Patagonia SnowDrifter Backpack 30L Review

Patagonia’s SnowDrifter is like a sidecountry pow tour in backpack form. Imagine all the epic of a day exploring out of bounds packed into a small, tight package. Then kick it up with Patagonia’s indelible stylings and aesthetics, their attention to details that only an actual mountain ninja would think of, strip off all the excess and you have the SnowDrifter Pack.

Nylon Ripstop Durability

If you snowboard trees with a pack on, you’re gonna rip that pack through branches, brush it against bark, all that. Patagonia obviously took that seriously with the 2-layer, 7.9-oz nylon ripstop with TPU coating they built this pack’s shell out of. I broke off branches, smacked trunks — I even slammed onto my back and slid down rocks — with the SnowDrifter on my back. Not even a scratch on the material.

The polyester ergonomic hip belt and straps feel just as solid; when cinched down the SnowDrifter feels more like putting on a parachute pack than your average shoulder hauler. It locked in really well so I never had any sway when descending, unlike some packs that skimp on the connection and can throw you off balance jumping turn to turn.

SnowDrifter Backpack Weight

The 3-oz 200 denier polyester lining feels like taffeta but performs like nylon. I crammed poles in there, and multitools, and helmets, and all the sharp hard things. There wasn’t even the hint of ripping. The SnowDrifter’s 5.7-oz polyester monomesh back panel gives a little cushion but isn’t as bulky as other snow packs: the SnowDrifter weighs in at a paltry 2.5 pounds.

I tested out the versatility by doing what I normally do: using my backcountry pack as a hiking daypack, this time through the jungles of Belize where a mid-winter trip left us all struggling with heat. I was worried the SnowDrifter would turn my back into a sweaty mess but quite the opposite, I hardly noticed it at all.

SnowDrifter for Uphill

All of the above engineering makes for a great little touring pack but booting with your board on your back makes for a completely different experience. Admittedly it’s a bit smaller than the packs I normally wear and I was worried that the SnowDrifter might sag with the weight of my boards (I carried both my solid and my notably heavier split). Instead the vertical carry straps locked the board in tight to a magical pack made of enough sturdy but light materials to hold its shape on par with a beefier internal-frame pack.

The shovel and probe pouch is a bit smaller than other packs and so make sure your shovel handle and your folded probe are no longer than 16 inches. Still, the SnowDrifter has another little mesh pocket in that front compartment, perfect for snow crystal cards, a thermometer, and all the other good avy-mitigation tools.

On top is the goggle pouch (or my snack/ski-strap/sunglass/multitool pouch). Plus the big main compartment easily fits a water bottle, an insulation layer, extra gloves and goggles. There’s a built-in helmet net hidden in the bottom of the pac k. And as all good booter packs do, the SnowDrifter has a backside zip on the back panel so you can access your stuff even while your board is strapped onto your pack.

Patagonia has long been an industry leader when it comes to their commitment to sustainability, as evidenced by the fact that the materials of the body and the lining are 100% recycled. Plus the SnowDrifter is made in a Fair Trade Certified factory so you know you’re not depending on sweatshop conditions for your play time.

One thing I really love in all of Patagonia’s packs is how nice they look. The blue and gray checked outer lets people know you take your adventuring seriously. Plus the purple padding on the hip belt and the interior is just a really clean touch.

Overall Impression

As a father, coach, partner, and all the other grown-up stuff, my shred life mostly consists of epic days sessioning the slackcountry. The Patagonia SnowDrifter ($249.00) has become my go-to for days spent riding lifts with a sneak out the gates, or for a quick Teton Pass bootpack on my way to work. Riding the sidecountry often means packing the best parts of a backcountry mission into some light work hiking or touring, where speed is all-important. With everything that you need for such a day (bombproof outer, super-light inner, a snowtools pouch and enough space for your short tour extras) and nothing you don’t, the SnowDrifter mini will become a favorite part of your outdoor gear quiver. And while it’s made for the snow, I’ll proudly wear this light but durable pack any and everywhere, no matter on a hike into the snow or through the jungle.

Related Backpacks We Have Tested

1. Ortovox Switchback 32L Backpack
2. Dakine Poacher 40L Backpack
3. Osprey Kestra 30L Backpack