Raide Research LF 30L Ski Touring Pack

While the LF 30L isn’t the absolute lightest ski touring pack available, it’s certainly near the top, tipping the scales at 1,060 grams (or 980g with the removable frame). Impressively, it achieves this without compromising comfort or cutting features. Its closest competitor would be packs from Hyperlite Mountain Gear, though the LF 30L delivers far more innovative design touches.

The LF 30L is constructed from Ultra 200TX, a UHMWPE (ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene) fabric rivalling Dyneema. It’s twice as tear-resistant and eight times as abrasion-resistant as comparable ultralight materials, with a waterproof rating of 200 PSI (13.8+ bar) — equivalent to a 130,000 mm hydrostatic head, meaning it’s more than ready for wet snow or stormy conditions.

There are two hip belt pockets, one is zippered and large enough to fit an iPhone and the other provides quick ziporless access.

On the shoulder strap, there is an elasticized webbing that allows you to quickly stash your gloves or hat if you start to over heat or need to use your hands for more detailed work, like checking your digital device.

Retrieve your shovel (and probe) without taking the pack off, or from inside the pack if preferred.

A zippered pocket on the side of the pack provides access to you avalanche probe with out the need to remove the pack.

The sewn in Frame is removable to reduce the pack’s overall weight by 80g.

Top zipper access provides quick access to the main compartment without interfering with the helmet carry.

An internal zippered pocket with a key clip secures valuables or other fragile items that you don’t want in the main compartment of the pack.

There is an external zippered pocket that provides access to items you need quickly.

A stash pocket for climbing skins is separated from the main body of the pack so that you can keep wet gear away from dry contents.

Back panel access provides access to everything in the pack and if you need more room, you can deploy the extendable waterproof roll top, which adds an additional 8L of capacity to the pack's existing 30L.

An integrated moulded composite back panel insert provides torsional stiffness to the pack while keeping weight down.

There is an integrated helmet carry on the top of the pack that uses the climbing skin stash pocket closure to secure your helmet to the pack.

The LF 30L has five ski/snowboard carry options. An A-frame ski/snowboard carry or vertical snowboard carry that attaches to the pack’s frame for increased stability. There is also a modular diagonal ski carry, which has 3 positions, a left or right diagonal carry, and a skimo carry which allows you to carry skis without having to take off your pack.

Other features include an ice tool carry that keeps picks enclosed, a carabiner attachment point on the hip belt, built in drainage holes in the avalanche compartment and the cinch top.

Raide Research’s LF 30L Ski Touring Pack provides the ideal balance of lightweight construction, thoughtful design, comfort, and durability. The pack’s clean, minimalist design carries weight impressively well and accommodates a lot of gear in a compact form that includes every feature you need—and some you didn’t know would change your ski touring experience.

Main fabric: Challenge Ultra 200TX, 200d UHMWPE woven that is 2x more tear resistant and 8x more abrasion resistant than similar ultralight fabrics with a hydrostatic head rating of 130k.
Rolltop: 100d high tenacity polyester with UHMWPE crossply
Helmet Carry: Lycra, Nylon, UHMWPE woven.
Frame: 7mm aluminum tubing

• 30L, with extendable waterproof rolltop to 38L
• Easiest avalanche tool access on the market, with access to tools without taking the pack off
• Removable frame
• Moulded composite back panel insert with ribs to increase stiffness
• Composite back panel that resists bulging
• Top zip for quick access to the top of the pack, not obstructed by the helmet carry
• 2 quick access stash pockets for fast transitions
• A-frame ski/snowboard ski carry and vertical snowboard carry that attaches to the frame for increased stability
• Modular diagonal ski carry has 3 positions: left and right diagonal carry, and skimo carry to carry skis without taking your pack off
• Integrated helmet carry
• Glove stash strap on the shoulder strap
• Ice tool carry that keeps the picks enclosed
• Two hip belt pockets, one large enough to fit an iPhone
• 8mm of foam in the shoulder straps
• Radio/hydration pass through
• Drainage out of the cinch top and the avy tools pocket
• Ice clipper/carabiner attachment

As a long-time Gregory Targhee 32 user, I was initially skeptical that a newcomer like Raide Research could replace my trusted go-to pack. However, the promise of shedding 700 grams (1.2 lbs) from my setup — while gaining 6L of usable volume — was hard to ignore. What truly won me over, though, was the innovative avalanche tool access system and a host of other smart design details. 

Being able to access both your avalanche shovel and probe without the need to remove your pack is a massive leap in time savings and convenience. During an avalanche rescue, seconds count and being able to deploy your probe and access your shovel several minutes faster is time well saved. Also, being able to keep your pack on your back (where it belongs) in an avalanche rescue is just good practice. 

The weight savings, added volume and avalanche tool accessibility aside, the LF 30L still has more game-changing features:
The LF 30L’s modular diagonal ski carry which has three carry positions thanks to the removable girth hitched webbing means you can carry your skis diagonal on either the left or right side of the pack depending upon what the angle of the terrain you are climbing dictates. Or, you can use the skimo carry option, which eliminates the need to remove the pack.
 
The built-in climbing skin pocket ensures that my wet, snow covered climbing skins stay well away from my down jacket, mid layer and shell, which are often stowed inside the main compartment of the pack.
The final feature that I always had to MacGyver on previous packs is the LF 30L’s Glove Stash. This simple piece of sewn-in elasticized webbing on the pack's shoulder strap conveniently holds my gloves or toque (beanie for those in the US) when not needed due to overheating or just wanting to utilize the dexterity of my fingers.

Raide Research is genuinely pushing the boundaries of what ski touring gear — and now apparel — can be. Their thoughtful, lightweight, and functional designs make backcountry travel more efficient, comfortable, and enjoyable. Here’s hoping broader adoption helps bring prices down through larger production runs. Until then, Kyle and his team deserve credit for designing the gear we’ve all been waiting for.