Load Warriors: Ski/Board Bags

Vàƒ¶lkl All Equipt$110; volkl.com

(left)

Whether you’re obsessed with stuffing all your gear – skis, boots, poles, clothing, accessories – into one rolling bag, or you’re heading to Europe with a quiver of boards, the compartmentless All Equipt is your baby. It can hold everything – or up to four pair of skis (with lifted bindings). The drawback? It’s easy for your gear to succumb to gravity and end up composting in the bottom of the bag.

gripes:

A padded shoulder strap and some internal compartments (or at least cinch straps) would make the All Equipt perfect.

props:

Heavy-duty nylon, tough zippers, and a no-frills design – all for a reasonable price – make this bag one of our top choices.

Bakoda Wheelie Deluxe Board Bag$120; northwave.com
(right)
Bakoda’s bomber, wheeled bag holds two boards – and is fully padded with a dense, impact-resistant foam. Like the Vàƒ¶lkl All Equipt, it’s big enough to pack your gear and clothes together, but the Bakoda lets you be a tad more organized. Interior bungees secure your apparel and accessories, and a separate boot compartment is vented so your wet kicks can drain and dry. Other nice touches include load-stabilizing compression straps and abrasion-resistant, tarp-lined insides.

gripes: Stiffer foam would increase padding and protection.

props: The bag expands instantly to 180 cm, so bring your powder board and carving setup.

Mountainsmith Ridgeline$60; mountainsmith.com
(middle)
Traditionalists will appreciate the simple Ridgeline. Full padding protects one pair of skis (up to 195 cm long) and poles, with enough extra room for some basic accessories like gloves, goggles, or long underwear. Compression straps keep everything together, and a padded shoulder strap makes for comfy carrying.

gripes: Wheels would be nice for long slogs to the concourse, car, or hotel.

props: The bright-yellow lining makes it easy to locate items – and at sixty bucks, this one won’t cut into your travel budget.