Advnture Verdict
This do-it-all backcountry ski pack made specifically for women boasts a supportive structure wrapped with durable and water-resistant material. The pack has many pockets and strap options for carrying all your gear and accessories on a full day of ski touring.
Pros
- +
Dimensions are specifically tailored to a women’s fit
- +
Aluminum frame helps with load distribution
- +
Hydration system compatible
- +
Integrated helmet holder and straps for attachments
- +
Easy access to main compartment
Cons
- -
Not airbag compatible
- -
Pocket on hip belt could be a little larger
- -
It takes undoing two zippers to access avalanche gear
You can trust Advnture Our expert reviewers spend days testing and comparing gear so you know how it will perform out in the real world. Find out more about how we test and compare products.
Mammut Aenergy ST 32: first impressions
The Mammut Aenergy ST 32 checks most of the boxes of an ideal backcountry ski backpack, especially for women. It was designed with dimensions specifically tailored for a female fit and the aluminum frame ensures comfort and support even with a full pack. The pack’s polyamide material is water-resistant and durable, and the 32-liter capacity is perfect for a full day of ski touring.
• List price: $169.95 (US) / £145 (UK)
• Fabric: 100% polyamide
• Sizes: One size, female specific
• Volume: 32L
• Weight: 960g / 2.1lb
• Airbag compatible: No
• Colors: Highway-Marine
There are plenty of convenient pockets on the Mammut Aenergy ST 32, along with integrated features and straps for ideal carry options of all your gear, including ski and snowboard haul options, an integrated helmet carry and dual ice axe loops. A large full zipper makes for easy access to the pack’s main compartment.
Packs you wear ski touring aren’t just about carrying your extra layers and water, they’re also about having your avalanche safety gear and ensuring you can access it quickly if needed. The separate compartment for avalanche gear is positioned well on the pack, but it does take two zippers to get to it, which isn’t the most efficient system.
Mammut Aenergy ST 32: on the slopes
My first test of the Mammut Aenergy ST 32 was on a more casual ski touring day at Ski Cooper outside of Leadville, Colorado. It’s just over 1,000 vertical feet to skin to the top of the main lift, then there’s a nice area to transition and ski down. The pack felt comfortable and seemed to support itself right away, and I really like the bungee-style chest straps as they allow for flexible breathing room while the pack still stays in place.
On this first early season day it was sunny, so I was able to pull out the integrated helmet carrier and save space inside the backpack by securing my helmet to the outside of it while I skinned uphill. The next time I tested the pack, it was a snowy and windy day in Vail and I was able to fit my helmet inside the pack to keep it away from the elements. The durable and water-resistant polyamide material of the pack kept everything dry and ready for me to layer up in it all and ski down.
Two easy-access pockets sit at the top of the pack and are the perfect size and in a great place for snacks, keys, sunscreen, extra ski gloves and other small necessities. I like the hip pocket on the right side strap, but I do wish it was a little larger, to more easily fit my phone. The main compartment is accessed with a full zipper, and I’ve found the extra pocket great for stashing wet skins if the pocket isn’t being used for a water reservoir.
Fortunately, I haven’t had to pull out and use any avalanche gear from the designated compartment for a beacon, shovel and probe, but I like how it’s separated from the main compartment of the backpack.
With ski and snowboard carry options, along with dual ice axe loops, the versatility of the Mammut Aenergy ST 32 may be more than I’ll ever need to use, but it’s nice to have all the features ready if I do.
