The Raide Analysis LF-40 pack in black. Additionally is available in white.
Having spent 15 years in product improvement myself, I’d at all times dreamed of constructing my very own “Tremendous Pack” for snowboarding. Kyle Siegel, a mechanical engineer with expertise at SpaceX and The North Face, beat me to the punch by launching ultralight backcountry pack firm Raide Analysis out of Carbondale, Colorado final yr.
The Raide story goes like many startup out of doors manufacturers’. Siegel didn’t see the touring pack he wished available on the market, so he constructed the pack himself. He spent a season iterating then took his remaining prototype to a manufacturing unit in Vietnam that makes packs for Osprey, BCA, and Mammut and launched for the 2023-2024 ski season with a handful of ski-town retailers and by way of the Raide web site. He describes the launch yr as, “dipping our toe within the water to find out if we had a viable firm” and as of the tip of February, Raide had bought by means of 97% of their stock. On the time of publishing this evaluate, solely the smaller dimension of the black colorway of their lone pack was nonetheless out there on-line.
That debut pack, the LF-40, narrowly caught my consideration by way of an e-mail again in October. Just a few clicks and one brief video later, I used to be pre-ordering the most costly backpack I’d ever bought. I patiently waited till mid-December for it to reach, and have been placing it by means of the paces in my work as a ski information and on leisure excursions all season.
Specs
The Raide Analysis LF-40 ski pack is indubitably a direct competitor to the ultralight ski pack merchandise from Hyperlite Mountain Gear. It sports activities Dyneema cloth building, clear, minimalist design, a svelte weight of 1090 grams (strippable to 900g), and a hefty $399 price ticket. It’s a 40L quantity pack, because the identify suggests, however can cleverly broaden to 50L by way of a roll high when wanted. Probably the most comparable pack from Hyperlite is the 40-liter Cruz which prices $100 greater than the LF-40 and weighs about 150 grams extra as nicely.
Siegel instructed me he had a really particular weight restrict of 1100 grams in designing the pack. “That was the goal all alongside and that ended up being extremely difficult with all of the options I additionally wished to be integrated into the pack,” Siegel stated. “I sat on the foam provider weighing completely different shoulder strap constructions for a whole day simply to save lots of 5g per shoulder strap. It’s very easy to make a light-weight pack, however very arduous to make a light-weight pack that doesn’t sacrifice on consolation. sturdiness, group and elegance.”
Preliminary Impressions
I’ve gone by means of plenty of ski packs within the final 5 years, however most just lately, I’d been snowboarding with a BCA Stash 40. The BCA pack was my favourite pack from a performance standpoint, however was heavy (1642 grams) regarded monumental on my again, and felt notably unstable whereas snowboarding.
I like a ski pack to be clear and easy however nonetheless have sufficient options for simple group. Necessary for me are two zippered pockets for small objects, a waist belt pocket for snacks, a devoted security instruments compartment, and a helmet-carrying system that may rapidly be tucked away when not in use. Raide’s pack checks all these containers, plus a number of extras, which made it a straightforward promote for me.
Tremendous clear and minimalist, even when carrying a helmet.
After I moved all my gear into the LF-40, the tangible weight distinction was putting. I’d dropped a couple of pound and a half from my BCA pack, but it surely felt like much more. It’s a wider design than different packs I’ve owned, which retains mass nearer to your physique for much less swing weight, and in addition makes the pack visually smaller. It definitely looks like a 40L pack from a storage standpoint, however appears and carries extra like a 30L pack. I typically have hassle believing I’m carrying all the identical stuff in what appears and looks like a a lot smaller bundle.
Within the Discipline
I’ve skied with the Raide LF-40 for about forty days this season. My general impression of the pack is optimistic – it’s very comfy to hold and feels glued to my again when snowboarding. It’s been put by means of the ringer using on the again of snowmobiles, sitting on the ground of a yurt, and bushwhacking by means of dense forest with out sustaining any seen harm.
Water, puffy, glasses – all conveniently within the high drawstring pouch.
Initially, I had blended emotions concerning the roll-top entry. After some experimentation, I’ve discovered a use technique that I actually like. I not often open the roll-top and deal with the pack prefer it has two separate compartments. Much less-used objects like my first assist equipment, restore equipment, spare gloves, and so on. dwell inside the principle zippered again panel. Frequent use objects like my water, puffy, hat, glasses, and so on. are stored above the roll high, inside the highest drawstring pouch. Apart from on heavy storm days, this appears to work properly with out an excessive amount of snow intrusion into the highest of the pack.
All my lesser used stuff lives contained in the again panel entry, or within the small zippered pocket.
One of many “additional” options that bought me on Raide was the exterior pocket, which I exploit for stashing my skins. This was a characteristic I liked on The North Face Snomad and one thing different firms ought to be aware of. Stuffing snowy skins inside your pack or jacket is just not a superb resolution to an issue each backcountry skier has.
The exterior pores and skin pocket was an enormous promoting level for me.
The helmet carry flap is one thing that seems to have been borrowed from the Snomad pack as nicely. It’s a bit trickier to make use of than different helmet-carry techniques, and does intrude with entry to the highest of the pack, however I really like how clear it’s from a design standpoint. I’ve taken to clipping my helmet strap to the pack with a carabiner, so after I do must entry the highest compartment, my helmet remains to be safe.
Excellent loops for attaching a radio – notably absent on different packs I’ve used.
Regardless of being a minimalist pack, the Raide LF-40 is affected by quite a few nicely thought-out small options. The left-hand shoulder strap has a singular glove carry system that’s simple to make use of and retains snow out manner higher than clipping them to a gear loop. Each shoulder straps embody small sewn-in loops within the excellent place for attaching equipment like radios or a digital camera bag. The froth within the again zippered panel is detachable for weight financial savings or to be used as a seat, splint, or no matter you possibly can dream up.
I don’t use the glove carry a ton, however its cool nonetheless.
Room For Enchancment
Regardless of my general optimistic expertise with this pack, I’ve some critiques. First off, the steel waist strap buckle may be irritating. It’s much more sturdy that your normal plastic clip (the one motive I haven’t modified it) but it surely’s too small to simply use with gloves on. Black Diamond packs use an identical buckle, but it surely’s a lot bigger and simpler to deal with. The plastic clips used on the sternum strap and helmet flap are tremendous simple to make use of with gloves on, however they’re proprietary components which are completely sewn into the webbing. When considered one of these (inevitably) breaks, what could possibly be a easy 5-minute subject restore is now a serious stitching challenge.
I don’t love these proprietary, sewn in plastic clips.
As a ski information, I take my shovel, probe, and snow noticed out greater than most. The avalanche software pocket on the LF-40 is only a partition of the principle pack compartment with its personal devoted zipper entry. It’s a bizarre design that I don’t utterly perceive. Getting gear out is just not an issue, which is kind of necessary, however getting issues again inside, notably the shovel blade, is a ache. I’d like to see this change into a totally separate pocket, even when that meant the pack gained a number of grams.
The Avy-tools pocket is spacious. however may be awkward to re-pack.
Lastly, the waist belt pocket is manner too small. It’s a superb dimension for objects like a multitool, pores and skin wax, and hand heaters, however I might find it irresistible to suit a full day’s price of snacks, which it doesn’t. After a bit looking, I discovered a man on Etsy who makes backpack pocket add-ons. I purchased the large-size utility belt pocket which has some sewn-on elastic webbing and slides properly over the waistbelt. I secured the pocket to a small loop on the pack with some twine and it’s confirmed to be an ideal match for all my meals. Plus, it matches the pack’s aesthetic completely.
My waist belt add-on from PackBack Designs.
Conclusion
I’m not often an early adopter in the case of new gear or expertise. In relation to the Raide Analysis LF-40, I took a big gamble on a pricier startup model’s product and to date I’m completely happy that I did. It’s the one pack I’ve discovered that has nearly all of the must-have options I search for in a backcountry pack and delivers noticeable weight financial savings whereas doing it. I stay up for seeing how the pack holds as much as the abuse of lengthy days and sharp objects throughout spring ski mountaineering season.
{Editor’s Observe: Siegel stated he’s planning to broaden the Raide choices to 5 merchandise for the 2024-2025 season, together with extra pack choices, attire, and an adjunct. We’ll attempt to get our arms on them for testing as quickly as they’re out there and share our impressions right here.}
Mike Lavery lives to ski. A New Hampshire native, he moved to Bozeman, Montana in 2012 and has fallen extra in love with the game each season. After 15 years as a design engineer within the out of doors trade, Mike now works as a ski information and avalanche educator. Nonetheless an engineer at coronary heart, when he’s not utilizing his gear, he’s modifying it or scrutinizing it to no finish.
