Freescape Lite 24 SL

The Deuter Freescape Lite 24 SL is a women's-fit backcountry ski pack: 24 litres of water-repellent polyamide on a light LiteSnow back that snow will not stick to, with a dedicated avalanche gear pocket, ski and axe carry and a roll-top that keeps powder out of your spare layers.

Who it's for

Women ski touring and splitboarding on technical days: kick turns up a steep face, a bootpack into a chute, a rappel or a long tour to a summit. Deuter rate it five out of five for ski touring and splitboarding and four for snowshoeing. It is made for a day out from Guthega towards the Main Range, a tour across the Bogong High Plains, or a trip to Japan or New Zealand where the terrain gets serious.

Capacity, and what actually fits

24 litres takes a shovel, probe and spare skins in the avalanche gear pocket, a down jacket, a shell, lunch, a thermos and a first aid kit, with a 3 L hydration bladder in its sleeve. A fleece-lined pocket keeps goggles scratch-free, a wet compartment inside holds damp skins away from dry layers, and side access gets you to the bottom of the pack without unrolling the top. The pack measures 62 x 30 x 20 cm.

How it carries

The LiteSnow back is EVA foam padding with recesses, covered in snow-shedding fabric, so snow cannot build up and melt into your base layer. Padded shoulder straps, stabiliser straps and padded hip fins with an adjustable waist belt hold the pack close for jump turns, and the sternum strap buckles one-handed, even in gloves. The hip fins carry a gear loop and an ice clipper slot.

Fitting it

The SL harness is shorter than Deuter's standard Freescape and shaped for a woman's shoulders and hips, fitting back lengths of 38-48 cm and body heights around 158-178 cm. Try it over the layers you tour in, and set the waist belt so it sits on your hip bones above a harness.

Access and organisation

The main compartment loads from the top under a roll-top closure, with side access for the gear at the bottom. Skis carry diagonally or A-frame at the sides, snowshoes strap to the front, ice axes clip on either side and a rope strap holds a rope over the top. A detachable mesh helmet holder takes your helmet on the skin track.

• Front pocket for shovel and probe
• Diagonal and side ski attachment; snowshoe attachment
• Ice axe attachment on both sides; rope strap
• Detachable mesh helmet holder
• Fleece-lined goggles pocket; wet compartment
• Roll-top closure with side access; hydration compatible up to 3 L

Weight

950 g for a full-featured 24 litre touring pack. On a long skin that is energy saved for the descent, and the 4-8 kg recommended load covers a full day's avalanche kit, layers and food.

Looking after it

The body fabric is water repellent and made without intentionally added PFAS, and the pack is bluepass and Green Button certified. Deuter back it with a 2-year warranty.