MSRP: $249.95
Gregory’s Targhee 32 ski-mountaineering pack is well-designed, multi-functional, and large enough for full-day tours and alpine days with all the features you need and none that you don’t. I found the pack to be comfortable, carry well, and to be slim, uncluttered, and compressing to almost flat for quick chairlift laps.
Two weeks before a ski trip to Japan, my editor asked, “Can you test a ski pack for me?” It can sometimes be a gamble to take a new piece of kit on a trip, so I was sure to give it a couple of days in the Colorado backcountry to check the fit and capacity before I left. With my initial impressions being positive, I set off with the new bright-red Targhee 32. This was my first trip to the sacred land of powder with my good friend Timmy who taught me to ski tour over 20-plus years ago, and we’d be celebrating his 50th birthday.
A make-or-break feature of any ski pack is the avalanche tool pocket, because you don’t want to fight to access your life-saving tools during an emergency. Luckily, I only had cause to dig in the snow on three occasions (not for rescue) during my trip. We found meters of soft powder and a wonderfully boring snowpack. Even so, I drilled the pack hard with many combinations of shovels and tools. The spacious front pocket is sealed with a zipper and intentionally compartmentalized for a probe and shovel handle, leaving ample space for the largest shovel I own with a 10-by-10-inch blade and a 19-inch handle. There was room left over to fit a snow saw and a short ski-mountaineering ice axe. Even when the main compartment was stuffed to the point of bursting, I was able to easily extract these critical safety items.
The main compartment of this 32-liter pack is sealed by a zipper that allows the entire back panel to fold open. I have an inherent distrust of this type of closure, having had a complete failure in the past, and they can also be a little hard to stuff. The Targhee pack, however, had a really nice internal gusset covering the lower third of the opening. On a rare bluebird ascent of Mt. Yōtei, a 6,227-foot stratovolcano with a striking resemblance to Mt. Fuji, the gusset helped me stuff a rescue sled, repair kit, sleeping pad, first-aid kit, big puffy gloves, thermos, puffy jacket, and a shell, and comfortably zip them all into the pocket. I still don’t fully trust zippered back panels but I had zero issues with the zipper on this pack.
For those who love and use water bladders, you’re covered, literally. On the inside of the back panel, there is a hydration sleeve (or skins pocket). Sewn loops along the zipper route the hose to the shoulder strap where there is a well-insulated zip-up sleeve that keeps the tube from freezing.
On one of our few resort days, Timmy and I had been commenting to each other how the side country at Furano was like Kenny Rogers’ The Gambler: “You got to know when to hold ’em [and keep skiing fall-line], know when to fold ’em [or traverse back in bounds].” On our last run of the day, instead of folding, we got greedy, taking 20 extra turns on a perfect rib. We found ourselves on a valley traverse that took us all the way to town. This created the perfect opportunity to test the Targhee’s ability to carry skis. I opted for the cross-carry on the back, which can also be adapted for a snowboard. The pack is also set up for an A-frame carry with cam-locking buckles to prevent loosening. All areas where the ski edges touch the pack are reinforced with 1000D Cordura fabric. The extra turns were unquestionably worth the walk of shame.
A few other notable features are worth mentioning, and then I’ll wrap up with my favorite feature of all. The zipper hip pocket comfortably fits a slope meter, chapstick, and a couple of energy bars. If any other manufacturers are reading, you should never design a ski pack without a zippered hip pocket! The helmet carry system securely holds all sizes of ski helmets and neatly packs away into a bonus pocket. The external carrying system for ice axes and tools is simple yet secure.
My heart really lives with what I usually call the goggles pocket—the zippered top compartment where one would normally battle to squeeze a pair of goggles and not much else. This pocket on the Targhee 32 was cavernous, fitting goggles, hand warmers, buffs, an InReach, two granola bars, three 7-Eleven Onigiri rice sushi sandwiches, and a hip flask of sake. A little zippered internal wallet/keys/passport pocket keeps your valuables secure.
When testing new gear, there is usually constant adjustment and fiddling to figure it all out and make it work for one’s own preferences and body shape. The only questionable aspect I could find with this pack is the hip belt’s stiffness; I found it uncomfortable at first, but soon got used to it. After that initial adjustment, the Targhee 32 felt like I had been using it for years; I forgot I was testing it and kept having to remind myself to check out the features and snap photos of the pack in use.
The Targhee quickly became comfortable and easy to use, which really let me live in the moments of deep connection on an amazing Japow ski trip. The conversations with Timmy were like meditation in the skin track, morphing into an ultimate flow-state ride through swimmy powder, culminating in high-fives back at the onsen, the infamous natural hot springs of Japan. The gratitude and tears of a perfect day on Mt.Yōtei with my oldest ski buddy will supply lasting memories. Thanks Gregory for nailing this ski pack and allowing me to focus on these special moments! I will be sure to check out the other smaller (26L) and larger (45L) Targhee packs next time I need an upgrade.
Pros: large goggles pocket; stuffing-gusset in the bottom third of the main pocket opening; spacious avalanche tool pocket; zipper-hip-pocket; insulated water tube sleeve; bright color options that are easier to find if buried; massive grab loop on top; many options for carrying skis, snowboards, and mountaineering equipment
Cons: stiff hip belt; back panel zippered entry may be a love or hate feature depending on the person
Ian Fowler is an IFMGA/AMGA Mountain Guide, a father and husband, a meditation practitioner, a Brit at heart, and a lover of rock, snow and ice. Ian lives in Louisville, Colorado, and guides domestic and international trips throughout the year. Find Ian at @ianclimbs.
