Nirvana 22

The Mammut Nirvana 22 is a freeride ski backpack: 22 litres, a zip that opens the full back panel, a front compartment kept just for your avalanche safety gear, and carry systems for skis, splitboards and snowboards. The main fabric is recycled, and every fabric in the pack is PFC-free.

Who it's for

Riders who spend the day off the groomers. Lift-served laps into the side-country, a walk out from the top of Thredbo onto the Main Range, a bootpack above a New Zealand club field before the drop-in. The Nirvana is Mammut's snow-sports pack through and through, and the 22 is sized for a full day of riding with a shovel and probe on your back.

It handles a morning ski tour happily too, and it is trim enough to carry around the village on a rest day.

Capacity, and what actually fits

Twenty-two litres is a riding day's kit. Shovel blade, handle and probe go in the front compartment, where they never tangle with your lunch. The main compartment takes a spare insulated layer, goggles, water, food and a first-aid kit, and a hydration bladder fits as well. A zip pocket on the hip belt keeps your phone or a muesli bar in reach without taking the pack off.

If your days run longer, with skins, crampons and extra layers, the Nirvana 35 gives you the room in the same layout.

How it carries

Mammut shaped the Nirvana's carrying system for freedom of movement as much as comfort, so the pack stays close and moves with you through the turns rather than swinging. A hip belt and sternum strap lock it down for the ride out.

Skis and splitboards carry diagonally, which is quick to rig for a short bootpack, or A-frame, which balances the load better on a longer walk in. A separate snowboard attachment takes a board, ice tool and pole attachments handle the rest, and the helmet carrier holds your lid on the outside while you skin.

Fitting it

The Nirvana 22 comes in one back length: Mammut's size M, 46 cm. Measure from the bony bump at the base of your neck down to the top of your hip bones; if you land around 46 cm, the pack sits where it should and the hip belt carries the weight. If your back is shorter, look at the Nirvana 22 Women or Nirvana 18 Women, which use Mammut's shorter size S back and a women's harness shape.

Access and organisation

The 270° zip opens the whole back panel, so you can lay the pack down in the snow and reach anything in the main compartment without pulling everything out through the top. Your avalanche safety gear has its own front compartment, kept apart from everything else in the pack.

Inside there is a sleeve for the Mammut Back Protector, sold separately, and an SOS label printed with emergency instructions.

Weight

1030 g empty, for a 22 litre pack with full back-panel access, a dedicated avalanche compartment, a helmet carrier and diagonal or A-frame ski carry. The outer is a robust recycled fabric of 90% polyamide and 10% polyester.