Nirvana 22 Women

The Mammut Nirvana 22 Women is a freeride ski backpack built on a women's harness: 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

Women who spend the day off the groomers and want a pack that fits properly while they ride. Lift-served laps into the side-country at Perisher, a walk from the top of Thredbo out onto the Main Range, a bootpack above a New Zealand club field. The 22 is the all-day size of the women's Nirvana range: room for rescue gear, a layer and lunch without feeling like a touring pack.

Capacity, and what actually fits

Twenty-two litres is a full riding day. Shovel and probe go in the front compartment, away from everything else. The main compartment takes a spare insulated layer, goggles, water, food and a first-aid kit, and a hydration bladder fits as well.

Want it smaller? The Nirvana 18 Women trims it down. Carrying skins and extra layers on longer days? The Nirvana 28 Women adds room.

How it carries

The carrying system is shaped for freedom of movement as much as comfort, so the pack stays close through the turns instead of swinging. A hip belt and sternum strap lock it down for the ride out.

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

Fitting it

This is where the women's version earns its place: shoulder straps shaped for a woman's frame, a tailored hip belt and Mammut's shorter size S back length, 43.5 cm. Measure from the bony bump at the base of your neck down to the top of your hip bones; around 43.5 cm is the sweet spot. If unisex packs have always ridden up onto your shoulders, a shorter back and shaped straps are the fix.

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 the rest.

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

Weight

1000 g empty, for a 22 litre pack with full back-panel access, a dedicated avalanche compartment, a helmet carrier and full ski and board carry. The outer is a robust recycled polyamide.