Travel Products Activity + Adventure Winter Sports The 4 Best Ski Bags of 2023, Tested and Reviewed We tested the best ski bags out there, focusing on portability, durability, and capacity. By Anna Popp Anna Popp Anna Popp is a Commerce Writer at Travel + Leisure where she tests, researches, and writes about travel products. Since living overseas in 2018, Anna has been a travel writer and began reviewing products in 2021. Travel + Leisure Editorial Guidelines Updated on March 2, 2023 Fact checked by Rich Scherr Fact checked by Rich Scherr Rich Scherr is a seasoned journalist and editor who has traveled across the U.S., Canada, and Europe, and spent more than a decade reviewing hotel room. Travel + Leisure Fact Checking Process Share Tweet Pin Email In This Article Expand Jump to a Section Our top picks Reviews Others We Tested Our Testing Process Tips for Buying FAQ Why Trust T+L We independently evaluate all recommended products and services. If you click on links we provide, we may receive compensation. Learn more. Travel + Leisure / Lydia and Bill Price When it comes to traveling with skis, it’s crucial to have a durable and protective ski bag to protect them from potential harm. Whether you’re schlepping skis through an airport or loading them into a car, the right ski bag will make the transportation process much easier and get you out on the slopes faster. Travel + Leisure’s team of expert product testers (and first-track fiends) tried 11 different ski bags from trusted outdoor gear brands to find the best of the best for your next adventure into the mountains. Paying close attention to traits like durability, portability, and the design of each bag, we deemed the Thule RoundTrip Ski Roller Ski Bag our favorite option. It wowed us with a generous capacity and hardiness that left us confident it will protect your skis for many ski trips down the line. We loved several other types of ski bags, including hardside, double, and ultra-padded options. Our Top Picks Best Overall: Thule RoundTrip Ski Roller Bag at Amazon Jump to Review Best Hardside: Sportube Series 1 Travel Case at Amazon Jump to Review Best Organization: Evo Roller Ski Bag at Evo.com Jump to Review Best Padding: Element Equipment Wheeled Double Padded Ski Bag at Amazon Jump to Review Best Overall Thule RoundTrip Ski Roller Bag 4.9 Amazon View On Amazon View On Bloomingdales View On Dick's Our Ratings Capacity 5/5 Design 5/5 Portability 4.5/5 Durability 5/5 Value 5/5 Why We Love It The material feels exceptionally durable, and the bag comes with multiple straps, a separator for added protection, and tip guards that double as stuff sacks. What to Consider The smallest size is a little too spacious for just one pair of skis. Thule’s RoundTrip Ski Bag won us over for having superior durability, portability, and capacity when we used the bag for a road trip and cross-country flight. The capacity of the bag is incredibly generous, and we found that it can easily fit two pairs of skis or one pair and all of your ski gear and clothing for a weekend getaway. The interior has four straps to tie down two pairs of skis, there are two exterior compression/carrying straps, and it comes with a separator for even more ways to protect the skis. Padded sleeves are also included to slip over the tips or tails of your skis, and they double as cinch-top stuff sacks to help with organization. Although the 600D polyester and padded material isn’t listed as waterproof, our T+L editor went the extra mile by pouring water on the bag to assess its weather-readiness and found that the material repelled the liquid instantly. T+L's tester packed their 168-centimeter skis and poles along with tons of clothing and ski gear, and they did feel that the capacity might be a bit excessive for a solo skier. However, the bag was easy to wheel around thanks to the comfortable handles on the top, bottom, and side of the bag and heavy-duty wheels that took on icy bumps with ease. We also loved that the zig-zagging zipper meant it wasn’t a hassle to quickly retrieve items from the bag. On a cross-country flight, our checked skis were seamlessly protected, and clothes also packed inside were completely dry despite the bag facing rain on the tarmac. For easy storage, the Roundtrip Ski Roller can be folded down, except for a short section at the bottom that's reinforced with hardware. “My skis are one of the most valuable things I own, and although I'll always have a tinge of anxiety when I pass them over to an airline, I feel about as confident as I possibly could with this bag,” our tester concluded. Price at time of publish: $300 The Details: 175 centimeters and 192 centimeters | Two pairs | 600D polyester Travel + Leisure / Lydia Price Best Hardside Sportube Series 1 Travel Case 4.9 Sportube View On Amazon View On Sportube.com Our Ratings Capacity 5/5 Design 5/5 Portability 4.5/5 Durability 5/5 Value 5/5 Why We Love It The thick plastic shell feels extremely hardy, especially for checking skis in while flying. What to Consider The latches can be difficult to line up for closing the case. We think the hardshell Sportube Series 1 Travel Case is the best alternative to a traditional soft-sided bag after our tester gave it a glowing review. The sleek tube-shaped case is made out of recycled HDPE plastic and it has padding on both ends to ensure that the tips and tails of your skis won’t scrape the shell. After regularly using this case for a month, one tester said, “The bag holds up very well ... This case would be the most ideal travel case if you travel on a plane often, as there are straps inside the bag, and it's adjustable for the height of your skis." The case is easy to hold with the handles, and it can be wheeled, too. Keep in mind that our tester noticed that although there are straps to hold down skis in the case, their skis moved around a bit while carrying it, so you may want to pack a few clothing items in the tube for extra security if you’re traveling a far distance. Price at time of publish: $170 The Details: One size, 212 centimeters | Two pairs | Recycled HDPE Travel + Leisure / Brian Sanford Best Organization Evo Roller Ski Bag 5 Evo View On Evo.com Our Ratings Capacity 5/5 Design 5/5 Portability 4.8/5 Durability 5/5 Value 5/5 Why We Love It The capacity is big enough for two pairs of skis and gear for a trip. What to Consider It's quite a long bag, so it may be awkward for shorter skiers to carry. Whether you’re traveling on a couples ski trip or storing multiple pairs of skis in the off-season, the Eco Roller Ski Bag we tested is perfect for staying organized. Thanks to the generous capacity, our tester had no issues fitting their skis, poles, clothing, and gear in the ski bag. It’s designed to fit two pairs of skis and has built-in straps on the bottom and a flap with pole straps that sits above the skis so users can secure them separately from other gear to prevent abrasion damage. Besides the helpful separator, we loved the spacious front flap pocket that spans the length of the ski bag for storing clothing items and gear. “There's a divider inside, which means that most of my clothing doesn't actually touch my skis, which I like because I feel safe that nothing will rip or get damaged … Pretty much all of my gear fits in here and I don't have to worry about it getting ripped by my skis,” our tester shared. Plus, the bag was a winner for its smooth wheels and variety of handles that make it easy to roll and carry around. Price at time of publish: $140 The Details: 175 centimeters and 195 centimeters | Two pairs | PU-coated 600D polyester Travel + Leisure / Agne Numaite The 8 Best Ski Boot Bags of 2023, Tested and Reviewed Best Padding Element Equipment Wheeled Double Padded Ski Bag 4.9 Amazon View On Amazon Our Ratings Capacity 5/5 Design 5/5 Portability 4.8/5 Durability 5/5 Value 4.5/5 Why We Love It Surrounded by thick padding to protect skis, this bag also benefits from sturdy wheels and a tough exterior. What to Consider It was a little awkward to roll due to the long length. We love that the Element Equipment Double Ski Bag has thick padding on all sides for extra protection on the go. The bag is made with 600D ripstop polyester that felt noticeably tough and durable as soon as we unboxed the ski bag. Even after one month of regularly using the bag, one tester said, "It holds up very well, I haven't had any issues with it. There are no frayed seams, no issues with the zippers, [and] no problems with the wheels." There is one built-in strap for securing one or two pairs of skis, and we especially like the two exterior adjustable straps that make sure the skis don’t move around during transit. With several handles on the top, bottom, and sides of the bag, we found it to be a little cumbersome to roll due to its length, but the wheels felt very sturdy and smooth over a variety of surfaces like snow and gravel. If you’re in search of a bag that offers superb protection, we think this is one of the best options out there, especially for air travel. Price at time of publish: $179 The Details: 167 centimeters and 195 centimeters | Two pairs | 600D ripstop PVC-coated polyester Travel + Leisure / Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm Other Ski Bags We Tested While there were plenty of ski bags that had rave reviews, the two highlighted below almost made our list but fell slightly short when a few inconveniences were noted during testing. Thule RoundTrip Ski Bag: While the bag has a generous capacity and feels well-made, we noticed some functionality issues like difficult zippers and awkward straps and placement for poles. Our Testing Process We put 11 popular ski bags to the test with the help of our expert product testers and powder enthusiasts. Each tester was tasked with evaluating the bag based on traits like capacity, portability, durability, and design. Whether our testers were road tripping or flying to the slopes, they used these bags to protect their skis on the way to the mountain. After the bags arrived, we tested the zippers and examined the fabric, stitch-work, and straps to get a feel for the quality of the bag right from the start. Then, we placed our skis into the bags and packed them for a ski trip before wheeling or carrying them around to get a feel for the weight distribution, the comfort of the handles, and how the wheels rolled across surfaces. Travel + Leisure / Kait Clark The most durable bags we tested are made with ample padding and heavy-duty materials that can protect the contents from rough handling. Our favorite bags for design had a variety of storage solutions like pockets or separators, straps for protection, and zippers that were smooth and sturdy. Since skis come in a variety of lengths, the highest-scoring ski bags fit all of our skis without any issues. Lastly, our testers were unaware of the price of each bag and only evaluated the value after testing was complete. Tips for Buying a Ski Bag Carefully consider size You’ll want to look for a bag that has a somewhat similar length as your skis so they aren’t swimming in extra space or packed in too tightly. For skiers traveling with multiple sets of different-sized skis, you’ll want to get a bag that fits your longest ski. You can easily pack ski gear or other clothing to protect the shorter skis from impact by packing the bottom of the bag and around the skis to add extra protection. Buy for your intended use Ski bags can be quite pricey, so if you’re planning to use a ski bag for storage, it might be better to opt for a less-expensive bag. For frequent fliers, it’s worth it to invest in a padded bag with excellent durability and quality for protection against damage while traveling by air. Travel + Leisure / Riddley Gemperlein-Schirm Hard versus soft bags While most ski bags are soft-sided, there are a few brands like Dakine and Sportube that make bags made out of thick plastic. Hard-sided ski bags often have padding at the top and bottom of the interior, but there isn’t any padding around the binding or the rest of the ski shafts, so it could be beneficial to wrap your skis in gear or other protective fabric to prevent any damage. Frequently Asked Questions Should a ski bag be padded? If you plan on flying with skis or road tripping, a padded ski bag is the best way to protect your skis. For those looking to use a ski bag just as storage, a non-padded bag works well, but keep in mind the potential for damage. How do I pack a ski bag? Once you place your skis in the bag right side up on their sides, you should use the built-in straps to tie them in securely or start packing soft gear around the skis to prevent them from moving around during travel. You can use items like ski jackets, snow pants, gloves, or any other clothes you might be bringing to fill the space. Plus, it helps you maximize the space in your carry-on or weekender bag by relocating bulkier pieces to your ski bag for protection. Can ski bags go on a plane? Yes, you can fly with ski bags as checked luggage. However, airlines all have different rules for checking in bags with skis, as they can be classified as oversized luggage. The rule of thumb for any checked bag is to keep the weight under 50 pounds to avoid any overweight fees. Why Trust Travel + Leisure Anna Popp is a commerce writer at Travel + Leisure, where she writes and reviews travel products. She grew up ski racing in Bend, Oregon, and has lived in Grenoble, France, where she got to ski in the heart of the French Alps. Anna participated in this test and worked closely with our outdoor gear editor and expert product testers to compile the list of the best ski bags we tried. The 12 Best Ski Jackets of 2023, Tested and Reviewed Love a great deal? 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