Winter day pack suggestions? Nice options to have:

1. A place for axe, crampons, helmet
2. A place for snow shoes
3. A place for mountaineering boots so that approach shoes could be worn until the boots were necessary

Thanks for any suggestions.

Just picked up a Black Diamond Speed 30L to replace the one I bought 2 years ago. I've thrashed this thing year round and it's a great pack. Don't know about enough room to stash boots until you "need" them, but it's worth a try.

I also have a Vaude 45-55L that's been great, but more for skiing/approaches for ice climbing.

Boots would pretty much fill up any pack!

Straps on top or the bottom would probably work for boots.

There is a strap and clip between the lid and body portion of the Speed, which I've used for rope or snowshoes. Probably would work for boots, too.

Great suggestions, thanks! Maybe I just need boots that feel like approach shoes. Oh no, more gear.

I won a Lowe Alpine Crag Attack 40 in a raffle:



and it's been a good, lightweight pack with solid gear loops (for both summer and winter). If you saw this picture, then you saw it in action, fully loaded:



There are so many good packs out there these days, it's basically like dealing with shoes: you've got to try them on and walk around and see what works and what doesn't...

Not such a great pack if it makes you fall through man hole size holes in the snow!

No, actually---it's what saved me from falling up to my neck!

Oh yeah: that was the bottomless pit. Even I managed to avoid that hole...

Depends on how cold and how nasty the weather is or is going to be thus how much stuff. I use a Gregory Z30 and Black Diamond Sphinx 42, which has been modified to carry snowshoes.

Both packs have been discontinued.

Got a great deal on an Osprey Variant 37. Loads of room with crampon pouch, places for ice tools, could be a light overnight pack there's so much room.

I usually put my boots on my feet. Then I don't have to find a place for them on my pack.

Ah ha! You like it?

If you mean the Osprey Variant 37, yes! I like it so far. Lots of room and I could fit winter boots into the pack although it was cumbersome. Strapped to the sides might work better. The only reason for that is when the snow is far away from the trail head and trail runners can be worn before that. I guess lighter mountaineering boots with more ankle flex might solve this.

Nice crampon pouch (or for snowshoes), places for other stuff. Great big waist belt, like an overnight pack. Comfy, and got it for a great deal and that always makes it nicer.