Choosing the right ski boot bag is essential for any skier, whether you're heading to the slopes for a day trip or embarking on a longer ski vacation. A good boot bag should be spacious enough to hold your boots and other essential gear, comfortable to carry, and well-organized to keep your accessories in order. This article delves into a review of the Wildhorn Brimhall Ski Boot Bag, along with other options and considerations for skiers.
Initial Impressions and Design
On my trip to Taos, United ripped the backpack strap half off my beautifully preserved 6-year old boot bag. For the duration of the trip I tied the chest strap to one of the side cinch straps but that’s not a longterm solution. I got it back from their repair service and the repair gave up in half a day my guess is the repair people vastly underestimated how much a pair of ski boots actually weighs but there’s no real way to solve it without performing major surgery.
When it comes to ski boot bags, there are several options to consider. Here's a look at a few alternatives:
- Option 1: Thule Roundtrip 60L
One option is to buy another of the same, a Thule Roundtrip 60L. It’s treated me well. But I have some issues with the design. It puts your boots on the bottom, facing forward, then has a diagonal compartment divider and all your other stuff on top. This seems like a good idea but it’s designed to accommodate a size 30.5 boot and I have a size 23.5 boot. The result: A LOT of wasted space in the boot section because you don’t want to put your clothes in with your wet grimy boots.
- Option 2: Wildhorn Brimhall
I grabbed a Wildhorn Brimhall on sale that I haven’t used and am thinking of returning. Stowable backpack straps are a plus. In principle I like idea of the segmented layout. In practice the goggle compartment is too small for the 4 different lenses and the 2 frames I cart around. I think I could overlook that shortcoming and love the bag if the boot section opened to the outside, but it doesn’t.
Read also: Types of Ski Boots Explained
- Option 3: Kulkea Heated Bag
Bite the bullet and buy the Kulkea heated bag. Everyone seems to love it. It looks like they’ve solved my “boot compartment uselessly large” problem by splitting the boots to either side and that also keeps the main compartment a convenient (square-ish) shape. It does put us into a completely new price bracket though.
- Option 4: Novel Options
Any novel options out there? Something I haven’t seen or thought of? I like the ~60L size as someone who ends up carrying my whole wardrobe around as the season progresses, but maybe I could downsize if the layout were sufficiently practical?
Wildhorn Brimhall Ski Boot Bag: A Detailed Look
The Wildhorn Brimhall Ski Boot Bag has been tested to see if it checks all the boxes for a good ski-boot bag for travel. The main priorities were having (1) something that wasn’t too bulky but spacious enough to store boots and other small gear, (2) a comfortable carry option for long days in the airport, and (3) a good system for organizing all my ski accessories.
I have been quite impressed by the features of this bag. For starters, it has options for both shoulder and backpack-style carry (plus handles on the top and side). Even when loaded up with heavy boots and more, it’s quite comfortable to wear as a backpack. It’s also incredibly spacious, with lots of separate pockets to keep accessories like goggles, gloves, etc. organized. In addition to one pair of ski boots, the Brimhall Ski Boot Bag is capable of fitting my helmet, goggles, baselayers, gloves, goggles, and more. And given its easy-to-reach exterior pockets, I often used the Brimhall for other airport necessities such as snacks and a wallet. The boot compartment has ventilation, which I found useful after a long day of wet powder skiing followed by an immediate redeye flight out of Alaska.
The Brimhall has also, so far, seemed quite durable. Its zippers are big and burly, and all the zippers are smooth and easy to close. Given its effective storage, it seems like a great boot bag for car trips to the ski area or even just for keeping all your gear stored in one place at home.
Read also: Guide to Snowboard Boot Inserts
Heated Boot Bags: A Game Changer?
Why Use A Heated Ski Boot Bag? - Ask A Ski Bum
There's a strong recommendation for heated boot bags. But what makes them so special?
- Convenience: You drive to the resort-you plug the thing in, you arrive-your boots are warm and fuzzy.
- Parking Lot Ready: A heated boot bag comes in handy when you put your boots on at the parking lot, so your locker is your car, instead of renting on or find a place to stash your shoes, a lot of us peasants puts on our boots in the parking lot.
- Warmth and Comfort: I just use a Dry guy portable boot dryer to heat up my boot liners in the boot bag, when I drive to a ski resort and suit up in the parking lot.
However, not everyone is convinced of the added value, especially if you typically boot up inside or have a system for keeping your boots warm and dry.
Kulkea Bags: Another Option
Kulkea is a popular brand in the heated boot bag market. The Kulkea Thermal Trekker is a frequently recommended option. The Kulkea bag is great. It's not perfect, though. Its biggest flaw is that the center of mass is far from your spine. The result is that when fully loaded it tries pretty hard to flip you onto your back. It's also very wide, and it's heavy even when empty.
It looks like they’ve solved my “boot compartment uselessly large” problem by splitting the boots to either side and that also keeps the main compartment a convenient (square-ish) shape.
Additional Gear and Travel Accessories
While a good boot bag is crucial, other gear and accessories can enhance your ski trips. Here are a few recommendations:
Read also: Acceptable Boot Overhang Explained
- Skida Sun Tour Neck Gaiter: A featherweight neck tube that’s soft, printed on both sides, offers UV protection, and doesn’t feature seams at the edges.
- Wanderlog App: This app can make travel planning much easier by helping you organize your hotel, flight, and tour confirmations, as well as places of interest.
- Trew Up Jacket: A very lightweight, packable, wind-resistant layer that provides “just enough” protection against gusts and colder temperatures, particularly on the bike.
Other Considerations
We also had the Thule roundtrip boot bag and I really dislike this type with the boots in the middle of the bag, ending up with a lot of wasted space. The better bags are the ones that have separate compartments on each sides for the ski boots.
It's 65 Litres and it provides a large central compartment for helmets, gloves, goggles, socks, ski pants.