 Poster: A snowHead
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Hi
Going on my first ski holl soon, some people have suggested I bring a small rucksack on the slopes to carry clothes if I get too hot and maybe a drink and a snack.
Is this vvv useful? or does it make balancing tricky?
Cheers 
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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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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billy_boy_2010, if you find balance tricky when walking around wearing a rucksack then you'll probably struggle with skiing balance. If not, then you'll be fine.
It's very much a personal choice. I'm more comfortable with empty pockets and everything in by bag, other people aren't bothered. I also get de-hydrated and like to carry water with me, which is a pain without a bag.
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Good idea. I normally ski with a small backpack. Helps to have one where you can tie or tuck any loose straps away so they cannot get caught on a chair-lift. And one with a strap that goes across your chest avoids it ever sliding out of position.
I don't find it affects my balance at all and find a backpack better than having my pockets stuffed with mobile phone, passport, chocolate and other necessary items.
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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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Its down to personal preference, If piste skiing I never ski with one as apart from a phone and some cash I don't carry anything else. The only downside to a rucksac is some people have a tendancy to go out for a days piste skiing carrying everything bar the kitchen sink.
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billy_boy_2010, small rucksack is very useful - mostly for water and surplus/extra layers. BUT no straps, loops, flappy bits etc that will attach you inadvertantly to charilifts.
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........ and you mates without the backpack will try to put their stuff into yours........ 
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I only take one piste skiing if i'm carrying my SLR as well. other than that, i only really need it to carry off piste stuff and to give a little extra back protection when skiing off the beaten track.
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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 ski with a very small pack thats not much more than a Camelback with a big pocket; Takes spare gloves, goggles, etc (and of course a water bladder).
If it's your first ski trip though I wouldn't bother. The last thing you need as a beginer having lessons, is anything making life harder when getting up or getting on a chair lift. Once you're a bit more experienced then it's fine.
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Pockets will carry: a bottle of water, a chocolate bar, spare hat (for when yours gets wet and freezes), goggles (for when it snows), spare layer of thermal clothing.
A pack has to be taken off at all lifts (in France at least) and is an extra distraction for a beginner - you will find getting on and off lifts a challenge in itself.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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I was with a beginner in Tignes taking her to the start of her lesson. The instructor insisted that she should not wear a back pack .... especially as she had her walking boots in it! I had to ski with it till she could pick it up.
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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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| Quote: |
A pack has to be taken off at all lifts (in France at least)
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There are advisory signs on all chair lifts - but I never take mine off.
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James the Last, you may be able to get all those things in your pockets, but it would be extremely uncomfortable. Packs certainly do not have to be taken off at all lifts, there may be some signs requesting it, but very few lifties are bothered in the slightest.
I agree that for complete beginners it's probably too much of a distraction to have a bag. I'd also say that of those things you listed, only the chocolate bar is required for a beginner.
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You know it makes sense.
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| Freddie Paellahead wrote: |
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A pack has to be taken off at all lifts (in France at least)
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There are advisory signs on all chair lifts - but I never take mine off. |
never take mine off either, just push it up so i'm not sitting too far forward
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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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Never take my backpack off on the lifts in france. Mine has a back protector built in so I consider it safety gear. And where are you going to put the shovel and probes etc (Which I always carry)
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Poster: A snowHead
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madmole, I do not recall anyone anywhere recommending that beginners, such as billy_boy_2010, take shovel and probe with them. Looking around the pistes I have only seen a very small number of people with rucksacs. Most people take all they need for the day in their pockets. There are other threads here on Snowheads discussing what to take onto the slopes, but I cannot immediately think of what to search for to find such threads.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Don't use a backpack when beginning... a lot of instructors will tell you to leave it behind because of balance.
But I use one for spare gloves, neckwarmer, sunny googles, and bad weather goggles... I have camera, snack bar, phone, gps, piste maps, sunglasses, hat and gloves in my jacket...
A lot of places do now have signs to say to remove or wear in front on the lifts but no-one ever enforces it.
And I have seen two people get hooked-up on chair lifts with their rucksack straps. It's funny to see, but makes you wonder and check your straps... 
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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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While resort skiing? "not" I would say. Pocket sized camera, credit car and a few coins should be enough.
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Personally I find backpacks very annoying, make me lean backwards all the time (I don't need any help in doing this.  )
I never see why people feel the need to cart around endless supplies of food and spare clothing everywhere - I usually have camera (round neck), phone (in pocket) possibly water bottle (on belt).
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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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Sounds sensible to buy a light, cheap one. Unless it is very small it is worth getting one with a waist strap, so it cannot bounce around.
Or you could get a bum bag (or are they too old-fashioned now).
Off piste a pack is essential - I'm normally carrying about 5 kilos or up to 7 kilos if carrying rope and harness and a full water bottle. When I'm skiing I don't notice it. I'd be very surprised if you would be carrying more than a kilo- probably half that. After you have worn it for an hour you won't notice it.
You only need to take a big pack off on chair lifts, but before you get off, check that no straps are caught on the chair. I usually leave the waisband done up and sling it round onto my lap.
Last edited by Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do. on Tue 8-02-11 18:14; edited 6 times in total
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| davidof wrote: |
| While resort skiing? "not" I would say. Pocket sized camera, credit car and a few coins should be enough. |
you forgot the 4 cans of beer, the chocolate and water.
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I found, despite it not having much in it, carrying a rucksack negatively affected my skiing. Might have just been because I was still learning, but it put me off wearing one since. Pockets are suitable, and I've never felt the need for extra clothes - I always dress for maximum warmth unless I'm 100% certain its going to be boiling.
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I don't carry anything like that much. Just money, phone, tissues, piste map, hat. I normally use a 'bumbag' or very small rucksack (fiver from Decathlon) which comes in handy when stopping at a mountain hut to put my gloves and sunnies in.
If you have a vented ski suit, you can just open the zips if you get a bit too warm. I only wear one base layer under my jacket, I tend to suffer from being warm rather than being cold.
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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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| queen bodecia wrote: |
I don't carry anything like that much. Just money, phone, tissues, piste map, hat. I normally use a 'bumbag' or very small rucksack (fiver from Decathlon) which comes in handy when stopping at a mountain hut to put my gloves and sunnies in.
If you have a vented ski suit, you can just open the zips if you get a bit too warm. I only wear one base layer under my jacket, I tend to suffer from being warm rather than being cold. |
last trip used a rucksack i got for a tenner and forgot to take out the metal a-frame. fell (as you do) and aframe dug in a bit.. was a tad sore.
so came back and got a way over specced animal rucky with a bladder.. might be somewhere to put beer
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snowball, I believe bum bags are acceptable again, I knew they would be one day  . That's as much as I can be bothered with on the slopes, just so I can bring my camera. Happily use a rucksack for walking though. I have just bought a lovely new Dakine one which is actually a snowsports one, 16L, so I have the option but is actually mainly for a charity walk I am doing in the summer. Was very impressed with simplypiste.com who have videos online to demo each bag they sell.
I agree that beginners don't need the extra hassle of a backpack.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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| Lou wrote: |
snowball, I believe bum bags are acceptable again, I knew they would be one day . That's as much as I can be bothered with on the slopes, just so I can bring my camera. Happily use a rucksack for walking though. I have just bought a lovely new Dakine one which is actually a snowsports one, 16L, so I have the option but is actually mainly for a charity walk I am doing in the summer. Was very impressed with simplypiste.com who have videos online to demo each bag they sell.
I agree that beginners don't need the extra hassle of a backpack. |
bum bags should never be acceptable
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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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As a beginner I skied with a rucksack, and I still do. It is pretty small though. I don't really know it's there most of the time, although for a few minutes after lunch it is a lot lighter, then I forget it's there again.
I got a small compact camera which I hoped would negate the need for a bag, but then it turned out that the OH and Jnrs new jackets had so few pockets that I was carting more of their stuff around. My latest jacket also has less pockets than my old one. Are jackets being designed with less pockets in, or is it something we've just not considered when buying the jackets?
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You know it makes sense.
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no no no.. all you need is a pair of those early 90's baggy workout trousers and...
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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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mugen,
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Poster: A snowHead
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Funniest sound I ever heard was an Italian guy stuck to a chairlift by his rucksuck in Cirvinia.
To me, it sounded like a mountain goat getting lifted off a cliff by an eagle. As a result, when I heard it, I instinctively looked up to the sky. That was until I noticed everybody else looking towards the chairlift I'd just came off.
I know it's wrong to laugh at other peoples missfortune, and I realise one day it could happen to me, but I was in complete hysterics!!
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Despite initial reluctance I now always ski with a backpack.
On-piste with a Dakine Helipack with water bladder, spare gloves, goggles and munchies together with a decent ski-padlock.
Off-piste/good snow I use similar but with a Black Daimond Avalung and another hydration bladder and full avi-kit.
I've never been a fan of taking the ruck-sac off but last season the straps on the Dakine got caught in one of the older steel/wood 2 man chair lifts and the strap ripped off with a long wait for the missing part to complete a full lap: I'll now probably make an informed inspection of each lift based upon that experience and will now take it off if I'm in doubt, especially if it's the BD one as that would be way too incoveneint to damage!
For a first trip, if you need hydration - and I do, then it's easier and don't be put off by the balance as it really makes no difference at all unless it's carrying overnight kit!
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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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| Jivebaby wrote: |
Despite initial reluctance I now always ski with a backpack.
On-piste with a Dakine Helipack with water bladder, spare gloves, goggles and munchies together with a decent ski-padlock.
Off-piste/good snow I use similar but with a Black Daimond Avalung and another hydration bladder and full avi-kit.
I've never been a fan of taking the ruck-sac off but last season the straps on the Dakine got caught in one of the older steel/wood 2 man chair lifts and the strap ripped off with a long wait for the missing part to complete a full lap: I'll now probably make an informed inspection of each lift based upon that experience and will now take it off if I'm in doubt, especially if it's the BD one as that would be way too incoveneint to damage!
For a first trip, if you need hydration - and I do, then it's easier and don't be put off by the balance as it really makes no difference at all unless it's carrying overnight kit! |
does beer work in the bladder.. just got one
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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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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Fell from a chair. That is why my backpack strap jammed and I did not manage to get down time
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Ended up wearing a rucksack skiing for the first time last week, whilst doing a particularly big day in the 3-valleys. I ended up the 'supplies' carrier for the 4 of us as I was the only one with an appropriate rucksack (I had taken my hillwalking one as my hand-luggage).
I didn't find it bad at all, even although it was totally stashed with sandwiches, juice, water etc. I didn't even notice it whilst skiing.
The only issue was on chairlifts. As the rucksack was quite full, I ended up sitting a bit further forward, and this resulted in me constantly getting hit on the head when others tried to lower the safety bar 
Just as well I was wearing a helmet!!
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| shoneyman wrote: |
Ended up wearing a rucksack skiing for the first time last week, whilst doing a particularly big day in the 3-valleys. I ended up the 'supplies' carrier for the 4 of us as I was the only one with an appropriate rucksack (I had taken my hillwalking one as my hand-luggage).
I didn't find it bad at all, even although it was totally stashed with sandwiches, juice, water etc. I didn't even notice it whilst skiing.
The only issue was on chairlifts. As the rucksack was quite full, I ended up sitting a bit further forward, and this resulted in me constantly getting hit on the head when others tried to lower the safety bar
Just as well I was wearing a helmet!! |
best one with the safety bar i saw (was in) was in la plagne. dutch guy pulled the bar too quick on a six chair and the other five, me included, we screaming at him as he kept pulling the thing down.
fortunately there were dutch there to swear at himin his own language, but as the dutch can speak every language known to man it wasn't exactly an issue.
close encounters could have been so much shorter, no messing the the big piano just get a dutch guy he probably knows the lingo..
but i digress, i wouldn't ski anymore without a rucksack now so used to it..
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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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| Quote: |
i wouldn't ski anymore without a rucksack now so used to it
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Quite so. Did a couple of runs last year while my mates waited in the bar (slackers) and I gave them by pack to look after. Never again, I was all over the shop, didn't feel right at all.
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| Dr John wrote: |
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i wouldn't ski anymore without a rucksack now so used to it
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Quite so. Did a couple of runs last year while my mates waited in the bar (slackers) and I gave them by pack to look after. Never again, I was all over the shop, didn't feel right at all. |
also keeps your back warm..
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