Osprey Soelden Backpack

All too often when I head into the backcountry, I tend to be struggling to cram everything in. Partly, well, mainly in fact, it’s because I often lug out a DSLR camera body, two or three lenses (one of which alone weighs about 1.5kg), batteries etc. And partly, it’s because I usually carry a few redundancies safety-wise. Even for shorttours, this means not only the standard avvy gear, skins and so on, but also a down jacket plus a survival bag, headlamp, etc. Basically, I want to know that if I have to spend an enforced night out that I’ll make it through it, even if uncomfortably.

Enter Osprey’s Soelden 42. It’s the largest in the Soelden/Sopris line (the Sopris being the women’s version), a backcountry-specific snowsports pack that has 22L, 32L and 42L versions. (For the Sopris, it’s 20, 30 and 40). The 42 is actually designed for overnight hut touring, and despite my best efforts, on day tours, I’ve never quite filled it, even with all my camera gear. And despite that camera gear not being light (nor for that matter, my regular touring rig; I frequently ski with Marker Duke 16 bindings, which weigh a ton), I’ve found that for a 42L yet relatively light-weight pack, the Soelden 42 can carry a load well, even under movement while skiing.

And although there’s a strong case to be made for packs with few compartments for organisation (see the Summit Gear Overland 60 review in this issue), there’s also a strong case for the opposite. Especially when you’re backcountry ski or snowboard touring. Staying organised really counts. No element is more critical, however, than being able to access avalanche-rescue gear quickly and efficiently. If there’s been a slide, and someone’s trapped, every second counts—you don’t want to be rummaging around. The Soelden’s separate front-panel pocket allows you to access all your avvy gear instantly. Meanwhile, an oyster-shell back-panel full zip lets you access everything else in the separate main compartment effortlessly, which BTW, keeps everything dry. (You can also enter from the top.) The lid (which is removable if you decide you really don’t need all that space) has multiple compartments, ideal for stashing goggles separately. There are actually loads of other compartments; there’s not space to list them all, but when I counted all the pockets, sleeves and compartments I could find, I got to ten. Perhaps, however, there are more.

Here are a few more relevant features: It has either A-frame or diagonal ski carrying. Vertical or horizontal snowboard carrying. Massive, glove-friendly zipper toggles. Sled-carry attachment loops. Dual-position helmet carry. An adjustable strap for easy under-the-lid rope carrying. Ice- axe loops and a hip-belt gear loop. This is a feature-heavy pack.

Not every ski or snowboard tourer will need a pack this large (although it’s worthwhile considering that for travel involving flights, it allows you to maximise your carry-on luggage capacity), but for those that do, the backcountry-specific Soelden 42 is one of the best options out there.