Long-revered, Osprey backpacks are some of the most sought after packs on the market today. A core team of designers and hard-core outdoor enthusiasts have been building some of the most comfortable and functional packs for the last 35 years. Osprey has had backcountry ski packs in their lineup for quite some time, but this Fall, look for an entirely-new lineup of ski packs that you’ll want to put on your wishlist.
While many backcountry ski packs are simply sized-down larger backpacks with ski-carrying loops, the new Opsrey Kode series has been built with backcountry skiing in mind from the start. After a quick look at them, I was very impressed. Here are a few details.
Osprey Kode 38, 30 & 22 Backcountry Ski Packs
Available in three sizes: Kode 38, Kode 30 and Kode 22. The 38 is built for all-day backcountry adventures with enough room for extra layers, food, a Jetboil PCS stove or whatever else you may need as you venture deep into the mountains. The Kode 30 hits the sweet spot by being small enough for sidecountry use, but large enough for a multi-hour ski tour. And the Kode 22 delivers sidecountry performance in a sleek and comfortable package.
When I ski in the backcountry, I always bring my helmet along, but it usually ends up clipped to the back of my pack, swaying around and filling with snow. To better accommodate folks like me, Osprey designed the Kode 30 and 38 packs with helmet-carrying in mind–sweet! Other great features include back panel access and organized snow safety pockets (cha-ching!). Of course, they also include built-in hydration sleeves and insulated tube stash. The new Osprey Kode packs will be available Fall 2009, MSRP will range from $119 to $159.
Without question, the Kode 30 is going to be a huge winner for Osprey. It’s just the right size and has some excellent best-in-class features. I’m anxious to get my hands on one.
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Check out the following video for a little more information on the Kode 30 from an Osprey athlete in Europe:
I got the Osprey Kode 30 pack for review a few weeks ago and have taken it out 2-3 times. Overall… I love that pack! Stay tuned for a more complete review coming soon!
NICE PACKS!WHERE AND WHEN CAN I SEE THEM IN CHINA?
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Jason,
When’s that Kode 30 review going to be forthcoming? I’m very likely going to buy one in the next couple of months and want some decision confirmation. 🙂
Hey Colin
I got to use the Kode 30 on several backcountry tours this Spring and I can tell you it is a great pack. The suspension design and strap combo offers the most comfortable fit for both skiing and walking of any of my current crop of bc ski packs.
It’s the right size for a half-day tour and has all the compartments needed to stash everything in its place. The lined goggle pocket, the helmet holder, the toolkit pocket–everything works well. The only thing that I’m a bit on the fence with is the small waistbelt and buckle. It’s kind of hard to buckle it blind. They chose to use some sort of newfangled buckle that is difficult to clip unless you guide it in.
Overall comfort is superb and I’m going to have a hard time going to anything else.
Good to hear. We just got them in at the local REI (where I am back working until bar exam results come out). I tried on a medium and it seems to fit well. I also noticed that the hip belt buckle was pretty tiny. Smaller than my other packs for sure.
I think size-wise it’ll be perfect. I tend to pack light and often do (shorter) day tours with a Frenzy 18. It’ll be nice to have the extra space and the helmet carried though. I have an Avalung II already, so I was shying away from BD packs–besides the fact that they’re heavy.
Thanks for the info!
Jason, I just tried a Kode 30 (without any weights) and had the feeling that the firm back padding does not go well with my bladebones. It was better when I carried it higher, but then the waist belt was quite high. Did you have any problem like that? I am 1,88m tall but my smaller girlfriend said she can feel it well, albeit not so much.
I didn’t have any issues with it in that way. I loved the back panel and found the pack to be super-comfortable. I’ll have to get back out with it to refresh my memory though as it’s been 6 months since I was last touring.
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Just posted my review of the Osprey Kode 30 ski pack here:
https://www.feedthehabit.com/skiing/osprey-kode-30-backcountry-ski-pack-review/
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