Backpacker Magazine – Fall Gear Guide 2009

Gear Review: Eagle Creek Abominable Snowbag

This convenient travel snowbag pays for itself quickly.

by: Testers Kelly Bastone, Berne Broudy, Shannon Davis, Michael Lanza, Becca Roseberry

Tags:
• Gear
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• Luggage
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• Winter camping
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Ski-and-Cargo Hauler
If you occasionally travel with a snowboard or skis–but don't want to invest in specialized luggage you'll only use a few times a year–consider this versatile 39-inch rollerboard. The cavernous, 5,800-cubic-inch main compartment features a lightly–but adequately–padded, extendable sleeve at the top that unfurls to carry four skis or a snowboard; for regular travel, the extender rolls up and snaps into a compact pouch inside. The Snowbag's main compartment opens like a book, with one long zipper that wraps around the perimeter.

Ski boots, poles, clothes–everything our tester needed for a ski weekend–fit inside, and a second zippered pocket on the outside held boarding passes. The bag's length (35.5 inches) eliminates the need for a retractable handle; instead, a padded, fixed handle lets you roll it whether collapsed or extended. Testers appreciated the convenience of consolidating everything into one piece of luggage–and saving an extra baggage fee. With airlines charging up to $50 per round-trip for skis, this duffel will pay for itself in about five trips. At 10 pounds, it's lighter than most roller bags this big. But it's not for longboarders: The extender won't accommodate planks longer than 185 centimeters. $270; 10 lbs.; eaglecreek.com

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