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2007 Dakine Blade | Reviewed On: May 29, 2008
Gear Reviews>>Packs>>Medium>>Dakine BladePRODUCT SUMMARY
By HotChocolate
THE GOOD
1) Perfect size for backcountry skiing day trips. 2) Special fleece lined pocket for goggles on top of the pack. 3) Full back-zip for easy access when skis are attached to the pack. 4) Waist belt pocket for either a small camera or snacks. 5) Plastic pocket for wet skins. 6) Good placement of avy gear. 7) Pack compresses well when it isn’t full so I still can ride lifts with it on my back. 8) Plenty of room in the bottom diagonal ski carry loop for my wide skis. The skis carry well while I hike (ie- they don’t hit my knees or head and they aren’t overly diagonal so I can navigate trees) 9) The waist belt does a good job of taking weight off my shoulders. 10) Lifetime warranty.
THE BAD
1) The top clip for the ski carry is just barely long enough to wrap around my skis. I would make it longer. 2) The pack is heavy (4lbs). I would try to make the pack more lightweight (but not at the
sacrifice of durability) 3) The skin pocket is just a little small. 4) I would make larger zipper pulls.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The Dakine Blade Backpack is a really nice size for backcountry skiing. It has several well thought-out features and looks very stylish. Performance: There is a specific place for everything I need (skis, skins, shovel, probe, emergency kit, food, layers, etc). It is all easily accessible.
By HotChocolate
THE GOOD
1) Perfect size for backcountry skiing day trips. 2) Special fleece lined pocket for goggles on top of the pack. 3) Full back-zip for easy access when skis are attached to the pack. 4) Waist belt pocket for either a small camera or snacks. 5) Plastic pocket for wet skins. 6) Good placement of avy gear. 7) Pack compresses well when it isn’t full so I still can ride lifts with it on my back. 8) Plenty of room in the bottom diagonal ski carry loop for my wide skis. The skis carry well while I hike (ie- they don’t hit my knees or head and they aren’t overly diagonal so I can navigate trees) 9) The waist belt does a good job of taking weight off my shoulders. 10) Lifetime warranty.
THE BAD
1) The top clip for the ski carry is just barely long enough to wrap around my skis. I would make it longer. 2) The pack is heavy (4lbs). I would try to make the pack more lightweight (but not at the
sacrifice of durability) 3) The skin pocket is just a little small. 4) I would make larger zipper pulls.
WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW
The Dakine Blade Backpack is a really nice size for backcountry skiing. It has several well thought-out features and looks very stylish. Performance: There is a specific place for everything I need (skis, skins, shovel, probe, emergency kit, food, layers, etc). It is all easily accessible.
OUR ADVICE
AVG USER ADVICE
Solid
AVG USER ADVICE
n/a
| COMFORT | 4/5, Very comfortable and adjustable. It doesn’t bother me when I ski. |
|---|---|
| STYLE | 5/5, Dakine is pretty much the standard for stylish packs this year. Wearing the Blade backpack makes me slightly cooler than I actually am. They have done a great job of making function-oriented gear that is also fashionable. |
| MITTEN TEST | 4/5, Some of the buckles are hard to clasp |
| DURABILITY | 3/5, Some of the seams are starting to fray |
| CUSTOMER SERVICE | 5/5, If there ever is a problem, I know that Dakine will fix it. |
Gear Reviews>>Packs>>Medium>>Dakine Blade
PRODUCT SPECS
| AVG PRICE | $100.00 |
|---|---|
| VOLUME | 1800 cubic inches [29L] |
| SIZE | 26 x 11 x 7" [66 x 28 x 18 cm] |
| WEIGHT | 4 lbs [1.8 kg] |
| MATERIALS | 420D Nylon and 630D Polyester |
| WAIST-BELT | Lightly padded w/zipper pocket |
| HYDRATION | Insulated Hydro-Sleeve and elastic water bottle side pocket |
| ACCESSIBILITY | Top and Zippered Back Access to Main Compartment |
| STORAGE | 1 Fleece-lined goggle pocket, 1 front pocket, 1 waterproof pocket for skins (in front pocket), 1 elastic water bottle pocket, 1 waterproof fleece lined camera pocket (on waste-belt) |
| SKI CARRY | Yes, Diagonal |
| SNOWBOARD CARRY | Yes, Vertical and Cross |
| ICE AXE CARRY | Quick draw sleeve |
| BEST USE | Backcountry Skiing or Snowboarding |
| WARRANTY | Lifetime |
SIMILAR PRODUCTS
