Sassicaia

Add the burton AK bags to your list. I have a 15L and 23L. they have the built in space for a camel pack and you can mount the board vertical or horizontal.



[ak] 23L Pack | Burton Snowboards

ETM

Congrats on going to hakkoda, its a dream of mine.
What you are doing is all side country and close to roads and lifts, you really only need a small pack for extra layers, and water etc. You want vertical board carry but those boards on your back get real heavy after a few runs trust me and the board has a habbit of banging into your leg with every step.
There is an art to packing your snowshoes and poles into the bag when you are riding too so make sure you work out how you are going to do it before you hit the mountain. Also 3 piece poles are the go

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dreampow

I have the Dakine heli pro 2, good pack. Enjoy Hakkoda and don't get lost.

Backcountry

luckboxing

I'm also shopping around for a pack for sidecountry riding.

Anybody have any experience with the Baker 16L
Dakine Canada Packs : Baker 16L

or the smaller Heli Pack 11L?
Dakine Canada Packs : Heli Pack 11L

Need room for probe and a two-piece shovel. Might get the smaller water reservoir from DaKine too. Other than that, really want to get the smallest bag possible.

lorcar

the thread i was looking for!
never used a backpack, and being simply a vacation rider I thought I didnt need it.
But my pockets get really full with all small things you might need, and I was thinking of getting one, small and that could be tightened to your chest.

How uncomfortable is to ride with a backpack?

stupidmop

I don't find it uncomfortable at all. I'm pretty used to it. However, if you are a freestyle rider, it may be really annoying. I tend to mostly do freeride and avoid park, so it's not an issue for me.

snowklinger

I suggest looking at some mountaineering backpacks in addition to (if not in place of) the Burton's and Dakine's.

Most of the winter alpine packs that have ski carry also now include board carry.

Osprey and Black Diamond would be at the top of my list.

IMO you may pay a little more but you will get a serious product with better craftsmanship, materials and features.

Resort packs are for leaving at the top of the park.

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is it late october yet?

Wangta

Thanks ETM. I was thinking the same - a small/medium sized bag would likely be fine?

Curious why Vertical board carry is preferred to horizontal? I was just thinking horizontal carry would be easier as it avoids hitting the board with your legs. Problem is, I'm finding not many boards do horizontal board carry.

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2012 Ride Highlife 161
2013 Ride Slackcountry 164

Zombaco

Agree with this. I've used osprey packs for years in various outdoor endeavours, and they are super solid packs.
End of summer I picked up a Kode series in 30l size with a hydration bag too. That series also has a smaller 22l size. They have a few options for snowboards, but I don't recall off hand if they have a horizontal carry.