Best Snowboard Bags of 2024
TRAVEL TO SNOWBOARDING DESTINATIONS EASIER WITH PADDED LUGGAGE TO PROTECT YOUR BOARD
Home > Gear Reviews > Snow
February 20, 2024
A good snowboard bag can pack your board and keep it safe during travel—whether you are flying, driving, or shuttle busing.
To find the best snowboard bag, we loaded them up with gear, wheeled them for miles on mud, ice, gravel, and sidewalks, left them out during snowstorms to test waterproofing, and stacked them in the car for trips to Tahoe.
I am an avid snowboarder with over 20 years experience. As a former pro ski patroller (which I did on my snowboard), former competitive snowboarder and SAR K-9 Handler, I aim for at least 50 days on the hill each year. I've flown with boards to Canada and Utah and know all too well the perils of having to choose a bag for travel that fits everything and isn’t too heavy.
After testing snowboard bags side-by-side over three months, I learned the pros and cons of many popular snowboard bag models. Here are the best snowboard bags for most kinds of riders, no matter your gear, budget, or type of travel.
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SNOWBOARD BAGS COMPARISON TABLE
| SNOWBOARD BAG | TREELINE AWARD | BEST FOR | LENGTHS (CM) | WHEELS | PADDED | CAPACITY |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| evo Deluxe Snowroller Bag | Best Overall Read why |
Road trips, air travel, multiple sports, couples and families | 165 cm, 175 cm and 195 cm weighs about 12 pounds empty | yes | yes | Two boards, bindings (one set removed), two pairs of boots |
| Dakine Freestyle | Best Affordable Read why |
beginners, road-only travel | 157 cm and 165 cm weighs about 2.2 pounds unloaded | no | yes | One board with bindings |
| Dakine Low Roller | Best Wheeled Read why |
air travel for one person, when you have to roll your gear a distance to get to the lodge, condo, or hotel | 157 cm, 165 cm, 175 cm | yes | one-side | Two boards, one set of bindings and on pair of boots and outerwear |
| Sportube Prospector | Best for Air Travel Read why |
Air travel, multiple boards, couples, and staying in hotels | 170cm and 191cm | yes | yes | Two boards with bindings (one pair removed) and boots |
| Dakine High Roller | Best for Multiple Boards Read why |
Road trips, air travel, multiple boards, exposure to the elements | 165cm and 175cm | yes | yes | Two Boards, one set bindings removed and 1-2 pairs of boots and outerwear |
| Dakine Tour | Best Lightweight Read why |
Local Travel, Road Trips and Occasional Air Travel | 157cm, 165cm, 175cm | no | yes | One snowboard, boots and bindings |
| Sportube Series 3 | Best Hard Case Read why |
Shipping gear, Air travel | This is adjustable in length from 42” to 72” or 107cm to 183 cm | yes | no | Two boards and boots with bindings |
THE WINNERS
BEST OVERALL SNOWBOARD BAG: EVO DELUXE SNOW ROLLER
Capacity: Two boards, bindings (one set removed), two pairs of boots
Available sizes: 165 cm, 175 cm and 195 cm weighs about 12 pounds empty
Wheels: Yes
Padded:
Best for: Road trips, air travel, multiple sports, couples and families
What we liked: Well–designed, lots of pockets, water-resistant material, packing cubes, straps
What we didn’t like: Heavier than other bags, smallest size is 165
The evo Deluxe Snow Roller snowboarding bag was a surprise overall winner for best snowboard travel bag. I have been a long-time shopper at evo for all my winter gear needs, but this is my first experience with their in-house branded gear. The Deluxe Snow Roller beat out name-brand snowboarding bags due to its snowboarding-specific design and competitive price. With thoughtful packing choices, most riders should be able to fit a week's worth of gear and clothing into this high-capacity board bag, eliminating the need for extra luggage. Whether you are traveling by air, car, or other transport, the evo Deluxe Snow Roller bag can get the job done.
EVO DELUXE SNOW ROLLER
The empty interior of the evo Deluxe Snow Roller bag. Photo courtesy Sara Kruglinski
The fully packed interior of the evo Deluxe Snow Roller bag. Photo courtesy Sara Kruglinski.
In addition to being a great option for an individual, the evo Deluxe Snow Roller bag also works well for carrying multiple boards or even skis making it a versatile choice for your gear closet. I personally just recommended this bag to a friend of mine who was looking for a bag to share with her husband on snowboarding trips.
Although a board bag seems to be a very simple design and at its most basic function needs to carry snowboards, the Deluxe Snowroller bag has so many details and little extras that take it over the top. Out of all the bags we tested, this bag had the most external pockets. The pockets are thoughtfully placed so they won't impose on the space where your bindings should be. The two end pockets are large enough for boots. Since I personally prefer to pack my boots inside and use the external pockets for clothing, this was a design feature I liked.
The top of the bag features a water-resistant material that helps keep your gear dry from rain or melting snow on the outside. The zippers are smooth and easy to use, even with cold hands at the end of a long day riding.
The evo’s functional wheels. Photo courtesy Sara Kruglinski.
The smooth zippers on the evo Deluxe Snow Roller bag. Photo courtesy Sara Kruglinski.
I typically travel with at least two boards for myself – sometimes both boards and skis – and this bag can carry it all for me. However, I wish this bag was offered in a smaller size – as someone who rides a 145cm board, I have a lot of dead space on the top of the bag. This extra length might be an issue for some smaller riders, who don’t want to have to fill with extra gear.
The fabric is bluesign approved with a minimum impact on people and the environment. Evo donates 2% of the purchase price of these bags to youth-serving organizations in their communities. This bag has 116 five-star reviews on evo.com and a 4.8 overall rating. If you are looking for a one and done bag at a reasonable price, this can do everything.
BEST AFFORDABLE SNOWBOARD BAG: DAKINE FREESTYLE SNOWBOARD BAG
Capacity: One board with bindings
Available sizes: 157 cm and 165 cm weighs about 2.2 pounds unloaded
Wheels: No
Padded:
Best for: beginners, road-only travel
What we liked: Ultralight and folds up super small and compact for easy off season storage, bluesign-approved
What we didn’t like: Padding is only on the bottom, fewer pockets and features
The Dakine Freestyle Snowboard Bag is the lowest priced bag we tested that met all our requirements for a quality snowboard bag. It has padding and a high-quality zipper on the main compartment. It is perfect as an entry level bag for those who are commuting to the mountain in a car or only plan a trip occasionally.
DAKINE FREESTYLE SNOWBOARD BAG
I love this bag for keeping it simple and protecting my board in my car all winter while going back and forth between home and the mountain. This could also work for air travel, but I would want to make sure that I added some padding to the top to protect my bindings better.
This bag folds up to be the smallest of all the bags we tested. This is especially important if you live in an apartment or any area where storage space for your gear is a major concern. With one main compartment and one outside pocket, it is easy to find all your gear. You don’t have to guess which pocket something is in, as you only have one pocket.
The pocket extends down into the bag and fills the gap between the bindings, which is a pretty genius design and helps keep the board in place. If you are creative with your packing, you can fit a decent amount of gear in this bag, especially for car trips where you aren’t having to carry the bag to and from a lot of places.
If you are on a budget and looking for a way to keep your board protected as you drive to and from the mountain, this snowboard bag is a great choice. The bluesign-approved 100% recycled polyester is a huge plus for us, too.
BEST SNOWBOARD BAG WITH WHEELS: DAKINE LOW ROLLER
Capacity: Two boards, one set of bindings and on pair of boots and outerwear
Available sizes: 157 cm, 165 cm, 175 cm
Wheels: Yes
Padded:
Best for: air travel for one person, when you have to roll your gear a distance to get to the lodge, condo, or hotel
What we liked: Holds a single rider’s gear plus a second board, quality zippers, handle attaches to wheeled suitcase, durable
What we didn’t like: Fewer pockets, smaller capacity
As an upgrade from the non-wheeled options, the Dakine Low Roller is our winner for best wheeled snowboard bag. It has the same heavy duty urethane wheels as the other wheeled Dakine bags and can roll smoothly on packed snow, ice, dirt and asphalt. If you are looking for an upgrade from a non-wheeled bag this is a great option.
DAKINE LOW ROLLER
Lots of space in the interior of the Dakine Low Roller. Photo courtesy Sara Kruglinski.
I tested this bag on a road trip and was able to hold a weekend's worth of gear and clothing. Unlike some of the bags we tested, the Dakine Low Roller is not overkill for a short trip and you don’t have a lot of floppy space.
If your weekend away involves a lot of walking around with your gear, this wheeled option makes it easier to get around the hotel, airport, or the resort parking lot. I found this bag very easy to handle and throw around. Since it is smaller, it is hard to overpack and it didn't feel too heavy, even when fully loaded.
The Dakine Low Roller is a great bag for a single person with one or two boards. I appreciate the smaller available sizes for riders with shorter boards. My 145 cm board fits easily in the 157-sized bag without a ton of extra room. I can fit enough in this bag for a weekend away, but anything longer will require a second bag, or stopping to do laundry.
This bag is fully padded so it can handle being tossed around the airport or in the back of a pickup truck. Some versions feature robust water-repellent fabrics, which is a plus for traveling in snow and wet conditions. There is a packing cube for boots or clothing, which helps keep things organized. This bag also packs down smaller for under bed storage than the other wheeled bags we tested.
The only real downside to this Dakine Low Roller is that it has fewer pockets than others we tested. I like being able to keep different items organized in pockets vs. opening a bag and having socks and base layers exploding out of it. There are fewer features in the Dakine Low Roller than other bags we tested, fewer handles, and straps. This really is a simple wheeled bag, and the lower price reflects this, which is great for a rider on a budget who wants to upgrade to a wheeled design.
Overall, this is a great entry-level bag suitable for any level of rider. The bluesign-approved fabrics are a plus, and it has over 4 stars from consumer reviews on REI and EVO.
BEST SNOWBOARD BAG FOR AIR TRAVEL: SPORTUBE PROSPECTOR
Capacity: Two boards with bindings (one pair removed) and boots
Available sizes: 170cm and 191cm
Wheels: Yes
Padded:
Best for: Air travel, multiple boards, couples, and staying in hotels
What we liked: Heavily padded on all sides with hard-sided nose and tail, well-designed bag with lots of pockets and details
What we didn’t like: Heavy and bulky to store in the off season
The Sportube Prospector is our winner for best snowboard bag for air travel. It is a hybrid soft/hard bag, with thoughtfully placed areas of Gear Shield Technology. By straddling the line between hard and soft, it protects your gear while making it lighter-weight for you and the baggage handlers involved with air travel.It has the safety of a hard case with the liveability and convenience of a soft bag.
SPORTUBE PROSPECTOR
Internal organization of the Sportube Prospector. Photo courtesy Sara Kruglinski.
The pad you can use between boards or other gear of the Sportube Prospector. Photo courtesy Sara Kruglinski.
My 145 cm board didn’t quite fill the length of the 170 cm smaller bag but I still felt that it was safe in this bag due the air-travel-friendly extra padding. The Sportube Prospector has enough capacity to carry multiple boards and boots with outerwear and extra clothing and gear.
This bag is designed extremely well for snowboarding and even includes a rolled-up pad that can be used between boards or to keep other gear from getting scratched on the boards. The Prospector has the most gear protection features of all the bags we tested. If I was concerned about damage during travel this is the bag I would choose to take with me.
The padding is thicker all around the bag and the fabric is durable, and it is resistant to scrapes and scuffs. There is also an internal mesh pocket for small items or valuables.
Once you arrive at your destination, this bag is very easy to live out of. The extra thick and stiff padding holds its shape well while open so you can find all your socks and shirts. With the Prospector, I don’t feel the need to unpack at my destination, I can easily find what I need in the bag.
The Sportube Prospector was one of the largest bags that we tested. It does not pack down as small as some of the other bags due to the structure of the padding. If storage space is a concern for you–like if you live in a small apartment— this may be a deterrent. This bag is also overkill for most casual weekend users. Unless you can fill the bag with multiple gear items and clothing, you will have lots of extra room and it does not compress down like other models we tested. It is really designed for longer trips and or multiple boards and boots.
This is a new bag, with limited reviews available. The Gearshield technology is promising with high density polyethylene sheathing at the wheeled end of the bag similar to the material in the hard case. This is the bag I would recommend for any air travel, it is designed to withstand the rigors of being tossed around and squished by baggage claim.
BEST SNOWBOARD BAG FOR MULTIPLE BOARDS: DAKINE HIGH ROLLER
Capacity: Two Boards, one set bindings removed and 1-2 pairs of boots and outerwear
Available sizes: 165cm and 175cm
Wheels: Yes
Padded:
Best for: Road trips, air travel, multiple boards, exposure to the elements
What we liked: Super weather resistant, large capacity, compression straps, hooks on luggage
What we didn’t like: More expensive than other bags, zippers are harder to pull on than? other weather-resistant bags
The Dakine High Roller is a great choice for a high-capacity bag for couples or long trips. I love the weather-resistant finish on the material–I let this bag sit out in a snowstorm to see how it handled. Once I brought it inside, the snow melted and the water just rolled off. I also appreciate that the top handle has a velcro strap that can hook to other luggage so you only have to use one hand to wheel it around the airport or hotel.
It also has features that make packing easy. There are compression straps around the middle of the bag, so if you aren’t packed to capacity you don’t have gear sloshing around inside. There are lots of options for packing the Dakine High Roller, with two packing cubes included and two external pockets.
The Dakine High Roller bag is fully padded for the rigors of navigating an airport and getting tossed into a loaded down pickup truck with friends for a long road trip.
DAKINE HIGH ROLLER
The bottom wheels of the Dakine High Roller. Photo courtesy Sara Kruglinski.
The Dakine High Roller almost won our Best Overall Snowboard Bag because it is a high capacity well-designed bag with compression straps and weather proofing options, but ultimately the EVO Deluxe Snow Roller won because it has more pockets and small details that make it stand out as a winner.
The external pockets on this bag are flat stash pockets, so most of your gear is meant to be packed on the inside of the bag. The two packing cubes help with organization, but most of the gear and clothing needs to be packed inside while traveling. The pockets make this a less livable design than other bags we tested, meaning it is harder to find what you need in your bag and you won’t be as organized out of the bag in the hotel. This may not matter as much to you if you are using this just for gear and bringing secondary luggage for clothing.
The weather-resistant material of the Dakine High Roller bag. Photo courtesy Sara Kruglinski.
This bag is shorter than the EVO Deluxe Snow Roller and the Sportube Prospector bags, making it tighter to fit everything for a longer trip. However, because it is smaller,t is lighter and easier to carry around.
Overall, the Dakine High Roller is an excellent choice for a multiple board bag. You can easily pack lots of hardgoods into it without much thought. No matter what finish you choose, they are both bluesign approved. The weather-resistant materials keep your gear dry. The wheels are super easy to roll on all surfaces even snow and ice or dirt. The High Roller is Dakine’s most feature-packed bag, and has a 4.8 star rating on their website. This is a solid choice for any rider.
BEST LIGHTWEIGHT SNOWBOARD BAG: DAKINE TOUR BAG
Capacity: One snowboard, boots and bindings
Available sizes: 157cm, 165cm, 175cm
Wheels: No
Padded:
Best for: Local Travel, Road Trips and Occasional Air Travel
What we liked: All-over padding, easy to store, lockable zipper, shoulder strap has padding, affordable
What we didn’t like: Fewer features, smaller capacity
The Dakine Tour Bag is our winner for best lightweight board bag. It is ideal for road trips and keeping your gear together in one place. If you aren’t super committed to getting a huge bag and you are mostly planning on driving to your destinations, this bag is an excellent choice.
DAKINE TOUR BAG
The internal storage zipper. Photo courtesy Sara Kruglinski.
The external flat pocket. Photo courtesy Sara Kruglinski.
The Tour Bag design is simple–one external flat pocket and large zipper with the internal storage. I can fit my board with bindings attached and my boots and some outerwear in this bag, though there isn’t room for much else.
I love the all-over padding on the Dakine Tour Bag, making it a great choice when there might be other ski and snowboard bags loaded on top of it. If storage space is a concern, this bag packs down small and flat. This makes it my favorite bag for off-season storage. Alternately, you can store your board bindings and boots in it over summer and it keeps everything together.
The padded shoulder strap really makes a difference compared to other bags we tested that are not padded. For example, it is more comfortable to carry than the Dakine Freestyle, and the extra handles offset the weight. It is hard to overload this bag since it is smaller, making it easier to toss into your car and go.
I like having this one with me for local travel because it keeps my boots and board together in my car and I don’t have to search for my gear once I get to the parking lot. I can easily bring the bag inside when I get home and keep my gear warm overnight, meaning less trips back and forth to my car. This bag also comes in lots of fun colors, making it easier to find your bag in a crowd.
The Dakine Tour Bag is a smaller bag, so for longer trips or air travel you will most likely need additional luggage. There are no straps to hold the board in place or extra packing cubes to keep things separate. It is a simple design and at the core of its function it will hold all your gear and keep it protected. It is a great lightweight, storage-friendly, inexpensive bag.
BEST HARD CASE SNOWBOARD BAG: SPORTUBE SERIES 3
Capacity: Two boards and boots with bindings
Available sizes: This is adjustable in length from 42” to 72” or 107cm to 183 cm
Wheels: Yes
Padded:
Best for: Shipping gear, Air travel
What we liked: Can used for shipping gear, five year warranty, simple design, can be used for other sports
What we didn’t like: Less features, harder to pack, expensive, bulky to store
The Sportube Series 3 is our winner for Best Hard Case Snowboard Bag and is excellent for protecting gear. Most airlines recommend a hard case for flying with your gear and, many even say they won’t be held liable for damaged gear unless it is packed into a hard- sided container. The Sportube Series 3 is the only case we tested that can actually be shipped on its own without an external box. It can hold two boards with two pairs of boots and bindings easily and offers the most protection from being squished during travel. For any type of long distance travel where others are handling your gear, this is a great choice.
SPORTUBE SERIES 3
The Sportube Series 3’s two-piece design allows for a customized fit. Photo courtesy Sara Kruglinski.
Your gear inside the Sportube Series 3 won’t be flopping around. Photo courtesy Sara Kruglinski.
The simple two-piece design allows for a customized fit. Your bag will only be as tall as your board, meaning your gear is tight inside and not flopping around.
The five year warranty is useful – in the event that something does happen to your Sportube it can be replaced. The Sportube comes with a pin that latches closed but they also sell a TSA-approved lock for extra protection.
The wheels on this case are smooth and roll well on most surfaces, even snow. The case itself is made of waterproof material so snow and rain will roll off the surface as you go from your car to the hotel and resort.
The two-piece design can allow moisture inside the tube, so it isn’t fully waterproof. But with normal use in a storm, it should keep things dry. It is simple and has fewer features but it also has less things to worry about breaking or failing. The hard case can also be attached to the roof of a car or ride in the exposed bed of a truck without getting soaked.
The biggest downside to a hard case is that it isn’t liveable. When you get to your hotel, everything has to come out; you can’t use it like a zippered bag and easily grab socks or gloves out of it without fully opening it and unpacking it. For most users who want the protection of a hard case, this isn’t a deal breaker. With careful packing or the use of additional boot bags, you can fit many more boards into this case than advertised, making it a great way to travel for families or larger groups. I was able to fit four similar sized boards with no boots or bindings attached.
The other thing to consider is that the Sportube Series 3 is a hard case that needs to be stored in the off season. It is rather large and bulky and can’t be compressed beyond its smallest size of 42 inches.
Overall, if you are looking for the protection of a hard case and have a lot of air travel or want to ship your gear, this is the bag for you. There are no zippers to break, and the simple design keeps your gear protected. It is made in the USA from 100% recycled plastic.
This bag has 4.5 out of 5 stars on Amazon, with customers praising the versatility of being able to use this hard case for both winter snowboarding, skiing and fishing. Many consumers mentioned using this case for flights and loved the protection they got from the hard case.
WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN SNOWBOARD BAGS / BUYING ADVICE
SIZE AND CAPACITY
You want to buy a bag to fit the size of your largest board. If you are traveling with a partner or children, it may be advantageous to have one large capacity bag to hold all the hardgoods and pack clothing separately in traditional luggage bags.
DURABILITY
In general, you get what you pay for in terms of durability. The more expensive bags are made with more durable materials, so if you plan to take many trips over many years, you can get one bag that will last decades.
You need to think about how your bag is going to be used most frequently–for example, are you driving with it in the back of your open bed pickup truck leaving it exposed to the elements or keeping it inside your Subaru? There are weatherproof options for bags that will have a lot of potential exposure to the elements.
MATERIAL
Many brands are using recycled materials and environmentally-friendly manufacturing, such as bluesign certified dyes, which is something that we consider when recommending a product.
PADDING
The quantity and type of trips that you have planned will dictate the type of padding that is necessary for your needs. In general, air travel or public transportation like trains and shuttle buses will require the most padding to properly protect your gear.
Car travel will require less padding. However you will need to consider your vehicle and how you plan to care for your bag and gear. Are you throwing it into a truck bed? Or are you placing it in the back of your Subaru with the back seats folded down? Or are you stacking multiple fully-loaded bags on top of each other? If you aren’t going to be gentle with your bag, more padding will allow it to be protected no matter what you are doing and what other gear it is stored with
WATERPOOFING
Depending on your travel style, you may want a more waterproof bag. Traveling by air, I have been stuck in a plane on a tarmac and watched my snowboard bag sit in the elements uncovered, getting soaked. You don’t want to have to worry about your boots, gear and clothing arriving wet to your destination. A more weather proof bag will ease worries, especially since you are often not in control of who is handling your bag and if they are keeping it dry.
LIVE-ABILITY
When you arrive at your hotel or destination, you ideally don't want to have to unpack everything. Instead, you can keep your stuff in your snowboard bag and "live" out of it. This is easy to do with some soft-sided snowboard bags, especially if they have easy-to-access pockets or packing cubes.
On the other hand, hard cases will need to be fully unpacked when you arrive at your destination as the board slides into those bags, making it near impossible to access socks or anything else that may also be in that bag.
Additionally, smaller bags with fewer pockets are usually harder to live out of and need to be fully unpacked to get to everything.
The more expensive and larger bags with lots of pockets allow for greater live-ability and you can easily remove your board while still keeping your socks and other gear in the bag organized and findable.
CARRYING OPTIONS
Wheels are your friend in most travel situations. Snowboard bags loaded with gear easily weigh 50-75 pounds. Carrying a bag to the car a few feet might not be a huge deal, but walking around an airport or hotel with a hand carry bag might end up being more difficult. Unless you are planning on only doing car trips and keeping your bag loaded in the car, or you have storage space restrictions, a wheeled bag is going to be your best option.
WHEELS
There are a few types of wheels–most are designed to work well on hard surfaces, like concrete and flooring. However, some wheels work better than others in snow, ice, and mud. We tested all the wheels in snow, ice, and mud to determine how they perform in real-world conditions.
COMPARTMENTS AND POCKETS
Depending on how you plan to use your bag, whether it is for hardgoods only or a combination of hard and softgoods, pockets are valuable ways to sort and organize all your gear. I love pockets for keeping my gloves and goggles separate from my boots and outerwear.
SECURITY FEATURES
Many of these bags have lockable zippers for the main compartment.
WEIGHT
You may want a lighter-weight bag if you find moving gear around to be unwieldy or if you are concerned about hitting the airline weight limit for your checked bag..
EASE OF USE
Snowboard bags are large and smaller people may have a difficult time with one over the other. The Dakine roller bags can attach to your other wheeled luggage. The EVO Deluxe Snow Roller has five handles, giving a user many options for grabbing and carrying through the airport.
STYLE AND DESIGN
If you have ever tried to grab your bag from the baggage claim at the airport, you know that everyone has the same “black bag.” There is something to be said for getting a bag in a color that is less common and easier to spot in the terminal. The Dakine bags sport the largest selection of colors amongst the bags we tested.
WHY DO I NEED A SNOWBOARD BAG?
There's a lot of reasons why a snowboarding bag is better than using a duffel or other luggage to carry your snowboarding gear. With a snowboard bag specifically made for carrying snowboarding gear, it is easier to pack. I can load up a bag inside my house and walk to the car with my coffee and just go. Long gone are the days of multiple trips to and from the car and the house.
Snowboard bags are also nice for keeping gear together. I can pack my boots, board, and gloves inside your house and then have one bag to worry about. If you have ever “lost” a boot in a car, you will see the value in having a way to keep everything organized.
Snowboard bags are great not just for keeping your board safe, but also prevents your car from getting scratched or dented by your gear.
If you have ever had to ride in a car with “stinky” boots, keeping them stored in a snowboard bag makes a long drive home more pleasant.
Here's some more reasons why I'm a snowboard bag convert.
PROTECTION DURING TRANSPORTATION
If you are traveling by car, you can certainly throw your board into the back with all your gear. I did this for many years. A bag, however, will keep things organized and together in one place, saving you time and money when you no longer lose your glove or goggles in the cracks between the seats. A bag can also protect your car from getting scratched or your board from getting damaged from other gear in the back of your truck.
For air travel, trains, shuttle buses, and other public transportation, a bag is the safest way to make sure your board makes it in one piece.
PROTECTING GEAR
I have dogs, lots of them. My dogs have absolutely ruined my gear that was loose in my car before. Having my gear packed in a bag keeps my dogs off of it while we are all in the car together.
SECURITY FEATURES
Most of the bags we tested had an ability to be locked in some way which is great for air travel or any situation where you are not in direct control of your bag.
AIRLINE COMPLIANCE
Every airline has different regulations and rules, but most state that a hard-sided container is the best way to protect your board during travel. Many of the soft bags we tested have hard components, adding extra durability and safety.
VERSATILITY
Most of the board bags we tested can also be used to transport skis and hold all your clothing for a trip.
MOISTURE CONTROL
Some of the bags we tested are made of a water-resistant or waterproof material.
EASE OF STORAGE
At the end of the season, once you clean and fully dry your gear out, you can store your snowboarding gear together in a bag and be ready for the next winter without having to remember where you put everything.
HOW TO PACK YOUR SNOWBOARD BAG
The best way to pack your snowboard bag is to fully unzip the large zipper and lay your board down first. The rest of the gear can go on top and around the bindings on your board.
When I take two boards, I remove the bindings from my longer board and place that on the bottom, and place my smaller board with the bindings attached on top. Some bags like the Sportube Prospector come with a pad that can be used between boards for extra protection.
Once the boards are in place, the rest is like a game of Tetris adding the boots in and the helmet and clothes around them. You want to add your largest pieces of gear (e.g. board, boots, helmet) first since they take up the most space and add smaller pieces in the cracks. I always put socks into my boots, not only to save space but so I make sure not to forget them. I usually store my goggles and beanie/balaclava in my helmet.
TIPS FOR TRAVELING WITH SNOWBOARD GEAR
Anytime I am going on a snowboard trip, whether it is in my car or on a plane, space is at a premium. You can save space by taking advantage of every gap and nook in your bag and gear. If you played Tetris as a kid those skills will pay off when packing your bags. I always stuff my socks into my boots and roll my pants into my bindings to fill all those spaces with gear and clothing for your trip.
Board bags are large and can get really heavy. When I am flying to snowboard I try to keep my luggage down to just the one board bag and a carry on backpack filled with extra clothing. Getting a higher-capacity bag will allow you to carry fewer pieces of luggage and make traveling a bit easier. It is easier to keep track of one huge bag and one small bag vs. three or four smaller bags.
If you are traveling with others, you may decide to put all the gear into one bag and pack the rest of your personal items separately.
DIFFERENCES BETWEEN SKI AND SNOWBOARD BAGS
Most snowboards are shorter and wider than skis. Ski-specific bags will be longer and can be narrower than snowboarding bags. You may be able to use a longer snowboard bag to carry your skis, but you can’t always use a ski-specific bag to carry your snowboard because of the width. Snowboard-specific bags will have straps for the wider base and are built with the bindings placed a specific way to utilize maximum storage.
SNOWBOARD BAG CARE AND MAINTENANCE TIPS
I am all for making the most of every trip and riding the morning before your afternoon flight. Just make sure you take the time to unpack and let things dry out for a few days when you get home. It is so tempting to just leave it all in there for the next trip, but trust me, you might regret it.
The worst thing you can do is pack your bag away after a trip without drying it out. You might be riding and having to board a plane the same day, packing up slightly wet gear. When you get home it is essential that you allow time for everything to fully dry out before long-term storage or you will end up with unwanted mold, mildew, and rust. In addition to smelling horrible, these unwanted visitors to your gear can also ruin it.
The zippers and wheels also require cleaning to be maintained properly. Taking the time to clean off any mud or dust from your bag will keep it working for you for many years. Chunks of dirt and mud are the enemy of zippers, and once that gets lodged into the teeth the zippers can start splitting and stop protecting your gear.
FAQ
WHAT CAN FIT IN A SNOWBOARD BAG?
Most of the bags we tested allow for boards to fit with bindings attached and boots. Many also have room for softgoods, like outerwear, base layers, socks, gloves, and goggles. I usually plan to carry my helmet in a different bag.
CAN I USE ANY BAG FOR TRANSPORTING MY SNOWBOARD, OR DO I NEED A SPECIFIC SNOWBOARD BAG?
Snowboards are usually longer than most standard luggage. Snowboard bags are made specifically to fit snowboards and gear so that they are not damaged during travel. Snowboard bags also have straps and padding to keep the boards in place.
DO I NEED A SEPARATE BAG FOR MY SNOWBOARD BOOTS, OR CAN THEY BE STORED IN THE SAME BAG?
Many of the bags we tested allowed for boots to be stored alongside their respective boards. If you are traveling with multiple people and need to fit many boards into one bag, you may need a separate boot bag for each person as well.
ARE WHEELED SNOWBOARD BAGS WORTH THE INVESTMENT FOR TRAVEL CONVENIENCE?
It depends on how often you are planning to travel and how far you need to walk once you arrive at your destination. If you don’t have a far walk, you may be able to utilize a bag without wheels. But you will have to carry your snowboard bag along with your other luggage and it can be quite heavy. I wouldn’t want to fly without a bag that has wheels.
However, I would use the hand carry bag for car travel, especially since it takes up less space if I am on a road trip with friends and we are trying to fit lots of gear into a car/truck.
CAN I CARRY ADDITIONAL GEAR AND ACCESSORIES IN MY SNOWBOARD BAG?
Check with your specific airline if you are flying. Some have specific rules about what can be placed into a bag and count as “gear.” I have packed a large roller bag with everything that I needed for a week in Canada and flown without issue. If you are organized, you can get everything to fit pretty easily.
ARE THERE SPECIFIC CONSIDERATIONS FOR CHOOSING A SNOWBOARD BAG FOR BACKCOUNTRY OR SPLITBOARD USE?
The same bags that you use for traditional resort snowboarding will work for backcountry travel as well. You may be able to use a bag made for skiing with your split board carried in two pieces if you already have a ski luggage bag on hand. Some of the higher capacity snowboard bags will hold snowshoes alongside a snowboard set up, too.
HOW WE RESEARCHED AND TESTED
We tested these bags by packing them full of snowboards and gear to see how the capacity worked out and how they felt fully loaded. I loaded them with my 145 cm snowboard, and size 9 US women’s snowboard boots. Most trips begin at home, so I tested them in my gravel driveway and rolled or carried them around, throwing them into the car, and driving to the ski resorts for days of riding.
I also tested the bags with my taller partner, so we could experience how height differences altered the experience with being able to handle the bags. For the most part, as expected, it was easier for him to carry a bag than me, but I was able to handle all the bags we tested by myself and load them into my Ford Escape without issue.
I tested each of these bags both individually and side-by-side. On a sunny day I laid out all the bags and packed them each with my 145 cm snowboard with bindings attached, a pair of US women’s size 9 boots and a set of insulated outerwear jacket and pants. I carried, or rolled if applicable, each bag up and down my gravel road ¼ mile to see how they fared. I also loaded each bag into my Ford Escape, and unloaded them for good measure. I have steps leading into my house so I tested the roller bags on the steps up and down, just to make sure they were up to handling anything you might encounter on your travels.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR / WHY YOU SHOULD TRUST US
Sara has spent over 20 years skiing and snowboarding in the mountains and always travels with too much gear, just in case the weather changes when she gets there. A former pro ski patroller and SAR K-9 Handler, she usually aims for at least 50 days on the hill each year, either on skis or a board. She has flown with her board to Canada and Utah and knows all too well the perils of having to choose a bag for travel that fits everything and isn’t too heavy.
I went years without having a snowboard bag for my gear. I would go on road trips to ride another mountain and just throw my board into the back of a friend's car and hope for the best. I was 15 minutes from my local mountain and never thought about all those trips I was taking carrying my boots and board and gear to the car everyday. Having a daily-use bag has changed that for me, I can load up a bag inside my house and walk to the car once with my coffee and go–it is so much easier.
