Updated November 29th, 2023
Skiing involves a lot of equipment. You start with your ski boots and skis, then add a helmet, gloves, goggles, poles, outerwear, mid layers, and on and on. What is the best way to get to the ski resort with all this stuff? A good ski boot bag can help you transport your ski boots and ski gear and keep it from being a disorganized wreck. We are here to help, with our years of skiing and ski travel experience, with the best ski boot bags out there right now.
See our top picks below for the best ski boot bags available today. Keep reading for the rest of our recommendations, a guide to ski boot bags, and a FAQ.
The 10 Best Ski Boot Bags Of 2024
- BEST OVERALL: Dakine Boot Pack DLX 75L
- TOP PICK: Outdoor Master Polar Bear Boot Bag
- BEST VALUE: Athletico Ski Boot Bag
- BEST HEATED: Kulkea Thermal Trekker
- BEST SKI AND BOOT BAG: Dakine Boundary Ski Roller Bag
- Backcountry Ski and Snowboard Boot Bag
- Wildhorn Boot Bag
- evo 50L Boot Pack
- Thule RoundTrip 60L Boot Backpack
- Unigear Ski Boot Bag
- The 10 Best Ski Boot Bags Of 2024
- 1. Best Overall – Dakine Boot Pack DLX 75L
- 6. Top Pick – Outdoor Master Polar Bear Boot Bag
- 3. Best Value – Athletico Ski Boot Bag
- 4. Best Heated Boot Bag – Kulkea Thermal Trekker
- 5. Best Ski & Boot Bag – Dakine Boundary Ski Roller Bag
- 2. Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Boot Bag
- 7. Wildhorn Brimhall Ski Boot Bag
- 8. – evo 50L Boot Pack
- 9. Thule RoundTrip 60L Boot Backpack
- 10. Unigear Ski Boot Bag
- Ski Boot Bag Guide
- Ski Boot Bag FAQ
- You might also like
1. Best Overall – Dakine Boot Pack DLX 75L
Specifications
- Size – 24 x 17 x 14 inches
- Volume – 75L
- Features – Dedicated boot compartment, pockets for helmets, gloves and accessories
The Dakine Boot Pack DLX 75L is a great way to keep your gear organized and protected while traveling. Dakine is well known for making very durable and high quality gear. We have been using a roller ski bag from them for years and it’s still going strong through a lot of trips and flights. If I wanted a boot bag that I know was going to last, Dakine would be my first place to look.
Dakine makes a variety of different boot bags. The Boot Pack DXL 75L is a little larger where you have some extra space to easily fit in all your gear and clothes without the zippers bursting at the seam. 50L and 55L bags can sometimes be a challenge to get everything in and the zippers shut.
This bag has a dedicated pocket in the back for ski boots. It has a large compartment on top that can fit a ski helmet. It’s got another large pocket in front that can fit your gloves, goggles, and other accessories. It’s got straps on the outside that can be used for holding skis. It’s also got some extra side pockets for small items.
The bag is made from recycled 600D Polyester Ripstop with padding and heat reflective material on the inside.
The bag has backpack straps that are fixed. They are not removable or stowable. The bag has enough padding on the straps and back to be comfortable to wear and walk around with, with ski boots in the back compartment
See our review of the Dakine Boot Pack DLX 75L to learn more.
What we liked:
- Very durable construction
- Plenty of room for your ski boots and all the rest of your gear.
- Padded to protect your boots and gear
- Available in a lot of colors
- Separate compartment for boots and gear
What we didn’t like:
- Backpack straps can’t be removed
- No drainage grommets or holes in the boot compartment
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6. Top Pick – Outdoor Master Polar Bear Boot Bag
Specifications
- Size – 16 x 14 x 17 inches
- Volume – 50L
- Features – Side pockets for boots, stowable straps, large clothing and helmet compartment
The Outdoor Master Polar Bear Boot Bag is a larger sized 50L bag with side compartments for storing ski boots. The side compartment allows a larger center pocket for storing clothing, helmets, goggles, and other gear. I have been using this bag for car trips for a few years now. This is my favorite bag for keeping gear organized for day skiing out of my car with maybe a hotel overnight.
This bag has a large padded center compartment that I can easily fit all of my ski gear into including helmet, gloves, goggles, jacket, pants, baselayers, socks, mid layers, etc.. The 2 side pockets for boot storage have drainage at the bottom so they won’t fill up with melted snow and be a soggy mess. The backpack straps can be stowed if you don’t need them for carrying it.
The side pockets make it much easier to load and unload ski boots since they aren’t underneath and behind the backpack straps. You can pull boots in and out easily without disturbing the other compartments or flipping the bag around or upside down. The downside to this bag style is that it takes up more space. I do not prefer it when flying somewhere and overall space is at a higher premium. When I’m skiing out of my car it’s my go to bag.
See our full review of the Outdoor Master Polar Bear Boot Bag to learn more.
What we liked:
- Easily fits all your ski and snowboard gear in a neat organized manner
- Well made heavy duty feeling construction
- Lots of compartments and pockets for storing gear and accessories
- Built in drainage in the boot compartments for melting snow
What we didn’t like:
- Side boot pocket bags take up more space
- It is too big to use as a carry on bag for flying
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Get 20 %OFF with code BFCM20 and more during OUTDOOR MASTER BLACK FRIDAY SALE
3. Best Value – Athletico Ski Boot Bag
Specifications
- Size – 15 x 15 x 18 inches
- Volume – 50L
- Features – Low price, side boot compartments, stowable backpack, and waist strap
The Athletico Ski Boot Bag is one of the most popular and cheapest boot bags available on Amazon. My best ski friend has used on for years and it’s held up better than I would have ever imagined given how cheap it is. It has side loading boot pockets. It has a large center compartment that can fit all of your other gear including helmet and outerwear. On the back, it has padded stowable backpack and waist straps.
This style bag takes up more space since the boots are stored beside everything else instead of underneath. It makes an easier to access bag since you don’t have to turn it around or flip it over to get your ski boots in and out.
The bag is made of durable materials that have been holding up well to use on a lot of flights and road trips. It’s not expensive but it won’t fall apart either.
What we liked:
- Good value for the price
- Lots of space inside for your helmet, goggles and other gear
- Durable and long lasting construction
- Available in 4 colors
- Boot pockets have drains
What we didn’t like:
- Side pocket bags take up more space
- No shoulder strap
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4. Best Heated Boot Bag – Kulkea Thermal Trekker
Specifications
- Size – 14.5 x 18 x 20 inches
- Volume – 62L
- Features – Heated side boot pockets, stowable straps, helmet sling
The Kulkea Thermal Trekker has heated side boot compartments so you can start your day with toasty warm feet. The 2 side pockets are heated and have 3 heat settings. Low is good enough for most uses. High should only be used for a short period for a quick warm up. The heaters can run off 12 volt or 110 volt sources so you can use them at home or in a car on the way.
The bag is made with heavy duty feeling materials and has plenty of padding to protect gear. The center pocket is large enough to fit all your gloves, goggles, clothes, and other gear. The middle compartment is not heated but it’s close enough to the heated areas that it warms up also. There is a helmet sling you can use to store your helmet outside the bag if you put too much other stuff inside.
The bag has padded backpack straps and a waist belt to make carrying it easier. They can be stowed when not in use.
What we liked:
- Heated side pockets that can run off 12 volt or 110 volt sources
- 3 heat settings
- Large middle middle comparment that can hold a full ski days worth of gear
- Stowable helmet sling and backpack straps
What we didn’t like:
- High price
- Highest heat setting can damage moldable insoles
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5. Best Ski & Boot Bag – Dakine Boundary Ski Roller Bag
Specifications
- Size – 12 x 8 x 74 inches
- Volume – 116L
- Features – Removable boot bag, rollers, sinch straps, can hold skis and boots
The Dakine Fall Line Ski Roller Bag has a removable boot bag inside. It can be used to carry 1 pair of skis and a set of boots or 2 pairs of skis and no boots. This bag allows you to pack all your ski gear into 1 bag that has rollers. I have used an older version of this Dakine bag for about 10 years now and it’s still going strong after a lot of flights.
Airlines let you bring a ski bag and boot bag and combine them as only 1 checked bag fee. It leaves you with 2 awkward to carry bags to run around the airport with. Doing it with a ski bag that can hold your boots gives you 1 large awkward bag and it’s got wheels making it easer to carry across the airport or go up and down escalators.It leaves you with a free hand that can be used for another bag.
You can configure the bag for how you want to carry your gear. When I travel alone for skiing I can easily get a few days worth of gear into this bag and not need another bag. When I’m traveling with my wife we put 2 pairs of skis in it and our boots go in another bag with the rest of our ski clothes.
See our review of the Dakine Fall Line Ski Roller Bag to learn more.
What we liked:
- You can get all your ski gear including skis, boots, poles, helmet, and outwear all into one bag with wheels
- You can use it as with 1 pair of skis and a pair of boots or 2 pairs of skis
- Durable heavy duty construction
What we didn’t like:
- High price
- The bag can get heavy when loaded full with several days worth of ski gear.
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2. Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Boot Bag
Specifications
- Size – 13 x 24 x 11 inches
- Volume – 38L
- Features – Stowable straps, can be integrated with their ski bag, lots of compartments and gear hooks
The Backcountry Ski & Snowboard Boot Bag is made from heavy duty PVC tarp material and has lots of storage compartments. It has one large compartment that opens clam shell style making it super easy to load and unload ski boots. It has a few other smaller compartments including a fleece lined goggle compartment on top.
The boot compartment takes up the majority of the bags 38 liter volume. If you want to store a helmet or outerwear, it has to go in with the ski boots. If you are one who just likes to stuff everything in one big bag, this is the bag for you.
The bag has stowable backpack straps and hooks that integrate with the Backcountry roller ski bag. You can easily attach the boot bag to it and roll them around together. It also has water bottle pockets on the side and lots of gear loops so you can attach things to the bag for running around the airport.
What we liked:
- Heavy duty PVC construction
- Several compartments for storing gear
- Large clamshell opening makes it easy to load boots
- Stowable backpack straps
- Fleece lined goggle compartment
What we didn’t like:
- High cost
- No separate compartment for storing helmet separate from boots
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7. Wildhorn Brimhall Ski Boot Bag
Specifications
- Size – 14 x 13 x 19 inches
- Volume – 56L
- Features – Stowable backpack straps and shoulder strap, separate boot compartment with drains
The Wildhorn Brimhall Ski Boot Bag has several carrying options and a lot of compartments for storing gear. It opens in a clamshell manner with a large separated boot compartment with drain holes and water resistant material.
On the other side of the bag are 4 large compartments. 2 of them can hold a ski helmet or large clothes like outerwear. 1 is fleeced line for holding goggles. The helmet compartments will just barely hold a larger Large or XL size helmet. I can get the zipper to shut on an XL Smith Nexus just barely. A large Wildhorn Drift will fit with no problem. There is a large zipper pocket on the outside. There are no water bottle pockets.
The bag comes with thick padded backpack straps that can be stowed. They also include a shoulder carrying strap that can be removed. The bag itself has a couple of carrying handles too.
See our review of the Wildhorn Brimhall Ski Boot Bag to learn more.
What we liked:
- Separate compartments allow for more organization
- Fleece lined goggle compartment
- Boot compartment has drains and water resistant materials
- Has several handles for carrying
- Has stowable backpack straps along with a detachable shoulder strap
What we didn’t like:
- XL and larger L size helmets are difficult to zip into helmet compartment
- No water bottle pocket on the outside
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Get 35% OFF orders over $100 and more during WILDHORN OUTFITTERS HOLIDAY SALE
8. – evo 50L Boot Pack
Specifications
- Size – 19 x 13 x 13 inches
- Volume – 50L
- Features – Separate boot compartment, mesh water bottle pocket, made with recycled materials
The evo 50L Boot Pack has a tarpauline lined boot compartment and 2 large compartments for storing other gear. It has enough space to store all your ski gear for a day including helmet, goggles, gloves, and outwear. It is made with recycled 600D Ripstop material on the outside.
It has 2 large mesh side pockets that you can use for carrying water bottles or other wet gear after skiing. It has 1 top loading and 1 front loading gear compartment. You can have some gear in the easy access top compartment instead of hunting for everything in 1 large compartment.
It has padded backstraps for carrying and 1 handle on top. The backpack straps are not stowable.
What we liked:
- Made with recycled 600D Ripstop material
- PVC coated tarpauline lined boot compartment
- 2 large gear compartments for helmet, goggles and other clothes and gear
- 2 mesh side pockets for water bottles and wet gear
What we didn’t like:
- Backpack straps are not stowable
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9. Thule RoundTrip 60L Boot Backpack
Specifications
- Size – 14 x 14 x 23 inches
- Volume – 60L
- Features – Crushproof goggle compartment, separate boot compartment,
The Thule Roundtrip 60L Boot Backpack is a well thought out and well made piece of equipment. It has a large boot compartment that opens from the back. It has a large gear storage compartment that can open from the front of the bag or top of the bag depending on how you like to use it. They put a large heat molded and fleece lined goggle compartment on top so your boots won’t crush your goggles. There are a couple of zipper pockets on the outside too.
The bag has well padded backpack straps for carrying and a top and side handle making it easy to carry. The backpack straps are not stowable. This bag can be attached to the Thule Roundtrip Roller Ski bag making it easy to carry all your gear together.
What we liked:
- Large heat molded goggle compartment
- Can load clothes and gear from the top or side
- Separate boot compartment with drain grommets
- Several outside zipper compartments for small items
- Can attach to Thule Roundtrip roller ski bag for easy carrying
What we didn’t like:
- Backpack straps are not stowable
- Too bag for any chance at being a carryon bag
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10. Unigear Ski Boot Bag
Specifications
- Size – 12 x 13 x 20 inches
- Volume – 50L
- Features – Separate boot compartment, ski and snowboard straps, front and top gear compartments
The Unigear Ski Boot Bag is the most popular boot bag on Amazon. It has a lot of good features and plenty of space to fit gear including helmets and goggles. It has a large compartment in back for ski boots that is tarpaulin lined. One detail missed is that the boot compartment has no drainage holes. You can’t put boots away wet in the bag.
The top compartment is big enough to fit a size large helmet. You will need to nest it with the top of the ski boots to fit. This means that you need to load boots into the bag before loading other gear into it. The bag is not stiff enough to stay standing after removing boots. The weight of other gear will collapse the sides and make it fall over. Boots in first when loading this bag and boots out last when unloading it.
The bag has a set of straps on the sides and front that can be used to attach skis or a snowboard to it for hiking. It has a bunch of Molle loops as well for attaching gear.
What we liked:
- Enough space to put all your gear
- 2 storage compartments for helmet, goggle and clothing
- Straps on the back and sides that can be used to attach skis or a snowboard
What we didn’t like:
- No drainage holes in the boot compartment
- Bag will not stand up after removing boots
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Ski Boot Bag Guide
There a bunch of things to consider when looking for a ski boot bag. Do you want to carry just ski boots or ski boots and a lot of other gear. Are you flying with this bag or just using it to organize at home and in the car. Do you want something made with recycled materials? Keep reading below for all the answer to these and more.
Bag size
Ski boot bags come in different shapes and sizes. There are 50L up to 100L boot bags out there. 40L is about as small as you can go and still fit a pair of adult ski boots and nothing else. A 50L bag can fit a helmet, goggles, and other gear in with the boots. Bigger bags than that can fit everything plus some change of clothes and other things for your trip.
The size limit for a carry on bag for most US Airlines is 22 x 14 x 9 inches. Some give you an extra inch or 2. None of the bags we recommend technically fit the dimensions of a carry on bag when they are packed full. The Backcountry Boot bag comes the closest. If the bag isn’t stuffed full there is a good chance you could fit it as a carry on. If they check it has to fit inside a box that is 22 x 14 x 19 inches. If you can stuff it in there it works.
Bag Style
There are 2 main styles of ski boot bags out there right now. Bags where the boots go in a pocket underneath the gear compartments. You load the boots through a zipper pocket under the backpack straps. The second common style is where the boots are in pockets that are next to a center gear pocket.
When it comes to loading and unloading the bag, the side pockets are easier because the boots can be loaded and unloaded with the center pocket empty or full. You also don’t have to turn the bag around to get to a back pocket. With a bag where the boots are underneath, you have to nest gear like the helmet over the top of the boots. It’s very hard to load the boots after the bag is filled with other gear. Bags where the boots go underneath gear have a smaller footprint and take up less car space.
There are other styles of bags such as Wildhorn Brimhall and Backcountry bag that open clamshell style. These work well if you like to stuff everything in with your gear. The Wildhorn has a dividing panel between the boots and everything else. The Backcountry bag does not.
Combined Ski and Boot Bags
There is another category of ski boot bag which is a ski bag that can also hold ski boots. These are large roller ski bags that have pockets in them for holding ski boots in addition to skis. I personally use this style of bag for flying with skis. I like being able to get everything into 1 large roller bag that is easy to roll around the airport. It does leave you with 1 large heavy bag to muscle onto rental car shuttles and elevators if you need to use one. I prefer that over a separate ski and boot bag where neither one rolls and both have to be carried.
Heated Boot Bags
If you like having warm boots to put your feet in at the start of the day, a heated boot bag is a great option. These have heating elements around the boot pockets. You can plug them in and heat your ski boots up on the way to the mountain. Nothing is worse than starting the day with cold ski boots.
Boot Bag Materials
Most boot bags are made with some kind of nylon rip stop or water resistant canvas shell and some padding. Inside there should be a water resistant lining in the compartment that holds the boots. That compartment should have some drain holes also so melting snow can escape. Bags like the Dakine 50L Boot Pack and evo 50L Boot Pack are made with recycled materials. Hopefully, more companies will pick up on that trend in the future.
Ski Boot Bag FAQ
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Kate Ryan
Co-Founder & Editor
Kate is from Taiwan and came to the US after meeting her husband Doug. She has degrees in Fashion Design, Sales, and Marketing. The first thing we did her first winter here was go straight to the mountains and start ski lessons. These days she is an expert black diamond skier and waits for no one at the bottom. She also loves hiking and biking. She comes from Taiwan where people ride scooters way more than cars. She would rather bike or scooter and only drives when she absolutely has to.
kate@adventuregearinsider.com
