The lifts at most Utah resorts have stopped turning, but that doesn’t mean snowboarding is over for the season. If you are planning on doing any backcountry touring, there are several pieces of essential gear that you will need. Certainly, a backpack worthy of your adventures is on the list. I have been using the Dakine Pro II 26 liter snowboarding backpack for all of my out-of-bounds pursuits since last July. Here are my thoughts on the performance of this medium sized gear carrier.
Let’s start with the technical info and features touted by the Pro II:
• Vertical snowboard carry option
• Diagonal ski carry option
• Helmet carry strap with storage pocket
• Hydration compatible
• Zippered hydration tube sleeve
• Zippered back panel for main storage access
• Zippered side pocket
• Fleece lined goggle pocket
• Padded waist belt
• Sternum strap with integrated rescue whistle
• 600D polyester material for pack construction
Plenty of bells and whistles (literally) on this pack. The Pro II has two big main compartments, one for your hydration bladder and another for your backcountry rescue gear. The rescue pocket has sleeves for a probe and shovel handle, and my shovel blade nestled in front of these sleeves. It’s a great design that keeps your most important gear easily accessible should you need it. I also loved the zippered back panel; when I had the Pro II fully loaded, it was tough to get to my gear that was on the bottom of the pack. Opening the back panel was the perfect way to access all my goods without disturbing my precious packing order.
There are plenty of times when you have to remove your splitboard or snowboard to scamper up slopes or across obstacles. When splitboarding I found that using the diagonal and A-frame ski carry options was a breeze. Despite having two very weighty split-skis attached, the Dakine Pro II still carried the load comfortably. Ditto for using the horizontal snowboard carry option. Plenty of cinch straps allow you to adjust your board to give you the least amount of hassle while breaking trail in your boots.
When it was time to shred, the pack performed well. Again, the inclusion of so many cinch straps makes it easy to tighten down the pack as much as possible to keep your balance centered. The waist and sternum straps are supportive without being cumbersome, and allowed me to whoop it up in the white room with no limitations.
My lone complaint regarding the Dakine Pro II backpack is the amount of room in the main compartment. Without a hydration bladder, I had plenty of space for all my gear (extra gloves, down jacket, snacks, medical kit and other essentials), but when I added the bladder I felt that it was very cramped in there. Of course, the caveat is that I tested a 26L pack, and Dakine makes plenty of other models with more space for gear-pigs like myself.
I used the Pro II pack in conditions ranging from 50 degree sunny days to white-out storms in freezing temps and it has performed very well. Personally, I feel that the 26L size is perfect for a wide range of adventures: I rode everything from sidecountry runs to deep splitboarding missions with this pack, and loved every lap. If you are in need of a backcountry snowboarding pack, or simply some versatile storage for long resort days, definitely check out the Dakine Pro II.
The Good: Solid construction, great compartment organization and multiple ways to carry your snowboard.
The Bad: Main compartment is cramped when using a hydration bladder.
The Verdict: The Dakine Pro II is a pack versatile enough for a range of adventures. With multiple equipment carrying options and useful storage space, it’s an ideal pack for backcountry riders of all skill levels.