 Poster: A snowHead
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Good morning everyone! I am set to fly out to snowy Canada in 4 weeks for the entire season to complete my
INstructor qualifications. My final piece of kit to buy is a decet backpack - ideally to carry all the essentials and possibly a bit extra - especially with a 20kg luggage allowance. I've never skied with a ski - orientated rucksack before so not exactly sure what I should be aiming at.
I have shortlisted the Ortovox Freerider 26 and the Dakine Heli Pro II. The Dakine is highly rated but the Ortovox Free Rider 26 looks even better at 26L - useful for a bit of extra hand luggage.
Has anyone tried the Ortovox, and is 26L overkill for a daysack? Any help would be appreciated! Many thanks
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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so long as it has decent compression straps it doesn't matter too much if you underfill it
26l is quite a lot unless you are carrying mountaineering gear
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I love the Heli Pro as a day pack. The problem with any pack is that whatever size you get you'll end up filling it:-) I have an original Heli Pro which looks to be slightly smaller than the II.
My personal view is that for lift served skiing anything bigger than a Heli Pro is a pain in the neck - with the Heli Pro you can sit on a chair lift with it still on (although Canadian lifties go mental if you do this; European ones couldn't care less). And if you do have to take it off then it's not too unweildy. It sits nice and close to the body and just "works" when skiing. The Ortovox doesn't look that much bigger, have you compared them side by side? (I'd be *very* wary of size measurments for rucksacs... especially when comparing between different brands, I have a McKinley "35" that is only about 50% bigger than my Heli Pro which is 16L, so by rights it should be a "25" at the most )
By the way, you almost certainly won't be allowed to wear a rucksac for instructor training... They don't like that either in Canada (Canadians must have something against rucksacs). I was told that (a) you wouldn't be allowed to wear one if you were teaching, and (b) they want to see how good your posture is etc., so, no wearing a sack during training or assessment.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Tintin, I picked up an Ortovox "Houte Route 35" for a recent mountain safety course and got on with it pretty well. Not too bulky if not loaded up when skiing, but importantly it is really good as hand luggage  And it was cheaper than the Dakine too.
I would have gone the Heli Pro II route but already have a Heli Pak which has been brilliant.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Take a look at the Black Diamond range - I have two of these packs and in my opinion they are better made than Dakine. My wife has a Dakine Heli pack - so this is my direct comparison - this is starting to show more signs of wear and tear in 5 seasons use.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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I ski with a Black Diamond 25l pack - carries shovel and probe and anything else I want, you can carry skis with it if doing a bit of climbing, and it compresses well. I also use it as hand luggage.
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Thanks everyone! I'm stuck between the two and unfortunately i havent found many stockists of ortovox (free rider at least) within a reasonable distance of where I live; so trying the pack isn't an option without buying and returning.
Thanks for the info re. Backpacks and tuition - I had suspected this could be the case but wasn't sure! The search continues!
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You could just buy one out there, you'll find REI is cheaper than the UK and they have a big range to try... you'll have to stick all your carry on stuff in a Sainsbury's carrier bag for the flight out there though:-)
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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I use a Heli pro for normal stuff and can fit skins, first-aid kit, spare layer etc in it, but have a bigger Mammut 30L pack for if I need to carry a few days worth of kit. Sah is spot on about riding lifts and pack size IMHO.
And make sure whatever pack you get can take your shovel and probe on the inside.
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Thanks for all the advice! I'm going to look into the black diamond as they sound like decent pieces of kit. In the meantime I've contacted a supplier regarding the ortovox range and depending on their returns policy, I may order it to
compare to my brother's Dakine Heli Pro, with regards to actual volume, fit etc.
As Sah rightly said - I don't want to have anything too big on the lifts, especially if the Canadian lifties can get a bit funny about backpacks! Thanks all 
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I can vouch for the quality of the Dakine Heli-pack. Mine's a few years old now and I use it most days skiing and for everything else. It seems bullet proof. I'm sure the quality would extend to the Heli-Pro. Apologies that this is slightly off topic but do you need to consider how it would sit when wearing a back protector too (if you choose to wear one)?...I don't have a back protector so would be interested if people think it can be an issue.
QS
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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I personally don't wear a back protector when skiing, so haven't taken that into consideration - with that being said the Ortovox free rider has a CE/TUV certified in-built back protector, so if I buy the backpack I will certainly let you know how it feels!
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Is it stating the obvious to look at how each allows for carrying skis. Some have them on each side (or one side) and some central. Or both, It makes a difference
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You know it makes sense.
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Tintin, I would certainly check if a sac is OK. I use a BCA Stash pac. Its the smallest pack that takes shovel and probes plus it has a hydrator built in. Might be cheaper in Canada.
http://www.facewest.co.uk/BCA-Stash-OB.html
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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My Heli Pro has a back protector built in. Don't know about certificates, but it fits well, helps keep me warm and feels secure.
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Poster: A snowHead
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The heli -pro is sounding appealing, and looks like it will work out quite a but cheaper than the ortovox. The backpack was stated on the kit-list I have been issued as part of the course, and I am also doing a 3 day backcountry AVT avalanche awareness course so I do need something pretty decent. Even if I'm unable to use it during instruction, it will no doubt come in useful at the weekends when we have no instruction and on subsequent ski holidays!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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+1 for the Black Diamond packs, I use a Covert (which has the added benefit of the avalung). Really really well built, 32 litres so you can get a good amount of kit in, and it's fine on lifts...
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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I found the heli pro far to heavy before you even put anything in it.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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I have an Ortovox Cross Rider which is smaller than the Free Rider and have been happy with it as a day pack. Fits my shovel, probe, sandwiches and extra layers etc. in no problem. That happy with it I recently bought another, but this time the women's version (what with being a female and all) which fits much better on me as it is a little shorter in the back. Took it as hand luggage when flying home for the weekend last season and fitted what I needed in no bother.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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sally365, You came about 4 years late 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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And I failed to notice the thread resurrection, doh!
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FAQ
