Ortovox

Switchback 32L Backpack

What Our Gearhead® Experts Are Saying:

"I have been running the Switchback 32L Backpack on full alpine touring days where the objective requires skis, crampons, skins, and safety gear all at once, and the organizational system genuinely keeps everything sorted and accessible without turning every gear retrieval into a scavenger hunt. The Full Contact Light Back system distributes heavier loads far more comfortably than I expected from a pack this technically focused, and the quick-attach parallel ski fastener lets me get skis on and off without removing the pack on complex terrain."

Some days in the mountains require more than a race vest and a prayer. The Ortovox Switchback 32L Backpack was built for those days, combining the organization of a technical mountaineering pack with the ski-specific carry systems of a dedicated touring pack so you never have to compromise on what you bring into the mountains or how you access it when conditions change.

Ortovox designed the Switchback around a dedicated safety compartment that fits your probe, shovel, and shovel handle alongside a smaller ice axe for immediate emergency access without digging through your main gear. A separate external pocket stashes crampons, climbing skins, or a rope for quick retrieval without removing the pack, and two external ice axe attachments handle the technical tools your objective demands alongside a third internal slot for a smaller axe. Quick-attach parallel ski carry, A-frame, and diagonal carry options cover every possible approach and descent scenario, and a helmet net with daisy chains and rope fastening system handles the logistics of long alpine approaches. The Full Contact Light Back system keeps even heavier loads distributed comfortably across the back, and a 3-point compression system pulls the load tight when the pack is only partially filled on shorter tours.