Deuter Edge 25 Backpack

Like a Mercedes!
German engineering is evident on every centimeter of this pack. Quick and secure snowboard attachment and I don't have to take the board off the pack to get into the pack, it unzips from the back side! Talk about convenient! Ok, the best part is the back protector. After a FUBAR landing on by back after a 60 foot drop, I was fine. If your going to crash, at high speed, this is what you want to be in, like a Mercedes!

very comfortable pack
I'm not using the pack for skiing or boarding but I bought it because I'm living in DC for the summer and am walking an avg of 10 miles per day carrying things back and forth from shops/work to the apt. I thought it looked well made and user friendly. The design is great for comfort BUT it is a little cramped on carrying space. I had been using an old ll bean heavy duty pack that holds twice as much inside but is not comfortable for walking long distances. I've rated it above avg for quality and comfort, it is very well made, and easy on your back and shoulders. Think of it as a mercedes 190E...stylish, well made, user friendly, but a wee bit cramped for space.

Great quality, big, but a little cramped for space...
Either you like skiing / boarding with a backpack, or you don't. They come in all shapes and sizes, from minimalist (just a hydration bladder) to some truly gargantuan day packs. The Deuter Edge 25 is fairly compact, though packs a touch deeper than the North Face Borealis it replaced. By "deeper" I mean there is more stuff between your back and the backrest on the chair lift -- so be warned. Nearly 2 inches of this pack "depth" is the result of the built-in spine protection. The puffy airflow pads on the exterior of the pack (they sit directly against the back of your jacket) plus the non-removable foam core sewn into the backside of the pack (separating you from your hydration bladder & the other pack contents) add up to extra bulk and take away from what otherwise could be internal space. The pack is big enough for my typical day on the mountain: A 2L hydration bladder (not included), an extra top layer, a second goggle, some added head/face/neck protection, a lunch wrap, a yogurt, a couple of bananas and a couple of beers. It all packs a little bulky, but again, it's due to the extra padding. There is room for more, but you'll have to be careful that the pack doesn't bulge out. The top and bottom compression straps will only do so much to keep your pack's tummy in-check. The backside zipper system is cool if you've got something strapped to the outside of the pack, but the weight of hanging a full hydration bladder off the internal velcro loop at the top interior of the pack puts a lot of strain on this zipper, and makes it difficult to close completely. Deuter smartly placed a snap closure on the two zippers to prevent them from inadvertently opening and spilling your contents all across the trail. The chest strap clip features an integrated whistle for those crazy-azz off-piste powder days. The hydration bladder pocket prefers a long and slender (traditional 70 oz. CamelBak) bladder, as opposed to the low-profile, flatter & wider version (newer 72 oz. style w/ internal baffle). I'm not going to (intentionally) take any 60' drops like the reviewer ahead of me, so the need for spine protection is questionable -- especially at the expense of a lower profile -- yet at the same time, an extra layer of protection is never unwelcome. One gripe: Why oh Why is a key fob sewn into the fleece lined goggle pocket? Deuter makes a point of stating the goggle pocket is made so unprotected lenses can be stored without getting scratched... as long as you don't clip your car key in there along with it! Hmmm...

Like a Mercedes!
German engineering is evident on every centimeter of this pack. Quick and secure snowboard attachment and I don't have to take the board off the pack to get into the pack, it unzips from the back side! Talk about convenient! Ok, the best part is the back protector. After a FUBAR landing on by back after a 60 foot drop, I was fine. If your going to crash, at high speed, this is what you want to be in, like a Mercedes!

very comfortable pack
I'm not using the pack for skiing or boarding but I bought it because I'm living in DC for the summer and am walking an avg of 10 miles per day carrying things back and forth from shops/work to the apt. I thought it looked well made and user friendly. The design is great for comfort BUT it is a little cramped on carrying space. I had been using an old ll bean heavy duty pack that holds twice as much inside but is not comfortable for walking long distances. I've rated it above avg for quality and comfort, it is very well made, and easy on your back and shoulders. Think of it as a mercedes 190E...stylish, well made, user friendly, but a wee bit cramped for space.

Great quality, big, but a little cramped for space...
Either you like skiing / boarding with a backpack, or you don't. They come in all shapes and sizes, from minimalist (just a hydration bladder) to some truly gargantuan day packs. The Deuter Edge 25 is fairly compact, though packs a touch deeper than the North Face Borealis it replaced. By "deeper" I mean there is more stuff between your back and the backrest on the chair lift -- so be warned. Nearly 2 inches of this pack "depth" is the result of the built-in spine protection. The puffy airflow pads on the exterior of the pack (they sit directly against the back of your jacket) plus the non-removable foam core sewn into the backside of the pack (separating you from your hydration bladder & the other pack contents) add up to extra bulk and take away from what otherwise could be internal space. The pack is big enough for my typical day on the mountain: A 2L hydration bladder (not included), an extra top layer, a second goggle, some added head/face/neck protection, a lunch wrap, a yogurt, a couple of bananas and a couple of beers. It all packs a little bulky, but again, it's due to the extra padding. There is room for more, but you'll have to be careful that the pack doesn't bulge out. The top and bottom compression straps will only do so much to keep your pack's tummy in-check. The backside zipper system is cool if you've got something strapped to the outside of the pack, but the weight of hanging a full hydration bladder off the internal velcro loop at the top interior of the pack puts a lot of strain on this zipper, and makes it difficult to close completely. Deuter smartly placed a snap closure on the two zippers to prevent them from inadvertently opening and spilling your contents all across the trail. The chest strap clip features an integrated whistle for those crazy-azz off-piste powder days. The hydration bladder pocket prefers a long and slender (traditional 70 oz. CamelBak) bladder, as opposed to the low-profile, flatter & wider version (newer 72 oz. style w/ internal baffle). I'm not going to (intentionally) take any 60' drops like the reviewer ahead of me, so the need for spine protection is questionable -- especially at the expense of a lower profile -- yet at the same time, an extra layer of protection is never unwelcome. One gripe: Why oh Why is a key fob sewn into the fleece lined goggle pocket? Deuter makes a point of stating the goggle pocket is made so unprotected lenses can be stored without getting scratched... as long as you don't clip your car key in there along with it! Hmmm...