Arc'teryx Silo 30

I demoed the arcteryx silo 30 for a day of sunny springlike Wasatch touring. First impressions are that it is very lightweight and simple. I didn't use any of the ski or board carrying features, so I can't comment on those other than to say that the straps are well made and include a rubber component that may reduce wear while holding skis or a board. I tend to prefer external shovel and probe storage, but I found that the internal shovel pocket is huge and can easily accommodate most shovels. My probe slipped nicely inside the pack on the side along the zipper. Pockets were well placed and easy to access quickly. I stowed the following with ease: hydration bladder, extra fleece, beanie, goggles, snacks, skins, extra gloves and a multi tool. If you are planning on touring in mid winter, or might encounter nastier weather, I'd suggest the silo 40 to carry a few other essential items (puffy jacket, extra food, extra layers). I'm about 5 foot 8, with a proportional torso and the regular size fit me very nicely. The shoulder straps adjust well, and the pack fits snugly to my torso. The hip strap was comfortable, but did pull my jacket up from my hips frequently. The pack was light and did not inhibit me during climbing, and it skied well without giving me any balance issues while dropping steep terrain. Overall, I definitely recommend it for day and half-day touring.

I got the red beryl in tall (i' 6 ft. tall, 185 lbs.) and the fit is great. If unsure between regular and tall, i suggest you go to the Arc'teyx site and click on the Service link in the bottom menu and look at the pack fit guide as well as sizing guide links. I have yet to take this pack out into the mountains, however the quality of the pack is the quality that one would expect from arcteryx....top notch. my only complain is that the color is not really "red" beryl, but more like "orange" beryl. They should have made it a true red color. I chose this color because my outfit is usually all black and wanted something brighter and easier to spot on me when in the mountain or backcountry. Also, keep in mind that the bottom of the pack is a bit narrower than the top, but i actually like that because it conforms to my back nicely and i don't feel that the sides are too wide. If considering between the silo 30 and 40, besides obvious size and capacity differences, keep in mind that the silo 40 is top loading whereas the silo 30 is panel loading (zips down the sides).

I was stoked to see that Arc'teryx had introduced a snowboard carrying system on a backcountry pack. Unfortunately, it's not as clean as I'd like. Although the single-continuous strap appears like a clean and simple design, it winds up an adjustment nightmare, taking too much time to re-set between board-in position and board-out. It carries well, however, and although Arc'teryx didn't design it as such, the internal shovel pocket (which is waaaay too big for any shovel and has some kind of enigmatic bungee attachments) makes an excellent integrated stuffsack so your sweater doesn't fall out when you open the panel-loading main compartment to grab a poptart.

I took this pack out last weekend with my snowboard and snowshoes and each item fit comfortably and securely. It took a minute or 2 to adjust the straps for the board, but that's not a big deal to me. The shape of the bag is pretty narrow, so it's comfortable for any body time. One suggestion for the bag: a pocket/compartment for smaller items (snack, chapstick, sunscreen, etc.), that's accessible without having to take the bag off (either on the side of the bag or the waist straps)

Most people complain that the carry system is flawed, but is there any better system? The pack is definitely the best day pack I've ever owned. It distributes weight in amazing Arcteryx fashion. Pockets are amazingly placed. Fabric is urethane coated for water resistance.
Two complaints: No stays to maintain vertical integrity and the snow shovel pocket is a little annoying for day to day