Product check: Orotvox Free Rider 18LIn our weekly product check take a look at some of the Fall-Line team's favourite bits of kit from the mag.
Reviewed by Chirgl, originally published in Fall-Line Skiing Magazine issue 98
Safety's a wonderful thing. This Ortovox pack, the Freerider model, has a TUV-certified back protector built into it which means you don't have to worry about wedging one between you and your backpack.
For quick forays off piste and for the odd day trip I find 18 litres is just about big enough. The plus side of the small-medium size, and in fact Ortovox's slim, anatomical design of this particular pack, is that you can hop on and off chairlifts and cram into cablecars, almost forgetting it's even there.
Normally packs of this size struggle to fit me properly, I'm over 6ft, but the Freerider belt sits where it should, even for me. The belt incorporates a neoprene section to allow some give for added comfort - the downside of this is that when carrying skis there is a fraction more movement than with a fixed nylon strap but hey, you can't have it both ways. I found the belt buckle a little fiddly to use when wearing gloves.
Access to the main compartment is achieved from a clam shell system in the back, so the main compartment is accessible even when the skis are on it. Nice. Getting to the shovel blade wasn't the easiest but I'm being harsh.The the ski/snowboard carrying system is super-easy to use. The pack has useful storage compartments for shovel and probe etc and it's compatible with hydration systems.
In short, the back protection is the special feature here and, for the record, the only reason I have ever replaced an Ortovox backpack was because I lost it. They seem to last forever.
Vital info
Height to size: 160cm to 180cm = Freerider 16 and 24; 175cm to 195cm = Freerider 18 and 26
RRP: £95.00
More info: www.ortovox.com
Posted by Online Editor - Mon, 10/10/2011 - 11:38am
In our weekly product check take a look at some of the Fall-Line team's favourite bits of kit from the mag.
Reviewed by Chirgl, originally published in Fall-Line Skiing Magazine issue 98
Safety's a wonderful thing. This Ortovox pack, the Freerider model, has a TUV-certified back protector built into it which means you don't have to worry about wedging one between you and your backpack.
For quick forays off piste and for the odd day trip I find 18 litres is just about big enough. The plus side of the small-medium size, and in fact Ortovox's slim, anatomical design of this particular pack, is that you can hop on and off chairlifts and cram into cablecars, almost forgetting it's even there.
Normally packs of this size struggle to fit me properly, I'm over 6ft, but the Freerider belt sits where it should, even for me. The belt incorporates a neoprene section to allow some give for added comfort - the downside of this is that when carrying skis there is a fraction more movement than with a fixed nylon strap but hey, you can't have it both ways. I found the belt buckle a little fiddly to use when wearing gloves.
Access to the main compartment is achieved from a clam shell system in the back, so the main compartment is accessible even when the skis are on it. Nice. Getting to the shovel blade wasn't the easiest but I'm being harsh.The the ski/snowboard carrying system is super-easy to use. The pack has useful storage compartments for shovel and probe etc and it's compatible with hydration systems.
In short, the back protection is the special feature here and, for the record, the only reason I have ever replaced an Ortovox backpack was because I lost it. They seem to last forever.
Vital info
Height to size: 160cm to 180cm = Freerider 16 and 24; 175cm to 195cm = Freerider 18 and 26
RRP: £95.00
More info: www.ortovox.com