Need a good backpack for my wife - what to get?

[Blk88GT]

I use a Dakine Heli Pro myself and was thinking of getting her the same model but a different color.

Anything I should know about buying a pack for a woman?

Won't be used in the backcountry unless I can get her being a little more aggressive on the sled. Just trail and off trail riding for now.

Thanks in advance.

 

[HeadedNW]

My wife really likes her Ortovox , Slim width and snug fitting with ample room for what she needs or wants to carry. I also have an Ortovox and am very happy with it , very well made and not made in China...

This is hers ,
http://www.ortovox.com/content/en/products/backpacks/woman-performance/free_rider_woman/

 

[PowderGirl]

I have the womens' Dakine 686 pack from a couple years ago and it fits great and has all the storage I need plus some great extra features like a padded camera compartment. I've had a hard time finding backpacks that fit me good - bought 2 before the Dakine and found they just did not ride well on a short torso (Northstar/Camelpack). If your wife is taller, you'll have an easier time finding one that's comfortable. I hear Camelpack has a women's pack out this year too.

I dont know that it matters much where she'll be using it (trail or off trail / backcountry) - I'd still pack all the same things no matter what - water, food, shovel, emergency/avalanch stuff, extra gloves, camera, video camera and a extra layer or two for really cold days to name a few things. You dont want to get too small of a pack IMO but you do want soemthing that is comfortable, easy to get on an off and has durable seems/strap connnections.

EDIT: That Ortovox pack looks like a nice one! Will have to check into it although, I dont really want white - especially for dirtbike riding.

 

[PowderBrad]

I jsut got my HMK bag, as did my buddy. Seems Very good quality, very functional, and should be big enough for all we need to carry. Better than I thought it was gonna be for sure. Havent used it on snow yet though...but it seems well suited for my liking. And its only like 55 bucks!!

 

[live2ride]

I have had a Ortovox and did not like it, it was tough to latch the lower strap. I have a HMK (pink) pack!! It fits AWESOME and my back does not hurt like it has with other packs!! Ladies backs are different (usually smaller) , so something that fits the man good may be to big for the ladies!!!

 

[PowderGirl]

Yeah - you dont want all the of the weith of the pack sitting on the lower back because it's too big. That's the problem I had with the other packs. It actually caused me a lot of lower back pain at the end of a days ride.

 

[CoyoteGirl]

Don't skimp. Get one with some support/ padding in the back, a chest strap and a good waist strap. These 3 things will help tons in relieving weight distribution issues. Other than that, get one proportional to her body. The Dakine's seem to be fitting a wide (and I don't mean that literally) range of women well. I am tall (5'10) and have the Heli Pro, love it for fit/ comfy, love it for how much it will hold. (I carry way to much...)

However, I'm really wanting a new pack with the outside shovel pouch..... that is the one thing I'd definitely change on the Dakine. Accessibility. Something you might consider as you are wanting to get her off trail more ie she'll be needing that shovel more! This is a nice feature (among many others) of the HMK pack for sure!

 

[JHG]

Me and the girlfriend are both using the True North Adventure Gear Lighting packs. I love them but a little spendy and 100 bucks a piece. Good warranty though, lots of nice features.

 

[Blk88GT]

Ladies, thank you. I'm ordering the HMK today

 

[CO_MapMaker]

Dakine has a womens version of the Heli-pro.

 

[Kootenay-Stomper]

yeah i jsut got a heli pro,its sweet

 

[snowordeath]

If you really want to make your wife happy, check out wooky packs. They are primarily designed for backcountry skiers, but they are nice. A little spendy, but they fit better than the skin on your back, low profile, secure and you don't even know its there

http://www.wookey.net/

I think their site is under construction right now so check out this link

http://www.liquidmoonsports.com/index.php?cPath=1_5_1

My buddy rides with the "shovel pack". It is pretty compact and I love the fit. They put a lot of effort into making these packs anatomically correct.

 

[timber_tramp]

Need a good backpack for my wife - what to get?




thats a good trade for someone