Not a bad BC boarding pack, but not the greatest, either

By buzzby Ranked #1832 - Winter Packs February 21, 2006

I carried this pack for the last two seasons. This pack's design is reasonably good, with the hose concealed within the shoulder strap to protect it from freezing, and a very solid snowboard attachment. The zippers are highly water resistant as advertised. Its low profile and broad waist belt make it a pleasant carry.

But it has a number of little annoying flaws. First, the waist belt is 3-4 inches up the back panel from the bottom, rather than being down at the level of the bottom of the pack. If you ever end up taking a heel-side digger, it will scoop up snow between your back and the pack because of the 3-4 inches of pack below your waist belt.

Second, the waist belt and shoulder straps are both lined with mesh. They both pick up snow and hold it, so if you drop your pack in the snow, you get wet. Other manufacturers have made this mistake as well, but it is still a bummer.

Third, the main zipper isn't the easiest to move. I had to spray it with a copious amount of silicone to get it to move more freely. The cut of the top of the pack contributes to this problem more than the zipper.

Finally, the pack seems small for its claimed volume, especially when you have a shovel blade in the shovel pocket. It doesn't do well at carrying a helmet internally when you have all your other stuff (shell, gloves, etc.) in there skinning back up.

View Details: Backcountry Access Stash BC Rider Backpack - 2400cu in

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