Freeride backpacks
If you like skinning uphill as much as the thrill or riding steep snow-covered backcountry lines, then you need a backpack that’s lightweight, hard wearing and comfortable to carry – all day long. The deuter online shop has a great selection of backpacks for freeriding. Find out more!
deuter freeride backpacks for snowy adventures
There’s a whiff of snow in the air, you can hardly wait. It’s time to grab your skis and get out there! Let deuter’s technical ski backpacks accompany you on your winter backcountry skiing and snowboarding adventures in the snow. To find out which freeride backpack is right for you, keep reading:
Buying a skiing backpack for freeriding, ski mountaineering and ski touring
Good carrying comfort, sleek shape, and winter-specific features – deuter’s freeriding backpacks like the Freescape or the Updays, and our avalanche airbag backpacks from the Alproof series are built for the demands of backcountry skiing.
The deuter Freeride for
- Ski touring, ski mountaineering & freeriding in the sidecountry
- Mountain athletes and freeride skiers and boarders, or for snowshoeing
With the Freerider backpack, backcountry skiers and snowboarders can stash everything they need for a day’s freeriding in the snow. The modular gear straps can be used to attach skis diagonally or in an A-frame. A snowboard and snowshoes can also be strapped to the front of the pack. A zip around opening on the back panel lets you access contents without having to remove any gear you’ve attached or get the back system wet by putting it down in the snow. Our freeride backpacks are covered in tough, breathable and snow-resistant material across the back.
Lightweight freeride backpacks: reduced weight, maximized comfort
Equipped with the deuter Alpine or Lite back system, you hardly notice you’re carrying our lightweight ski backpacks – uphill or downhill. The lightweight freeride backpacks from deuter come in a range of fits to suit men and women of all sizes.
The deuter Freecline for
- Off-piste and freeride adventures
- Short ski touring
The Freecline only weighs 695 grams and has a volume of 15 liters. This makes it perfect for short and flexible backcountry tours. Thanks to the practical compartment arrangement, you can store everything you need and have it quickly to hand when you're out and about. Ice axes, poles, skis, and snowboards can also be stored on the outside of the backpack. With the Alpine back system, the Freecline always sits compactly and close to your body.
No longer available
The deuter Freescape Lite for
- Off-piste and freeride adventures and ski touring
- Ultra lightweight
For high-performance mountain athletes looking for a lightweight backpack for single-day ski tours, we recommend the Freescape Lite. This super lightweight freeride backpack weighs just under one kilogram and is perfect for anyone looking to keep weight down, and who wants clever features and design from their skiing backpack. The deuter Freerider Lite is available in a 24 Liter or 26 Liter model. The deuter Lite back system strikes the perfect balance between light weight, durability, and carrying comfort.
The deuter Updays for
- For big days out, ski touring or splitboarding in nature
- Minimal weight, ample space
- Anyone looking for a climate neutral backcountry ski backpack
This ski mountaineering backpack brings together comfort with the thrill of adventure. Weighing very little, the Updays is perfect for tough ski touring routes. But with ample space (either 20 or 26 liters) and in an Slim Line version for women at 24 liters, the Updays also has room for everything you need to take with you. Featuring an avalanche equipment compartment for a shovel and probe, it also keeps vital equipment close at hand in an emergency. It’s also hard wearing and comes with gear straps to attach skis, crampons or a snowboard securely to the backpack.
Did you know?
The Updays series from deuter is also climate neutral and therefore ideal for those who care about protecting the natural world.
Comfortable, technical ski backpacks for multi-day ski touring
The deuter Freerider Pro ski backpacks have plenty of stow space, secure handling and are made from tough materials.
No longer available
The deuter Freerider Pro for
- Boundary-pushing freeriding and ski touring
- Multi-day ski traverses and ski tours with challenging ascents and long descents
The Freerider Pro is designed for more experienced freeride skiers and snowboarders or ski tourers, looking for a top-spec skiing backpack with space for spare clothes etc. Like the others in the Freerider series, the Freerider Pro also has a rear opening on the back panel. And there’s a zipper at the top for access to the main compartment too. Under the zipper, there’s a roll-top closure that extends the capacity of the 32-liter or 34-liter model by an extra 10 Liters.
Ski touring safety: freeride backpack with avalanche protection
deuter avalanche backpacks for off-piste freeriding
- Better safety
- Multi-day ski traverses
- Excellent comfort and ample space
Because freeride skiers tend to ski off-piste, they are at greater risk of avalanche danger. What’s known as an air bag backpack or ABS backpack can reduce the risk of being buried by an avalanche. But how does it work? Why not check out our avalanche backpacks? The following ski backpacks come with an electronically deployed avalanche air bag:
- Alproof 32 & Alproof 30 SL: The deuter Alpine back system creates a solid fit, even in challenging terrain. A leg loop helps secure the pack in case of an avalanche.
- Alproof Lite 22 & Alproof Lite 20 SL: The lightest model in the Alproof series has all the same features, just in a more compact shape. So, it’s ideal for shorter ski tours with less to carry. Alproof Tour 38+5 &
- Alproof Tour 36+5 SL: The ISPO Award winner from the Alproof series is the perfect partner for longer, multi-day ski tours and ski traverses. Awarded Avalanche backpack
No longer available
No longer available
No longer available
Which is the best back system for a freeride backpack?
Striking the balance between comfort, functionality and a secure fit is key when it comes to moving though alpine terrain. The deuter Alpine back system uses SoftStripe back padding to create a snug, solid fit against your back. Freeride backpacks are also designed with a narrower pack shape to keep the bulk of the load close to your center of gravity.
Our top tip for the best fit:
The Freescape Lite, Updays, Freerider, Freerider Lite and Freerider Pro backpacks all come in an SL model to suit women and people with narrower shoulders and a shorter back. The SL models are specially designed to suit the female anatomy. They have narrower shoulder straps that are more closely set, conical hip fins, and a shorter back panel to create the optimum fit on the wearer. As such, they are not only for women but also for shorter, more petite people
How much capacity do I need in a ski backpack?
The answer really depends on your plans – you’ll need different gear for a quick skin in the morning, compared to an alpine ski traverse.
- Single-day ski tour: A backpack with 15 to 28 liters’ capacity is the ideal size for a day’s ski touring. Being lightweight, with practical compartment configuration and easy attachment options for avalanche equipment makes these ideal for shorter ski tours or splitboarding tours.
- Multi-day ski tour: If you go on multi-day journeys through the snow, and want a freeride-specific backpack, our freeride backpacks sized 30 liters and above are the ideal choice. The Alproof series even offers the option of extending the capacity.
If you want to find out more about what size backpack to get, you can read all about sizing, fit and back length in our backpack advice pages.
What features should a freeride backpack have?
Similar to ski touring backpacks or snowshoeing backpacks, freeride backpacks also have special features to ensure better safety and the smooth running of your winter ski adventures.
- Easy to access avalanche equipment compartment for your safety equipment
- Gear straps for your skis or snowboard
- Helmet attachment clips
- A hydration system for longer tours
- Materials should be snow- and water-repellent
- An ABS (air bag) system where there is potential avalanche danger
Heading into the mountains: Our top tips for freeride skiers and snowboarders
Bluebird days and fresh powder snow – read our blog to find out about the deuter Team members’ freeride adventures. You’ll also find some basics information about ski touring (DE) as well as some helpful tips on how to stay safe in the backcountry.
Check out the deuter Basecamp pages.
Why should I buy a deuter freeride backpack?
We have been designing and manufacturing top-quality, durable backpacks for winter sports for more than 100 years. Together with professional mountain athletes we are continually making these better, more comfortable, and improving the safety. We’ve compiled some of the best aspects of our products that alpine experts value the most:
- Sustainability: Sustainability is not just about treating nature well but also means treating our employees throughout the world well. We are members of the Partnership for Sustainable Textiles and the Fair Wear Foundation, striving for better working conditions in the textile industry. Find out more about the deuter Promise, our sustainability strategy.
- Lifelong repair service: We offer a lifelong repair service for our products so that you don’t have to throw them away or replace them before time. This helps conserve resources, reduces landfill waste and also saves money.
- Safety & comfort: Our ski touring and freeride backpacks are not only comfortable and relieve strain on the back, but they also help keep you safe on the mountain and in the backcountry: The narrow cut of the rucksacks reduces wind drag too.
- Durability: The hard-wearing materials we use make our products long lasting so you can enjoy them for many years.