The Best Women’s Ski Touring and Splitboarding Packs

Frustrated with your touring backpack? Me too. It’s tough to get the fit, features, weight, and capacity right, and few companies make packs designed to fit women’s bodies. After years of trying to find the right pack, I still haven’t—but slowly, I’m getting closer. After polling the ladies in my community and trying on innumerable packs, I compiled this list to help you find the best touring pack for your needs.

There’s still immense room for the industry to develop better packs—and bring women into the design process. This article highlights my favorite women’s packs on the market today, focusing on brands that are making progress toward inclusive sizing and women-focused design features.

The Problem With Women’s Touring Packs

If you’re wondering why it’s so hard to find a good women’s ski pack, I’ll break it down. On average, women have shorter torsos, narrower shoulders, wider hips, more lumbar curvature, and larger chests than men, meaning that the shape of men’s packs is often uncomfortable and ill-fitting. There’s no such thing as a unisex pack: all backpacks are designed around a reference body, which is usually a man’s, meaning they’re made to fit tall torsos, broad shoulders, and less pronounced lumbar curves. In short, most touring packs aren’t designed for women’s bodies.

After hundreds of days of touring with a pack that landed halfway down my glutes and gave me tension headaches from sitting heavy on my shoulders, I realized how big the gap is in the women’s pack market. Both I (and many of my touring partners) are petite ladies, but the same issues stand true for tall women: often, the shape of a men’s pack is uncomfortable for tall women because women generally have shorter torsos than men of their same height. These fit issues often cause neck tension, back fatigue, and pain around the hips.

The solution? Women’s-specific and short-torso ski touring packs. Unfortunately, there are few good options on the market, especially for splitboard and ski mountaineers who need specific technical features or higher-capacity packs. Industry representatives often cite a lack of demand for high-quality women’s-specific gear; in my experience, demand for adequately fitting women’s gear exists, but women’s voices are not being heard in the design space. 

Having a comfortable, well-fitting pack matters: if women don’t have appropriate equipment to get out in the backcountry in comfort, it’s difficult to enjoy a day out. The gap in women’s gear is an access issue; when women don’t find the right gear, it can stall progression in backcountry skiing and snowboarding, leading some to leave the sport entirely.

Sizing a Ski Touring or Splitboarding Pack

Be sure to take the following measurements before ordering a touring pack, or risk buying an ill-fitting pack. Taking your measurements before purchasing will save you some grief and help you find a backpack that fits well.

1. Torso Length: Measure from your iliac crest to the C7 vertebra.
2. Hip Circumference: Measure the circumference of your waist around the iliac crest (the pointy hip bones).

For reference on the following recommendations and pack opinions: my torso length is 15.75 inches, and my hip circumference (measured at the iliac crest) is 26.5 inches. I’m 5’ and 105 pounds; as a result, I usually purchase a small or extra small in most types of gear.

The Best Ski Touring and Splitboarding Packs for Women

Most Comfortable Women’s Pack: Osprey Sopris 32 L

When it comes to fit, I’m a huge fan of Osprey’s women’s snow packs. The difference between Osprey’s snow packs and others on the market? They’re actually designed for women. At 5’ tall and 105 pounds, Osprey’s packs are some of the only ones that fit me in the waist and back (and have all the features I need for splitboard mountaineering missions).

Although I have yet to use the Sopris, I’ve been using its predecessor, the Kresta (32 and 45L), for the past several years. Unfortunately, the Kresta was discontinued in 2025, but I’m intrigued by the similar fit and lighter weight of the redesigned Sopris. The Sopris cuts a few ounces off the Kresta (weighing in at 2.43 lbs), but maintains many of the same features: a snowboard carry, dedicated avalanche pocket, and comfortable carry. When it comes to comfort, Osprey’s snow packs are nearly unbeatable, and I love that the Sopris also comes in a 45L version.

Snowboard Carry: Yes.
A-Frame Carry: Yes.
Ice Ax Carry? Yes.

A Nice Fit for Many Women: Mammut Nirvana 35 Women

In my experience, Osprey’s packs are significantly more comfortable than Mammut’s, but many women like Mammut’s ski touring packs for their short torso length, good hipbelt adjustability, and more pronounced shoulder strap curve. I used the 2022 version of the Nirvana for several years of splitboarding in the Sierra, and had largely positive experiences. While it didn’t carry as comfortably as the Osprey snow packs I’ve used, it fit me relatively well. The Nirvana has since undergone a major redesign, but women still cite that this full-featured pack fits well, thanks to its 17-inch backpanel length. Unfortunately, it’s heavier than the Sopris, weighing in at 2.93 lbs.

Snowboard Carry: Yes.
A-Frame Carry: Yes.
Ice Ax Carry? Yes.

For Those with Short Torsos: Ortovox Haute Route 30 S

Instead of designing women’s-specific packs, Ortovox launched a line of unisex, short-torso packs covering a range of styles and feature sets. These packs are designed to fit those with 14.17 to 17.32-inch back lengths. Notably, when I tried the Haute Route S (for short torso), the back length fit well, but the hipbelt was way too big for my narrow hips. Still, I think it could be a great option for women with wider hips than mine. Ortovox’s Haute Route 30 S is the most popular option in the line, but there are several other options (including airbag packs and several different Haute Route volumes). Unfortunately, this pack does not have a snowboard carry, making it a mediocre option for splitboarders.

Snowboard Carry? No.
A-Frame Carry? Yes.
Ice Ax Carry? Yes.

Best Technical (But Not Women’s-Specific) Pack: Raide LF 30L

Raide is quickly making a name for itself in the ski pack world. Several ladies (from 5’3” to 5’8”) fit into the size small LF 30 pack, which can expand to 38L, thanks to its roll-top design. Unfortunately, it doesn’t fit me well in the waist (most of the weight lands on my shoulders), but it’s a good option for those with slightly wider hips than mine seeking an ultralight, technical ski pack. Unlike the Sopris, it’s not women’s specific, but the range of sizes seems to fit many women well enough. This pack weighs in at 2.34 lbs, making it a good choice for those seeking a lightweight ski touring pack.

Snowboard Carry? Yes.
A-Frame Carry? Yes.
Ice Ax Carry? Yes.

Other Notable Mentions

There are plenty of other packs on the market, and women in the ski touring community have recommended the following. I haven’t had personal experience with several of these, but they’re worth mentioning, especially for those that don’t fit into any of the packs detailed above. Bodies are inherently different, and there’s no such thing as a one-size-fits-all pack.

1. Dakine Women’s Poacher Backpack 30L
2. Ortovox Switchback 30 S
3. Hyperlite Aspect 32 (not women’s-specific, but comes in multiple sizes, including a size small that actually fits my hips)
4. Deuter Freescape Lite 24 SL

The Final Word

It’s not easy to find the right women’s ski touring or splitboarding pack for your needs and body shape. After trying on more backpacks than I can count, buying the wrong pack several times over, and feeling immense frustration toward most touring pack manufacturers, I compiled this list to help women find a pack that gets them out on the skin track in comfort.

Still, there’s immense room for growth in the industry, and I hope to see manufacturers make an effort to design better women’s packs in the future. In the meantime, I’ll keep searching for the best women’s ski touring pack.