DAKINE Poacher Backpack - 2746cu in - 2010 BCS

Just got my new Poacher, and boy is it nice. A few things I noticed right off the bat, was the weight difference from the previous model. Dakine was able to shave off pounds by introducing a new light frame, minimalist buckles and compression straps, and lighter materials overall. It still has that durable feel like the old one. The pack is very comfortable and light on the body, even with a 30 pound or greater load. I was able to integrate an avalung into the pack in about 5 minutes. A-frame ski carry is a huge addition! Nothing but good things to say I guess, other than some of the straps are always a bit too long, sewing machine fixes that.

Just got this pack, it's really nice, haven't been able to get out and use it yet. But the internal shovel/probe, pocket is nice, a tight squeeze though. The small mesh pockets on the back panel are nice, for those items, you want to get to fast. Also the back access, I like it a ton, first time with a back access, and its really nice to get to that stuff at the bottom, and you don't have to tear everything else. Insulated hydration sleeve is really nice too. Bottom line its a great pack, straps are always way to long though.

I'm no rando racer, and I want my backcountry skiing packs to be burly enough to last and have the features that I really use. Here's my list of useful features (in no particular order):
-back-panel access
-A-frame or diagonal ski carry
-insulated (in the shoulder strap) hydration tube routing
-Avy gear pocket
-Rugged construction

My few complaints are that the straps are all way too long. You're going to want to break out the sewing machine and a knife to shorten these up. Also, the design would be a lot more elegant if it didn't have like, 700 little pockets to store random straps. Snowboard carry system, I'm looking at you. Also, the shovel pocket is a pretty tight fit for my G3 Avitech shovel and Tech probe 320.

I have the previous model of the poacher and this one. i loved my previous model...except for the fact that it did not have A-Frame ski carry. Well, the guys at Dakine outdid themselves here. Same great features as the previous model (Big Rear access, nice gear loops on the outside, big snow tool pocket in the front) but it now has A-frame carry accessibility! Nice work!