The main compartment has a 20-litre capacity (the clue’s in the name), which is more than enough for a day’s hike, and the interior sleeve can house a hydration system. When off the mountain, that can hold a laptop up to 15 inches in size – combined with the overall size, that makes the DaKine Heli Pro 20L ideal for travel use too, or as a school bag.

“A sternum strap takes a lot of the pressure off your shoulders, and there’s a rescue whistle attached to it in case the worst should happen”

It’s chiefly a snow pack, of course, and that’s where you’ll get the most out of this one. If hiking out of bounds, your snowboard clips easily to the front of the DaKine Heli Pro 20L backpack for vertical carriage – or if you have a splitboard, you can choose to go ‘A-frame’ style. A sternum strap takes a lot of the pressure off your shoulders, and there’s a rescue whistle attached to it in case the worst should happen.

It’s sturdy yet lightweight, with super comfy straps and an easy-carry top handle. Waterproof material at the bottom keeps the contents safe when you’re taking a break, and you can fit it with one of DaKine’s Impact Spine Protectors (sold separately) for extra safety.

As always, there’s myriad of colourways to choose from; the ‘Castaway’ design seen here is one of ten different options available in 2017/18, so you’re bound to find a DaKine Heli Pro 20L pack that’s just right for you.

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