Ski and Boot Bags - recommendations?

[ekraft]

Hello.

I just invested in my first pair of skis and boots. I'm so excited to try them out every weekend I get the chance. I'm somewhat new to the sport and am buying everything new that I think I will need. My next purchase are bags for my skis and boots. If anyone has any recommendations for great deals, I'd appreciate the info. I'm pretty sure I'll need padded bags to ensure my skis hold up for years to come.
Thanks

 

[ski diva]

Welcome, ekraft! Glad to have you here!

I can't recommend my Transpack boot bag highly enough. It's a back pack, so it's easy to carry and it leaves your hands free to hold other stuff. There are three compartments -- one for each boot, plus a middle one for your helmet and anything else.

Check it out here:

https://www.transpack.net/Ski/index.html

 

[SnowGlider]

I love my Axis backpack boot bag

See it here: https://www.bahnhof.com/store/produ.../1010?osCsid=27c4b2b4496861b19a40c08ada8d09d5

Your boots go in pockets on either side, leaving a large triangular pocket in the middle for your gear.

There is more space inside than you would guess at first glance. I can fit several pairs of mittens and socks; fleece jacket; lunch; and helmet.

There's a special pocket on top for yoru helmet. The top flap arches over the helmet.

There are 4 outside pockets (can't fit much in them as they're flat), 1 small inside pocket, and a large pocket in the top flap.

$34 at Bahnhof Sport.

My life is so much easier since I got this backpack and can have my hands free for carrying skis and poles. The straps are well padded. The fit is very comfortable.

 

[Jilly]

I don't think that you will need a ski bag unless you are travelling by bus or plane. Padded is a good idea though. People tend to store their skis in the bags and that promotes rusting etc. Leave them be. And boots should not be stored in the backpack, bags either. Dry them out after each day of skiing. Don't forget to unpack the rest of the bag either - wet/damp mitts or gloves, smelly socks oh my! Think your gym bag or your guys. If you need to transport skis on top of the car/truck, look into a ski box instead of a rack. They are safer and not going to be covered in crap when you get to the mountain.

 

[NannyMin]

eBay usually has a good selection of Transpack boot bags for great prices.

 

[persee]

I love our Thulebox for transporting the skis. The cool thing is that it breathes enough that our skis can stay there for a day or two w/no rust issues. However if we didn't have the box (or a ski rack but I'm not sure I'd want an open rack to get the skis/bindings all gunkedup on the drive) I think I'd just use a cheapish bag for in my car so that there would be no damage done to either car or skis.

 

[Jilly]

That's exactly what we do. If we have a gang, then the box is on the roof. If not, ski bag in the truck to protect my BRAND NEW Equinox!

 

[Quiver Queen]

I use a "SkiTube," which is a hard plastic telescoping wheeled tube that fits 1 or 2 pair of skis with poles and is essential if you ever plan on traveling by plane. Some shops rent them. They don't cost much more than a bag but give a whole lot more protection, and can be carried on a car rack if you're not able to put the skis inside the car.

 

[SnowDancer]

Ski/boot bags

I also have a Transpak. In addition to carrying my boots, helmet and other items (spare goggles, gloves, etc.), the backpack design leaves your hands free to carry the skis & poles. BTW, shopping at an end-of season sale a few weeeks ago, I found a similar bag by Samsonite that easily had just as many features and was less expensive. My guy bought it to try on his trip; I'll get a user's report from him.

We only use a ski bag when we travel (fly) out West for our annual ski trip, usually 7-10 days; for short trips our skis fit inside our cars. One tip we learned was to pack some of your extra ski items around the skis & poles (spare long johns, T-necks, gloves, neck gaitors, hats, etc.). As a result, the skis are very well-protected, and we only need one small suitcase each and carry on our boots. [Extra tip: After a ski edge sliced one of his thermal tops, he now puts foam pipe insulation, cut to fit, around the ski tips & tails. It's inexpensive, lightweight and re-useable.]

 

[soundgarden]

(resurrect!)

I've been spoiled by midweek skiing, which usually means close parking. However, this past weekend we skied at Stratton and had to park about a mile away. There was a shuttle bus, but I realized how great it would be to have a good boot bag.

From threads here, people seemed to recommend the Transpack bag. Is that still a good choice? I'm looking for a bag to hold my boots, helmet, additional gear (goggles, etc.), and lunch. It's a lot to ask for in a bag...

Thanks!

 

[Kiragirl]

If I were traveling I would use bags, but I just throw my boots over my shoulder and carry my skis toward the lodge.

 

[ski diva]

I'm a big Transpack fan. I love how it holds all my stuff -- boots, helmet, etc. -- yet keeps my hands free for my skis and poles. Other than my skis and boots, it's my favorite piece of equipment. I give it a BIG

 

[MaineSkiLady]

The one thing I don't much like about the Transpack is its overall depth. It really becomes a behemoth for those of us who are taking shuttle buses in from remote parking. The backpack I use is a lot "shallower," for lack of a better word. The boots go in, opposite directions, and the bag itself is just less bulky. Room enough in other pockets for the misc, but not for the helmet, which goes on the most convenient hat rack I've got: my head. Salomon has always made a nice boot backpack, though not as easily found online as Transpacks. Just a thought/alternative.

 

[soundgarden]

Thanks for all of the great recommendations! I heard great things, almost unequivocally, about the Transpak TRV & XT1. That said, I bought a High Sierra bag, which also had pretty good reviews. I hope that I don't regret the decision, given people's feedback here :(. I will be taking it on a test run in 3 weeks to Wildcat for 5 days, so I'll report back here after. Thanks again!

 

[playoutside]

I have a High Sierra backpack and it is great. I've used it for 3-4 seasons and it has put up with a lot of abuse. Many of my friends also have them and there seems to be some variety in the features and construction. Cool feature not in mine is an inside pocket that snaps to the flap. Not so cool "feature" of another High Sierra a friend bought last year is lighter weight fabric...time will tell how it wears compares to the rest of the bags. I'd buy this bag again in a second. I'll never buy a non-backpack boot bag again! Good luck with yours!

 

[MaineSkiLady]

I also have a High Sierra bag, and I think it's one of the lighter weight ones as well. I haven't even put it into service yet, since I bought it to replace a different boot backpack that looked like it was on its last legs - and is still going strong! But I think the High Sierra looks nicer than the old one I'm still toting! ANY backpack variation is just worlds beyond any other type. How did we ever manage before them? (ow)

 

[snohflake]

Good luck with the new bag! DH and I each just got our own Transpak. I have the lovely floral blue. I really wanted one on wheels so I wouldn't have to lug it through the airport, but the backpack setup on it is surprisingly good. I just have to be careful when taking it off on the plane that I don't bash someone in the head with my boots. That's never a good way to start a flight.

 

[soundgarden]

Oh, that's excellent to hear!!! I am hoping that the High Sierra works out really well. My b/f said that if he liked mine, he would get one as well, and he might buy the Transpack. If he does, it will be a good comparison. Thanks again for the comments and insight - I really appreciate it.

 

[Robyn]

I wanted to bump this back up as I'm ordering today from my team's discount ordering program (although it means I won't get it until October! :( ) but for half price it's more than worth it. Being near Boulder our ski team actually has a number of parents that work at Spyder.

A few years ago a parent came up with the idea for this Spyder Govy backpack and it's gotten such good reviews from the team (it was only available to us for the first season) that it's now in their retail line up. What you can't see very well in the picture are two features of this backpack that make it unique and useful. First, boot buckets. There is a vinyl "bucket" on each side that cradles each boot. Second, it's got a hard sided pocket for your precious goggles. No more smashed and scratched goggles/sunglasses.

 

[Severine]

Since this was bumped up recently, a question to those who have the Transpack bags:

Which ones?

Decisions, decisions.