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From Away.com

Gear: Ski Luggage
Taking All You Can’t Leave Behind
The latest and greatest in gear-lugging luggage for the world-swept skier.

By The Editors of The Away Network


Intro/Luggage to Check | Carry-On Bags

365-Day Dreamin'
Enduring the wait after the last run of the season just got a little bit easier, thanks to www.Tramdock.com, the first retail site devoted exclusively to skiing. Alpine, tele, nordic…whatever your passion, Tramdock.com has the latest gear at good prices, 365 days a year.
The life of the globe-trekking snow fiend is hardly a harsh fate to bear—vertiginous pistes of the Alps one week, feathery Utah powder the next, the narrow Alta Chutes at Jackson Hole the week after. But factor in the hassles of getting all your gear to and from each destination and process becomes a little less glamorous. In keeping with your own personal jet-set ambitions, we offer an overview of the most effective ways to get you and your must-have ski gear (skis, poles, boots, jackets, pants, helmet, mp3 player, camera, sweaters, gloves, après attire) to your next dizzying descent. What you do when you get there is up to you...

THE BIG STUFF: CHECK-IN LUGGAGE
Skis and Poles
Dakine Concourse Double
Rolling luggage may be considered the Squaresville of worldly travelers, but that hip elitism quickly changes after you lug your poles and 168-centimeter-long skis from the car to the base lodge. The Dakine Concourse Double ($130; www.dakine.com) offers sweet relief from that juggling act, with room for two pairs of 185-centimeter skis and a separate padded compartment for your poles, all transported on two burly urethane wheels. The entire bag is padded with a fabric that looks like a cross between aluminum foil and duct tape, which, when paired with the rugged exterior, is durable enough to stop damage from even the most disgruntled bag handlers. Adjustable clip straps within the bag keep both skis stable (the edges protected, the bindings out of harms way), leaving enough room to slip in a few fleeces. Dual-end carry handles aid in snagging it off the conveyer belt, and the rigid plastic spine running half the bag's length gives it some added strength. A detachable shoulder strap and an external pouch for said strap would be a nice include, especially for those moments when rolling isn't an option, but the center handle is enough to get it over the rough spots. It also folds in half when empty, a nice touch when storage space in your hotel room becomes scarce.

Boots, the Helmet, and Beyond
REI’s Evaporator Deluxe Cargo Bag

With the advent of gear advances comes the need for more storage capacity. Not only does REI's Evaporator Deluxe Cargo Bag ($59; www.rei.com) have enough space for all your goods, but it also has a place for all your goods to go. Drop your helmet into the padded, U-shaped front pocket designed expressly for that purpose, with vents to air out any lingering, post-piste sweat. Ski boots go into separate compartments on either side of the helmet pocket, each equipped with venting for circulation and bottom grommet holes to let the snowmelt flow out of your bag and away from your other essentials. The separate main compartment, meanwhile, is spacious enough for all your ski apparel. In total the bag offers a cavernous 6,090 cubic inches of rugged poly storage. Padding on the shoulder strap would be nice, and the bag is hardly bombproof. Still, given that boots and helmets are damn rugged on their own, the Evaporator Deluxe excels at keeping everything where you want it: safe, dry, and easy to access.


Next Page: The Little Stuff: Carry-On Bags

 
Intro/Luggage to Check | Carry-On Bags