Nirvana 28 Women

The Mammut Nirvana 28 Women is a freeride ski backpack on a women's harness, sized for bigger days: 28 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 ride off the lifts and like to head further out. Long side-country days at Perisher, a tour from Guthega up onto the Main Range, a full day in Japan's backcountry where lunch, spare gloves and a puffy all come with you. The 28 carries a riding kit plus the touring extras, and still rides like a freeride pack on the way down.

Capacity, and what actually fits

Twenty-eight litres takes a full day and then some. Shovel and probe live in the front compartment, away from everything else. The main compartment swallows a spare insulated layer, a shell, skins, goggles, water, food and a first-aid kit, and a hydration bladder fits too.

Riding mostly lift-served with a lighter load? The Nirvana 22 Women and Nirvana 18 Women are the smaller sizes of the same pack.

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, and the helmet carrier holds your lid on the outside while you skin.

Fitting it

The women's version has a women-specific shape, shoulder straps shaped for a woman's frame and a tailored hip belt, so the load sits on your hips rather than dragging on your shoulders. Check the fit with the pack loaded: the hip belt should sit on the top of your hip bones, and the shoulder straps should wrap your shoulders without gapping or pressing on your neck.

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

1030 g empty, for a 28 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.