Table of contents
Going on a ski trip is high on the list of every skier’s yearly to-do list, but the logistics of getting gear to and from the destination are always a pain. That’s why we’re such big fans of bags that make packing and carrying your skis more of an afterthought than a chore. Our expert team of testers has extensively packed, re-packed, hauled, analyzed, and rated every ski bag in this guide to bring you the best models currently available. With our unique UX, you can peruse our photo galleries—simply click or tap an image to launch the gallery—and sort the bags by our ratings for organization, portability, durability, sustainability, and more.
Ski Bag Superlatives
Patagonia Snow Roller 112L ($299)
Evo Deluxe Snow Roller ($270)
Thule RoundTrip ($160)
Dakine Fall Line Ski Roller ($222)
Sportube Series 2 ($225)
REI Co-op Powderbound ($90)
Our Ski Bag Picks
You may not think of Patagonia as a ski luggage brand, but it nailed the design of the Snow Roller. This is the highest-scoring bag we’ve tested, boasting an excellent blend of accessibility, protection, and water resistance in a build that’s refreshingly easy to wheel around.
You may not think of Patagonia as a ski luggage brand, but it nailed the design of the Snow Roller. This is the highest-scoring bag we’ve tested, boasting an excellent blend of accessibility, protection, and water resistance in a build that’s refreshingly easy to wheel around.
Organization
Portability
Durability
Protection
Water Resistance
Sustainability
Ski Capacity
2 pairs or 1 snowboard w/ binding
Wheels
Yes
Sizes
M (165 cm), L (185 cm)
Shell Material
Two layers of 300D polyester, PU coating
Pockets
1 internal
Pros
Cons
This is a gear category that frequently rewards maximalism—usually it’s the more storage, features, and protection, the better—but the Snow Roller 112L turns that thinking on its head. This soft-sided roller provides a wonderful balance of space, padding, and usability, along with super-high-quality construction that will allow you to drag it with you on trips for years to come. The Snow Roller’s only real weakness is that it only has a single small mesh pocket on the underside of its lid for organizing, but we think that the rest of its design is so dialed that you won’t mind its relative minimalism at all.
Overall protection is one of this bag’s highlights, and it has the best padding of any soft-sided model we tested. The cushioning is much thicker than the varieties found on competitors in the Snow Roller’s price range, and its internal plastic reinforcements beef up the bag’s structure to prevent it from collapsing upon its contents as well as remaining rigid when you’re wheeling it. (Our tester also deemed the wheels to be especially buttery.) Add in an exterior made from double-layer polyester with a PU coating that boosts durability and adds admirable water resistance, and you can see why we think this is the most confidence-inspiring ski bag short of hard-sided models like the Sportube Series 2.
Unlike the Series 2, though, the Snow Roller is enticingly easy to pack and use. It zips completely open along one side, and our tester found it roomy enough to stash two pairs of skis, one measuring 112 millimeters underfoot and the other 100 millimeters wide. (Interestingly, Patagonia lists the Snow Roller as a one-ski bag.) Boots don’t make the cut, but there’s still plenty of space for your shells, gloves, and other soft goods—all of which will remain protected thanks to the bag’s stiff sidewalls and excellent internal compression straps. There’s really no detail that designers left unconsidered. At $299, the Snow Roller isn’t cheap, but this is one of the few expensive pieces of luggage that feels like a steal. For more, read our review of the Patagonia Snow Roller 112L.
This mega-spacious roller bag was one of the easiest models to pack in the test, and its storage layout is both expansive and thoughtful. The Deluxe Roller’s wheels are good, if not great, and its durability and waterproofing are similarly unimpressive, but its sheer size should win it a lot of fans—especially those with full ski quivers.
This mega-spacious roller bag was one of the easiest models to pack in the test, and its storage layout is both expansive and thoughtful. The Deluxe Roller’s wheels are good, if not great, and its durability and waterproofing are similarly unimpressive, but its sheer size should win it a lot of fans—especially those with full ski quivers.
Organization
Portability
Durability
Protection
Water Resistance
Sustainability
Ski Capacity
2 pairs or 2 snowboards (1 w/ bindings)
Wheels
Yes
Sizes
165 cm, 175 cm, 195 cm
Shell Material
600D polyester w/ PU coating
Pockets
3 external
Pros
Cons
If you’re searching for the biggest, baddest ski bag when it comes to pure packing volume, look no further. During testing, the Deluxe Roller emerged as easily the roomiest model in our lineup; it comfortably fit two pairs of skis and poles, and we found that, in the right configuration, we could even squeeze in a third pair of short, narrower mountaineering skis. Add in three generously sized exterior pockets and a removable, ventilated boot bag (if you limit yourself to two pairs of skis, the Deluxe can house your boots as well), and this bag makes consolidating the vast majority of your ski gear into a single carrier remarkably easy. It’s the perfect solution if you’re not sure what conditions will be like and want the tools to tackle every eventuality.
Even if you stuff the main compartment to the brim, accessing everything is simple thanks to the Deluxe’s full-length, suitcase-style opening. This isn’t to say the Deluxe’s design is perfect, though. Its wheels are serviceable, but they’re not as oversized or smooth-rolling as those found on the TNF Base Camp, and its structure isn’t as thickly padded or as stiff as the Patagonia Snow Roller (our top-scoring ski bag). And, while its 600-denier PET exterior fabric and PU coating keep pace with the category’s standouts for durability, its crinkly, tarp-like interior is a step down in quality. That said, none of those nitpicks should keep you from buying the Deluxe if you want one ski bag to fit almost your whole kit. To learn more, read our Evo Deluxe Snow Roller review.
This version of the RoundTrip lacks wheels, but that doesn’t stop it from earning a place as one of our favorite ski bags. With a dialed strap and handle design, commendable construction quality, and some thoughtful features, it’s a sub-$200 steal. Some skiers may not love its quirky zipper design, though.
This version of the RoundTrip lacks wheels, but that doesn’t stop it from earning a place as one of our favorite ski bags. With a dialed strap and handle design, commendable construction quality, and some thoughtful features, it’s a sub-$200 steal. Some skiers may not love its quirky zipper design, though.
Organization
Portability
Durability
Protection
Water Resistance
Sustainability
Ski Capacity
1 pair
Wheels
No (wheeled version available)
Sizes
192 cm
Shell Material
600D polyester
Pockets
None
Pros
Cons
If you’re looking to save money on ski luggage, opting for a non-wheeled carrier is the logical move. And in the case of the Thule RoundTrip, it doesn’t feel like you’re compromising on quality one bit. Its hearty polyester shell material is par for the course in the category, durability-wise, and a layer of foam beneath the shell will help keep your skis from picking up knocks. The ends of the bag are also stiffened to provide some structure, and the RoundTrip’s external compression straps do a good job of both stabilizing the load and acting as grab handles for yanking it off of an oversized baggage carousel.
The lack of wheels means the RoundTrip isn’t as nimble as a roller bag (it does come in a wheeled version), but it still carries well. The adjustable shoulder strap is wide and nicely padded, and the whole thing feels balanced even when you’ve stuffed it full. The interior of the bag is sparse, but Thule includes a handy bonus: two medium-sized stuff sacks that serve as apparel organizers and ski protectors. If you don’t fill them all the way to the brim, one padded end of each sack can slip over your skis’ tips or tails, adding another soft layer of security. Finally, we don’t love the asymmetrical, S-shaped zipper, which makes it a little trickier to access the full interior. Having said that, we’re not apt to complain too much about a ski bag that gets just about everything else right for a reasonable price. For more, read our review of the Thule RoundTrip.
The Fall Line is a spacious roller bag that provides an impressive amount of packing space and features for its price, which lands (at least) $50 short of direct competitors. Its relative lack of structure and lower quality are noticeable, but if you want to save money while still being able to fit everything and the kitchen sink, this bag is a good choice.
The Fall Line is a spacious roller bag that provides an impressive amount of packing space and features for its price, which lands (at least) $50 short of direct competitors. Its relative lack of structure and lower quality are noticeable, but if you want to save money while still being able to fit everything and the kitchen sink, this bag is a good choice.
Organization
Portability
Durability
Protection
Water Resistance
Sustainability
Ski Capacity
2 pairs
Wheels
Yes
Sizes
175 cm, 190 cm
Shell Material
Polyester
Pockets
2 external
Pros
Cons
When we were putting our testing lineup together, we noticed a large price gap between non-wheeled ski bags (around $150) and premium roller models ($270 and up). The Fall Line slides into that gap, and it does so with an approachable blend of size, features, and (relative) affordability compared to the category’s top performers. This roller bag is one of the most spacious we tested, easily swallowing two pairs of skis and a pair of boots (it also comes with a boot bag). As with most models that we like for their ease of packing, the Fall Line’s main compartment opens fully via a lengthy zipper along one side. The design allows you to see and access all of your stuff at once, and this bag does a great job of consolidating most of your ski gear into a single piece of luggage.
Unfortunately, the Fall Line comes with tradeoffs that are more in line with its middle-of-the-road price. Its structure is much less rigid than other roller bags we tested, and when fully loaded, it can feel floppy whether you’re wheeling or carrying it. Our tester also reported that the bag’s handles are sparse and a bit awkwardly situated; the Fall Line also lacks external compression straps, which can help tighten down a load and also be used for handling. Additionally, its polyester exterior is serviceable but thinner than the toughest bags in the category. But circling back to value, the Fall Line provides room for almost all the gear you’ll need on a ski trip and a roller platform that, while far from perfect, will get you from one airport terminal to the other. For more, read our Dakine Fall Line Roller review.
Unique among the ski luggage we’ve tested, the Series 2 is a hard-sided carrier. Its thick plastic shell earns it top marks for durability, protection, and water resistance, but it requires you to make some compromises on user-friendliness and packing space compared to soft-sided bags.
Unique among the ski luggage we’ve tested, the Series 2 is a hard-sided carrier. Its thick plastic shell earns it top marks for durability, protection, and water resistance, but it requires you to make some compromises on user-friendliness and packing space compared to soft-sided bags.
Organization
Portability
Durability
Protection
Water Resistance
Sustainability
Ski Capacity
2 frontside pairs (1 pair of wide skis)
Wheels
Yes
Sizes
Adjustable up to 212 cm
Shell Material
High-density polyethylene
Pockets
None
Pros
Cons
Protecting your skis during transport is, ultimately, the main goal of any ski bag, and that’s why we regard the Series 2 so highly. Unlike the soft-sided models we tested, which are made from thick polyester or nylon, this hard-sided carrier is constructed entirely from high-density polyethylene, or HDPE. That build grants the Series 2 an unbeatable edge over the soft-sided competition when it comes to defense against impacts, durability, and water resistance—in short, this is by far the burliest and safest piece of ski luggage we tested.
Before you scramble to put the Series 2 into your virtual cart, though, you should know that its ultra-tough design comes at the cost of the convenience that soft-sided bags offer. You load the single pair of skis and poles it holds by first placing them into the bottom half of the tube and then sliding the top half over it; this makes adding in additional layers or small pieces of gear significantly more difficult than with suitcase-style carriers (and don’t even think about trying to access those items during transit). Plus, the Series 2 lacks any and all pockets or additional compartments, and (perhaps obviously) it doesn’t have room for boots.
The Series 2’s rigidity helps with wheeling it around—it doesn’t suffer from sagging as some soft-sided bags do—and its small wheels are thick enough to smoothly traverse most surfaces. But our tester wasn’t a huge fan of the carrier’s handle layout, which consists of molded plastic grab points and a frustratingly noodly pull handle that you can attach at different points. The Series 2 is far from annoying to wheel or carry, though, and besides, that’s not really the point—you buy this carrier to make absolutely sure your skis don’t get damaged, and by that metric, it’s pretty much unbeatable. To learn more, check out our Sportube Series 2 review.
The Powderbound’s best attribute is its rock-bottom price, which will work for anybody who needs a basic ski carrier for local trips and very occasional air travel. Its performance also lands near the bottom of the heap, and this bag doesn’t offer much comfort, protection, or water resistance.
The Powderbound’s best attribute is its rock-bottom price, which will work for anybody who needs a basic ski carrier for local trips and very occasional air travel. Its performance also lands near the bottom of the heap, and this bag doesn’t offer much comfort, protection, or water resistance.
Organization
Portability
Durability
Protection
Water Resistance
Sustainability
Ski Capacity
1 pair
Wheels
No
Sizes
175 cm, 190 cm
Shell Material
600D polyester
Pockets
1 external
Pros
Cons
It’s rare to find worthy ski gear for less than $100, and the Powderbound is an interesting case study into that thinking. On the one hand, it technically does what it’s designed to do: Provide users with a place to store their skis during travel so that they’re not just rolling around a truck bed or a baggage hold, as well as a method for carrying your planks when you’re dealing with other luggage as well. Plus, its nearly full-length zipper makes loading a single pair of skis into it a simple task, and our tester complimented the white interior lining for allowing him to easily pick out individual pieces of gear.
Past that, though, it’s perhaps best to think of the Powderbound as more of a ski sleeve than a full-fledged ski bag. Its padding is so thin as to be perfunctory, and despite its 600-denier polyester material, the bag is easily the least-substantial model we tested. It’s also a pain to carry: The shoulder strap makes the bag both unwieldy (it swings side to side heavily) and less accessible, as it blocks the middle of the zipper that accesses the main compartment. Our tester also dismissed the briefcase carry handles as long and awkward. All in all, the PowderBound is best suited to single-day car trips rather than weeklong ski excursions that involve lots of airline travel. To learn more, check out our review of REI Co-op Powderbound.
The Cottonwoods’ calling card is its durability, which lands on the high end for a soft-sided bag thanks to thick, premium materials and well-built hardware. Its roll-top design makes it a bit of a chore to pack, though, and there are more spacious and user-friendly options in its price range.
The Cottonwoods’ calling card is its durability, which lands on the high end for a soft-sided bag thanks to thick, premium materials and well-built hardware. Its roll-top design makes it a bit of a chore to pack, though, and there are more spacious and user-friendly options in its price range.
Organization
Portability
Durability
Protection
Water Resistance
Sustainability
Ski Capacity
2 pairs of skis or 2 snowboards
Wheels
Yes
Sizes
195 cm (adjustable)
Shell Material
840D polyester
Pockets
2 internal, 1 external
Pros
Cons
Despite the supple, silky thoughts that its name might conjure, the Cottonwoods is one of the burliest soft-sided ski bags you can buy. Its 840-denier polyester shell was the thickest main material we tested, and it grants the Cottonwoods a rugged, abrasion-resistant exterior that should be able to shrug off the effects of being yanked from baggage carousels, dragged across pavement, and crammed into transfer vans. Its zippers are substantial, and its tarp liner is stitched into the bag instead of floating. Along with the more expensive Patagonia Snow Roller and The North Face Base Camp, it stands out as a soft-sided carrier that will last you for years.
Add in oversized, smooth-rolling wheels that easily handle multiple surfaces, and you have a ski bag that’s better built than its medium-high price tag might suggest. What prevents the Cottonwoods from achieving top-tier status in our rankings, though, is its ease of packing (or lack thereof). Unlike most competitors, this bag doesn’t open fully along one side. Instead, its adjustable roll-top design—it expands to fit skis up to 195 centimeters, or contracts for smaller skis or boards—requires you to slide your skis in from the top or wiggle them into a center opening. This also makes efficiently filling the Cottonwoods trickier than we’d like, although its three pockets, compression straps, and built-in divider are all welcome.
While this bag fits two pairs of skis, it doesn’t leave room for boots (Backcountry instead offers a separate Cottonwoods Boot Bag). We also found the Cottonwoods’ padding to be a bit thin for a bag that clearly prioritizes durability and build quality. But its thick exterior makes for good water resistance despite the lack of a coating or DWR, and it clearly has a long list of the benefits you’d want out of a ski bag. If you can get past the annoyance of packing it without a suitcase-style opening, the Cottonwoods will serve you well. For more, read our Backcountry Cottonwoods review.
The Base Camp is the most expensive ski bag we’ve tested so far, but unfortunately, it doesn’t quite earn its price tag. Durable materials and a high degree of portability are pluses, but its adjustable length makes it annoying to pack, and it doesn’t have a ton of usable space despite its bulk.
The Base Camp is the most expensive ski bag we’ve tested so far, but unfortunately, it doesn’t quite earn its price tag. Durable materials and a high degree of portability are pluses, but its adjustable length makes it annoying to pack, and it doesn’t have a ton of usable space despite its bulk.
Organization
Portability
Durability
Protection
Water Resistance
Sustainability
Ski Capacity
2 pairs, or 1 pair of skis & 1 snowboard
Wheels
Yes
Sizes
195 cm (adjustable)
Shell Material
600D, TPU-covered polyester; 840D nylon
Pockets
1 internal
Pros
Cons
While we, of course, place a high level of importance on testing performance when evaluating gear, price is also a major factor in determining our final verdict. In this case, cost is why the Base Camp has landed a midpack finish. Put simply, the design doesn’t quite justify the outlay—this is a good soft-sided roller bag, to be sure, but you can get better ones without spending nearly as much.
If you do decide to open your wallet wide for the Base Camp, though, you’ll still be getting a bag that performed well across a number of metrics. It’s undeniably rugged, with a main exterior fabric that’s 600-denier, TPU-covered polyester, and reinforcements that are 840-denier nylon. Dragging, stacking, and storing won’t phase this bag, and when you need to hurry to catch a flight, the Base Camp has some of the best wheels in the business. They’re smooth, feature plenty of reinforcement, and the exterior of the bag is dotted with compression straps, handles, and daisy chains that all add functionality.
However, the Base Camp falls into the dreaded “not that easy to pack” category. It lacks a full-length zipper that accesses the main compartment, and you’ll have to slide your skis in tip-first and dig for additional contents. The adjustable length, which relies on a smart strap-and-D-ring system rather than a roll-top, is nice for versatility, but we’d honestly rather have the additional ease of access and space afforded by a suitcase-style bag. Plus, with both a level of water resistance (not fantastic) and volume (slimmer than expected, and no room for boots) that left us wanting more, you can see why the Base Camp’s cost is a bit of a bummer. This isn't a bad ski bag by any means, but it is an overpriced one. For more, check out our review of the The North Face Base Camp Snow Roller.
Compare Ski Bags
You may not think of Patagonia as a ski luggage brand, but it nailed the design of the Snow Roller. This is the highest-scoring bag we’ve tested, boasting an excellent blend of accessibility, protection, and water resistance in a build that’s refreshingly easy to wheel around.
Organization
Portability
Durability
Protection
Water Resistance
Sustainability
This mega-spacious roller bag was one of the easiest models to pack in the test, and its storage layout is both expansive and thoughtful. The Deluxe Roller’s wheels are good, if not great, and its durability and waterproofing are similarly unimpressive, but its sheer size should win it a lot of fans—especially those with full ski quivers.
Organization
Portability
Durability
Protection
Water Resistance
Sustainability
This version of the RoundTrip lacks wheels, but that doesn’t stop it from earning a place as one of our favorite ski bags. With a dialed strap and handle design, commendable construction quality, and some thoughtful features, it’s a sub-$200 steal. Some skiers may not love its quirky zipper design, though.
Organization
Portability
Durability
Protection
Water Resistance
Sustainability
Our Ratings Explained
We assign each ski bag five component scores covering a range of attributes, but looking at a model’s overall rating is the easiest way to suss out how well it performs in the field. A high score indicates a bag that provides ample storage, is easy to transport, durable enough to stand up to the rigors of travel, protects your gear, and has an adequate amount of water resistance. We also take price into account when assigning overall scores, and will discuss the merit of a bag’s relative value within individual reviews.
Choosing a ski bag with a high overall score is a good strategy if you want to streamline your travel experience while keeping your gear protected. However, some models possess standout features (lots of packing space, perhaps, or an especially durable construction) and are worth consideration even if they have lower overall scores than the competition. We point out those strengths in the individual bag reviews.
Many people buy a ski bag so they can simplify their luggage loadout on a ski trip, and this score indicates how many skis and how much gear a given model can hold, as well as how well it organizes everything. Bags with spacious interiors that can handle two pairs of skis (and perhaps even a pair of boots) do well in this metric, as do ones that have zippered compartments—either interior, exterior, or both—for holding smaller items. This score is also affected by how easy it is to load and take out your skis, with bags that boast full-length zippers and unfettered access preferred to ones with semi-closed designs. Bonus features like removable boot bags or stuff sacks will also boost a model’s score.
These bags can fit two pairs of skis, perhaps a pair of boots, and either have lots of compartments or one or two smartly designed pockets. Access to the main compartment is straightforward, and these carriers efficiently hold most of what you need for your ski trip.
It’s possible that these bags can fit two pairs of skis, but it’s more likely they can only hold one. You won’t be able to stash a pair of boots in them. Any pockets they might have aren’t as functional as the ones on higher-scoring carriers, and they’re more difficult to pack efficiently.
Carriers that can only hold one pair of skis and barely anything else. They either lack pockets completely or the compartments they do possess are poorly designed. Access is frustrating.
It’s all fine and good that you’ve wrangled your skis and gear into a bag, but how easy or difficult it is to roll or carry said bag around will go a long way toward deciding your experience with it. Having a ski bag that’s easy to get from point A to point B can make for a carefree travel experience; a carrier that’s a royal pain to move efficiently with can turn a normal day on the go into an aggravating one.
When determining scores in this category, we look at whether a bag has wheels (roller bags usually rate higher), how secure and how well-placed its grab handles are, and how its structure affects its shape when you lift or roll it. Smooth-rolling models with lots of handy straps do well, but there's plenty of variance within roller bags, and you shouldn’t automatically discount carriers without wheels.
High scores are usually reserved for roller bags with wheels that roll smoothly over almost all surfaces. These bags also have plentiful handles and straps that are located in all the right places, and their structure stays rigid to promote easy transport. Some exceptionally comfortable non-roller bags with excellent shoulder straps might sneak in here.
This range might also contain roller bags, but ones that have wheels that don’t offer as good a ride. Structure is often lacking some backbone with these carriers, and they might not have enough handles, or perhaps ones with less ergonomic designs.
These bags lack wheels, and whatever straps and handles they have are not functional enough to make carrying them pleasant.
Ski bags are luggage, and, as you probably know, luggage does not get treated gently. Having a bag that can withstand being tossed, dragged, and dropped is vastly preferable to one that will rip or bust open when it’s subjected to wear and tear. Bags that feature thick, tough materials as well as well-built designs (stitching, zippers, wheels, etc.) are the stars in this category, with hard-sided plastic carriers at the top of the heap.
We should note, however, that the most durable ski bags are usually ones that cost the most—if you want to save money or don’t travel much, you can probably get away with a less expensive model. Just don’t expect it to hold up well if you push it past its limits.
Bags that are either hard-sided carriers or are soft-sided models with both high-denier exterior fabrics (600D and up) and burly hardware. Their construction quality ranges from very good to excellent; nothing feels cheap, and they’ll last many trips and ski seasons.
These models can withstand most travel without issue, but their builds aren’t as beefy, and their craftsmanship is of lower quality than the bags above. They probably won’t fail immediately, but you might have to break out the duct tape after a few trips.
Inexpensive, soft-sided bags that feature thin materials, poor construction, and are prone to tears. Not recommended for air travel.
We’re big fans of the saying “tools, not jewels” when it comes to gear, but that doesn’t mean it’s okay for your skis to take damage before you even get on the slopes. This category assesses the ability of a ski bag to insulate its contents from the rough handling that a lot of luggage is subjected to. As with durability, thick exterior materials are a good start, and structure also plays a large role in keeping bag ends and sidewalls from collapsing in on your gear.
Padding is also an extremely useful feature, but, as with durability, soft-sided bags can only go so far; if you want complete peace of mind when it comes to protection, a hard-sided carrier is the best bet. Reliable straps on the inside of the bag that hold your skis in place are also a big plus, as they prevent ski edges and bindings from clanking against other skis and gear.
Hard-sided carriers come out on top here, but there are plenty of soft-sided bags in this category that feature an effective combination of padding, thick exteriors, secure interior straps, and stiffened structures that do a great job of insulating your skis and gear from drops and bumps.
These bags might contain some padding, but it’s thinner than the cushioning found in higher-scoring competitors. Likewise, their exteriors offer thinner barriers against the outside world, and their ski straps might not be as secure.
Models that offer no padding, have thin materials, and are barely more than a fabric sheath for your skis. Your gear might not make it through your travels unharmed.
This might not seem like the first quality you’d look for in a ski bag, but nobody wants wet gear, or a wet trunk, or puddles on the floor of your hotel room. Once again, hard-sided carriers are the winners, but soft-sided bags can offer pretty good moisture protection as well. To prevent water from soaking through to the inside, some bags have PU or TPU coatings that offer an additional layer of protection against moisture, and others are treated with a DWR. Watertight zippers can help as well.
This category is unique in that we designed a standard test for it. To determine each bag’s water resistance, we left all of the models we tested outside in the rain overnight. We left a towel inside each to determine how wet it got inside, and noted how much water the outer material absorbed. The results of the test are explained in more detail in each individual review.
The top-scoring models are hard-sided plastic carriers that are completely waterproof, but soft-sided carriers with thick materials, PU overlays, and/or DWRs can also do well. A little moisture might get through, but your gear will largely stay dry.
Thinner materials and a lack of overlays or DWRs will allow more water to get into these ski bags. Their contents won’t be soaked, but they will certainly be affected.
These bags are not very protective when it comes to moisture, and their insides will get very wet.
Our sustainability rating for ski bags considers six criteria. At the product level, we’re checking whether recycled and/or Bluesign-approved materials are used and if the DWR coating is PFAS-free. On the brand level, our criteria include whether the company uses responsible manufacturing (one example is an ISO 14001 facility, which is an international standard for environmental management systems), uses recycled or reduced packaging, monitors greenhouse gas emissions (commonly measured by the Higg Index), and publishes an annual impact report. We also consider the degree to which our criteria are met; for example, 10% recycled materials is not the same as 100% recycled materials. Note that not every sustainability effort by a brand or product fits neatly into our categories. In these circumstances, we may increase or decrease a rating based on these factors. You can find details on these factors in the sustainability drop-down under each product above.
These ski bags are among the most sustainable on the market and earn our Better Trail Certified distinction. They often meet most of our sustainability criteria for this category.
These ski bags are a good, middle-of-the-pack option for sustainability. They often meet about half or more of our criteria for this gear category.
These ski bags are the least sustainable and have significant room for improvement. They usually only meet about a quarter or less of our criteria.
Anatomy of a Ski Bag
This is the large storage space that a ski bag is built around, and is any bag’s defining feature. The main compartment is where you’ll store your skis, along with any other gear (poles, apparel, goggles, etc.) that will fit. Some of the most capacious models, such as the Evo Deluxe Roller and the Dakine Fall Line Ski Roller, even have room for a pair of boots at the bottom, along with a removable boot bag to fit that space.
Depending on the size of a bag’s main compartment, you can fit either one or two pairs of skis. Sometimes, you can fit two pairs of skis into models that are technically designed to house one, depending on the width of the skis and the amount of other gear you pack around them. (We were even able to slide a third skinny pair into the Deluxe Roller, the largest bag we’ve tested so far.) And, although the main compartments of ski bags may seem unstructured, that’s often not the case—keep reading to find out more about their organizing elements, such as pockets, dividers, and ski straps.
How you open and close the main compartment is a major component of how easy (or difficult) it is to pack and unpack a ski bag. Our favorite models that offer the most efficient packing access and strategies have suitcase-style designs, in which a zipper runs the full length of the bag on one side. Undoing the zipper removes the bag’s top lid and sets it to the side, granting you unfettered access to the main compartment. The Patagonia Snow Roller, Evo Deluxe Roller, and Dakine Fall Line all have suitcase-style zippers and thus scored highly for their packing simplicity.
Other zipper designs exist, and they’re not as effective if you want to completely fill the space between and around your skis with other gear. The Thule RoundTrip, for example, has an S-shaped zipper, which means one side of the bag is always partially blocked, while the Backcountry Cottonwoods and The North Face Base Camp Snow Roller, which have adjustable lengths, don’t unzip all the way (you have to slide your skis in rather than just lay them down). Finally, smooth, chunky zippers that are easy to slide back and forth—like the one found on the Patagonia Snow Roller—are preferable.
Because the main compartment doesn’t offer ways to separate gear on its own, some skiers like to have pockets to keep track of gloves, hats, socks, and other relatively small items. Many bags thus have pockets that offer organization; the amount, size, location, and quality of these compartments vary widely between models, though.
For example, the Evo Deluxe Roller—one of our favorite bags when it comes to storage—features three large zippered pockets on its exterior that conveniently swallow everything from clothing to touring skins. On the other hand, the comparatively minimalist Patagonia Snow Roller has a single mesh pocket on its interior, on the underside of the lid, that’s good for stashing Voile straps or a multitool. You should also keep in mind that more pockets don’t necessarily mean better storage: The Kulkea Kantaja has four pockets on its interior, but they lack zippers and tend to make the main compartment feel cluttered, rather than organized.
Within the main compartment, you’ll usually find a series of adjustable straps that serve to secure your skis and prevent them from bumping around during transit, perhaps damaging each other or your gear. There are usually one or two pairs at the top of the bag (depending on the number of skis the bag is designed to hold), and the corresponding amount at the bottom; they’ll hold the front ends and tails of your skis, respectively.
To make sure your skis stay put, you can cinch the straps down tight. The best strap designs feature buckles that ensure the hold will remain tight even when the bag gets jostled, but some less expensive ski bags, such as the REI Co-op Powderbound, are fastened with hook-and-loop closures. Not only are these less secure, but they’re also not as durable, and you would do well to provide a decent amount of your own extra padding around your skis if you encounter them.
The main compartment may also contain a designated spot for your ski poles on the underside of the lid or a sidewall, which helps keep them away from your skis’ sharp edges and bulky bindings. Pole storage might take the form of a simple sleeve, like the one found in the Thule RoundTrip, that offers a relatively unstructured space and doesn’t strap the poles down very tightly. Other bags, like the Kulkea Kantaja, offer not a sleeve but a series of elastic loops that do a better job of keeping the poles in place, but offer a bit less protection.
Skis have long, sharp metal edges and chunky bindings, both of which can cause damage to other skis they’re placed up against in the main compartment. To prevent this, some carriers are outfitted with a thin, flexible, lightly padded divider that you can place between your skis, usually where the bindings touch if you’re carrying multiple pairs. Dividers are usually found on bags on the higher end of the category’s price range—the Backcountry Cottonwoods roller is one such model—and are a handy way to keep your planks protected. (Pro tip: If you bring your ski bag to the resort parking lot, you can also use a removable divider as a place to stand while you change in and out of your boots.)
Along with thick exterior fabric, padding is the main way a bag protects your skis and gear from damage. The amount and thickness of padding vary from one bag to the next, with premium models like the Patagonia Snow Roller containing wraparound cushioning that does an excellent job of protecting the bag’s contents. The Evo Deluxe’s full complement of padding isn’t as thick, though, and the Backcountry Cottonwoods lacks padding at the top. Packing soft apparel around your skis can also help protect them, but for true peace of mind, you might want to choose a bag with at least some cushion under its fabric.
You should also pay attention to features like stiffened tops and bottoms and internal reinforcements, which can be made of plastic or metal. (The Patagonia Snow Roller has both of these design traits.) Not only do they add structure that will allow a bag to keep its shape and not collapse on your gear if it’s dropped, but the stiffness they provide actually makes a bag easier to wheel or carry, as it will center the load and feel less unwieldy than a comparatively unstructured model.
A ski bag’s exterior fabric is its first line of defense in keeping your gear safe and sound. All of the bags we’ve tested so far exhibit a decent amount of durability thanks to shell materials with deniers that are much higher than the numbers you’re used to seeing on other outdoor gear like jackets and backpacks. The majority of the bags we’ve used are made of 600-denier polyester, which seems to be the most common fabric type and thickness; even the sub-$100 REI Powderbound is made with it. (Overall thickness and build quality throughout the category covers a wide range, though, with more durable models costing more than triple the Powderbound’s price.)
To improve both durability and water resistance, a ski bag might have a PU or TPU covering; the Patagonia Snow Roller and The North Face Base Camp each fall into that camp. Other durability standouts, like the Backcountry Cottonwoods, have even thicker material—its exterior is built with super-burly, 840-denier polyester, and also features some nylon reinforcements.
All of the bags we just mentioned are soft-sided models, though, and hard-sided carriers are different beasts. They’re constructed with impenetrable plastic shells, like the Sportube Series 2, which is made from high-density polyethylene, or HDPE. Hard-sided carriers usually don’t have as full a feature set as soft-sided bags, and don’t pack away as easily when you’re not using them, but they provide the highest levels of durability, protection, and water resistance you can get in the category.
The lining of a bag’s main compartment won’t see the amount of abuse that the shell material does, but because it’s constantly in contact with your skis, it should still be reasonably durable. The best liners are also water resistant—after all, it’s likely that your skis and other gear will still be wet when placed in the bag—but sometimes achieve that in different ways. Some are made with a thinner version of the bag’s shell fabric, while others rely on material reminiscent of the tarp you’d buy from a hardware store. The latter, like that found in the Dakine Fall Line, feels a bit cheap to us and is more prone to picking up small rips and tears, but it will get the job done.
The majority of the models we’ve reviewed have wheels at the bottom of the bag to make transport easier. It’s common that roller bags are designed to carry two pairs of skis, as that load (plus other gear) would feel quite heavy if you were carrying it over your shoulder. With wheels, you can maneuver the bag through airport terminals and down mountain town streets with relative ease.
Well, that’s the hope, at least. Roller bag wheels come in a variety of thicknesses, diameters, and effectiveness. The most effective designs, like the wheels on the Backcountry Cottonwoods and The North Face Base Camp, are chunky and relatively oversized, allowing them to roll smoothly across an assortment of surfaces. Others, like the ones on the Sportube Series 2, are smaller, which means they might not be as effective on rough pavement or snow.
The capability of a roller bag’s design also depends on the model’s stiffness and structure. A bag that maintains its shape whether it’s packed full or half-empty will be much easier to wheel behind you than one that sags. That’s why models with internal supports, such as the Patagonia Snow Roller, did better during our portability testing than the floppier Dakine Fall Line, which tended to wobble.
Ski bags are long and unwieldy, so the best ones have a variety of handles strategically placed around the bag to help with maneuvering. For roller bags, a handle at the top, at the bottom, and somewhere in the middle are standard issue—or, they should be, at least. We were vexed by the Sportube Series 2’s lack of a bottom handle, which made it harder to pull out from a car trunk or grab quickly from behind. Even non-roller bags should have a grab handle or two along the sides, which facilitates pulling them off of carousels or out of a crowded truck bed.
Handle placement matters, as does handle structure. The middle handle of the Dakine Fall Line, for example, is situated a bit awkwardly in the center of the bag; we found ourselves wishing that it was closer to the three-quarter mark, which would make wheeling the Fall Line around a bit easier if you weren’t grabbing it from the top. And the grab handle of the Series 2, which you can position at multiple points on the carrier’s molded plastic exterior, was too long and floppy for our liking. That’s in contrast to the handles on bags like the Evo Deluxe Snow Roller, which are appealingly stiff and substantial.
Non-roller ski bags usually come with shoulder straps, as you might find on a duffel bag. Ideally, these straps are long, wide, and padded, which helps make for a relatively comfortable carry even when the bag is full. Our favorite ski bag without wheels, the Thule RoundTrip, has such a strap, while the REI Co-op Powderbound’s shoulder strap is less effective and causes the bag to swing side to side when you’re carrying it. (Another non-roller bag we tested, the Kulkea Kantaja, doesn’t have a dedicated shoulder strap at all, which is a major drawback and one of the reasons we rated its portability so poorly.)
In addition to the internal straps that cinch down your skis, some of the most full-featured ski bags are built with external compression straps that snug the bag’s entire load down even tighter. In roller bags especially, this can help center the bulk and make it easier to wheel them around; the Backcountry Cottonwoods and the Evo Deluxe Snow Roller are both models with effective compression straps.
You can also use these straps as additional grab handles, which is a nice portability bonus. Getting your hands on both sets of compression straps and lifting up towards your chest is an effective way to lift a fully laden bag up from the ground into a vehicle instead of dragging part of it on the ground, as you would if you were just grabbing it from one end.
Your Questions Answered
The answer to this question is a two-parter and deals with both ski length as well as the number of skis you want to travel with. In terms of the former, you should choose a bag that’s long enough to fit your skis. Many ski bags are sold in two or three lengths (for example, the Dakine Fall Line is available in 190 cm and 175 cm), so pick the one that’s closest to your skis. Make sure the bag is long enough; some models might not fit super-long skis, such as the Patagonia Snow Roller, which measures 185 centimeters. (Also note the maximum length of adjustable bags like The North Face Base Camp and the Backcountry Cottonwoods, both of which max out at 195 cm.)
Now that you know the length of the bag you need, you should determine how many skis you’re typically going to carry. If you have only one pair, getting a slim ski bag designed for one set of skis will work and reduce excess bulk. However, if you want to take two pairs of skis—for two people, perhaps, or if you want multiple ski widths to deal with a variety of snow conditions—opting for a wider ski bag is necessary. Depending on the width of your skis, you might be able to get away with stashing two pairs of narrow skis in what is ostensibly a one-ski bag (this is especially true of skinny Nordic skis), while even a two-pair bag might struggle to fit two super-fat powder skis.
Wheels make traveling with a heavy ski bag much more convenient, especially if you’re covering long distances. Roller bags are thus great for skiers who do a lot of air travel, as carrying your skis over your shoulder as you traverse airports and make your way from hotel to taxi can get exhausting. Likewise, it’s recommended that you choose a bag with wheels if you frequently take two pairs of skis with you, as the sheer weight of that load isn’t ideal for toting over your shoulder. (It’s pretty rare to see non-wheeled ski bags that are designed to carry two pairs of skis.)
On the other hand, if you only have one pair of skis, pack light, or travel mostly by car, a regular ski bag probably won’t be too cumbersome. Roller bags are also much more expensive (the cheapest wheeled model we’ve tested so far, the Dakine Fall Line, costs $222), so opting for a non-wheeled one can save you a bunch of money.
Many of the larger two-ski bags we’ve tested, such as the Evo Deluxe Roller and the Backcountry Cottonwoods, can also fit two snowboards. If you’re a single-plank rider, bags like those are perfectly serviceable, although you’ll probably want to opt for the shorter version so the top of the bag isn’t too floppy. Most single-ski bags will be too narrow for a snowboard, though, so check fit first before you buy.
Additionally, many of the brands we’ve reviewed also make dedicated snowboard bags, which would be an even better solution. The Evo Roller Snowboard Bag, Kulkea Jyrkka, and Dakine Low Roller are all purpose-built for the knuckle-dragger lifestyle, and allow you to not worry about getting a ski bag that’s too long.
If you want a bag that folds away neatly when it’s not in use, the most compact models are non-roller models, which don’t have bulky wheels or the stiff reinforcements they require at the ends of the bag. However, even roller bags fold in on themselves and can usually be stashed away in a decent-sized closet, especially if you wedge them against or below something that will press the bag’s upper portion against the wheeled end.
When it comes to pure packing space, the largest bags we tested were the Evo Deluxe Roller, the Dakine Fall Line, and The North Face Base Camp, with the first two being true standouts that can fit two pairs of wide skis and a pair of ski boots at the bottom. (We even managed to fit a third pair of narrow skis in the Deluxe.) If you want to cram as much of your gear and apparel as possible into one piece of luggage, these bags are the way to go.
Be aware, though, that stuffing a large ski bag to the brim might put you over airline luggage weight limits. Even if you’re checking a ski bag as specialized athletic equipment, that weight limit is usually 50 pounds. Two pairs of skis and a pair of boots will bring you close to that number pretty quickly, so cramming a ski bag with everything and the kitchen sink might require you to repack once you're at the airport, which nobody wants to do.
As we just mentioned, some of the larger ski bags we tested, like the Evo Deluxe Roller and the Dakine Fall Line, have dedicated space inside for a pair of boots. (Those models also come with simple, removable boot bags.) You also might be able to fit boots into a smaller two-ski bag if you only bring one pair of skis—make sure the boots aren’t positioned in such a way that they might get damaged by ski edges or bindings.
An alternative solution is to carry your boots in a separate boot bag designed for the task. Pretty much every brand we tested a ski bag from also makes padded, protective, dedicated boot bags that have handy features like backpack straps and additional compartments. (Bonus: many airlines consider your ski bag and boot bag as one checked item). If you use one of those, you don’t have to worry about cramming your boots up against your skis, and you get some extra storage space to boot (ha, ha).
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