So far I love the pack, it isn't cluttered with outside pockets but has big easy access pockets on the hip-belt. The Divider is great, it has organizers for equipment. It is comfortable and has a place for my helmet.

This is an excellent pack. Carried it on a recent trip to Maui and will be using it for fly fishing and bike trip on the Creeper Trail.
I would recommend this pack for comfort and fit. As well, it nice with the divided storage even though I am not using it for snow use.

A great pack. Need to be selective in clothing gear you take.Not too roomy. I primarily use the Switch 36 for snowshoeing. I love the fit. It is snug on your back and there is no lateral movement of the pack.The top hatch doesn't bounce up and down as you run down hills. Many pockets to place gear, and I love the hip pockets for various trickets. Overall, I love the fit'. It's like you have no pack on your back at all.

really like the way this fits. I also have the dakine guide and this pack fits much better. You can tell Osprey has really got the comfort fit dialed. The ski and snowboard carry systems are easy to use and hold very secure. The shape is great too, allowing for maximum movement. I am 5'8" and I like the fit of the M

Fascinated by a review that I saw on the Osprey Switch 36, I was forced to dig into my pile of winter tools and dust off the Osprey prototype I used all last year. Yup, I'm an Osprey junkie. I recall carrying a whole bunch of backcountry stuff in this tester so I jammed in my usual array of backcountry ski gear to see if last season was just a dream or if all that fluff really happened. Sitting here next to my glowing box of gigabytes is my Switch 36. In it is a full 3 liter reservoir of H20 with elbow valve nicely accommodated in the insulated shoulder harness. My full size Voile shovel & handle, 100mm skins, BCA probe and knee pads (yes, I'm a knee bender) are securely held in the "wet" portion of the pack. The dry portion of this pack contains my full compliment of "if the shit hits the fan" gear including: Gore-Tex jacket and full side zip pants, down parka, light gloves, heavy gloves, wool hat and neck gaiter. My goggles are neatly tucked underneath my helmet which is held snugly in place by the top pocket’s stretch material. That’s typically the most I might have with me on a cold day climbing up. On descent, much of that stuff including helmet and goggles are put to better use. When helmet less, the top pocket accommodates my skins for the ride down. It’s true that I can only carry skis on this pack because I’m snowboard challenged. Having said that, my 181cm skis carry comfortably either “A” framed or for quick ascents, diagonally. My friend, Rich took my pack to India to ski some peaks last spring and loved it up to 18,000 feet. Neither of us had problems with calf bang. Maybe snowboards are different in this regard. My experience with the pack’s carry is that it needs no load control straps. Put it on with any load and it hugs my back like a terrorized baby Koala. By the way, that granola bar…it fits in the hip belt’s spacious “420” pockets (whatever that means!) Yup, I’m an Osprey junkie…I can’t imagine why not.

I'm a snowboarder and own this pack. It works just fine for snowboard carrying, but like all other packs that I know of use the compression mechanism for snowboard carry as well. If you're spending much time in the BC with your snowboard, you should be riding a splitboard anyway (IMHO), and carrying your splitty in ski mode a-frame style eliminates all other snowboard carry isssues.

I easily carry my probe, shovel, handle and skins in the "Wet" section, and my MH Phantom Down jacket, Gore outer Shell, extra gloves, 2 1 liter Nalgenes, snacks, ski(splitboard) crampons, and oh sh#t bag (small first aid, rescue bivy, knife etc...) in the dry compartment. Boot crampons, ice axes (two if you need 'em) strap easily to the outside of the pack, and the belt pouches hold your gps, small camera, compass, headlamp, and a bag of peanut M&Ms.

If you're carrying more than this you're not using the pack as designed. It's a wintertime backcountry ski/board pack, not an overnighter (though I think you COULD use it as such in a pinch).

My only warning is this: if you're skinny (I'm 5'9" and about 155) you might consider the small vs. the medium. The length of the Medium fits me perfectly, but I've got the sternum strap and the waist belt straps tightened to the maximum on this pack if it's a light load.

If you need more than this pack has to offer, you're either carrying too much crap for a day trip, or using it as an overnight pack, for which it's NOT designed. I recommend the Exposure 50 for a light O/N pack that has similar features to this one.

I bought this for near-lift use and hopefully some serious off-piste for this season. I was a bit unsure if I should get the 26 or the 36 one, but settled for the bigger one. The build quality is top of it's class and it is obviously designed by someone who skis.

BUT, I'm not going to use this pack this winter and am going to sell it.

I have only stuffed it with gear in my living room to test it out and not used it while skiing mind you. But in my opinion:

- It is too big for skiing in the lift area (This is a off-piste back only)
- It's too big on my back (I'm 1,76m tall)
- It's a bit strange when it comes to volume because it feels like a smaller pack (Hard to explain, but it's bigger on the top than at the bottom)
- It has NO compression function (If you don't fill it up, you can't make it smaller)

Other than that, for it's use, I would give it a 5-star rating!

Bought this for my wife for winter hiking. She loves the fit and comfort--it holds all her winter gear and the winged compression straps carries snowshoes perfectly.The stretch top pocket hold alot but is a little delicate.

Very innovative design. This pack is great for what it is designed for, skiing. This is not a pack for mountaineering. It is best suited for those who just skin up and ski down, and for where there is a significant amount of snow. As someone who climbs and skis, I prefer the tall, narrow profile of the Osprey Exposure 36. The wider profile of the Switch 36 and two factory defects with the stitching prompted me to return the pack. For mixed use and more challenging mountaineering, go with the Exposure.

I liked the pack but this pack lacked the ability to adjust the shoulder straps to carry a heavier load on the hips.

This is a great all around pack. Perfect size for run around playing disc golf to treking up the mountain.My helmet fit great in the top pocket, i dont have to limit what i can fit in it. The different ways to carry skis makes thing alot easier. The hit pockets can carry tons of little stuff. Overall i am very satisfied with this pack.

I got this pack b/c one of my friend's suggested it. I am very happy with it. It is large enough to carry all of the typical backcountry gear (probe, shovel, beacon, shell, softshell(?), snack, camera, gloves, goggles). I looked at the Switch 26 and decided the Switch 36's roominess was definitely worth the extra money. As long as the straps are adjusted correctly, the pack stays in place. The backpack is very comfortable and a great buy.

After listening to my ski buddies rave about their Switch 40+5 ski packs the past couple of years I decided to retire my trusty Arc'teryx Bora 50 and try an Osprey Switch.
This review is based on a recent 4-day trip out of a backcountry lodge near Revelstoke BC.
First impression upon picking up the new Switch 36 was: way too small! How could I possibly fit all by backcountry gear including an XL sized helmet in this thing? After hearing the store's return policy would allow its return should the gear in my Bora 50 not fit the Switch 36 I took it home for the pre-trip test.
I was pleasantly surprised all my junk did fit and the list is as follows: XL helmet & goggles (tight fit in the stretchy top helmet pocket), shovel (tele-handle), probe, snow saw, full 3 L hydration bladder, 1/2 L thermos, hooded down parka, extra gloves & hat, 130 mm skins, plastic food container, bag of snacks, basic 1st aid bag, GPS, digital camera, bag w. spare parts, headlamp, multi-tool, flagging tape, lighter, etc & heavy weight undershirt. There was still room for more junk as well - probably could have stuffed in my emergency bivi-bag but left it at the lodge.
Conclusion: great design, very ergo and easy to wear on climbs & especially while turning or in the air. So is this a true ski mountaineering pack?
The Switch 36 will make a great 'light duty' ski mountaineering pack for me since I can get my skis on it, carry my axe & strap on a snow picket or 2 on the back with enough rope for glacier travel. I even could find a spot for my ski crampons within the pack and in a pinch strap my boot crampons on the back. The pack would look a bit busy but the harness system is ergo & robust enough to handle the extra mass.
Pros: Comfortable even after 9 hours use (sometimes forgot to take the pack off before my skis), great hip belt pockets for camera (easy access & secure) & GPS plus snacks.
Cons: Had to put my shovel handle & probe in the 'main' part of the pack to allow effiencient helmet/goggle stowage. Could use 1 small-med sized, zippered, exterior pocket - for 'stuff' one always seems to remember last minute!

This is not the best to have a snowboard strapped to, it is do able, but it is a wider pack so it takes the weight of the board is not centered close to your body. It is very roomy and holds EVERYTHING you could need and then some. Got the goggle pouch and helmet stash. Side zips to get to your dry stuff easy. The hip pads are really comfortable and it has great support. I have used it for very long day hikes where i am bringing lots of gear. So not just for winter!

Ummm....bad news for osprey lovers. This pack is NOT intended for snowboarders. I heard it was a "substantial pack," but it will not work like you want. Here's the low-down. First, put a full water bladder in the very loose holster. It flops and wabbles around. Not good when you're riding. The internal pocket for dry goods is severely limited once you put a water bladder inside. Add in your avy gear, and you have room for gloves, a granola bar, and a hat. Great if you don't want to bring anything extra like a shirt or jacket. Now for vertical snowboard carry: once your avy gear is in place inside it angles the tail of the snowboard down towards your calves and ankles. NOT good when climbing up or down, you'll be tripping on it the whole time. The helmet storage is flimsy at best, and if you don't want to carry a helmet there, it's useless: Gear will flop around inside due to the huge space and weak fabric material. There are also no straps to pull the pack up forward around your upper back/neck. The pack hangs low and backwards like a school book bag. No strap adjustment options for the shoulder straps at all. Not what I expected from Osprey this year. Your best bet is to get an 05 osprey switch 40+5.

I recently took a ski mountaineering course in the BC Coast Mountains and the instructor who has 30 years experience looked at my Osprey laughed and said you can use one of my old packs.

This pack is too short, won't carry shovel handle or probes internally and the shovel blade wasn't held securely by the shovel pocket. Internal layout was good and I liked the ski carrying design. So if you just need a pack for inbound skiing and don't need to carry backcountry gear this pack is ok.

I am a fan of Osprey but this design was a disappointment.