PRODUCT SUMMARY
By powderjunky

THE GOOD
The Osprey Kode 38 ski pack is LIGHTWEIGHT and COMFORTABLE. It has a great top storage compartment that can fit a helmet and then some. The top storage compartment also has a nice soft pocket for your googles. The other good thing about this pack are the hip pockets on both hips. The two main storage compartments are ample in size.

THE BAD
The Osprey Kode 38 ski pack has a lousy ski carry. The process is not quick to get the skis on and off.

You have to unbuckle the shoulder straps to get in the rear compartment, the lightweight fabric gets cut up on by the skis, and the buckles jam with snow. The hydration holster won't fit a 100 liter bladder. The buckles are too small for use when it is really cold out and you might be wearing gloves.

WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The Osprey Kode 38 ski pack is not a very functional ski pack. The ski carry leaves much to be desired and is way too complicated and takes way too long. Other features on this pack mimic this "good in theory, bad in reality" theme. It could be that I am using the pack wrong, but I used it for a full season last year and still can't get my skis on and off quickly. Maybe I am just stupid, or maybe a backpack shouldn't require a users manual, it ain't rocket surgery.

OUR ADVICE


AVG USER ADVICE

Colin wrote on 11/16/09 at 10:57:24 am pst:

PJ,

A couple of Qs:

1. Was the ski carry "lousy" because it took a bit longer to get the skis on there, or because it actually didn't carry well on your back? Diagonal or a-frame or both for this comment?

2. What's your frame of reference for ski packs? What's better about the other packs you've used? On both of the other packs I use for skiing, you have to unbuckle things to get to the main compartment. BD Frenzy = at least one or two of the four side compression straps must be unbuckled to open the panel access up substantially. Osprey Exposure 50 = top-loader so two buckles for the lid, a top compression strap, and a cinch.

3. Have any photos of damage? How did you notice it occurred? How many days did you put on it?

Thanks.

Their Advice

powderjunky wrote on 11/16/09 at 11:22:04 am pst:

I was primarily using the diagonal ski carry on it, and their are just too many straps to fuddle with, I really like simple diagonal carries, (before this pack i used the dakine poacher) like on dakine packs, where you just put the ski bottoms in one loop and buckle the top loop. However with this pack you have to adjust three buckles for the top loop. Just not my cup of tea. However i have a buddy who loves the a-frame carry on this pack, i just have never been a big fan of a-frames carries because again, i like to be as quick a I can be on transitions. And I have un-coordinated monkey hands.

However, I ALSO didn't like the way the diagonal carry held my skis once they were attached. They generally sagged too far horizontally and made the weight feel uncomfortable.

As for the unbuckling I was mainly referring to the rear entry (where your back rests on the pack) Again with my previous poacher pack, all i had to do was unzip and not unclip anything. As for the regular entry, yeah you pretty much have to unclip on all packs.
I added a photo up in the slideshow to show what I mean.

I added a photo of the damage, from the ski carry, nothing huge, but disappointing if you were to buy a pack and not have it withstand a season worth of skiing.

I probably logged 60-100 days with this pack, pretty much most of last season. I noticed it the other day when I was heading out the door for some skiing.

I think if you prefer a-frames, this pack becomes a little more functional. I am no expert when it comes to backpacks, this is just my experience with this pack, it is definitely not for me, that does not mean it won't work for someone else, and if anyone has anything different to add, please do, because that is what this is all about, sharing information, so we all can make the right decision based on our particular needs.

Colin, let me know if that answers all your questions, hows the snow in your neck of the woods?

Their Advice

Colin wrote on 11/16/09 at 12:34:21 am pst:

Doh, my questions double-submitted.

Thanks for the photos and additional info. It's nice to know what you were comparing it to. The Poacher is a popular pack and I'm familiar with it.

I can see what you mean about the diagonal fiddleness and damage. I tend to a-frame them because I like the weight distribution. I think if I was going to diagonal more, I'd probably add a hypalon patch across the middle. Dunno why more pack manufacturers don't do that. It's not a ton of extra weight. I saw Lou's son added an aftermarket patch to his BD Alias.

Not much snow in NorCal yet, although it's coming this week. I'm still moving slow from a tib-fib fracture in February, with additional surgery coming next month, so I won't be skiing until February-ish anyway. Sucks.

Their Advice

powderjunky wrote on 11/16/09 at 1:08:55 pm pst:

Oh man, sorry to hear about the leg! I agree with you on the extra protection fro ski edges, you would think with a ski pack that would be a no-brainer :). Good luck in surgery!

Their Advice

Freeheelgirl wrote on 11/18/09 at 10:13:59 am pst:

Wow - get well soon, Colin! What kind of surgery do you have coming?

Their Advice

Colin wrote on 11/19/09 at 12:07:55 am pst:

Thanks!

It's a screw removal and tendon repair. When my Hammerheads almost tore my feet off above the ankle at Squaw in February, I had a rod and five screws put in. Not sure if it's the screws or the fracture itself, but one of the tendons is screwed up and when I dorsiflex my ankle, my two big toes curl. So the ortho is going to clean up whatever is hindering the tendon length/flex. I lost health insurance for two months, otherwise I would've been in a couple months ago and would probably be skiing this weekend/ :-(

Their Advice

thierry bordet wrote on 12/02/09 at 02:49:09 am pst:

hi could you post a comparison with the Dakine Poacher?
like pictures one to one and on your back
and a small review of the poacher?
am interested in both backpacks, so that would be really usefull, espeically since you seem to prefer the poacher.
officially the content is the same right? 38l but can you fit the same things in?
things like that would help me thanks

Their Advice

powderjunky wrote on 12/02/09 at 08:52:23 am pst:

Thierry,
I have a new poacher on the way, hopefully it will be here soon, and we will definitely do a side by side comparison.

But while we wait here is a quick breakdown in my opinion:

Poacher:
Great if you like lots of pockets to organize your gear. Great diagonal ski-carry, exterior shovel handle/ice axe carry fits all model lengths. Very durable. Rear entry is really easy. Fits good, but not super ergonomic. All the straps and everything makes sense to me.

You won't like the poacher if you want a really light weight pack, a-frame, and prefer a minimalistic pack.

Kode 38
(Read above for more details)Good if you like aframes, and a better fit on your back. I would consider it a more minimalistic pack at first glance, but actually the Dakine Pack is much more easy to use and get in and out of.

Bad if you hate dealing with pointless straps, and half baked functionality, diagonal carry leaves much to be desired.


Just my opinion, get to a store and try them both out as everyone has different needs and everyone comes in different shapes and sizes. But I know i used the osprey all last year wanting to like it because it was so light weight and fit really good, but just got to frustrated with the rest of the pack.

Their Advice