I think this is a great backcountry back, the origination is very well thought out and super useful. This being said i ended up returning it anyway and going with the blade. It just didn't have enough space to fit everything, (shovel, probe, puffy, crampons, ice axe, food, water, skins, etc) for a full day. And when it was full the straps for the vertical snowboard carry couldn't make it all the way around the board. If your main use for this pack is slackcountry, buy it. If you need something that can handle the big days as well as the not so big, then something like the blade is definitely the way to go.

I just picked this pack up from SAC and I am pretty stoked so far. I bought it with the intention that it would be a multi-use pack. I needed something for school, small day hikes and ski season. The diagonal ski carry system is pretty solid. I don't know how it handles while actually in the back country, but I am expecting good results. There is enough room for quite a bit of gear, plus stuff can be strapped on the outside if necessary. The hip belt pocket it a great addition. Holds my point-n-shoot well and it fleece lined so I don't need to worry about damage to it. I used this to day hike humphreys in Northern Arizona and it worked out better than expected.

I'm looking forward to the winter so that I can load the skis up and take the pack for a real spin.

I was super excited to get this pack based on all the positive reviews here. Many nice features including the retractrable wire diagonal ski carry (with reinforced fabric where ski edges would dig into pack), fleece goggle pocket, avy gear zippered pocket, full-zip back-access panel, hydration-compatible, etc, etc. Plus, despite what the description says, you CAN carry skis A-frame as there are two compression straps on either side of the pack.

So why am I bummed? Simply, the pack is uncomfortable for me. The shoulder straps dig in with even a modest load in the pack. The back panel is also uncomfortable, perhaps because they tried to create a horizonal snowboard carry with it. One other nit-picky point: why no helmet carry? You're left with trying to jam your bulky helmet into the pack or have it dangling and bouncing around as you skin or climb. Gets annoying very quickly. Mammut, Osprey, and others have incorporated simple but helpful exterior helmet mesh into their packs. It'd be nice for Dakine to do the same.

All in all, lots of nice features, but an uncomfortable (for me) carry. I strongly recommend you try it on in a store with some weight in it before you commit. I'm sending mine back.

What can I say? What's not to love about it? Two winters ago I was using my Dakine Heli Pro, which is still a great pack, but in my opinion this pack is better. My favorite feature the large restraining system on the outside of the pack. What I am referring to is the black area on the visible back of the pack. With some packs, all of your equipment slides to the bottom. With this restraining system, however, you can tighten the straps so that your equipment stays evenly distributed throughout the entire pack. The cross carry system is great, as can always be expected from Dakine. The only drawback of this pack is the sometimes dysfunctional back pocket, but that really isn't that big of a deal.

Ive used this pack for a season, its a great pack. Plenty of storage for the slackcountry adventurer. The snowboard carrying system works wonderfully and its nice to have the added space that the Heli Pro is lacking. If your thinking about getting the Heli Pro, get the Pro II.

i couldn't pass up the 45% off! seems to be exactly what i was looking for with the exception of an avalung — but whatever, my crew will just have to dig me out faster.

i've owned an old dakine heli pack for over 10 years now, and that thing is still awesome. it just lacked a few features i wanted for backcountry outings — namely space, and a separate compartment for avi gear. the PRO II is the perfect amount of space — not too small, not too large. it has the separate avi gear compartment, insulated sleeve for hydration hose, etc.it does seem a little "strappy" — a lot of straps and a lot of length. but i think once i get it all dialed in i can trim and tuck the remaining portion of the strap and end up nice and streamlined.

the one thing i've yet to test is whether or not the diagonal ski carry cable and straps will hold my splitboard when it is split — if that works out, i'm giving it SIX stars! in anycase, i think the diagonal ski carry will be a great way to strap on my poles for the descent.

dakine = well thought out quality.

Every decent ski pack has fleece lined goggle pockets and insulated sleeves for hydration. What made me fall for the Pro II were all the little details. The storable ski carry, with a cable loop rather than just nylon. The separate pocket for shovel and probe makes for super easy access when trying to go for your avi gear in a hurry. The back panel access and top access to the main pocket is slick. Most of all is the price, buying backcountry I got it 47% off. There is no argument; this is the best pack for the price.

I bought the 2007 version of this pack in the fall at backcountryoutlet.com and it worked very well during this past ski season (08-09) and during several day hikes in the fall. I Skied with this pack 25+ days at Ski Roundtop in PA, 5 days in Vermont, and 5 days in Colorado. The version of this pack I have is very light and comforable. I was able to carry everything I needed for the day including my camera with additional lenses and snacks all while carrying a full days worth of water in the hydration bladder (not included). It was a little difficult to feed the hydration tube into the shoulder strap, but was well worth the effort.

I got this pack last minute for a contest I needed to do. I'm not used to dropping cliffs with a pack so I was a little worried how the size would be. With a almost full pack it was perfect! It didn't constrict my movement at all. The only downfall is that it only carries skis diagonally.

I really wanted to like this pack, but I can't given that it's nearly impossible to close the top strap when trying to carry a snowboard vertically. If the pack has much in the way of gear inside, the straps simply aren't long enough to reach around the snowboard. Seems strange that such an elementary application would be overlooked. When not carrying a board, the pack is very nice. Lots of dedicated pockets for tools, avy gear, camera, goggles, etc. The hydration sleeve works well and the pack is comfortable to hike and ride in. Just tough to overlook the strap issue....

And like most Dakine packs it is a solid piece of work!! It seems to have the right amount of storage space you need for your backcountry adventure and will also work well as a laptop carrying/extra clothes for your overnight stay kind of a pack if you so choose to use it that way. And props again to backcountry for the fast service.

This pack is sheer awesome. More than enough space for all the stuff I would ever need to carry. Quality is top notch, all the zippers are strong, and the pockets are well thought out. The build quality really is second to none.

Now the only downfall here is that the board-carry straps were not all that well thought out. As mentioned below, the top vertical carry strap is just too tight to get around your snowboard if the bag is ~65% packed or more. Secondly, to get the board in the horizontal carry, you need to slide the board through both shoulder straps, which can be a real pain if you have to do it often or if you have bulky bindings.

Both those issues can be solved if you have a decent knowledge on how to sew. I adore this bag and give it 5 stars regardless of the carry. One of few things I feel bad for paying full price for.

Wow. This is the most amazing daypack out there. It has so many features, is built really solid, and flat out looks sick. I use it for school, travel, and skiing. The black chop shop graphic is really loud and sticks out. This pack has a small profile, so you can wear it on the lift, but is deceivingly roomy inside. The reason I chose the Pro II over the Heli Pro is the better, more stable ski carry system and more overall compression for smaller loads. It looks like it can hold skis up to around a 20-130mm waist, so if you're rockin the K2 Pontoons or other fatties, this should work better than the Heli Pro. The snowboard carry system works great for boarders, and carries a skateboard as well. It takes awhile to get acquainted with this packs features since theres so many. The main compartment is accessed through the backpanel, which is nice, and a smaller zipper on the top. For an inbounds day, you can throw your lunch inside and cinch down the straps knowing your load will not move around, or load it up with avalanche gear, skins, a puffy, helmet, food, water, camera, spare gloves and goggles, and an ice axe. This pack will carry anything you might need for a full day of big mountain riding. I highly recomend this product, it will last a very long time.