Known for producing high-quality gear ever since the start, for snowboarders, Dakine has come to equal high-tech travel equipment – especially backpacks.

Inspired by a snowboarder himself, the iconic Heli Pack was born in the company HQ at Hood River. As legend has it, the snowboarder in question had just come down the mountain and wandered straight into the Dakine headquarters with one request “he needed an essentials-only pack for his heli trips to Alaska”. This led to Dakine creating a custom pack with all the essentials and nothing more – and so, the first Dakine Heli Pack was born.

96 Heli Pack 16L Heli Pack

For the 25th birthday of the Heli Pack, Dakine hasn’t just tweaked the whole Heli series but also re-issued their legendary 96 Heli Pack. The new edition is a re-design of the original Heli Pack that came out 25 years ago – the pack where it all began.

The ones who started their snowboard journeys in the 2000s have become accustomed to the wide range of snowboard equipment available. But what often tends to be forgotten is that it is all a result of progression.

Back in the early ’90s, the snowboard market was looking very different, and there was a lack of proper snowboard equipment – including a technical bag for snowboarders to take out into the backcountry. There was a need for a small compact bag that could carry a shovel, a probe and some water, and straps that could carry a board.

Inspired by the lack of such a bag, Dakine took it upon themselves to produce one. Ever since the Heli Pack first hit the shelves 25 years ago the company has constantly been able to improve it with the help of the honest opinion of their team athletes and customers.

“A quarter-century later, the 96 Heli Pack is back with some modern-day tweaks, including more durable materials and updated technology”

A quarter of a century later, the 96 Heli Pack is back with some modern-day tweaks, including more durable materials and updated technology. Inspired by the original design, snow tool sleeves have been placed in the main compartment for the wearer to be able to carry the shovel and probe at an arm’s reach. Useful if it’s needed at short notice. The straps that were developed to carry the snowboard together with the first model are also still in place.

As for the modern-day add ons, Dakine’s placed a large fleece-lined goggle pocket to keep your lenses from getting scratched whilst, depending on your chosen activity of the day, there’s an internal sleeve that can fit either a hydration bladder or a laptop up to 15”.

On top of that, an external quick-stash pocket together with a 38mm hip belt and a rescue whistle on the sternum strap has also been added. The design and retro-look, however, still pay tribute to the slim design of the original pack.

“Rider-driven since day one, it comes as no surprise that the Heli Pack is a favourite amongst many professional snowboarders”

Over the years, Dakine’s also built up a pretty solid team stacked with loads of riders including Louif Paradis, Jill Perkins, Elias Elhardt, Mark Wilson, Sam Taxwood, Kazu Kokubo, Jamie Andersson, Bryan Fox, Victor Daviet and Wolle Nyvelt. A bunch of the team have been riding with the Heli Pack on their back, with a few of them even having their own Signature model, including none other than Jamie Anderson.

Not falling short in the tech-department either, Jamie’s signature backpack has got purpose-built snow tool sleeves to keep both a shovel and probe nearby, a large fleece-lined goggle pocket, an insulated hydration sleeve and a 38mm padded hip belt to keep the pack comfortably in place. And, on top of that, instead of having to struggle with fitting a helmet inside the backpack, the deployable helmet carry has been added to make it all a bit more convenient.

The vertical/horizontal snowboard carry ‘pocket’ allows you to stack your board through it nicely, and in case things really take a turn for the worse, a rescue whistle has been added to the sternum strap.

“This pack is neither too big nor too small, making it the great plus one that you can take out to any occasion”

This pack is neither too big nor too small, making it a great plus one that you can take out on any occasion. Whether you’re planning on venturing out in the backcountry, lapping the resort or need something to transport your laptop in, the Jamie Anderson Team Women’s Heli Pro 24 is made to match every situation in style.

Read our full review on the Jamie Anderson Team Heli Pro 24L backpack here.

The Dakine Heli Pack has shaped how we carry our gear in the backcountry and seeing how the pack has processed alongside snowboarding while adjusting to the needs of the modern-day rider, we think it is fair to say that the Heli Pack is a real piece of snowboarding history. As Dakine puts it, “Always Trusted. Ever Progressing”.