“Fast, lightweight and safe” is how Ortovox describes the Trace 25 and after testing I have no reason to argue. The Trace is as fairly minimalist pack and competes in the ultra-lightweight touring pack segment. It’s a 25 liter pack that weighs less than a pound with a claimed weight of 445 grams. If you […]
Ortovox Trace 25 Review: A Lightweight Ski Touring Backpack Read More »
I needed a new go-to touring pack this year for day trips and ended up going with the 32 liter version of the Mammut Spindrift. I have a smaller pack for quick trips (the Ortovox Trace 25 – review upcoming), but on colder days with lots of extra layers to pack or on longer journeys
Mammut Spindrift 32 Ski Touring Pack Review Read More »
Avalanche Airbags are all the rage these days and with good reason. The chances of surviving a slide with an airbag is way higher than without. This article will give readers a bit of background on avalanche airbag packs and then look at the best avalanche airbag packs in 2019. There are options for many
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The Deuter Rise Lite 28 is a lightweight ski touring pack that is meant for day-long ski touring trips. With 28 liters of volume, it’s big enough to stash all of the necessities for backcountry skiing and has plenty of attachment points for additional gear. At 1180 grams it’s one of the lighter ski-touring oriented
Deuter Rise Lite 28 Pack Review Read More »
Last season Mrs. HikeForPow got a new pack for Christmas to replace her aging Arc’teryx Silo 30. The Silo 30 was a good pack, but it was a bit too long in the torso for her. It also had a bit of an odd shape. It narrowed at the bottom, so fully packing it was
Osprey Kresta 30 Women’s Pack Review Read More »
One of the more recent innovations in backcountry safety is the Avalanche Airbag. Airbag packs are particularly interesting because they greatly increase your chance of survival if you get caught in a slide. Update: check out our Best Airbag Packs in 2019 post for updated info. In this article I’m going to take a look
The Best Avalanche Airbag Packs in 2018 Read More »
If you’ve ever asked yourself “How do avalanche airbags work, exactly?” then you have come to the right place. This article explains the basics and then some. There are pros and cons to the different designs, and this will give you a good idea of which might be right for you. There are now quite
How do Avalanche Airbags Work? Read More »