Osprey Soelden 32 Ski Backpack Review
The Osprey Soelden 32 ($190) has earned its reputation as one of the best all-around ski packs on the market. It’s a standout nearly across the board, offering a strong suspension system, versatile organization, and excellent user-friendliness. It’s also one of the best values out there. While we have minor gripes about the main compartment’s backpanel-only access, the Soelden is a well-rounded design that will satisfy the vast majority of backcountry skiers and riders.
Comfort & Support
Organization
Versatility
Durability
Weight
Sustainability
Weight
2 lb. 8 oz.
Capacities
32L (25L, 45L)
Avalanche tool pocket
Yes
Fabric(s)
420D nylon, 420D carbonate-coated nylon bottom
Pros
Cons
Osprey Soelden 32
For this season's top models, see our guide to the Best Ski Backpacks.
We’ve carried the Osprey Soelden 32 on everything from short powder laps on Teton Pass to full-day missions in Grand Teton National Park that warranted ice axes and crampons, and never once regretted choosing it. The metal perimeter frame and hard plastic framesheet provide ample structure, allowing the wearer to load the pack down with bulky layers, water, food, and technical gear without feeling any discomfort. That gives the Soelden a massive advantage over competitors such as the Black Diamond Cirque 35 or Mammut Nirvana 28, which start to sag once you push their limits.
The Osprey Soelden 32’s backpanel also strikes an excellent balance between comfort and stiffness. The dense foam padding isolated our backs from pokey gear, and the foam hipbelt wings and shoulder straps have just enough cushion to stay comfortable without feeling bulky. On steep lines like the Red Sentinel Couloir and the Spoon on Disappointment Peak, the Soelden stayed tight to our testers’ backs and never felt too off-kilter, even when it was fully loaded. (One tester noted that he definitely noticed the feel of a full pack versus the empty Soelden, but that’s still a great deal better than the Nirvana, which another wearer said threw off her balance.) This ski backpack provides the kind of support and feel that turns it into an ally over the course of your ski tour, rather than a piece of equipment you have to fight with.
The Soelden’s intuitive organization is all that most backcountry skiers will need. The main compartment opens via a large backpanel zipper, which makes it easy to reach gear even when your skis are attached A-frame style. Inside the main compartment, there’s a sleeve for a water bottle and a hydration reservoir, a small zippered pocket for odds and ends, and a radio holder. The top pocket is fleece-lined and deep enough to hold goggles and snacks. A single hipbelt pocket fits sunscreen or quick-access calories, though we wouldn’t mind a second one on the other side. (The non-pocket hipbelt wing does have a gear loop, though.)
An avalanche tool pocket sits behind the main compartment and includes sleeves for your probe and shovel, and we’ve never had any trouble fitting multiple versions of each inside. Our one gripe: You have to unclip the dorsal ski carry straps to access the compartment, a design flaw that for some reason is still present in the Soelden’s new version. That might seem minor, but in an emergency, it’s one more step than you want. Competitors like the Raide LF 30L or Ortovox Switchback 32 offer quicker access, and I wish Osprey would follow suit.
In terms of equipment carry options, the Soelden checks all the boxes. It has diagonal and A-frame ski carry, vertical snowboard carry, and a slot for a single ice axe. There’s no dedicated rope strap, which makes sense—it’s not a big-time mountaineering pack, and our testers didn't use it like one. (Both the LF and the Switchback would be better for that, and each has an additional axe holder.) For 90% of backcountry ski days, the Soelden’s layout works perfectly.
Unless you’re gearing up for a ski mountaineering day filled with ropes and rock scrambles, or you just want a small pack to hold your snacks while you spin resort laps, the Osprey Soelden 32 has you covered. It has enough storage space for long touring days, but it’s not so bulky that our testers hesitated to take it for skinning up the local ski hill. We’ve worn it while busting out the 1,600-foot bootpack up Mount Glory on Teton Pass, on low-angle powder days, and on spicy couloir descents, and it’s never felt out of place. There’s enough room for layers, food, and avy safety gear, and testers reported that the carry system was confidence-inspiring when they needed to boot.
At 32 liters and without an expandable roll top, the Soelden isn’t a hut trip pack either (choose the Hyperlite Mountain Gear Headwall 55 for that), but neither are any ski backpacks of this size. If you want top-tier organization for ski mountaineering, the LF or the Switchback might win you over. But for most backcountry skiers—especially those who don’t want to spend more than they need to on a ski backpack—the Soelden delivers everything you need and very little you don’t.
Osprey only made a few changes to the newest version of the Soelden, but they’re welcome ones. The previous iteration’s 210-denier body and 70-denier bottom were subpar for a ski pack, but the new 420-denier nylon build is much more robust than its predecessor—and feels like it, too. One tester has put around 20 (hard) ski days on his upgraded Osprey Soelden so far and reported that the material hasn’t had any blemishes yet. A carbonate coating on the bottom also adds a touch more abrasion and water resistance on the area of the pack likely to see the most abuse and time in the snow. (Our tester also noted that all of the new pack fabrics shed moisture better than the previous Soelden’s materials.)
The pack’s buckles, zippers, straps, and ice axe attachment have also been given a glow up. The zipper pulls now consist of a high-quality paracord-and-plastic-casing design, while the buckles and webbing feel sturdier than before. A new elastic ice axe attachment also gave one tester a boost in confidence—he’d lost not one but two axes from the previous Soelden’s finicky design—but he still discovered some looseness on a recent descent. Besides that, though, this pack’s newfound durability only increases its performance.
At 2 pounds 8 ounces, the Osprey Soelden 32 lands just slightly above average for its capacity in the streamlined day touring category. It’s not a burdensome difference, but you can shave a few ounces with alternatives like the Raide FL 30L (2 lb. 5.4 oz.) or Black Diamond Cirque 35 (2 lb. 6.1 oz.). That said, the weight gap isn’t enough to be a deciding factor for most, and the Soelden’s gains in comfort and durability make the tradeoff feel well justified.
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Longevity
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PFAS-Free DWR
Durable water-repellent (DWR) finishes can contain PFAS (per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances). These highly persistent “forever chemicals” are used in outdoor gear for their strong resistance to water, oil, and heat, but are linked to environmental contamination and a range of health concerns. A green check mark indicates the product uses a PFAS-free DWR, while a red X means the DWR contains PFAS.
Recycled Materials
Recycled materials are prevalent in outdoor gear, with nylon, polyester, wool, and down among the most common, but the composition varies widely. A green check mark indicates the product is made with a substantial amount of recycled materials (100% recycled or the core fabric that makes up most of the product is recycled), a yellow check means it contains a moderate to small amount of recycled materials, while a red X means there are no recycled materials in the product.
Bluesign Approved
Bluesign Technologies, based in Switzerland, operates a third-party textile management system that ensures materials are manufactured to strict environmental, chemical, and worker safety standards. A green check mark indicates a product is either a Bluesign Product (contains at least 90% Bluesign-approved fabrics and 20-30% Bluesign-approved accessories) or features a significant amount of Bluesign-approved materials. A yellow check mark means it uses some Bluesign-approved materials but less than the aforementioned category, and a red X means there are no Bluesign-approved materials in the product.
Responsible Manufacturing
This criterion evaluates a brand’s commitment to fair wages, safe working conditions, and reducing environmental impact through certifications and programs like Fair Trade Certified, Fair Wear Foundation, Worldwide Responsible Accredited Production (WRAP), and the Fair Labor Association, while also recognizing brands that manufacture primarily in the U.S. or Europe under strict labor and environmental regulations. A green check mark indicates a brand meets our responsible manufacturing criteria, while a red X means it does not.
Recycled and/or Reduced Packaging
Packaging can add significant waste to outdoor gear purchases, so many brands work to reduce its impact by using recycled materials, incorporating Forest Stewardship Council-certified paper products, and minimizing plastic and paper use. A green check mark indicates a brand uses recycled or reduced materials across all of its packaging, a yellow check indicates moderate or limited use of recycled or reduced packaging, and a red X indicates the brand does not make either of these efforts.
Repair Services
Repair services extend the lifespan of outdoor gear and reduce overall consumption, though programs vary widely. Some brands offer comprehensive repairs for a range of issues, while others provide limited or no repair support. A green check mark indicates a robust repair program, a yellow check mark indicates limited repair services, and a red X indicates the brand does not offer repair services.
Resale and/or Recycling Services
Resale and recycling programs help keep outdoor gear in circulation longer and out of landfills, ranging from trade-in resale platforms that offer store credit to take-back initiatives that recycle products at the end of their usable life. A green check mark indicates a brand offers both resale and recycling programs, a yellow check mark indicates it offers one or the two, and a red X indicates it offers neither.
Carbon Footprint Tracking
This criterion evaluates whether a brand measures, reports, and works to reduce its greenhouse gas emissions using established frameworks such as the Higg Index, Greenhouse Gas Protocol, or The Change Climate Project. A green check mark indicates a brand publicly reports greenhouse gas emissions data, sets clearly defined reduction targets, and uses established tracking frameworks such as Higg or The Change Climate Project. A yellow check mark indicates the brand tracks emissions and outlines reduction goals but provides limited data, lacks science-based verification, or does not clearly report progress. A red X indicates the brand does not appear to track greenhouse gas emissions or provides so little information that its efforts cannot be verified.
Annual Impact Report
Annual impact reports provide transparency and accountability by outlining a brand’s sustainability efforts across areas such as material sourcing, greenhouse gas emissions, waste, water use, supply chains, and packaging. A green check mark indicates a brand publishes a detailed, brand-specific impact report that closely aligns with our sustainability criteria and leaves little room for ambiguity. A yellow check indicates a brand provides some relevant sustainability reporting but lacks detail in key areas or is covered only briefly within a parent company report. A red X indicates a brand does not regularly publish an impact report.
One of our testers, who’s 5-foot-3 and skinny, initially said that ski backpacks that only come in one size can sometimes feel a bit long on him. However, the Soelden fit him without any issue—his only note was that he sometimes had more hipbelt webbing flapping around than he’d like due to ratcheting it down tight. (Another, much taller tester agreed, and mentioned a plethora of additional flappy straps around the pack.) Besides that, this pack never felt anything less than comfortable.
Like many of Osprey’s ski packs, there’s also a women’s-fit version of the Soelden, known as the Osprey Sopris. That pack is available in the same capacities.
Ortovox Switchback 32 ($240): Pay More, Get More Technical
The Switchback 32 is quite similar to the Soelden in that both packs are versatile, midsize models that will please everyone from casual backcountry powder-chasers to steep couloir enthusiasts. While the Soelden lands slightly on the more laid-back side, the Switchback is designed for days that might involve a scramble and a rappel or two. It has a rope holder up top, dual ice axe carry (the Soelden only has one), and the ability to adjust your diagonal ski carry or stash them parallel to your body without taking your pack off, which is a bonus on steep, consequential slopes. The Switchback also has more pockets, including one for crampons and another on the left shoulder strap. However, the Soelden is $40 cheaper and more durable. Most folks will be perfectly happy sticking with the Soelden. For more, read our review of the Switchback 30 S.
Black Diamond Cirque 35 ($250): Bigger Doesn’t Mean Better
While it’s a larger pack, in practice we found that the Cirque 35 has a lower capacity than the Soelden. That’s due to the Cirque’s lack of anything resembling the Soelden’s wire frame and framesheet combo. Instead, our tester lamented the Cirque’s comparatively floppy build, which forced him to pack carefully, lest his gear poke into his back, and didn’t give him confidence for filling the pack to the top. The Cirque is more minimalist overall, with fewer pockets than the Soelden, although it does have a rope carry on the top and room for two ice axes, if that’s how you roll. With fabric that, while it does have UHMWPE, is fairly thin at 210 denier, the Cirque doesn’t seem like it will be more durable than the redesigned Soelden and its 420-denier material. And then there’s the price: The Soelden is simply a much better deal. For more, read our Cirque 35 review.
The Soelden (women’s Sopris) has held a treasured place in the minds—and gear closets—of backcountry enthusiasts for years. It’s a great fit (both figuratively and literally) for the majority of skiers and riders, and it just received a welcome update. Some small design drawbacks persist, though.
Comfort & Support
Organization
Versatility
Durability
Weight
Sustainability
The Switchback is one of the most well-rounded ski packs we’ve tested. It’s sized just right for run-of-the-mill single-day tours, but it has a feature set that can handle more vertical endeavors. There are a couple of design quirks, though, and some competitors cost less.
Comfort & Support
Organization
Versatility
Durability
Weight
Sustainability
Not every ski pack has to be a pocket-riddled, overbuilt beast. The Cirque 35’s minimalist design will appeal to fans of keeping things simple yet technically proficient, although we found ourselves wishing for more structure and padding from the thin backpanel.
Comfort & Support
Organization
Versatility
Durability
Weight
Sustainability
Is the Soelden 32 for You?
Backcountry skiing takes a lot of thought and planning, and so we appreciate that the Osprey Soelden 32 takes one question mark out of the equation. Unless you’re getting quite techy or staying out overnight, you most likely won’t want another pack, and the improved material that Osprey is building the new version with makes the Soelden even better. (As promised, we’ll report back once we get the updated Soelden on the snow.) You can find flashier or more technical ski backpack models, but few strike this balance of price, polish, and performance.
powder to the people
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