Technical ski objectives call for a pack that gets out of your way, and the Cirque 35 is built with exactly that philosophy: no extraneous gizmos, just a clean roll-top design that handles everything from a long backcountry lap to a proper ski mountaineering line. It's built from lightweight 210D nylon with a Dynex grid for durability without extra weight, with an externally accessed avy safety pocket and a quick-access side zip so you're not digging through your whole pack for a snack or your skins. Both A-frame and diagonal ski carry, plus vertical snowboard carry, make transitions fast, and the PickPocket system gives you quick-deploy piolet carry for when the terrain gets steep.
SPECS
- 35-liter mid-capacity roll-top ski mountaineering pack
- 210D nylon fabric with Dynex grid for durability
- External avy tools safety pocket with drain holes
- Exterior access zip pocket, interior storage pocket, shoulder pockets, radio/hydration routing
- Diagonal ski carry, A-frame ski carry, and vertical snowboard carry
- Stowable helmet carry
- Side compression/top rope carry strap
- Piolet/ice tool carry with PickPocket system
- Weight: 1.08-1.09 kg
- Volume: 35 L
- Sizes: S/M (torso 41-48 cm) and M/L (torso 47-55 cm)
- Country of origin: Philippines
- Available in Carbon and Sulphur Green
BUYERS' GUIDE
Customers consistently love the simplicity here, the roll-top and side zip combo means you can get into your gear fast without a bunch of zippers and flaps to fight with, even with gloves on. That said, a few honest things worth knowing before you buy. Multiple reviewers note this pack runs a little small or high in the torso compared to the previous generation Cirque, if you were an M/L before, double check your measurement against the current size chart rather than assuming your old size carries over, and if you're on the shorter end of a size range, expect the hip belt to sit a bit higher than a dedicated hiking pack.
The single hip belt pocket (with nothing on the opposite side) comes up in several reviews as a minor but real annoyance, some people work around it, some don't love it. And if you're carrying a splitboard rather than skis, at least one long-term user reported abrasion wear developing on the pack body faster than expected, worth keeping an eye on if that's your primary use case. None of these are dealbreakers for most people, and the core design (avy pocket, roll-top, ski carry systems) earns consistently high marks, but they're worth going in with eyes open on.
