Pingora's new backcountry backpack

[SLCMunchie]

Hello!

It as been quite some time since I've posted on here, but figured the news I have to share is worth it. I've loved this community and the general stoke level, realness, information, and second hand gear i've bought and sold over the years. Thanks everyone and thanks for keeping this experience in my mind as I embarked on a new career journey over the past few years with my good friend and skiing partner since the 90's.

I humbly present to you my (our) first backcountry ski pack with our new brand Pingora. www.pingora-gear.com

We designed it around two ideas: 1) avalanche gear tool access and 2) simplicity and usability specifically for ski touring/mountaineering.

The added bonus is we source as much as we can from dead and overstock materials so we don't have to create more fabric. This is in part what lead to the colorways for this season. Each season's order will be unique and limited. In some cases we ordered as few as 50 units in a color way.

All the details are on the product pages, but they feature luggage grade zippers on the avy tool pocket, 400D balistic nylon on the tool liner (so your shovel won't wear through), adjustable diagonal and A-frame ski carry, ice axe toggles and built in handle loops (no velcro), google pocket on the 27 liter version, roll top access on the 35 liter version, harness pockets, waist belt pockets and ice screw loops, rear panel access, and a fun new helmet net. The top strap on the diagonal ski carry also loops over the top for rope carry.

Anyway, check it out. Happy to answer any questions and I'd love to hear any feedback positive or negative.

I have special TGR Forum member pricing just send me a note. We're located in Holladay, UT and I'd be happy to show any of you around the pack, local delivery, etc.

Hope to see you out on the snow this winter!

Vivid 27


Vivid 35

[NWFlow]

Wow that 35 looks dope. Crazy how hard it seems to be to find back panel access + top loading+ external shovel pocket

[pcbaumann@gmail.com]

I've been eyeballing the Vivid 35 for a couple weeks now but can't tell how big the avy pocket is -- I've got the allugator shovel which is about 10 inches wide and then maybe about 2.5 inches deep. It barely fits in my Lofoten 30L. Also, I'm curious why you decided to ditch the goggle pocket and go for the roll top on the Vivid. Anyway it looks like a great pack and I'm tempted to give it a try for just a little more space. Thanks!

[rjenz]

Neat looking packs, interested in the 35! Would you say it's a roomy 35/can you overpack it with the rolltop? I kinda prefer 40-45 even for day touring, don't need to spend as much effort on packing efficiently to fit everything in.

[SLCMunchie]

Oh man! Sorry to leave you guys hanging with a few questions.

Avy pocket- we designed it to fit a full size "d" handle shovel like the biggest Voile shovels. Width wise- the pocket is about 11" wide, so again unless you have those full on coated one piece shovels for making booters, you'd be great. We haven't tested all shovels, but we aimed to fit the largest on the market.

Thanks for the stoke and questions!

Thanks for the questions and again reach out for a discount code if you're interested.

Ditching the goggle pocket on the 35 was a tough one. We typically design over simplistically. Going with the roll top we prioritized access over features and unfortunately the goggle pocket was dropped. Personally, I usually stow my goggles inside my helmet and carry my helmet inside the pack when I use my 35. The helmet actually tucks up inside the roll top side with a clip and allows you full access to the main compartment.

If you need the extra space, yes you can overstuff into the top and gain an extra 2-4L so closer to a 40L pack full loaded.

[skiSilent_skiDeep]

Im liking rhe packs, local too. What the torso fit range on the Vivid 35?

[SLCMunchie]

Its a solid "Medium to Large". We're working on our sizing rubric as we speak. Some of the smaller women report its a bit too large and only the longest torsos have reported its too small.

[rjenz]

What's sizing on the waist belt like? Back length sounds good but I'm a beanpole 28 waist, am usually close to bottoming out the adjustment on most bags & some 'Large' bags just don't get tight enough.

[TripleT]

Intrigued…curiosity for some more photos/video of pack functionality tho

[SLCMunchie]

Hey! Waist belt- yeah you might experience the same issue with a 28" waist. I'm a 32 and with just a t-shirt on I have about 5-6" left of adjustability. So, it will be close but I bet it will work. We are adding small and Large frame and wais tbelt sizes next year.

@TripleT - the website is updated with a few more photos. We also have a very embarrassing for me video on youtube https://youtu.be/bf5FUfZfaZM?si=nPZQ4sJePdbRP-Wl. It goes over the 27 but many of the core features are the same. The only difference is the roll top and internal helmet keeper strap.

[TripleT]

Thanks! I'd love to see more detail off the roll top and internal helmet strap. Your photos make it look like there are at least 2 ways to close the roll top. And how does the helmet strap work?

[cravenmorhead]

Just pulled the trigger on the 35 - looks rad

[SLCMunchie]

oh man, i'll try and get some detail photos up. The roll top can strap down on the side, compressing things downward. OR you can just roll and clip onto itself in a circle like the old river rafting dry bags. You can remove the side straps if this is the method you prefer so they aren't dangling around. Internal helmet carry- its really just a strap with a clip that keeps the helmet nestled up into the roll top area. The helmet net is pretty self explanatory but IMHO the best solution out there.

[kamtron]

Would love a pic of someone wearing the 35. Kind of curious if 35 is truly the upper limit or if it can be overstuffed beyond that using the roll top

[TripleT]

^same!

[L8APX]

Just got my 27 and it is well made and thought out. I would say it is the most feature rich pack I have owned at this size and should be just the ticket for hot laps and small walks.

[wilcox510]

Looks like no option for a hydration reservoir and routing for a hose?

[kamtron]

Would love a pic of someone wearing the 35. Kind of curious if 35 is truly the upper limit or if it can be overstuffed beyond that using the roll top

Well I realize my question was answered upthread... Expands to 40 or so

[kamtron]

Gave it a shot and ordered the 35, sweet

[SLCMunchie]

Hey!
Sorry, I don't get to checking this thread often enough.

Thanks for the orders guys! Just saw yours come through Kamtron. I'll get that in the mail here in the next 30 minutes.

Updates for questions: Yes, the 35 expands up to close to 40. We haven't volumed it out yet, but that is what i'd estimate.

Hydration- you are correct, no hose routing. There is an internal sleeve we were going to use as a bivvy pad holder but abandoned it. A super user ended up using that for his reservoir sleeve and just routed the hose out through the zippers initially then ended up cutting a hole in the bag. We are currently developing a hydration system for 2026 versions of this bag.

While we're on the topic of hydration- can I take a quick poll? How often do you use a reservoir and is it a decision maker for a bag? When you do use it, what side do you like to route the hose on and how strongly to you feel about your side of choice?

We're trying to decide whether to make the insulated hose routing work on both sides or to choose one. Also in consideration is how this works with our shoulder strap pockets and whether we ditch them or whether the extra weight is worth providing options for what side of your body you route hoses and keep pockets open on. Hope that makes sense. I personally am not a fan of reservoirs as i usually end up with a frozen hose or bite valve.

[wra]

Don't know if I'm the "super user" but I use the bivvy pad holder as a reservoir sleeve in both the proto packs I have. You've seen and heard my review.
My tube and mouthpiece are insulated with third party additions which don't freeze. CJ said he designed the Gregory pack internal strap sleeve so...he should know how.
My old Dakine packs with internal sleeves don't freeze either. I personally don't care which side the hose runs through.
The strap pockets could easily be modified or replaced with more functional waist pockets or by modifying to eliminate the almost non functional bottle pockets on the straps. Talk about freezing up.
Well over 50 days with occasional summer use.
Still out there and happy to try the packs.

edit to add: I thread the hose through pack openings and have done no hole cutting yet(thinking about it).

[kamtron]

I'm a fan of skimo-style water bottle holders on my shoulder straps these days. Dorky, but very functional. I'm going to see what works with those shoulder strap pockets that are built on here.

I would appreciate a routing hole for a radio mic.

[cravenmorhead]

I've abandoned bladders in favor of bottles.

[teetsplitter]

SLCMunchie, does the 35 or 27 have straps for vertically carrying a snowboard? The colors are pretty fun! Also can I get ahold of the discount code you speak of?

[SLCMunchie]

@wra - you are indeed my super user ! Let's link up later this winter when we get our split board proto's in. Thank you very much, as i've said before for all the testing. You put our gear through endless cycles of use which we just can't replicate. Thank you so very much!

@teetsplitter, we do not have straps for a vertical snowboard. We wanted to keep access to avy tools paramount so we have not included that functionality. If that is something you wanted to do on your own, it is pretty easy to put some extra straps there. We are in the process of developing the same style bag, but with snowboard straps. it will be a 2026 product though. For now you you can certainly split and carry a-frame or diagonal.

honestly, being primarily skiers we didn't understand a use case for carrying snowboard assembled on the front of the pack. NOW we get it- why would you want to assemble your snowboard on the summit, especially if its particularly thin or knife edge. I do think it has presented us an opportunity to develop some other snowboard specific features which we are stoked about.

Discount codes- PM me or you can email me as well. mike@pingora-gear.com. I just didn't want to make it too public.

@kamtron, i'm just getting into radios. i'm used to very small groups, phones, and less spicy lines. Now though with photo shoots and returning to more aggressive lines and locations we're back to radios. help me understand where in the pack you'd want to carry the radio body. Would the top pockets be appropriate or would you just dump it into the main body? Personally we're looking into rockytalkies for this season.

Thanks all! Super awesome feedback, questions, etc. Stoked for snow!