If you are looking to buy a new snowboard backpack this review might help you. NITRO Slash 25 Pro is one of the best rated backpacks in the market, but there isn’t a lot of info on it even on Nitro website apart from the basic description. I decided on the Slash 25 because of two reasons. I have already owned an old Nitro Slash backpack and I loved it, it lasted for a really really long time. And secondly, half of today’s backpacks seem to put the “hipster” look in front of usability and as a bit of a technical geek that gets excited by all the features and details a retro looking backpack that resembles something from my grandpas closet just doesn’t do it for me:). Slash 25 on the other hand looks like a regular technical backpack that offers you just about everything you need from a snowboard backpack.
NITRO Slash 25 Pro Backpack
Slash 25 is a 25 liter backpack. It comes in two colors, golden mud (in the photos) and almost black. It has a vertical board carry system, backcountry safety gear organisation pocket, external hiking pole stashing and gear loops, internal dry gear sleeve, fleece lined goggle sleeve, and hydration compatible capabilities. It comes in one size, but on the back side you can adjust the length of the backpack according to your height by moving the strap that holds the top end of the shoulder straps.
The backcountry safety gear organisation pocket will comfortably fit your probe and shovel, there is a neoprene pocket for your avalanche transceivers (avalanche beacon) and most important – all these things comfortably fit into the pocket with lots of room to spare. Lots of backpacks have avalanche gear designated pockets but the it turns out it is impossible to squeeze a medium sized shovel into the pocket. With Nitro Slash everything goes in easily.
The main pocket has a couple of additional organisation pockets. There is a dry pocket that will keep your electronics dry even if you get snow inside of your backpack.
Backpack has a standard vertical snowboard carry system with two wide straps to attach your board to the backpack. Straps are reinforced and rubberized so the snowboard edges don’t cut into your backpack. With the growing popularity of splitboarding there is also a way to attach your splitboard or even skis for that matter. There is a loop on each side of the backpack that helps you mount your skis or splitboard.
There is also a way to fix your trekking poles during the descent or whenever you don’t need them.
I am not really sure what else could you ask from a snowboard backpack and is missing from the Nitro Slash 25. From AK lines, to weekend park days it got you covered.