Quick overview:
- Usual full price: $150 USD
- Weight: 560 g (one size)
- Volume: 20 L
- Pros: versatile, durable, spacious
- Cons: weight, bulk, single flask holder
- Suitability: ‘citizen’ skimo racing, ski mountaineering day trips, summer alpine climbing/scrambling
Bottom Line:
A good all around ski mountaineering and adventure day-pack for fast and light travel.
Photos:
Product description and How we tested it:
The Salomon X Alp line is Salomon’s foray into serious mountaineering equipment and uses some innovative ideas from their top athletes. The X Alp 20 pack is one of the most interesting pieces in the line and worth checking out for any ski mountaineer.
Salomon worked a few interesting features into the pack. First is the back-side zipper. This isn’t particularly critical in a race environment when you are never opening your pack but in training or on an adventure day, it is more useful. I originally figured this was a bit of a gimmick but in practice this allows you access to your pack at times when it might be beneficial not to set it down – for example, when straddling the snowy summit of a peak or reaching for a water bottle midway up a 4th class ridge.
The ski carry system (a lasso type) is removable. It is essentially girth hitched to small loops on the pack but still works as a robust system. When you finally pack away the skis for the season you can remove the extra straps and use your pack for summer adventures. The upper ski carry (lasso) strap also functions as a rope strap in the summer (see photos above.)
The shoulder strap flask pocket allows quick access to fuel and liquids but is only on one side. I’d prefer that both straps had a pocket as it would be possible to carry a second flask up front when the ski carry was not attached. Similarly, the right hip has a zipper pocket that is useful for carrying food or a camera. The left hip belt could be equally equipped.
Like most skimo packs, the X-Alp includes a separate crampon compartment. However, the compartment is extra padded which, while being slightly heavier, prevents the crampons points from pressing into your back. Furthermore, unlike other skimo packs, the crampon pouch has a full zipper to keep your crampons absolutely secure inside.
I’ve been most impressed with how spacious the bag seems. This may partially be due to the extra long zipper but compared to other 20L packs (the Dynafit RC20 for example) it fits more gear – it seems to be more comparable with a pack like the Dynafit Broad Peak 28L. Climbing in the Tetons, I was able to carry a rap line, helmet, spare clothing, and a liter of water in my pack without having to strap things on the outside (though there is a spare set of clips on the pack body to attach a helmet).
Overall thoughts: The X-Alp 20 shouldn’t be considered a pure race pack though it will function in that purpose. It is better served as an adventure pack for ski and climbing days where light and fast features are valuable.
Pros:
Equally effective as a skimo pack and summer adventure pack. Large capacity. Secure ski fix. Durable.
Things to be improved:
It is slightly bulky but this likely just comes with the features. It also appears to be more resilient to abrasion than most race packs. I would prefer a second shoulder flask holder and a removable zipper pouch on the waist belt.
Stano Faban says
Dan, I am thankful for chiming in your point of view any time. Jonathan is very detailed oriented and super thorough so it’s sometimes difficult to debate with him unless you have few hours 😉
Thank you for stopping by and I hope you will come back in the future.
dan says
oops, the spelling police!
over, and out
Jonathan Shefftz says
“@Johnatan Sheffz – for accuracy sake – the dynafit rc20 can be bought at around 75eur in europe (about 80usd) and it weighs 350 grams”
For accuracy’s sake (and skipping over irony of the inaccuracy of the spelling of my name):
– From a U.S. purchaser’s perspective, Salomon has priced its more versatile pack $30 more than a relatively no-frills racing-oriented pack from Dynafit.
– As for what happens in the reseller market, in the U.S., RC 20 variations from prior years are currently being sold at a discount, whereas this is only the second year that Salomon has been selling its pack, so makes sense that Salomon is able to achieve more price maintenance from its dealers. (Although one happens to be selling it for the same price as the current version of the Dynafit RC 20.)
– In the European market, one etailer has eight different listings for various versions of the RC 20, at seven different prices. That etailer’s price for the Salomon pack is pretty much the same as most of the RC 20 versions, but Salomon prohibits sales to the U.S. (which Dynafit has often done for various products from that same etailer).
– Skimo Co lists the RC 20 weight as 422g, which matches up with the weight of the first-generation RC 20 I had. Dynafits lists the weight as 360g, but I don’t know if that is a reduction for the latest version or instead just wishful thinking.
“not sure what are the features that the salomon has and dyna doesn’t?
– I would have thought that Eric’s review had covered this, but in summary, no way would I spend hours carrying my skis and boots on the RC 20 like I did this past season in the spring and summer with the Salomon pack.
dan says
@Johnatan Sheffz – for accuracy sake – the dynafit rc20 can be bought at around 75eur in europe (about 80usd) and it weighs 350 grams. not sure what are the features that the salomon has and dyna doesn’t?
Jonathan Shefftz says
“very innovative. they basically copied the dynafit rc20, made it a lot heavier and about doubled the price. great work, salomon!”
I’ve used both packs, and they’re both great for what they are.
As for the weight, the Dynafit spec is 422g, and the Salomon is 560g. For the additional 138g I carried on my back last season, found the additional features of the Salomon to be worth it, especially when I was able to use it instead of even heavier packs for tours that entailed long dry approaches with skis & boots carried on my pack (i.e., didn’t use my Dynafit Manaslu 35 liter pack a single time this past season).
As for the price, unfortunately Dynafit has also increased the price of the RC20 to where the current full retail is $120. The Salomon $150 is pricier still, but a good deal for a pack that is a reasonable choice for any daytrip — from racing to those previously mentioned long dry approaches — as long as the shovel you’re carrying is very small.
dan says
very innovative. they basically copied the dynafit rc20, made it a lot heavier and about doubled the price. great work, salomon!
Eric Carter says
Definitely used it as a summer pack (see some of the pictures). It doesn’t bounce much at all. I’ve moved back to the vest style pack though just to be able to fit more stuff up front. It’s also a bit on the heavy side for summer but it is nice having the crampon pouch…
Jeremy G. says
I’ve taken my pack on some longer speed hikes/slow runs and I think it works surprisingly well for this. Ultimately I think it’s performance depends on how much you stuff in there (weight and bulk). The crampon compartment is nice in this regard because you can leave it empty and pack the upper compartment tighter so stuff isn’t jostling around as much. While I don’t think it’s as good in this role as a dedicated, higher volume running vest I have been pleasantly surprised and will use it in this capacity again.
Brian says
Any thoughts (or time using) on dual purpose as larger running pack? Would it be too bouncy or does it wrap nice and tight like a vest?
Stano says
Thanks for the update Jonathan!
Jonathan Shefftz says
“I’ll report back from the field once we have some more natural snow!”
Hah, how optimistic I was back when I wrote that on December 3 … so we never did receive much natural snow anywhere in New England this “winter” but I do have some field experience now with the pack:
– Ski carry is very comfortable. Maybe I got lucky, but carrying fairly substantial skis (Volkl VTA 88 Lite 170cm with Plum 165 bindings) plus boots (Dynafit RC1) felt just fine. Only for two carries of half an hour each, but seemed like it would have been okay even for hours. (To the extent of course that hiking with ski gear on your back can ever be okay for hours…)
– The clip for the lasso-style ski carry seemed secure, but only when under tension. If somehow the elastic cord/strap were to lose its tension (maybe if the skis were shifted far over by pressing up against a boulder or shrubbery), then the clip could in theory slip off. I’ve now added a nearly weightless micro fakabiner (from an ATK ski leash) to the loop on the pull cord so that I can add a back-up for any ski carries over exposed terrain with obstacles along the way.
– When the pack is very full, closing the zipper would be easier if your other hand had a better way to pull some tension at the base of the zipper. So I sewed on a little loop of accessory cord.
– The side compartment zipper is very easy to open. But closure requires navigating two 90-degree turns. The first turn is difficult to make without some tension at the other end. Once again, sewing on a little loop of accessory cord solved that problem. (Although compartment closure is a two-handed operation, but can be done with the pack still on your back.)
Jonathan Shefftz says
Based on practicing with it inside, the ski attachment system and lower side-access compartment work just as well as competitors that I have used from Dynafit and CAMP, which is to say quite well.
(I’ll report back from the field once we have some more natural snow!)
Hydration bladder, it does have an exit for the tube (near the top of the shoulder strap), but no hanger inside to keep the bladder from dropping down low.
Frame, for a pack this size? (My older version of the Dynafit Broad Peak 28 does have a metal stay, but fortunately it was removable, since I thought it never made sense for a pack of this size.)
Jeremy says
Two more questions: Is there any kind of frame in this pack to support the load? How well would a hydration bladder work with the pack? Thanks again.
Eric Carter says
Jeremy – The ski attachment is a lasso type so it is easy to attach skis without taking off the pack but fractions of a second slower than the dynafit hook type. Crampons are easy to access though the pouch has to be un-zipped rather than just velcro.
Jeremy says
Looks like a really nice smaller pack. Quick question for you folks that have actually used it… How easy is it to attach your skis to the pack without taking it off? Ditto for accessing crampons…. Thanks in advance,
Jeremy
Jonathan Shefftz says
As an avalanche safety instructor, my perspective is … it depends.
And the bottomline is how quickly you can access — and deploy/assembly — your probe & shovel, regardless of dedicated compartment or otherwise.
In my courses, when we practice beacon searching, we also practice deploy/assembly of probe & shovel.
I’ve even had timed contests for just that portion of the search.
Specifically for the Salomon Alp 20, I set up my pack with a small probe & shovel:
http://skimo.co/arva-carbon-240-compact-probe
http://skimo.co/arva-ultra-shovel
Given the quick access to the pack contents via undoing only the sternum strap, spinning around the pack, and opening up the zipper, I think access to probe & shovel will be very fast, despite the lack of a dedicated compartment.
Pablo Nogue says
how important is for you guys to have a specific “safety pocket” for shovel and probe in a pack this size?
I found it essential on big packs (over 35l) in wich you carry a large amount of load that can make dificult to take out the shovel, but ina small pack??you found it reeally nacessary?
Jonathan Shefftz says
Mine just arrived.
(Purchase influenced in part by this review!)
Pretty much as Eric say, nearly perfect for light & fast ski mountaineering, and barely any weight penalty if you also wanted to use it for racing.
I do wish it had an emergency whistle, which is now built into the buckles on some competing packs.
(Although of course that’s easy enough for me to retrofit.)
The padding on the bottom side-access compartment is very nice, and the zipper is great reassurance for anyone who gets nervous about the velcro closure on competing packs.
The omission of a second hip belt pocket is kind of strange though.
Ditto for the lack of a second flask pouch — less room on that side with the ski carry, but still enough space for a smaller pouch to carry gel flasks, etc.
A useful extra is the generously sized zippered pouch inside the main compartment for smaller items (e.g., hat, back-up sunglasses, maps, extra food).
Eric Carter says
There is certainly space for a race/smaller size shovel and probe but no specific compartment.
Ian says
Does it carry a shovel and probe well?