Damn! . . . you'd think someone like Black Diamond would make all their summit packs, also capable of carrying skis . . . My dilemna is a lack of cash for one . . . needing a summit pack I can stash in my bigger pack and also be able to carry skis . . . but my research seems to be coming up with nothing more than . . . well, they've got compression straps and maybe you could slap some skis on there . . . A-Frame style

I'm looking at the BD Speed 40, which isn't ski-carry specific, but looks like it could do the job. Anyone with suggestions/experiences . . . and also A-Frame versus just slashed on the back . . . A-Frame seems the way to go, if I ever get gone . . . Thanks.

Diagonal carrying of skis really really beats A-frame carrying. You're much less likely to jab the tail of a ski into one of your lower legs if you take a bad step (or avoid this by strapping the A-framed skis higher, which makes your balance and wind target worse). The overhead protrusion of diagonal isn't as bad as A-frame. Diagonal is not as rigidly connected to the pack, so that if you do hit the ski tips on something it's not as jarring. You do have to switch diagonal directions now and then if you keep passing through situations with something like a rock wall on one side of you and then the other side.

But all that aside, the real advantage of diagonal is speed: it's a good bit faster on and off the pack for most packs, and doesn't have to involve compression straps or any other straps that are part of how the pack maintains its shape and its good carrying. With the right diagonal setup you don't have to re-rig any part of the pack, even a little, when changing from having the skis on the pack to not having them on the pack or vice versa.

But it's all preference, and as they always say, your mileage may vary. Sorry I don't have specific pack suggestions at the moment. It's absolutely my business to have great suggestions to offer, but I had to take a break from being in that flow to bring our software into the new decade. This website will feature some really helpful gear-choosing and gear-recommending tools in the not so distant future, plus reviews and links between reviewed items and trip reports of people who use those items.

by summit pack you mean really small and light because you have a larger overnight pack..and got pretty close to the peak?

1. most people tough it out with the larger pack, because it shouldn't be that large or heavy in the first place.

2. if I brought a second pack it would be super light like the Mammut Lithium 32. BD has some super light comparable packs in the 20-30L range. We stock both usually and can get you one. You'll use it for hiking and mt biking as well.

3. I stopped carrying skis on a diagonal because they usually swing around just a little, annoying me. Plus the weight isn't as even sometimes. You can get pretty fast at strapping skis on A frame style, and they don't hit your legs. If I'm strapping skis on for a short stretch, knowing they'll come off soon, I might do it diagonal. With a small or very light pack, the swaying around is more of a problem. Putting skis on a very small pack or lightweight kinda empty pack is never that perfect or comfortable though, sometimes an extra jacket goes in there to pad it up a little more.

I wouldn't buy a pack without the diagonal option, but try puting them on there both ways a few times.

_________________
Mike Schwartz
www.thebackcountry.net
mike@thebackcountry.net

The swaying thing cuts both ways. Yes you can be annoyed by it. But the same loose connection means the weight and momentum of the skis doesn't keep you from walking naturally. Some people aren't bugged by a slight looseness back there, and they appreciate the fact that every step you take doesn't make the ski tips move around all rigidly up over your head as if the skis were an extension of your shoulders.

Personally I will never A-frame again if I can avoid it due to the potential for nasty calf-muscle wounds. Or the only way to avoid those is rig the skis high enough that they end up waving around like I mentioned above.

But Mike's reasons are good too, so try both and see what you like best.

I have an incredible puncture scar on my calf from this exact same thing. I decided to take my last Utah run anyways, but it sidelined me for about ten days afterwards. I was bummed out.

I find the 20-30 liter pack size to be a little too small. especially if you want to put a helmet in there. 30-40 is the sweet spot for me for a day ski tour.