Raide Analysis LF 30L Backcountry Ski Pack Overview

My face pressed in opposition to the glass of the helicopter, I gazed out throughout the Alps, drooling over Mount Blanc’s terrifying northern slope and the countless peaks stretching all the best way to the Matterhorn. Because the helicopter slowed to a hover, I took notice of the protection zone, stepped over the skids, and slung my pack over my shoulders to maintain it from blowing off the steepest slope I’ll ever ski.

Final spring, I used to be within the French and Italian Alps as a visitor of Eleven Expertise — and I introduced a number of toys to check. Most notably, Raide Analysis’s LF 30L ski mountaineering daypack. The Alps have been a perfect sandbox to check and play with this extraordinarily technical pack.

Supplies science, engineering, and old style ardour elevate the Raide Analysis LF 30L to a best choice backcountry ski pack. Utilizing a problem-first strategy, it doesn’t matter what the necessity, the LF 30 is the answer for many every single day within the backcountry.

Properly thought out and user-friendly, it’s a lightweight, sturdy, and succesful precision software for large days deep within the backcountry. For my testing within the Alps, I couldn’t have had a greater software.

Briefly: The Raide Analysis LF 30L ($400) is a well-executed, light-weight pack for the ski touring fanatic. With a number of entry factors and load-carrying flexibility, even absolutely packed, the LF 30L holds its form and retains your equipment organized. Avalanche security gear all has its place, making it quick and straightforward to entry when velocity is of the essence.

Take a look at GearJunkie’s information to the Finest Ski Backpacks.

Raide Analysis LF 30L Overview

GearJunkie reviewed the Raide LF 40L backpack when it was launched in 2023. Ski editor Will Brendza concluded that this pack “sits on the bleeding fringe of the way forward for backcountry ski gear.” After I bought my arms on the LF 30L — a smaller pack for shorter, however nonetheless technical excursions — I used to be curious to see if it lived as much as the excessive reward.

LF is brief for “mild and quick,” however I’d wager to say it’s extra ‘mild and practical.”

At just below 2.5 kilos, this pack is decidedly mild, however not the lightest available on the market. Raide by no means claims to be. And that’s a very good factor. Paring all the way down to absolutely the minimal trims weight, but additionally sturdiness and utility that may impression performance in sketchy conditions.

All the things in regards to the LF 30L is the fruits of what works within the present panorama of backcountry packs, however welded seamlessly along with practical intent. And within the backcountry, performance means velocity. Particularly once you want it.

The Testing

Along with taking an avalanche coaching course and usually sliding round my native hill, this previous April, I used to be invited to ski within the French Alps. Simply south of Chamonix, exterior Val-d’Isere, boundless backcountry alternatives spilled off the slopes. I may ski all the best way to Zermatt if I had the time. As a substitute, I stayed nearer to my chalet, with lift-assist entry to the native yard.

The spring snow was arduous within the morning, softening to corn towards the afternoon. My longest tour was 10 miles, with the occasional elevate to slingshot over to the subsequent valley over.

Compartment Entry

The LF 30L has 3 ways to entry its contents. Main entry is thru the U-shaped, clamshell-style again panel. That is a simple solution to see all your equipment with out having to dig via your gear or unpack on the slope to retrieve that water bottle that sifted to the underside of your pack.

It really works nice on the snow. You may lay the pack down whereas protecting the again and shoulder straps dry. You can too un-shoulder the clipped pack and rotate it round your waist, and do the identical. It’s fast and straightforward. I usually discovered myself doing this on the go. It makes quick breaks shorter and prevents gadgets from getting tossed by a gust of wind.

The highest of the pack has a roll-top closure that expands the 30L pack to simply underneath 40L when absolutely loaded. That is exceptionally helpful for overnights, because it permits you to carry all of your gear up, after which scale back capability for day journeys.

Simply behind the neck, and out of the best way of the helmet clip/rope clip, Raide sewed in a watertight zipper that places unfastened gadgets shut in attain with out having to open all the pack. I discovered this an effective way to entry my sun shades, snack, or belay parka.

Avi Gear

The LF 30L has devoted pockets to your avalanche security gear. A vertical pocket slides up the correct facet of the pack and is accessible on the undergo a water-resistant zippered port on the backside of the pack.

Behind the pack hides a large, semi-circular zipper pocket to your shovel blade and deal with. Each the probe and shovel can be accessed from contained in the pack. The shovel pocket has a small drain port sewn into the underside to let amassed snowmelt circulation out of the pack.

There’s some benefit to protecting these two equally accessible however independently saved. You might be extra probably to make use of the probe first, both testing a snow bridge’s stability or probing for a skier. Solely after you discover the physique do you want the shovel. This configuration helps you progress extra systematically when the seconds depend, and reduces the probabilities of dropping the shovel out of attain.

Stash Pockets

Exterior the pack, the LF 30L has two exterior pockets to retailer gear. One large “shove-it” fashion pocket on the skin that’s excellent to maintain your moist skins or crampons, and one other smaller pocket to maintain issues dry.

This second pocket is small (8” x 8”), and with the pack crammed, there isn’t lots of wiggle room for far more than a map or journal to doc the snow situations.

However the shove-it pocket is roomy and retains the moist skins from wetting out your different gear. Along with skins, I used it to retailer my moist gloves and shell. A 3rd mesh zipper pocket with a keyring is sewn to the within of the again panel and is the perfect place to safe your pockets or keys.

Two pockets trip on the hip-belt. On the correct, a zippered pouch is giant sufficient to safe a telephone. A smaller, overlapping stash pocket sits on the left. I like this combined configuration of zippered and sleeve-style pockets. It permits you to lock down valuables however seize gas on the go or tuck wrappers with out twiddling with zippers.

Over the roll-top, you possibly can tuck the helmet underneath the shove-it–fashion pocket. Like all the pieces else with the LF 30L, it integrates seamlessly with the pack, eliminating that annoying helmet sway. You can too preserve a rope underneath this strap and tie the unfastened ends underneath the facet compression straps. I discovered you possibly can safely retailer a number of different unfastened gadgets contained in the stowed helmet, like an additional pair of gloves.

For ski mountaineers, the pack can holster two ice instruments, with the sharp finish protected by burly Extremely 400 decide sleeves. Each instruments might be accessed whereas carrying the pack by releasing the buckles of the pack.

The sliding chest strap has an built-in whistle. There’s a loop to clip a carabiner for {hardware}. A bladder sleeve is positioned contained in the again panel, that includes a central port to accommodate the hose over your left or proper shoulder. Raide even runs a glove stash down the left shoulder strap.

Ski & Board Carryability

Whether or not you like to sling skis diagonally, A-frame, or vertically lash your snowboard, the LF 30 is extremely modular.

A cool (and strong) gear loop might be girth-hitched to totally different factors on the pack to slip your skis. This modularity permits you to match your ski load to the route of the slope, eliminating tail drag on the side-hill snow.

For snowboarders, the opposing backside compression strap buckles mate, permitting you to lash it across the pack to assist the underside of your snowboard. A second strap is girthed to the highest of the pack and might sling skis ski-mo fashion or lash the highest of the snowboard down.

All lash factors for the ski carry choices are mounted to the inflexible body of the pack, considerably lowering ski sway throughout a boot pack.

Body

Inside the massive zippered compartment again panel hides a composite insert. It flexes vertically with the again, however inflexible folds stop it from rounding out when weighted underneath load. 9 round pads, separated by 1-inch air channels, are molded to the composite insert, offering padding whereas permitting warmth and moisture to circulation away from the again.

A horseshoe aluminum tube is bent to match the curve of the again and is tucked behind the again panel zipper within the pack. This provides the pack much more stability when laden. Raide doesn’t drop the hooped keep all the best way to the underside of the pack. That is nice — it prevents the stays from rubbing on the bottom, and finally via the pack. Properly finished.

Supplies

The outer bag materials is constituted of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) — the identical materials utilized in Dyneema. However Raide’s predominant material just isn’t Dyneema. It’s Problem Extremely 400X. It seems like a slick canvas, is 100% waterproof (to some 130k hydrostatic head), 100% UV-resistant, PFAS-free, and 100% recycled.

This can be a nice improve. I personal and love a number of packs constructed from Dyneema. However as soon as the laminate wears out, the lengthy fibers turn into uncovered, leaving a spider’s net of strands that catch on all the pieces. Over time, I ultimately wanted to trim the uncooked fibers on a few of my Dyneema packs.

Extremely 400X is woven and feels notably extra hearty. I count on it’ll final for years past my conventional Dyneema packs.

Inside, Raide makes use of a proprietary high-tenacity polyester base with Dyneema cross-ply ripstop and a water-resistant movie. Raide designed the material as a result of there was nothing available on the market that was waterproof and as abrasion-resistant and light-weight because the model wished. It feels slick and is a citadel, fending off any water from breaching the pack.

On the Slopes: Raide Analysis LF 30L

At 2.3 kilos, the LF 30 is mild however not invisible. The composite and aluminum body added structural assist for skis and prevented arduous items from poking into my again. The stiff extremely 400 contributes considerably to the squared-up type. It feels substantial even when empty.

A delicate taper narrows the pack towards the underside, tucking behind the hips and out of the best way of your arms. This makes it simple to succeed in round to the correct to deploy the probe. It is advisable to swing the pack off the left shoulder to entry the shovel blade and deal with. The format is intuitive by really feel, and the zippers slide easily. It’s, nonetheless, ergonomically biased for right-handed folks.

Quantity & Straps

30L is the usual quantity for backcountry snowboarding. And with its expandable roll-top, it’s greater than excellent for a full day assault. I used to be in a position to match all my avi gear, parka, meals for the day, and water with out pushing the pack or zippers to the bounds.

4 compression straps pull the burden near the physique, serving to you keep your steadiness and keep centered.

Whereas I didn’t need to haul my skis in France, the strap methods connected logically at residence. The highest ski-mo strap ships tucked behind the neck. As soon as you discover it, it’s intuitive to make use of.

I notably appreciated that the accent ski-haul straps are girth-hitched, relatively than sewn to the pack. This lets you swap sides to match the slope. That, and sharp edges, can shortly trash nylon straps. These straps are simple to exchange.

Body, Pockets, Again Panel

I by no means eliminated the hooped aluminum body, however I don’t know if I’d drop a number of grams to undergo the battle. I appreciated how the body provides some assist and curves to match the torso.

The stow pockets on the hip belt of the pack are superior. I spend most of my time within the backcountry touring, so I’m always consuming on the go. This retains a gradual drip of energy shut at hand.

That is the primary pack that I’ve examined with zipper entry via the again panel. Whereas not the one pack to take action available on the market (Eddie Bauer, Deuter, and Mammut accomplish that as effectively), I’d search for this in any future backcountry pack. It permits you to entry gear in moist, snowy situations whereas protecting the again panel and shoulder straps dry. I additionally discovered it simple to entry gear whereas on the elevate.

Downsides

The LF 30L is the second pack in Raide Analysis’s assortment (after the LF 40L). The corporate has had time to work out 1.0 points, primarily addressing the avalanche equipment format. As a substitute of storing these in a zippered pocket behind the pack, the probe and shovel are actually saved in two separate pockets accessed from the underside. As I shared above, the format is biased for right-handed skiers.

The pack can also be sparsely padded, however this actually doesn’t trouble me. It’s extra padding than a webbing strap, and since I’m already carrying layers, it actually doesn’t want padding for consolation.

At $400, the pack is pricey. Nonetheless, given the price of high-end supplies like Dyneema and Extremely 400, I imagine you’re getting a very good worth. Raide has a spring sale that provides a 10-15% worth drop.

Lastly, Raide Analysis sells one of many few pack producers to construct a pack particularly to mate with the Safeback SBX Avalanche Survival System. This isn’t an airbag system. As a substitute, when deployed, it pumps air to the skier for as much as 90 minutes. It’s additionally mild and takes up a lot much less area than your conventional airbag.

For $880, you should purchase the SB LF 30L, which has two ports that funnel the SBX hoses into pockets on the shoulder straps. Whilst you can feed the SBX hoses via the highest of the LF 30L’s back-panel zipper, it makes accessing the pack via the again panel a trouble. It doesn’t seamlessly retrofit the LF 30L with the SBX, and the SB LF 30 isn’t bought with out the SBX. You need to commit to at least one or the opposite.

Competitors

Hyperlite Mountain Gear’s Facet 32, with its 400D Absolutely Woven Dyneema, comes near the LF 30L by way of sturdiness. I’ve examined the Facet, however I discovered that the pullover lid flap is much less practical and considerably wonky.

The facet entry isn’t as clear because the horseshoe back-panel entry in Raide’s pack. The hip belt is skinny webbing and lacks stash pockets for treats. All this, and Raide’s aluminum body permits you to carry extra weight extra comfortably.

Mountain Hardwear’s Snowskiwoski 40 is mild, supportive, and constructed from sturdy 500D Cordura, however it doesn’t have a back-panel entry for simple entry into the primary compartment.

Black Diamond’s Cirque 35 has each a roll-top and a facet zipper to entry the primary compartment. Avi instruments are saved in a single pocket behind the pack. You need to take away the pack to get to them. And the helmet is saved underneath a detachable mesh helmet carry. I actually respect Raide’s built-in helmet carry system.

All backcountry packs incorporate a few of these equipment, however none pull the bells and whistles collectively like Raide Analysis.

Parting Ideas

My guides in France all rocked a Dyneema pack — most of them made in Europe. One had a custom-made, €900 Dyneema pack, with the telltale silver frayed strands displaying the pack’s age. Between cheese and the slopes, the dialog inevitably got here again round to the Raide Analysis LF 30L. They have been all impressed by the sturdiness, performance, and sheer attractiveness of this pack.

On my approach out of Geneva, I noticed two blokes strolling to the aircraft, shouldering the LF 40L model. They shared that they skied the Haute Route from Cham to Zermatt with the LF 40.

The 40 is unquestionably the higher pack for prolonged excursions. However for lengthy days with descents sprinkled in, I favor a pack that isn’t too large or cumbersome and doesn’t get in the best way. I like a pack that works with me, out of the best way till I want it.

The LF 30L is a totally vetted pack with intentional design. There are such a lot of design parts that, even after 6 months of working with the pack, I’m nonetheless discovering new methods to make the most of them. However these parts don’t intervene with the performance. The intuitive design works with you, but concurrently adapts to your use. The LF 30 is right for side-country, backcountry, and gear-intensive journeys.