Good Bag while skiing/snowboarding?

Hope your predictions on snow levels are right as I'll be in Utah end of Feb for some snow.

As far as camera bag on snow goes, I used many things from nothing, normal backpack to full street camera bag with strapped on tripod and light stand. Lifts are not an issue. Biggest issue is padding for the gear, not so much to protect the gear but to protect your bony from sharp hard objects. If you fall on a tripod on hard packed snow, you would do more damage to your body then to tripod.

Last trip I got Dakine camera bag and have to say it works well. No fast access to camera, but most of the time you don't need that anyhow. has space for a bit of gear and well padded with back side access so you can place bag on snow and open it wide open to get to all your gear. It has all your usual straps and clips to make sure it is tight around your body and moves with you. I fell on it a couple of times, and had no issues. Overall though it makes sense to ride with care when having photo gear on your back/front. and if you are heading for the trees, slide with board first, it is cheaper then camera body or even most lenses.

GK

Wilt wrote in post #11370465
When you fall, based upon your experiences, please rank the direction of fall:

• face plant
  
• sideways
  
• sit
  
• fall back

Faceplants are rare. Usually when I fall it's because I can already sense myself falling. Usually ends up sitting/on my back.

The few times I've caught an edge going high speed it usually ends up being a few flips/cartwheels because you're going so fast. Those take a few seconds to snap out of because you're like "whoah... thank goodness for helmet, etc"

Backpack will be fine. I actually took my Rebel and 5MDH on a harder blue last year. I was **** scared. I did fall at one point but I was careful enough where it was a sit down and I just popped back up from momentum and kept going.

Nah. Never again. I think I get too scared I don't do anything too crazy. Gotta get me a helmet cam.

I'd recommend a backpack, but nothing more than a camera + lens. I would not bring my 7D even though it's more rugged. It's just too heavy/bulky. Kit lens for me too. That way if I fall and smash it, it's my backup anyway. I regularly have a camelback with a few tools and sometimes I even shed my jacket liner in there. The days I go with a camera I just swap my camelback with my DaKine and go camera only. Balance shouldn't be an issue unless you got 3-4 L lenses and a tripod too. Go light and you won't mind.

Most snowboarders carry a green bag with them at all times! Just ask a few!

Wilt wrote in post #11370465
When you fall, based upon your experiences, please rank the direction of fall:

• face plant
  
• sideways
  
• sit
  
• fall back

generally highspeed kart wheeling ragdolls. meaning very out of control falls where every piece of my body connects at some point in a head over heals fashion. Without sounding like a cool dude, I generally don't fall often unless it is like above. other times I may skip out of my heal edge and landed on my butt.

If he is an expert/advanced he will want to ride with his bag on. You don't want to get him a bag that limits him to just camera guy.

Falling directly on your back rarely happens unless a beginner. i will say for riding... F-Stop makes the best. Yes i work there. But its true. But also pre F-stop days I can remember one extremely violent rag doll at least head over heals 5 times with a burton zoom on and everything was fine.

Our advantage is the internal frame which makes the load feel like nothing when riding. It makes a big difference. Also consider most crashes happen with momentum and direct impact is rare unless catching an edge.

All three bags I mention Dakina, Burton and F-Stop all have rear entry which as mentioned above are designed to allow you to place the bag in snow and access your gear with out getting snow all over the back panel.

dmo580 wrote in post #11372938
Faceplants are rare. Usually when I fall it's because I can already sense myself falling. Usually ends up sitting/on my back.

...which is why I had recommended carrying in a bag in front. Even if you fall forward, you naturally curl up onto a ball -- around the camera.

catching a toe edge with a bag on your front is asking for the pain.

falling backwards is much more natural to roll out of than forward is.

I have this bag... well, an earlier version and it works well. I have snowboarded with it a few times.

Borealis AT Daypack

UPDATED FOR 2010! Camera specific adventure pack with backcountry suspension details built for the ruggedness of your outdoor photo pursuits. Dedicated camera compartment along with extra storage space for your 10 essentials. Snowboard or ski carry options round out the package. Now made with 100% recycled PET ReDura™. See specifications for recommended camera body sizing.

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All interesting predictions...after teaching skiing 35 years, 6 days a week (5000 new skiers, how to ski plus countless other intermediates and better), I broke my tib/fib in a simple fall. I've got 2 plates and 14 screws in my right leg, and I still ski. I couldn't have predicted that, and it was life changing. (Binding didn't release; foot went backwards literally. And then the fun started. )

Point is be careful out there. My binding was improperly installed by a ski shop and didn't release. I learned a lot that day.

11 months later I went back skiing. I thanked the Patroller that helped me out. Bless my wife who got me skiing again. If you're carrying gear be careful.

Best,