Expandable, Bombproof, and Descent-Focused: Raide Drops Its First Expedition Pack

Raide Research has only been around for a few years, and its products are making waves. The brand keeps hitting home runs — from its TourTech Bibs, to its ice-axe compatible LF 2L waist pack, and, of course, its cult classic LF 30 and 40L backpacks. It hasn’t missed the mark yet.

That’s why GearJunkie got so excited to see that this month, Raide launched a completely new pack, built for the biggest and gnarliest backcountry and alpine missions. The EX 55L ($549) is the brand’s first expedition pack. Like its other equipment, it’s bombproof, made with the highest-quality materials available, and every stitch, panel, and strap is thoughtfully placed for peak performance.

The EX 55L has everything a backcountry skier needs and, notably, it expands from 55 L to 75 L of capacity — offering an additional 20 L of storage for those long missions, deep in the mountains, where there’s never enough pack space.

“We go on expeditions to ski, so we built a pack that prioritizes the descent while still supporting all the demands of a long objective,” Raide said in a press release about the new pack.

Raide Research EX 55L: Built for Expeditions, Designed to Ski

Raide wanted to make an expedition pack that skis as well as it carries. So it designed the EX 55L to include all the DNA that made its LF 30 and 40L packs so popular among pro skiers, backcountry guides, and dedicated enthusiasts, and included a few others to improve durability and capacity.

Materials

One of Raide’s characteristic design features is the use of a combination of ultralight and durable fabrics in its construction. The EX 55L is no exception.

The bottom of the pack is made from Challenge Ultra 800TX. This waterproof, lightweight, and very durable fabric can withstand extreme abrasion and the loadout demands of big backcountry expeditions. The main body of the pack is made from Challenge Ultra 200TX.

Raide claims this material is twice as tear-resistant and eight times as abrasion-resistant as competing ultralight fabrics. Finally, the roll-top portion of the pack is made from 100% recycled 210D nylon with UHMWPE ripstop.

Capacity

As mentioned, this pack expands from 55 L to 75 L. The top of the pack rolls down and snaps out of the way when you don’t need the extra space. When you do, unsnap and unroll it to unleash the full 75L capacity. Side cinches even let you compress the pack more, so it can conceivably work as a day pack for shorter missions.

“When you cinch it down, and you’re out of basecamp, you’re still basically using the same pack you get to use all season touring at home,” Paul Davis, a Raide athlete and prototype tester, said in the press release. “It doesn’t feel like you’re using this wildly different piece of gear on your trip.”

Back Panel Entry, Other Bells and Whistles

Raide claims this is the only expedition pack with rear-entry access through the back panel. The panel unzips so you can grab or organize things inside without fully removing the pack. The EX 55L also has lashing points for gear attachments. It has ice tool carriers and avalanche tool compartments that you can access with the pack on. The aluminum frame is removable to shave weight when it really matters. The pack also offers both diagonal and A-frame ski carry options.

By all measures, the EX 55L seems to be on par with the rest of Raide’s dialed offerings. Stay tuned for a full GearJunkie review.