The 6 Best Ski & Snowboard Bags of 2023, Tested and Reviewed

Sep 05, 2023

Evo and Dakine make our favorite ski and snowboard bags

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TripSavvy / David Hattan

If you ever plan on traveling longer distances to ski, especially on an airplane, we highly recommend investing in a ski bag. It's an excellent way to travel with all your skiing or snowboarding gear, keep things organized, and store your gear in the off-season. To find the best option for you, we tested 11 different ski bags, rating them each for their design, durability, capacity, portability, and overall value.

Evo's Roller Ski Bag impressed our testers most as it can easily fit two pairs of skis and polls, and most of the other gear necessary to ski. It also features straps inside the bag to secure poles and skis, plus inside pockets and dividers to boost organzation. It also has wheels. For a hardside case, we like the Dakine Low Roller Snowboard Hardside Bag, which comes with a TSA-approved lock and a removable boot bag.

Evo

Room for two pairs of skis

Straps inside the bag to secure poles and skis

Inside pockets and dividers boost organization

Wheels

It might be almost too big to carry for some

Evo's Roller Ski Bag checked all the boxes we were looking for in a ski bag. It features rugged PU-coated 600D polyester and reinforced plastic railings for boosted confidence it will safely make it through a flight. It has wheels, and the ability to carry up to two sets of skis and poles. And it has loads of internal pockets, an external pocket, and dividers to help organization

Our tester, who put her 160-centimeter skis in the 175-centimeter size bag said she had more than enough room to fit her skis, poles, three sets of baselayers, ski pants, jackets, gloves, neck gaiters, hats, and more, noting how huge the bag truly is. She loved the divider that kept her clothing from touching her skis and the zippered internal pockets for stowing items like keys and money.

While the bag is large and wasn't the easiest to maneuver, our tester appreciated the wheels and the additional side handle near the top handle, which helped her move the bag around using two hands. Bottom line, if you’re looking for a double ski bag to hold gear for you and your partner, or just want a bag you can put your skis, poles, and most clothing in to double as a suitcase, this is an excellent option.

Price at time of publication: $140

Sizes: 175 and 195 centimeters | Materials: PU Coated 600D Polyester + Printed 600D Polyester | Sustainability: Not listed

DAKINE

Comes with a detachable waterproof boot bag to fit inside

TSA-approved combination lock

Hardshell is durable

Will also work for skis

Hardshell adds weight and can be tough to stow when not in use

Dakine is a leader and innovator in the snowsports luggage space. And its Low Roller Snowboard Hardside Bag lives up to that reputation. "I love this bag," our tester said. "It's very high quality, extremely durable and has thoughtful features that I think justify the high price. Plus, the hardshell will last a long time versus a fabric, which can rip or stretch over time and with heavy use."

Dakine's roller bag features 100 percent recycled ABS and a PC shell to make an incredibly sturdy hardshell case with some useful features like internal straps to hold your board or skis in place, wheels, a removable boot bag, a TSA-approved combo lock, and the ability to be tied down to cross bars (with separately sold straps).

Our tester easily packed the gear they needed for a ski trip. On that trip, our tester checked it on a plane both ways with absolutely no damage or scuffs to their items or the case itself. While it can boost confidence that your items will remain unscathed, a hardside case does have some drawbacks. For instance, our tester had issues getting it into their Uber ride to the airport (we greatly appreciate fold-down car seats), and they can be a pain to store when not in use.

But, if you’re looking for a high-quality hardside case for transporting your board or skis, this one is a solid option.

Price at time of publication: $380

Sizes: 165 centimeters | Materials: 100 percent recycled ABS + PC Shell | Sustainability: Recycled materials

Backcountry

We fit three pairs of skis in this bag

Outer zipper compartments are good for baselayers and socks

Very padded

Tear-resistant materials

Might be too large, making it tough to maneuver

Backcountry designed this double ski or snowboard bag to fit two pairs of skis or two snowboard. But our tester actually fit three pairs of skis during their testing. "This bag is massive," our tester simply concluded. Besides how much it can haul, there are many other things to like about this bag. It's the only one on our list with an included removable boot bag. It's also the only adjustable one—you can roll it to different lengths to specifically fit your skis or boards.

We also love how padded this bag is, the straps to hold your equipment in place, and the separator that spans the entire length of the bag to separate skis or boards. Our tester also appreciated the oversized wheels. Backcountry's bag is a bit more expensive than the Evo rolling bag listed above. But it's also more padded. And we think it's better at doubling as a ski and snowboard bag and would work best for families or partners that have both skiers and riders.

Price at time of publication: $249

Sizes: Up to 200 centimeters | Materials: 100 percent PVC (face fabric), 100 percent nylon (lining) | Sustainability: Not listed

Amazon

Interior straps, internal and external pockets

Off-road wheels that handled ice, snow, and gravel well

Comfortable briefcase-style handle

No dividers

Besides it's ability to easily and safely carry two sets of skis and poles, the rugged off-road focused tires stood out with the Element Equipment Wheeled Padded Ski Bag. The oversized wheels with ridges work like snow tires on your car, and our tester had no issues busting through snow, ice, and gravel as they lugged it around the slopes.

Our tester also liked the water-resistant internal fabric, which didn't absorb moisture from snow melting off skies and poles. This bag also comes with comfortable handles and a carrying strap, giving it many carrying options. We also liked the exterior straps for tightening down the skis to help prevent them from moving. One thing this bag is lacking compared to others on this list is dividers to separate the skis or to separate the skis from other gear. But other than that, this is a solid double bag.

Price at time of publication: $179

Sizes: 167 and 195 centimeters | Materials: Polyester | Sustainability: Not listed

Sportube

Internal strap to hold skis together

Extremely durable

Lockable with a separately purchased lock

Small wheels did not handle snow, gravel, mud, or ice well

If you’re looking for a better value hardside case compared to the Dakine case above, the Sportube Series 1 is a good option. This hardside case is extremely durable and securely fits one pair of skis. Our tester also liked that there is a spot to place a lock. And while it's long and a bit awkward to maneuver, the wheels help, as long as they stay on smooth and solid surfaces. We did have trouble moving it across snow, mud, and gravel.

But overall, our tester was impressed with this bag. If you’re looking for a hardside case at a more reasonable price, Sportube's is a good pick.

Price at time of publication: $170

Sizes: 205 centimeters | Materials: 100 percent recycled HDPE shell | Sustainability: Recycled materials

Amazon

Big enough for two sets of skis and poles and a ton of clothes

Four adjustable straps to secure the skis

A pocket for poles, two stuff sacks with drawcords, mesh zipper pocket

Removable pad to separate skis

Pretty big for storage

Like Dakine, Backcountry, and Evo, Thule is a brand that we’ve really come to love for luggage in general and snowsport luggage in particular. The RoundTrip series is a compatible group of luggage (you can pair the RoundTrip boot bag with the ski bag or roller ski bag. The RoundTrip roller will fit two pairs of skis and poles plus all of the other gear and clothing you need to get on the mountain (sans the boots). "Even with my one pair of skis, there was enough room to fit almost a carry-on suitcase amount of clothes," our tester said, noting they packed five winter jackets in it and a small hydration backpack. "I’d say this has the perfect amount of space for two skis, or for one pair of skis if you’re planning to use it as a suitcase as well."

Thule basically thought of it all when it comes to organization. This bag features four adjustable straps to secure the skis, a pocket for poles, two waterproof stuff sacks, a mesh zipper pocket, and removable pad to separate skis or skis from other gear. We appreciate the four handles around the bag, which helped with portability and maneuverability.

Our one qualm with this bag is it could be tough to store as it is very large and does not fold well. But other than that, this is a super solid option for anyone looking to haul multiple sets of skis or use their ski case as a suitcase.

Price at time of publication: $300

Sizes: 175 and 192 centimeters | Materials: 600D polyester | Sustainability: Not listed

Db Snow Roller: Db's Snow Roller is an excellent bag, especially if you live in an apartment and are tight on space as it can be rolled up and stored in a small area. It also features wheels, and the ability to carry a pair of skis and some extra gear.

Thule RoundTrip Ski Bag: If you like the look of the Roller RoundTrip above but don't want the wheels or don't want to spend $300, consider the Thule RoundTrip bag. It's essentially the same bag sans the wheels and costs nearly half the amount as the wheeled version.

Athletico Double Rolling Ski Bag: This padded and rugged bag is a good option for most skis. But it only fits skis up to 175 centimeters, meaning it won't work for those with larger skis.

Patagonia Snow Roller Ski & Snowboard Bag: This was actually our favorite overall bag of all we tested. Unfortunately it's gone out of stock. And when we asked Patagonia when it might come back, they weren't sure. We hope it does because this one is excellent.

Evoc Snow Gear Roller: This was another bag we liked quite a bit. But like the Patagonia, it's currently out of stock and we’re not sure when or if it’ll come back.

We selected products based on internet research and our own knowledge of products and brands. Internet research included looking at ratings of popular ski and snowboard bags on sites like Amazon, Backcountry, and REI and at what other prominent sites have featured. TripSavvy editors and writers also relayed their knowledge of specific products and brands they’ve used in the past.

We also wanted to select a list with various price points and product styles. For example, included softsided and hardsided ski bags and some closer to $100 with others around $400.

Once we selected the 11 ski and snowboard bags to test, we sent them to our network of testers around the country. Testers took these ski and snowboard bags to their local mountains, on road trips, and on flights. They lugged them around cities, towns, and mountain resorts. We asked testers to rate each bag on a five-point scale for the following attributes: capacity, design, durability, portability, and overall value.

We then averaged those individual scores to give each bag a score on the five-point scale to help select which bags actually made our main list.

When selecting a ski or snowboard bag, the thing to think about is intended use. Will you be using the bag to fly? Drive from your house to the mountain? Will you also be using it as a way to store your skis when not in use? Can you fit it in your car or does that matter? That will inform the next basic question, which is should you get a wheeled or non-wheeled bag.

"If it's an airline travel bag, a lot of the time, a wheeled bag is really preferred, but if it's a daily use or a short commute oftentimes people don't want to deal with the cumbersome or heavier bag that's wheeled," Corey Simpson, Patagonia's communication manager, points out.

Mark Thomas, founder of Utah-based Wildhorn Outfitters says that unless you’re flying, a bag in general might be overkill. "For ski travel bags, you're almost always buying that because you're getting on an airplane," Thomas says. "Not always, but oftentimes you are, because if you're just driving somewhere, you don't necessarily need a full-fledged bag to put your skis in, but you do need a ski bag if you are flying across country because you've got to check your skis like you would with golf bags when you're traveling."

At that point, you want a convenient and efficient way to move the bag, which would require wheels. One simple way to think of it is you’re going to have to carry the bag, potentially long distances. Do you prefer to wheel it or carry it?

You’ll also want to make sure you get a bag large enough to accommodate your skis or snowboard. So first look at the length of your skis or snowboard and then look at the length of the bag you’re interested in purchasing. Most skis and snowboards are measured in centimeters, so most ski bags are as well.

"What we [Patagonia] do and what we've typically done with our bags in the past, is really try to find a happy medium where the length can accommodate different ski lengths and different ski styles but can also accommodate snowboards as well," Simpson from Patagonia says. "Then there's not a big loss or you're not taking any penalty for having maybe a slightly longer ski bag."

You’ll also want a bag that will protect your snow equipment and last many years.

"If I'm thinking about just a ski bag for my personal preference and my use, is I want something that's really durable mainly because these are super expensive, for how tough they are, they can get really damaged in travel and so I'm looking for a bag that can kind of take abuse," Patagonia's Simpson says. "Oftentimes too when you fly or even if you're just gonna throw your bag in the back of a truck and drive somewhere, that bag's gonna be abused and so for me, I typically–even if it's a little heavier–I like a really durable ski bag and so I look for that specifically because whatever I put in there, I don't want to have to think about being hurt and scratched and I know TSA is just not gonna be gentle either and neither are any baggage handlers on the airlines."

This shouldn't be an issue for hardside bags, but if you opt for softsided ski bags look for materials that are ripstop, or have measured denier numbers (like 600D). Also look for bags with TPU and PU coatings.

Cost is another aspect you’ll want to consider. As Patagonia's Simpson points out, there's a wide price range in ski and snowboard bags. Simpson says you don't necessarily need to get spendy to get your skis or snowboard from point A to B.

"There's a really wide price point in all of these and oftentimes we try to identify what's on that low end of the spectrum and what's something that can really work for quite a few people but may not have a ton of features, but nine times out of 10, it's going to protect your equipment," Simpson says. "It's going to keep everything organized in one place and it will do the job."

On the other hand, more expensive items are usually priced higher from better materials and increased durability. So while it might hurt in the initial purchase, it could pay off overtime if you don't have to replace it for many years. We recommend spending what you can. As one of our testers pointed out when considering the overall value attribute within our tests, an extra hundred dollars is little compared to a new pair of skis if they get damaged in transit.

Lastly consider different features, which usually means straps to secure skis, extra padding, pockets and dividers for organization, and multiple handles or ways to carry the skis.

"You probably want individual straps on the inside to secure the skis in their place and you're gonna want to have padding that sort of separates your two skis so that they don't scratch up against each other," Wildhorn's Thomas says. "You may have some smaller pockets for some additional accessory items maybe like a ski tune, some wax things, like that. You're probably not going to be using it for your goggles and helmet and layers etcetera—that's probably better served in a ski boot bag or just like a traditional carry-on or luggage."

Remember that you’ll likely want to use these bags as suitcases as well while traveling so some extra pockets might come in handy.

Always consult the instructions on your ski or snowboard bag. Most will have cleaning instructions included. However, if yours does not, consult the brand's website. But we recommend following two general rules. First, always empty and dry your bag before storing it for long periods of time. Storing it wet will only lead to damage or stink. Both are not good. Second, for any mud or spots, we recommend spot-cleaning with a damp cloth using mild soap. Again, let it dry fully before storing it away.

When deciding on a hardside or softside ski or snowboard bag, Patagonia's Simpson points out one important thing to consider is your space. If you live in a small apartment with not a lot of room to store something massive like a hardside ski or snowboard bag, go with a softside bag. Other than that, this comes down to personal preference. Most softsided bags are durable and will do a good job at protecting your gear. But if you’re really concerned about breaking equipment or gear, you might opt for a hardsided case. Just know that generally speaking, hardsided cases will cost a bit more.

Definitely invest in a ski or snowboard bag. It's the only way to fly with skis or a snowboard. Beyond that, we recommend using the bag as a suitcase, packing clothing around your skis or snowboard. This will help save space (and perhaps the cost of checking two items), and help add padding around your skis or snowboard.

Another thing to consider is weight. You’ll already likely be paying extra for an oversized bag, but going over 50 pounds might also add some fees. It's one of the major benefits we see in softsided bags without wheels—they’re the lightest weight, leaving you more options for packing more gear inside the bag.

Nathan Allen is TripSavvy's Outdoor Gear Editor. Growing up in the Midwest, he's always had to travel to ski. Nathan has taken his skis on long road trips and flights, and appreciates how ski bags help not only transport gear, but also clothes, and boost organization. Nathan currently uses a softsided Dakine ski bag with no wheels.

In compiling our list of the best ski and snowboard bags, we also consulted Corey Simpson, communication manager at Patagonia, and Mark Thomas, founder of Utah-based Wildhorn Outfitters.