Most valuable Gear: Gregory Targhee 32

An fully-featured, all-around ski pack for backcountry exploration

For long days of touring or skiing laps in the backcountry, it's important to bring along all of the necessary safety gear, warm layers, food and other essentials. A good ski pack, with enough volume to carry what you need for the day, as well as a comfortable suspension, a ski carry system and other skiing specific features, is a valuable piece of gear to for your touring or sidecountry adventures. The Gregory Targhee 32 is an ideal pack for day-long touring trips, lift-serve sidecountry excursions, or laps on backcountry bowls. It features a perfect capacity for long days in the skin track, a great suspension system, internal organization and multiple ski and snowboard carry options. These great features and functionality are why we have selected the Gregory Targhee 32 for this week's Most Valuable Gear!

Here are 3 reasons why we love the Gregory Targhee 32:

1. Internal Organization

The Tarhee 32 is a specialized ski pack, so it features dedicated pockets and organizational design to store your gear efficiently. For essential accessories, the Targhee 32 has an oversized top pocket to store your goggles or a pair of gloves, as well as a smaller pocket with for your keys, food, or a phone. Additionally, the Targhee 32 has a hydration sleeve inside of the pack with an insulated hose sleeve. You can open up the whole body of the pack by unzipping the back panel, which allows you to set your pack down onto its back to keep snow out while you are locating items inside. This back panel entry also makes it easy to find gear inside of the body of pack. Additionally, an avalanche tool pocket on the outside of the pack features dedicated organizational pockets and and can be opened quickly for easy access during an emergency. All of the zippers and pulls are designed to be winter friendly, so that you can access your gear even with gloves on.

2. Comfortable, ski/snowboard specific suspension

The Targhee 32 utilizes Gregory's VertFlex suspension system, which is specifically designed for skiing and snowboarding. This suspension features a wire along the perimeter of the back panel that is vertically stable and distributes pack weight effectively, while remaining transitionally flexible, which facilitates movement. The shoulder straps and waistbelt are molded and comfortable, and will not obstruct the wearer's body while navigating tight lines or climbing a steep ridge line to the summit.  

3. Technical external gear carry features

While many ski packs feature a variety of technical design elements for carrying gear, tools or skis, the Gregory Targhee 32 takes this type of functionality to a different level. The Targhee 32 has both an A-frame ski carry and a horizontal ski carry feature, as well as a vertical snowboard or snowshoe carry feature.  Additionally, for technical ski mountaineering efforts, the Targhee 32 has two ice tool holders on the back, as well as a reinforced gear loop and ice clipper slots on the waistbelt. The pack also has a mesh, external helmet holder that can be stowed into a pocket.