonal ski carry, a separate snow safety pocket, and back-panel access.
Best for: Ski tourers who want one dependable 30 litre class pack for day tours and are happy with a diagonal carry.
- The snow safety pocket is separate and easily accessed, so shovel and probe come out without unpacking the main compartment.
- The ski carry tucks away when you are skiing downhill, and the pack also has a vertical snowboard carry.
- At 1.17 kg it is light for a 32 litre pack with a form-fitting suspension and an insulated shoulder pocket for a hydration tube, soft flask, or radio.
- Black Diamond lists exterior attachment points for a helmet, not a dedicated helmet carry system.
- It carries a diagonal ski carry only, so skiers who prefer A-frame have to look at other packs.
- The maker page does not list an airbag option, and it showed as out of stock when we checked, so sizes can sell out mid-season.
- It sits at the premium end of this group.
A lightweight 32 litre touring pack that offers both diagonal and A-frame ski carry, an integrated helmet carrier, and full-zip access to the main compartment.
Best for: Skiers who want carry-system flexibility and a helmet carrier without paying for the top-end pack.
- Mammut lists both diagonal and A-frame ski carrying systems plus a snowboard attachment, which covers most ways people carry skis.
- A large full zipper opens the main compartment completely, and there is an integrated helmet carrier.
- It weighs 1150 g and has an aluminium frame, an elasticated chest strap, and a hydration system-compatible design.
- Mammut lists a compartment for avalanche equipment but does not describe it as a separate pocket, so it may be less quick than a dedicated one.
- The page lists no rain cover.
- No airbag option is listed on the page.
- The main material is listed as polyamide with no further durability detail.
A snowboard-friendly 32 litre pack with every carry and safety feature, but at 1.79 kg it is heavy for long skin tracks.
Best for: Splitboarders and resort-adjacent riders who want every feature and do not count grams.
- Dakine lists diagonal or A-frame ski and splitboard carry plus a vertical snowboard carry.
- It has a snow tools and shovel pocket with sleeves, a deployable dual-position helmet carry, and zippered back-panel main access.
- It is compatible with a two-way radio handset or insulated hydration, and Dakine sells separate Poacher RAS airbag models.
- At 1.79 kg it weighs about 600 g more than the Black Diamond and Mammut packs here.
- The page lists the shovel pocket as snow tools with sleeves rather than a distinct avalanche compartment.
- The standard Poacher page does not list airbag compatibility; the airbag versions are separate products.
- It is built more for riding than for long ascents.
A well-made day-hiking and overnight pack that has no ski carry, no shovel pocket, and no back access, so it is the wrong tool for the skin track.
Best for: Hikers and overnight trekkers; for skiing, buy a pack from a ski-specific line.
- It is a light, durable pack, listed at 1.16 kg, with a roll-top that adds up to 10 L.
- The main compartment is reservoir bladder compatible and the harness pockets fit 500 mL soft flasks.
- Arc'teryx sells it for hiking, and for that job it is a strong pack.
- Arc'teryx describes it for day hikes and overnights, and the page lists no ski carry.
- There is no shovel or avalanche tool pocket listed, so a shovel and probe go loose in the main compartment.
- Only a roll-top closure is described, so there is no back-panel or side access to gear at the bottom.
- No helmet carry and no airbag option are listed, and the roll-top is awkward in snow.
| Criteria | Black Diamond Dawn Patrol 32 Top pick | Mammut Aenergy ST 32 | Dakine Poacher 32L | Arc'teryx Aerios 35 |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Verdict | Buy it | Buy it | It depends | Skip it |
| Best for | Ski tourers who want one dependable 30 litre class pack for day tours and are happy with a diagonal carry. | Skiers who want carry-system flexibility and a helmet carrier without paying for the top-end pack. | Splitboarders and resort-adjacent riders who want every feature and do not count grams. | Hikers and overnight trekkers; for skiing, buy a pack from a ski-specific line. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range | $$ · mid-range | $$$ · premium |
| Volume | 32 L | 32 L | 32 L | 36 L listed (named 35) |
| Weight | 1.17 kg | 1150 g | 1.79 kg | 1.16 kg |
| Ski carry | Tuck-away diagonal | Diagonal and A-frame | Diagonal or A-frame | None listed |
| Avalanche tool pocket | Separate snow safety pocket | Compartment for avalanche equipment | Snow tools and shovel pocket with sleeves | None listed |
| Back access | Zippered back panel | Full zipper to main compartment | Zippered back panel | Roll-top only |
| Helmet carry | External attachment points | Integrated helmet carrier | Deployable dual-position carry | None listed |
| Hydration | Insulated shoulder pocket for tube | Hydration system-compatible | Radio or insulated hydration compatible | Reservoir compatible in main compartment |
| Airbag option | Not listed | Not listed | Separate RAS models sold | Not listed |
Which one is right for you?
- Ski tourers who want one dependable 30 litre class pack for day tours and are happy with a diagonal carry. Buy it Black Diamond Dawn Patrol 32
- Skiers who want carry-system flexibility and a helmet carrier without paying for the top-end pack. Buy it Mammut Aenergy ST 32
- Splitboarders and resort-adjacent riders who want every feature and do not count grams. It depends Dakine Poacher 32L
- Hikers and overnight trekkers; for skiing, buy a pack from a ski-specific line. Skip it Arc'teryx Aerios 35
How we judged the field
Five things matter in a touring pack. Ski carry decides whether you can strap skis on in seconds and keep them stable on a boot-pack. An avalanche tool pocket decides how fast you get a shovel and probe. Back access lets you reach layers and food without unloading the pack. Helmet carry and hydration compatibility decide whether your gear rides safely on the climb, and an airbag option matters if you want one in the same pack.
The field splits into dedicated ski touring packs, snow-sport packs aimed at riders, and generic hiking packs that borrow ski language or none at all. We picked Black Diamond and Mammut as the two touring-first packs, Dakine for the rider-focused option, and Arc’teryx as the hiking pack that lacks the features. Osprey, Ortovox, and Pieps also make touring gear, but we only used packs whose maker pages we could read in full.
The Dawn Patrol 32 is the pack to buy if you want the cleanest touring layout. Black Diamond lists a separate, easily accessed snow safety pocket, a tuck-away diagonal ski carry, a vertical snowboard carry, and zippered back-panel access. The suspension is form-fitting with snow-shedding fabric, and an oversized insulated shoulder pocket holds a hydration tube, soft flask, or radio. At 1.17 kg it is light for what it does. The compromises are that helmet carry is limited to exterior attachment points, there is no A-frame carry listed, and the maker page shows no airbag option. It was also listed as out of stock on the maker page when we looked, so check sizes before the season. It is also a premium-tier pack, so the price is the other trade-off. Buy it if you do most of your touring as day trips, you already know you prefer diagonal carry, and you want the fastest route to your rescue gear. It suits ski tourers who want one reliable day pack and plan to carry skis diagonally.
The Aenergy ST 32 is the value pick because it covers more carry options for less. Mammut lists diagonal and A-frame carrying systems, a snowboard attachment, an integrated helmet carrier, and a large full zipper that opens the whole main compartment. It weighs 1150 g and uses an aluminium frame. The avalanche equipment compartment is listed but not described as a separate pocket, so it may not be as fast as the Black Diamond pocket, and the page lists no rain cover and no airbag option. For most day tours that is a fair trade, and the helmet carrier is a real convenience on mixed ascents. Mammut lists a single back length of 46 cm on the page, so check that it suits your torso before you buy. Overall it gives up little in daily use compared with pricier packs. It suits skiers who want flexibility in how they carry skis without paying for the top-end pack.
The Poacher 32L is a feature-rich pack that makes sense for a particular rider. Dakine lists diagonal or A-frame ski and splitboard carry, a vertical snowboard carry, a snow tools and shovel pocket with sleeves, a deployable dual-position helmet carry, and zippered back-panel main access. It is compatible with a two-way radio handset or insulated hydration. The trade-off is weight: 1.79 kg is roughly 600 g more than the Black Diamond and Mammut packs here, and you feel that on a long skin track. The standard page does not list airbag compatibility, though Dakine sells separate Poacher RAS airbag models. Skiers who count grams on long approaches will find lighter packs elsewhere in this review, and anyone who wants an airbag should look at the RAS listings instead of the standard pack. If your day involves short approaches and a lot of riding, the extra weight matters less. It suits splitboarders and riders who value protection and carry options over weight.
The Aerios 35 is a good pack in the wrong place. Arc’teryx describes it as a light, durable pack for day hikes and overnights, weighing 1.16 kg, with a reservoir-compatible main compartment, soft flask pockets, and a roll-top that adds up to 10 L. The page lists no ski carry, no shovel or avalanche tool pocket, no helmet carry, and no back access beyond the roll-top. Skiers sometimes grab it because it is the right size and well built, but you end up with skis lashed to external bungees and rescue gear loose inside. Arc’teryx does not market it for skiing, which is the point: it is built for a different activity. If you already own one, you can use it on a hike to the ski area, but do not rely on it for avalanche terrain. Skip it for touring and use it for hiking, and spend the money on a pack that lists the features above.
Black Diamond Dawn Patrol 32 vs Mammut Aenergy ST 32: which should you buy?
The Dawn Patrol 32 and the Aenergy ST 32 are within a few grams of each other at 1.17 kg and 1150 g, so the choice is about features. Black Diamond gives you a distinct snow safety pocket and a tuck-away diagonal carry. Mammut gives you both diagonal and A-frame carry, an integrated helmet carrier, and a full zipper to the main compartment.
Choose the Dawn Patrol if fast rescue-gear access matters most to you and you carry skis diagonally. Choose the Aenergy if you switch carry styles or want a built-in helmet carrier, and accept a less specific avalanche compartment. Whichever you pick, check the maker page for current sizes and stock.
What to look for
- Ski carry system: Look for diagonal, A-frame, or both, and check how the straps stow when you ski downhill.
- Avalanche tool pocket: A separate pocket for shovel and probe is faster to use than one shared with the main compartment.
- Back access: A zippered back panel or full-zip opening lets you reach gear without unloading the pack.
- Helmet carry: An integrated carrier or removable net keeps a helmet secure on the climb; attachment points alone are more basic.
- Hydration compatibility: Look for an insulated shoulder pocket or tube sleeve so the line does not freeze.
- Airbag availability: Check whether the maker sells an airbag version of the pack, because most standard packs do not list one.
Our final take
For most ski tourers the Black Diamond Dawn Patrol 32 is the pack to buy, because the separate snow safety pocket and back-panel access make the daily routine quicker. The Mammut Aenergy ST 32 is the better choice if you want A-frame carry and a helmet carrier. The Dakine Poacher 32L is worth it if you ride a splitboard and accept the weight. Do not buy the Arc’teryx Aerios 35 for touring, since it lists none of the ski features. Check current stock before you shop, because several of these packs sell out.
Questions, answered
Do I need a dedicated avalanche tool pocket?
Yes, if you ski in avalanche terrain, because speed matters when you need a shovel and probe. A separate pocket lets you pull them out without emptying the main compartment. Black Diamond lists a separate, easily accessed snow safety pocket on the Dawn Patrol 32, and Dakine lists a snow tools and shovel pocket with sleeves. Mammut lists a compartment for avalanche equipment, which is less specific. Practice grabbing your gear with gloves on before you rely on it.
Should I pick A-frame or diagonal ski carry?
Diagonal carry puts skis across your back and is quick to set up, and A-frame carry puts them on the sides of the pack like an inverted V. Many people use diagonal for short boot-packs and A-frame for longer ones, but it is a personal preference. Mammut and Dakine list both systems on the packs here, while Black Diamond lists a tuck-away diagonal carry on the Dawn Patrol 32. If you switch between them, buy a pack that lists both.
Can these packs take an avalanche airbag?
None of the Black Diamond, Mammut, or Arc'teryx pages for these packs list an airbag option. Dakine sells separate Poacher RAS pack and vest models, listed by name as different products, and Deuter's Alproof 32 page describes the Alpride E2 airbag system. If you want an airbag, start with a pack designed around one rather than adapting a standard pack. Our beacon review covers the other piece of your rescue kit.
Can I use a hydration bladder in a touring pack?
Yes, most list some form of hydration support, but in cold weather the tube can freeze. Black Diamond lists an insulated shoulder pocket for a tube or soft flask, Dakine lists insulated hydration compatibility, and Mammut lists hydration system compatibility. Many skiers keep a bottle or soft flask in an insulated pocket instead. For general bladder advice, see our hydration packs review.
Why not use a regular hiking pack for ski touring?
A hiking pack lacks places to put skis, shovel, and probe. The Arc'teryx Aerios 35 is a good example: its page describes it for day hikes and overnights, and lists a roll-top and external bungee carry but no ski carry or shovel pocket. You can strap skis to a hiking pack, but the load shifts and you have to dig for rescue gear. A travel pack such as those in our travel backpacks review has the same limits.
Deciding between the top two? See our head-to-head: Black Diamond Dawn Patrol 32 vs Mammut Aenergy ST 32.
More Outdoors & Fitness reviews
The Best Backpacking Sleeping Bags: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) 
The Best Backpacking Sleeping Pads: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) 
The Best Snorkel Sets: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) 
The Best Snow Boots: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) 
The Best Snow Sleds: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) 
The Best Solar Chargers: 4 Compared (and One to Skip)