Planning a Ski Trip: The Complete Guide SEE FULL GUIDE prev next Top Ski Resorts in North America U.S. Resorts by Region Destinations in the Northwest Destinations in the Southeast Best Family-Friendly Ski Resorts Romantic Ski Getaways Save Money on Ski Wear Budget Tips for Families U.S. Resorts Where Kids Ski Free Best Ski Clothing Brands Women's Ski Jackets Women's Ski Pants Men's Ski Jackets Snowboard Pants Socks Ski Boots Snowboard Boots Skis Snowboards Ski Poles Helmets Balaclavas Goggles Gloves Boot Bags Planning a Ski Trip: The Complete Guide close Overview Outdoors Winter Sports The 8 Best Ski & Snowboard Boot Bags of 2023, Tested and Reviewed By Nathan Allen Nathan Allen Outdoor Gear Editor University of Missouri-Columbia Lindenwood University Nathan Allen is the Outdoor Gear Editor for TripSavvy. Nathan loves many outdoor activities but makes it a priority to run or bike on singletrack every day. TripSavvy's editorial guidelines Updated on 01/18/23 Share Pin Email We independently research, test, review, and recommend the best products—learn more about our process. If you buy something through our links, we may earn a commission. TripSavvy / Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm Sure, you could Velcro your bootstraps together, hang them over your shoulder, and schlepp from the parking lot to the mountain base with the boots dangling awkwardly the entire way. Or you could get a boot bag that’ll comfortably haul your boots, helmet, goggles, extra layers, and snacks. We recommend the latter. To find the best ski and snowboard boot bags, we sent 17 of the best bags we could find to testers, asking them to huff the bags to their local mountains, onto planes, and into the backcountry. They rated each bag on design, capacity, durability, portability, and overall value. The Rundown Best Overall: Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Boot Bag at Backcountry.com Jump to Review Best Overall, Runner-Up: Dakine Boot Pack DLX 75L at Dakine.com Jump to Review Best Budget: Athalon Everything Boot Bag Ski Snowboard at Amazon Jump to Review Best Budget, Runner-Up: Athletico Ski Boot Bag at Amazon Jump to Review Best Value: Evo Boot Pack at Evo.com Jump to Review Best for Families: Thule RoundTrip Ski & Snowboard Duffel Bag at Amazon Jump to Review Best Organization: Kulkea Boot Trekker at Amazon Jump to Review Best Heated: Kulkea Thermal Trekker at Amazon Jump to Review Table of contents Expand Our Picks Other Bags We Tested Product Selection How We Tested What to Look For FAQ Why Trust TripSavvy Best Overall Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Boot Bag 5 Backcountry View On Backcountry.com What We Like Rugged materials Vents work well to dry out damp boots Fit boots and other ski gear Back section doubles as a mat for putting on boots while outside Comfortable backpack-style carrying What We Don't Like Nothing yet We love when a product is so good, it provides features we didn’t even think of wanting or needing. That’s what you get with Backcountry’s Ski & Snowboard Boot Bag, a must-have item on your backcountry skiing gear list. This airplane-focused bag features eyelets for venting damp boots, pockets galore for boosted organization, and the ability to open flat as a parking lot changing mat. Our tester appreciated the rugged PVC face fabric and nylon lining, which is abrasion-resistant and won’t absorb moisture like melting snow. We had no problem fitting both 25.5 and 33-sized ski boots with ski pants, a parka, gloves, three sets of ski goggles, two neck gaiters, a helmet, two water bottles, and a Tupperware lunch box. Our tester also appreciated the U-shaped opening to pack and unpack her gear. “This is a seriously impressive bag for capacity,” our tester said. “There are the perfect amount of pockets.” This backpack-style pack also had the right amount of weight distribution and cushioning—even with up to 40 pounds of gear, she reported it being comfortable to carry. There are certainly less (and more) expensive options out there. If you’re not wanting to spend close to $150 on a ski boot bag, check out the budget picks, or even our runner-up from Dakine below. They’ll get the job done. But if a smart, high-quality bag that should last years is what you’re after, we don’t think you’ll find a better overall boot bag than Backcountry’s. Price at time of publication: $139 Volume: 38 liters | Material: 100 percent PVC (face fabric), 100 percent nylon (lining) | Dimensions: 13 x 24 x 8 inches TripSavvy / Anna Popp Best Overall, Runner-Up Dakine Boot Pack DLX 75L 5 Dakine View On Dakine.com What We Like Separate pockets for boots, helmet, and gloves Very large capacity Carry-on compatible for some airlines (we took it on a plane) Comfortable to carry backpack-style Recycled and bluesign-certified materials What We Don't Like No vents Dakine’s Boot Pack DLX 75L did everything we asked of it during our tests—we packed it full with boots and all the other necessities, it has multiple compartments and pockets for organization, and its padded and comfortable for securely and comfortably transporting your gear. First, let’s talk organization. At 75 liters, this bag is huge. Our tester had no problem stuffing her boots, helmet, gloves, water bottle, goggles, extra layers, and snacks for herself, husband, and brother-in-law. We appreciate not only the bag’s capacity, but organizational features like separate compartments for your helmet and goggles, with four other zippered side, front, and back pockets. All of this and our tester still reported it being super comfortable and easy to carry through the airport, including a lengthy security line. “It was super easy to carry through the airport and there is a little spot on the back to put your name and contact details in case the bag gets lost,” our tester reported. We would like to see vents to help drain and release melting snow and other moisture, but our tester said the recycled ripstop polyester was easy to wipe down. And while this bag also doesn’t have the changing mat like the Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Boot Bag, it does utilize recycled and bluesign-certified materials, which we like. Price at time of publication: $125 Volume: 75 liters | Material: 600D Recycled Polyester ripstop with water-repellent finish, bluesign approved materials | Dimensions: 24 x 17 x 14 inches TripSavvy / Kait Clark Best Budget Athalon Everything Boot Bag Ski Snowboard 5 Amazon View On Amazon View On Sierra.com What We Like Good capacity and organization Specific boot compartment keeps the boots away from other gear Lots of color options Draining vents What We Don't Like Somewhat bulky and cumbersome to walk around with If you’re looking for a more budget-friendly bag, we like this one from Athalon, which features many of the same features as the Dakine and Backcountry bags above. Athalon’s bag boasts 58 liters of space, which our tester found adequate for ski boots, helmet, gloves, goggles, two pairs of socks, two sets of base layers, and a baclava. She also utilized side pockets for toe and hand warmers and a phone charger. We like the organizational structure of this bag, which places each boot in separate compartments on the side and leaves the main middle compartment open for the rest of your ski gear. Draining vents at the bottom are appreciated, as are the stowable shoulder straps. Our tester did report this bag is cumbersome to carry and probably not as comfortable as the Dakine and Backcountry bags. But for a budget option, the Athalon will certainly get your boots and other gear from point A to B. Price at time of publication: $70 Volume: 58 liters | Material: 100 percent Polyester | Dimensions: 17 x 15 x 14 inches Best Budget, Runner-Up Athletico Ski Boot Bag 4.9 Amazon View On Amazon What We Like Drainage vents and grommets Side boot compartments Front grab handle What We Don't Like Materials didn’t seem as durable as other options we tested If you’re just getting into skiing, or looking for a budget option, we also like the Athletico Ski Boot Bag. Similar to the Athalon above, this bag has side compartments for your boots and a main compartment for everything else like a helmet, gloves, extra layers, and snacks. We also like the drainage vents and grommets, and the front grab handle. Another bonus this bag has that the Athalon does not is a sternum strap to help evenly distribute the weight. Our tester was a bit concerned about the potential durability of the bag. While they haven’t had issues yet, they think it could be a bit more susceptible to wear and tear that comes with lugging around heavy boots. “This is a great, no-frills boot bag for the novice to intermediate level skier,” our tester concluded. “It's compact when empty, features two compartments (one for each boot), and has a backpack option that makes it incredibly easy to carry not only boots, but hats, gloves, ski helmets, goggles, and other gear you might need.” Price at time of publication: $50 Volume: Not listed | Material: 100 percent Polyester | Dimensions: 18 x 15 x 15 inches TripSavvy / Grace Kelly Best Value Evo Boot Pack 4.8 Evo View On Evo.com What We Like Bomber ripstop materials Changing mat Packs everything besides skis and poles Comfortable to carry and multiple handles around the bag What We Don't Like No drainage vents or grommets We love Evo’s Boot Pack. Like, a lot. First, it features some seriously rugged 900D ripstop polyester with a TPU coating. At 40 liters, our tester found there was plenty of space to pack everything he needed for a day in the backcountry besides his poles and skis. And we dig how many grab handles the bag has and how comfortable it is to carry—our tester carried it with ease a mile into the backcountry and also carried it on an airplane. Our one nitpick with this bag, which is similar to others like it, is we’d like to see some sort of venting. As our tester noted, it takes one forgetful moment to leave boots or other damp gear in the bag to get it smelly and dank. Multiple pockets boost organization, and at about half the cost of our best overall picks with similar performance and features, this bag is a super attractive option. Price at time of publication: $65 Volume: 40 liters | Material: 900D Ripstop Polyester with TPU Lamination Bottom Reinforced with 600D Ballistic Material | Dimensions: 20 x 13 x 13 inches TripSavvy / Kait Clark Best for Families Thule RoundTrip Ski & Snowboard Duffel Bag 5 Thule View On Amazon View On REI View On Thule.com What We Like Massive size Drainage grommets and padded lining that’s easy to clean Shoulder strap and handles Could be used as a gear bag for other items outside of skiing and snowboarding What We Don't Like Probably overkill for one person Looking for one bag for the entire family? We love Thule’s RoundTrip 90L (the bag also comes in a 60-liter version). With 90 liters of space, our tester had no problems fitting her boots and both of her kids’ boots into the bag with some extra items like a backup jacket, two pairs of snow pants, a bag of socks and neck gaiters, and her helmet and goggles. She appreciated the wide three-quarter zip, which made it easy to load and unload the 600D polyester bag. That main opening can also double as a changing mat. This bag also features drainage grommets and was easy to wipe clean. The bag has multiple grab handles and features a soft-lined pocket for fragile items like cell phones, sunglasses, or credit cards. Bonus: This bag connects with Thule’s RoundTrip ski or snowboard bags, making it a convenient setup if you purchase the entire package. “The picture, even with the gear in it, doesn't convey just how roomy it is,” our tester reported. “It's a great gear bag that could be used for ice skates and other winter sports equipment, too.” Price at time of publication: $170 Volume: 90 liters (also available in 60L version) | Material: 600D Polyester | Dimensions: 28 x 15 x 17 inches Tripsavvy / Frances Crouter Best Organization Kulkea Boot Trekker 5 Amazon View On Amazon What We Like Lots of ventilation Side pockets for boots and multiple pockets Super comfortable shoulder and sternum straps What We Don't Like We’d like to see the boot compartments have a larger zip For those organization-obsessed skiers and riders, we recommend the KULKEA Boot Trekker. This boot bag has pockets galore for boosted organization and excellent separation of space. “There are pockets upon pockets upon pockets on this bag,” our tester reported. “I like that you could store your layers separate from your boots separate from your ski gloves separate from your snacks—it makes it easier to find exactly what you need.” The compartments include two glove pockets, two wide-mouthed front pockets, a top pocket for face masks and hats, two sock pockets, a front compartment for snacks and drinks, and an extra-large top-loading main compartment for your clothes. Besides the excellent organization, we also like that this bag not only has drainage vents and grommets, but also a mesh opening with a Velcro closure, so you can air out your boots in multiple ways. The bag also features comfy shoulder and sternum straps. Our tester did note that the zipper for the boot pockets only opens halfway, making it tougher to finagle the boots in and out of the bag. We’d like to see the zipper extend three-quarters of the way. Price at time of publication: $180 Volume: 69 liters (also available in 60L version) | Material: Polyester | Dimensions: 18 x 14.5 x 18 inches TripSavvy / Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm Best Heated Kulkea Thermal Trekker 4.9 Amazon View On Amazon What We Like Comfy backpack-style carry Two-year warranty Holds all of the ski necessities What We Don't Like No venting Cold digits can make a fun day on the slopes miserable. And if you struggle with cold toes and feet, we suggest warming your boots before wearing them. Enter the KULKEA Thermal Trekker boot bag. This bag features three heating settings and claims to reach temperatures of 140 degrees F. We love that the thermal conduction heating system warms each pocket, meaning not only will you have warm boots, but you can also have warm gloves, socks, base layers, or whatever else you want to stick in the main compartment (cookies?). “This bag holds a ton of gear, with the helmet fitting in a sling on the outside of the pack,” our tester said. “It fit extra gloves, snow pants, base layers, and goggles.” While there’s no ventilation, the heating component should help with drying damp boots and socks, and the instructions recommend leaving the pockets slightly open. Yes, this is the most expensive bag on our list. But if getting cold is an issue for you, it’s probably worth the investment. Price at time of publication: $280 Volume: 62 liters | Material: Nylon | Dimensions: 18 x 14.5 x 20 inches TripSavvy / Frances Crouter Other Ski and Snowboard Boot Bags We Tested Dakine Boot Locker 69L: There’s a lot to like about this bag that has hundreds of five-star ratings on Amazon. Our testers enjoyed this minimalist, zero-frills bag, but we ultimately decided to feature bags with multiple ways of carrying (this bag just has handles). Dakine Boot Pack 50L: You really can’t go wrong with a Dakine bag, and this bag is also solid. Our tester ended up docking it because the bag does not have separate side pockets. But if you don’t mind one large pocket, this bag will do. Thule RoundTrip 60L: This is the smaller version of the family bag we featured above. Like the 90L version, our testers loved the RoundTrip. So if you liked the sounds of the 90L but want something for one or two people instead of a family or group, this is your option. SYNC Locker Pack: SYNC’s bag is a good one, but our tester ultimately docked it for not being super portable. She’s 5 feet, 3 inches tall, and said the bag took up about half her body. If you’re a bigger person, this bag will likely work, but for smaller skiers and riders, try one of the options above. Sportube Cabin Cruiser Boot Bag: The idea of this bag is cool—a telescoping handle with wheels like a suitcase. But ultimately, our tester wasn’t impressed with its durability or portability. Plus, it’s no longer available. Burton Boothaus 2.0: We loved this bag. But it’s no longer available. So we’re hoping Burton releases the 3.0 soon and that it’s just as good as the 2.0 version. TripSavvy / Kait Clark Unigear 50L Ski Boot Bag: This is another bag that our testers really liked, we just liked the other ones listed above better. It has all the features we appreciate about a good ski boot bag, and at about $80, it’s another excellent budget option. OutdoorMaster Boot Bag: OutdoorMaster’s bag is another budget option that did well—just not good enough—on our tests. We like that this bag felt durable and has multiple carrying options. Wildhorn Brimhall Ski Boot Bag: Our testers really liked this bag but were concerned about potential durability issues. They’d also like to see more draining and venting options. Product Selection We relied on internet research and our personal knowledge of ski and snowboard boot bags to finalize a list of 17 products to test. Internet research included looking at bags other prominent sites and media outlets have featured and customer reviews on sites like Amazon, Backcountry, and REI. TripSavvy’s testing team also has multiple people familiar with boot bags from their own personal use or from friends and family. We relied on that previous knowledge when deciding on products and brands to consider for testing. How We Tested Once we selected the 17 bags for testing, we sent them to testers and asked them to rate each bag on a five-point scale for the following attributes: capacity, design, portability, durability, and overall value. Each score was averaged to give each bag an overall score on the five-point scale. Testers took their bags on multiple flights, to their local (and not local) ski resorts, and some hiked into the backcountry with their packs. Our testers are based across the country and have varying experience levels from beginners to experts. What to Look for in Ski and Snowboard Boot Bags Organization and Pockets The most important place to begin when considering purchasing a ski or snowboard boot bag is organization and pockets. And be sure to consider what sort of organization you personally prefer. “I think the user needs to know what their organization habits are because when you look at a ski boot bag, typically what differentiates one from another, is simply how it's constructed to hold the various accessories that you're dealing with and some people are fans of duffels where it's one big compartment and you throw everything in because you're in a hurry and you don't really care if it's all divided or nearly organized,” says Mark Thomas, founder of Utah-based gear brand Wildhorn Outfitters. “Other users are super concerned about not forgetting anything and so they like having a pocket for everything—one pocket for optics, one for a helmet, one for gloves, space for layers, all of them with separated pockets.” Thomas also advises paying attention to the compartments for the boots. Do you prefer to have one boot on each side standing upright? Or a separate compartment for both boots? Either way, you’ll want to make sure there are ways to store your boots separate from the rest of your gear as boots are more likely to be dirty and snowy at the end of the day. Waterproofing and Drainage Waterpoofing is a “nice to have” while drainage is pretty much a “non-negotiable,” Thomas says. “You want to make sure that whatever compartment your boots sit in has drainage holes built into it because you want to make sure that as that moisture starts to dry out and comes off the boots, that can also exit the bag,” Thomas advises. “I think that's probably a more critical component than waterproofing, especially the outside of the bag.” Thomas says waterproofing isn’t a must because the bag spends most of its time sitting in the trunk of your car, a ski locker, or in your closet. But, Thomas advises, be sure to get materials like nylon or polyester where at least the snow and moisture will easily run off instead of absorbing, even if its not fully waterproof. “The boot compartment typically will have just a few small open holes,” Thomas says. “When you put your boots away, typically you're putting them away slightly wet. Hopefully you kick some of the snow off them, but either way you're putting them in with some moisture on the boots and so as that starts to run off the boot and dry into the bag, you just need three or four small openings so that the residual water can drain out.” Carrying Styles Like organization, the preferred carrying style is a personal preference. That said, we really prefer—and recommend—backpack style. It frees up the hands to carry other luggage when walking through the airport or your skis and poles while walking from your car to the slopes or ski locker. Frequently Asked Questions How do I clean and care for my ski or snowboard boot bag? We always recommend first consulting the instructions that come with your bag. If you can’t find them, consult the brand’s website. Some general rules: First, always empty your bag and fully dry it out in-between uses. Never store it wet. If you want to store your ski boots in it, that’s fine, but just make sure everything is dry before you put it away for days, weeks, or months. Another broad rule is you can spot clean dirty spots with a cold wet washcloth, but we don’t recommend throwing your bag in the washing machine. How big should a ski or snowboard boot bag be? The easy answer is big enough to hold your boots. The smallest size we tested was 38 liters, which was big enough to easily fit a pair of boots and basically all ski gear you’ll need sans poles and skies. Don’t worry about sizing up a big as ski and snowboard boot bags are an excellent way to store more than just your boots. Anything between 35 and 60 liters will work for most people. What’s the best way to fly with my ski or snowboard boots? We recommend using your ski or snowboard boot bag as a carry-on item. Not all bags or airlines will work as a carry-on, but we think that should be the goal. As noted above, feel free to pack it full with whatever other items you can fit into the bag around the boots. If you plan on checking the boot bag, we just don’t recommend putting anything fragile or valuable with the boots. Your boots will be fine being tossed around, but they are very hard and could damage or smash other items inside the bag with them. So we recommend placing a ton of clothes around the boots inside your bag. Why Trust TripSavvy Nathan Allen is TripSavvy’s Outdoor Gear Editor. Born and raised in the Midwest, he began skiing as a child, taking multiple trips to the Rockies each season with his family. Nathan spent two years in Steamboat Springs, Colorado, and now frequents the High Sierra from his home in Ventura County, California. He currently uses Dakine bags for his skis and boots while flying and roadtripping. Here Are the Best Ski Socks to Wick Away Moisture and Keep Your Feet Warm Was this page helpful? Thanks for letting us know! Share Pin Email Tell us why! Submit Continue to 5 of 8 below.