– The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures

– The Backcountry Ski Touring Blog

Banner
  • Avalanches
  • Gear Reviews
    • Ski Reviews
    • Boot Reviews
    • Binding Reviews
    • Snowboard Splitboard
    • Book Reviews
    • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
    • Airbag Backpacks
    • Backcountry Electronics
    • Misc Gear Reviews
  • Podcast
  • Tips & Tricks
    • Ski Touring Basics
    • Boot Fitting
    • Fitness & Health
    • Gear Mods
  • Trip Reports
    • Fourteeners
    • Huts – Cabins – Lodges
    • Denali McKinley
    • 8,000 Meter Skiing
  • Stories
    • History
    • Humor
    • Land Use Issues
    • Evergreen Ski Touring
    • Poetry
  • Resources
    • All Posts Listed
    • 100 Recent Comments
    • Backcountry Skiing & Ski Touring Webcams
    • Ski Weights Comparison
    • Archives of WildSnow.com
    • Authors Page
    • Ski Touring Bindings
      • Trab TR2 Index and FAQ
      • Salomon Guardian & Tracker
      • Naxo Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Silvretta Pure Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Marker F10-12 Duke Baron
      • G3 Onyx Ski Binding FAQ
      • G3 ION Ski Touring Binding
      • Fritschi Backcountry Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Fritschi Diamir Frame Bindings Mount DIY
      • Fritschi Diamir Bindings FAQ
      • Fritschi Tecton FAQ
      • Atomic Salomon Backland MTN
      • Dynafit Tri-Step Binding 2001-2003
      • Naxo randonnee alpine touring AT ski binding FAQ
      • Dynafit Skiing Bindings – Info Index
      • Dynafit Binding Frequently Asked Questions FAQ
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Review 1
      • Dynafit Beast 16 FAQ Page Two
    • History
      • Ski Touring Binding Museum
      • Trooper Traverse Intro & Index
      • Randonnee Ski Touring “AT” ski gear — What is Hip?
      • Chronology
    • Backcountry Skiing Core Glossary
    • Gear Review Policy & Disclosures
   

3 Packs for Small Backs — BD Cirque, Gregory Targhee, Ortovox S AVABAG

by Manasseh Franklin March 12, 2021
written by Manasseh Franklin March 12, 2021
The Targhee ski carry in action.

Long outings are more enjoyable when your pack fits. Here: the Gregory Targhee FT 35.

For the first many years of my ski touring endeavors, I had one pack: a 40 liter Mammut sack that had everything I needed including ski carry straps, ice ax carries, a separate compartment of avy equipment, well-padded shoulder straps and hip belt and it didn’t tip the scales in any noticeable way.

Over time and experiences on skis, I found that I sometimes needed more or less from the pack. Forty liters was overkill for fast and light training or quick morning skins. The pack unfortunately started to fall apart with buckles breaking and zippers jamming (I replaced the zippers at least once). It wasn’t even close to an airbag pack and though I’d tried to convince myself otherwise, it was a little too long for my shorter torso.

So I eventually started branching out and found that world of ski packs has come a long way. Here are a few favorites I’ve been using this season, size small-medium that fit me, a 5’5″ woman with a 16.5 inch torso. They’re all available in larger sizes for longer torsos, too.

Fast, Light, Minimal

The Black Diamond Cirque 22 combines running vest style shoulder straps with the minimal aspects of a skimo pack.  Left: The shoulder straps have zippered and open pouches for snacks and water bottles. The trap door on the side of the pack offers secure access to skins or whatever else you want to stuff in there.

The Black Diamond Cirque 22 combines running vest style shoulder straps with the minimal aspects of a skimo pack.
Left: The shoulder straps have zippered and open pouches for snacks and water bottles. The trap door on the side of the pack offers secure access to skins or whatever else you want to stuff in there.
Right: The ski carry is easy to rig with the green loop and bungee clip. You can also carry two ice axes. The main compartment can be divided into to, and features a small, separate sleeve for probe and shovel.

Black Diamond Cirque 22 Ski Vest

The Black Diamond Cirque 22 pack combines the fit and accessibility of a running vest with the practicalities of a ski mountaineering pack. It features a single top accessible compartment that can be divided to make a lower compartment accessible by a zipper and velcro trap door flap, along with a separate sleeve for avy gear. It has a diagonal ski carry easily rigged up with a carabiner bungee and a removable helmet pouch.

Favorite features
Diagonal ski carry that’s easy to rig with the pack on my back
Side trap door that stays secure with both zipper and velcro
Easy cinch top
Sturdy removable back for extra support
Variety of tool carry options
Vest front offers easy access to snacks, water, and accessories and keeps pack securely in place

Cons
Vest buckles are small and hard to operate with gloves
Position of buckles makes it tough to stuff and keep skins under jacket

Shop for it

Fully featured, comfortable, customizable

The Gregory Targhee 35 is a fully featured backcountry ski pack.  Left: The avalanche gear sleeve is visible. The main compartment can be accessed either via a drawstring or full side zip. The ski carry is easy to deploy with the loop on the bottom right and bungee that goes across the shoulders to secure on the shoulder strap. Right: This pack is robust, with a comfortable (but warm) foam backing, padded hip and shoulder straps, removable brain, and attachments for ice axes and diagonal or A-frame ski carry.

The Gregory Targhee 35 is a fully featured backcountry ski pack.
Left: The avalanche gear sleeve is visible. The main compartment can be accessed either via a drawstring or full side zip. The ski carry is easy to deploy with the loop on the bottom right and bungee that goes across the shoulders to secure on the shoulder strap.
Right: This pack is robust, with a comfortable (but warm) foam backing, padded hip and shoulder straps, removable brain, and attachments for ice axes and diagonal or A-frame ski carry.

Gregory Targhee Fast Track 35

Gregory has long been on the train of fully featured packs. The Targhee is constantly evolving to be refined to anticipate any needs a ski tourer might have and the latest iteration lives up to that. It has all the standard pack features: large main compartment, separate avalanche tool sleeve, detachable brain with internal zipper for keys and essentials, fully padded shoulder straps and hip belt and removable helmet carry.

Where it sets itself apart from other packs though is the multiple options for tool carries. Gregory developed its own diagonal ski carry (which, let’s be honest is the most efficient way to holster skis, so long as you don’t have a helmet in the way) with a bottom loop that tucks neatly into a sleeve when you aren’t using it, and a bungeed line the wraps around the top of the ski and attaches securely to a piece on the shoulder strap. You can A-Frame the skis, too.

Favorite features
Full side zip for easy access
Free moving hip belt for easy to customize fit
Removable brain
Lots of tool carry options
Full size ski pack with diagonal ski carry

Cons
Ski carry is a little awkward at first and takes practice to set up on the fly
More features equals more weight (1300g for sm/md)
Back pad is thickly cushioned and prone to sweaty back

Shop for it

The Targhee ski carry in action.

The Targhee Fast Track ski carry in action.

Fully featured airbag pack

The Ortovox Avabag 25 is relatively low profile avalanche pack. The main compartment is spacious enough for basic essentials. It also has a diagonal ski carry and ice axe attachments. Center: The pack also has a separate sleeve with labels for avalanche gear and a rescue card. Right: the trigger is adjustable and easy to grab. The S version is for shorter backed guys and gals.

Left: The Ortovox Avabag 28 is relatively low profile avalanche pack. The main compartment is spacious enough for basic essentials. It also has a diagonal ski carry and ice axe attachments.
Center: The pack also has a separate sleeve with labels for avalanche gear and a rescue card.
Right: the trigger is adjustable and easy to grab. The S version is for shorter-torso guys and gals.

Ortovox Ascent 28 S AVABAG Kit

Airbag packs have come a long way over the past decade, with canisters being replaced by rechargeable fans, packs coming in smaller packages, and pack weights steadily decreasing as inflation systems evolve. Ortovox’s AVABAG won a Product of the Year award at ISPO in 2016-17 and remains a standby among balloon packs.

It features a large main compartment that shares space with the canister and has enough room for extra layers, water bottle, food, emergency kit and other essentials. There is a separate pocket for avalanche gear (with labeled sleeves). On the outside are lots of gear carry options, including A-frame and diagonal ski carries, ice axe loops and compression straps. There’s a removable helmet net.

The ‘S’ in the title indicates the pack is sized for short backs. This is not only useful for women as we’ve long had to make due with packs suited for longer male torsos, but it also works for shorter torso men.

Favorite features
Compatible with other AVABAG system packs
Easy to access and adjust diagonal ski carry
Distributes weight well on smaller frame people
Can practice deploying without cartridge

Cons
Typical canister issues: single use and needs to be refilled
Travel restrictions apply on flying with canisters

Shop for the Ortovox 28 S AVABAG

So there you have it, a pack for every ski touring occasion, all in some good looking colors too. Readers: what are your favorite packs?

7 comments
0
FacebookTwitterPinterestEmail
previous post
Field Treatment for Climbing Skin Failure
next post
Dynafit Race Review Part I — Mezzalama Ski, PDG 2 Boot

7 comments

Jim Milstein March 12, 2021 - 10:02 am

CAMP Ski Raptor 30L

Reply
JCoates March 12, 2021 - 7:47 pm

Jim, I second that! Silly name…great pack.

Reply
Jim Milstein March 12, 2021 - 8:04 pm

Sadly, JCoates, we have to put up with silly names. We live in an age of silly names which marketing beings think are cool. There are worse things, lots worse.

Reply
Al March 12, 2021 - 12:07 pm

IME a skimpy pack will be lighter and carry easier until I need to carry a big pair of pow skis and then I realized a pack with better suspension might have been a better idea even if it weighed a little more so for ski or even hiking I go 35-40 liters

Reply
Moritz March 13, 2021 - 11:57 pm

Hi,
The back aupport pannel of the cirque 22 is removeable? Did i understand that correctly?

Reply
Lynne Wolfe March 16, 2021 - 10:22 am

Interesting. I got the Gregory Targhee 35 this year and it is quite different from the one you describe. Top pocket isn’t removable, only back panel access to main compartment- not drawstring. I wonder what was up with that? I still really like it, and have sold several other 30-35 liter packs that I didn’t like as much. I do really like the Targhee 35 for the reasons you describe. Very comfortable, even with a load, fits me (I am about your size), and I really like the hose race in the shoulder strap on this one. Radio fits in the top pocket next to my lunch and goggles and ball cap.

Reply
twohatmike March 19, 2021 - 10:52 am

The mammut light removable airbag 3.0 30L (deep breath) comes in a short size. I have a smaller torso but don’t have a problem with the normal size. With the carbon cartridge (sorry north america) its dang light, and I take the airbag system out for spring skiing. One hip pocket for snacks, gear loop on the other side. Without taking it off I can slide it to one side and access the main zip for skins, shovel/probe, water, layers, etc. Helmet tucks in the bottom, goggles in a purpose-built top pocket. Carries weight pretty well, and skies like a 20 L pack.

However, if you stuff it full the airbag zipper starts to come apart (although the velcro keeps the balloon from falling out). Sternum strap broke and no reply from Mammut yet. And I wish the ski-carrying straps had a lowe alpine style “loadlocker” metal hook for reliability.

Reply

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Anti-Spam Quiz:

Promotion Image

Gear Reviews

  • Boot Reviews
  • Ski Reviews
  • Binding Reviews
  • Avalanche Beacon Reviews
  • Book Reviews
  • Misc Gear Reviews

Popular Posts

  • Ski Touring News Roundup Spring 2021

    April 9, 2021
  • 2

    Ski Crampons — When To, When Not To and How

    April 13, 2021
  • 3

    Bring Out the Black Belt — BD Helio Carbon 95 Ski Review

    April 12, 2021
  • 4

    Atomic Hawx Ultra XTD 115 W Touring Boot Review

    April 7, 2021
  • 5

    Breaking Down the New BD Pieps Beacon Recall

    April 13, 2021

Recent Posts

  • Team WildSnow Recaps 2021 Grand Traverse Ski Race

    April 5, 2021
  • The Gothic Mountain Tour: Not Just a Training Race

    March 3, 2021
  • Making Turns and Skintracks at Bluebird Backcountry

    February 24, 2021
  • Celebrating the Low Danger, Low Angle Ski Tour

    February 16, 2021
  • Cooke City in Photos — Montana Trip Report

    January 29, 2021

Newsletter Sign-Up

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • About Lou Dawson
  • Authors Page
  • About
  • Contact
  • Copyright & Legal
  • Website Security

@2020 - All Rights Reserved. Designed and Developed by WildSnow


Back To Top

Read alsox

Ski Crampons — When To, When...

April 13, 2021

Bring Out the Black Belt —...

April 12, 2021

Ski Touring News Roundup Spring 2021

April 9, 2021