Skiing with a Backpack (?)

[SkiGAP]

Ladies,

Sometimes I ski with my Camelback M.U.L.E., mostly for the constant access to water, but also convenient for my credit card/cash, blackberry, extra handwarmers, piste map, etc. The only drawback is not being able to sit as deep in the lift chair - but I've gotten used to it. It is not so heavy as to alter my balance or C.G., I don't think.

I don't wear it during my weekly lessons though, mostly as I am afraid my ski instructor will yell at me. (He found out that I sometimes ski with music and I got in trouble since "music will destroy my natural skiing rhythm" )

So the question is: I was wondering if any of you ski with backpacks, and what you think of those who do.

 

[SkiNurse]

Nope. I've tried before and it totally throws off my center of gravity.

My money, ID, insurance card are usually zipped in a sleeve pocket. Energy bars/keys/lip balm/gum in a coat pocket (oh, and camera too!).

Though, I did buy the Camelback Snow Angel because it is low profile w/ a 500ml bladder for water, but I really don't like the way I feel on the lift.

 

[oragejuice]

I've skiied alot with a Snow Angel, and with a larger Camelback with tons of pockets. After a couple days, you wont notice it on your back. If you're doing alot of off groomed stuff, I would reccomend having one.

 

[SkiGAP]

SkiNurse - Actually my camera stays in the pocket too - I tend to take a lot of pictures...though I must admit I haven't been carrying my insurance card with me. Of course here in Germany I think they will fix me first and ask questions later - but I'm not sure, actually.

As for the packs - I ask here as I do see people with what seem to be massive backpacks, and am not sure how they manage. Now that I think about it, last month or so I saw a woman, sans helmet, with a backpack/child carrier. The very young baby was also sans helmet, sitting high above the mother with his/her head bobbing back and forth in a rather disturbing manner as the woman performed short-radius turns on a non-trival run. My instructor almost blew a gasket. He tried to scold her, but he doesn't really speak English and she didn't speak German, so it wasn't too smooth. But I suppose she got the point.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

^^^ to the above!! ^^^

Try adjusting Camelbak so that it sits lower, at the mid point and small of your back. You may be trying to hike it up too high.

I'd rather not have to wear any pack, but sometimes it's the only good alternative. I have a Camelbak SnoAngel that's super low-profile, and I can wear it under my jacket. Not too bad for lift ride, as it's not super-capacity. (70 oz?) Have to have it in warmer weather, better for me if I wore it always. I have a North Face Pandora backpack that's quite small, supposedly designed for women. Not bad.

My best option is DH, as I recall others having posted similarly. Let him carry it all!

 

[jaydog]

I usually ski with a small pack if I'm out all day, to carry snacks, water, camera, extra layer. If I'm just out for the afternoon, I'll take just the hydration pack. When I'm patrolling, I use a Camelbak Hellion, which has a pretty good capacity without being too large. I've never felt awkward or off-balance with a pack. As an avid hiker, I guess I'm used to it. Carrying an armful of bamboo poles, now that's another story!

My resort doesn't allow packs on backs as you ride up the chair- it has to be in your lap or off to the side. The one exception is slim hydration packs. The official line is that chairlifts aren't designed to accomodate packs on backs, and that if you have one, you're leaning too far forward and risk falling if the chair swings due to wind or an E-stop. Not all resorts require that, however, but I always do it just because I don't feel comfortable leaning forward like that on a chair.

 

[Swamp Dog]

I tried a Camelbak once and hated it on the lift. I haven't used it since. There's got to be a better way to have water available all the time.

 

[altagirl]

I used to, but the combination of it not being comfortable on the lift and the fact that half the time the tube gets frozen before I ever take a sip - even with the insulated ones - means I haven't worn one in years. I just drink water before I start, when I'm in for a bathroom break or lunch, and that seems to be plenty.

 

[SkiNurse]

If you're doing alot of off groomed stuff, I would reccomend having one.

The groomed stuff isn't the problem w/ balance, it is the off groomed stuff PLUS I hate how they snag in the trees!

 

[volklgirl]

Unless I'm racing, I always ski with a Camelback (actually the Sierra Designs 70oz). It fits under my jacket and if it's below 30 deg, I keep the tube under my jacket too to pervent freezing. If we're out for more than 4 hours, I usually drain it.

I have skied with larger packs and found that I had to hike them up farther on my back so I can scoot my butt all the way back in the chair and just lean forward a little bit. No biggie. Maybe I'm used to the weight/balance change from years of wearing them biking.

 

[ski now work later]

I like to ski with a Camelback at Big Sky because I need the water and like to be able to change gloves and add/subtract layers as the weather changes without having to ski down to the base (there aren't on mountain restaurants and it's a big mountain). I have no problem wearing my pack on the lifts. Here in the East, however, I only ski with water on very warm days 'cause there's always a lodges to stop in if I'm parched, and fit my stuff in my pants and jacket.

 

[SkiGAP]

I haven't spent enough time in trees to experience the snagging drawback. And it's been quite warm here this season. However all good points to consider.

TriMom, concerning a better way to have water - have you tried attaching two water bottles to your helmet with a tube coming down? (Please tell me I am not the only one who remembers the construction helmets or baseball caps that can hold beer cans - most often seen at frat parties or perhaps sporting events????) Well, it's funny to me so I guess that'll have to be good enough.

 

[oragejuice]

The groomed stuff isn't the problem w/ balance, it is the off groomed stuff PLUS I hate how they snag in the trees!

Yes, but when you are further away from people, it's always good to have some extra comforts with you. We have a ridge at Stevens Pass, called Piste Pass, its a cat-track hike to the top of a sick ridge that gets pounded with snow during storms. Its completely within view of the resort, and just a short hike from the lift, but when you ski things like that, anything can happen, and having a pack allows you to keep a few necessities with you. I'm talking about shovel, handwarmers, food, etc. I'm not really one to talk, because I've gotten myself into hairy situations, knowing full well that I didn't have anything with me, and went through expert only gates anyways.

TriMom- You should look at CamelBak's site, they have some hydration packs that sit less than an inch away from your back. I mentioned the CamelBak Snow Angel above, but I'll say it again. Its freakin' tiny. You shouldnt notice it too much. IAs for the frozen tube problem, CamelBak sells insulator sleeves and bitevalve covers for their stuff. My brother uses this combo on his Camelbak and I've never seen it frozen. The Snow Angel, along with most of their new snow models, come with the tube sleeve, the tube also comes out of the shoulder strap, and you can zip it into the strap when you want to make sure your water stays in liquid form. Seriously, check it out.

 

[Swamp Dog]

TriMom- You should look at CamelBak's site, they have some hydration packs that sit less than an inch away from your back. I mentioned the CamelBak Snow Angel above, but I'll say it again. Its freakin' tiny. You shouldnt notice it too much. IAs for the frozen tube problem, CamelBak sells insulator sleeves and bitevalve covers for their stuff. My brother uses this combo on his Camelbak and I've never seen it frozen. The Snow Angel, along with most of their new snow models, come with the tube sleeve, the tube also comes out of the shoulder strap, and you can zip it into the strap when you want to make sure your water stays in liquid form. Seriously, check it out.

ok, off to check it out. I do admit it sounds better than my old Lobo or my husband's M.U.L.E.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

100% agree with advice re: SnowAngel, which I also mentioned previously. Extremely low profile, can't even see it under jacket (no "Hunchback of Notre Dame" look). WHERE did I get mine??? Am sure it was online somewhere....and cheap....(ebags?) No freezing issues for me either, w/o insulator sleeve.

 

[atlantiqueen]

100% agree with advice re: SnowAngel, which I also mentioned previously. Extremely low profile, can't even see it under jacket (no "Hunchback of Notre Dame" look). WHERE did I get mine??? Am sure it was online somewhere....and cheap....(ebags?) No freezing issues for me either, w/o insulator sleeve.

Ditto - love mine got it on SAC for under $25

On bigger days I use the North Face Mako which has some stash pockets. I don't like the feeling of being pushed forward on the lift either so I take it off for the ride up.

I've treated too many cases of dehydration to even consider an activity without a ready supply of water. I typically fill my Snow Angel twice per ski day.

I'm a camel, what can I say

 

[mollmeister]

I always used to ski with a pack, now, more often than not, I use DH and his snowboarding pack.

On cold/powdery days, though, or if skiing alone, I like to have extra layers (or a way to effectively shed layers) and a pair of dry socks in addition to camera/sunscreen/credit card/ski pass. And it's just too darn far to go back to the car or a bottom-of-the-hill locker in the west.

So I carry a teeny-tiny (but it still has sternum strap and belt) Black Diamond Bullet pack (https://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/product.asp?s_id=0&dept_id=10021&pf_id=10031022&ad_id=GoogleBase) on those days when I need one. I like the freedom of being without, but the pack is so small it doesn't bother me, really. Never bothered me on the lift, but then again I don't pack it until it's bulging. You can see it on me on some of the powder pics in my Aspen to Vail TR, I think.

 

[MaineSkiLady]

This looks to be about the same size as my North Face Pandora, also very small (link below). I managed to score on eBay one of the last of the Oakley mini-Icons, which is even smaller. These work great if not overpacked, and are scarcely noticeable when skiing or on lift.
https://www.moosejaw.com/moosejaw/s...=0&search_freetext=north+face+pandora&x=0&y=0

 

[SnowEssie]

I only ski with a backpack when skiing off-piste that day.(I think in the States you would call that backcountry skiing?)
Where else to put a shovel and probe? It is a little annoying but as long as the weight is on the lower back its not a real problem and I am just incredibily grateful I've never needed them. On other days everything goes in my pockets. There are always enough places around to have a drink or something to eat. No need to carry it around.
As for the lifts, I've been taught to loosen the lower strap and just shove the thing to the side so you can sit (almost) completely back in your seat. Works fine for me.

 

[altagirl]

I only ski with a backpack when skiing off-piste that day.(I think in the States you would call that backcountry skiing?)
Where else to put a shovel and probe? It is a little annoying but as long as the weight is on the lower back its not a real problem and I am just incredibily grateful I've never needed them. On other days everything goes in my pockets. There are always enough places around to have a drink or something to eat. No need to carry it around.
As for the lifts, I've been taught to loosen the lower strap and just shove the thing to the side so you can sit (almost) completely back in your seat. Works fine for me.

That's what I do too. The only time I wear a pack inbounds is if I'm on my way out of bounds to do some lift-accessed backcountry skiing. And often I'll just take the pack off completely and sit it on my lap on the chair. Otherwise - when I'm staying in resort boundaries, I just put everything in my pockets.