Backcountry Access Stash Pack Alp40

The Backcountry Access [BCA] Stash Pack Alp 40 is a roomy 40 litre ski touring pack for those who value well thought-out design and functionality. BCA calls this their 'pro-mountaineer' pack for dedicated backcountry skiers, guides and patrollers. You can tell that this is a mature product as all of the features have been well thought out and obviously tested thoroughly in the field. The main features that make this a 'must have' pack are:
- Detachable lid with roll top option 
- External shovel blade pocket
- Sleeve storage for snow safety tools [shovel handle, probe and snow saw
- External helmet carry system
- Freezeproof Nalgene compatible hydration system
- Back panel Access
- Diagonal ski carry
- A-frame ski carry
- Hip belt pockets

Detachable lid with roll top option:
This gives you the option to customize your pack and remove the lid all together and the roll top lid with velcro seal will keep your contents dry should the weather turn wet.

External shovel blade pocket:
It is essential that all of your avi gear is stowed safely on the inside of your bag but not necessarily with all of your belongings as things quickly get jostled around which makes it difficult to find your shovel in an emergency. That's why these function-specific external pockets are so important.

External shovel blade pocket:
It is essential that all of your avi gear is stowed safely on the inside of your bag but not necessarily with all of your belongings as things quickly get jostled around which makes it difficult to find your shovel in an emergency. That's why these function-specific external pockets are so important.

External helmet carry system:
The external helmet carrier is basically a fabric cover which goes over you hemet and fastens it to the top of the pack. This stows nicely out of the way in it's own velcro pocket if it is not in use on the 'down' and when you are ready for the 'up' it holds your helmet outside of your pack and does not take up valuable space inside the pack.

Freezeproof hydration system:
This BCA innovation incorporates small openings on the underside of the shoulder strap which pulls heat from your body and traps it in the hydration sleeve. This, along with insulation made out of 'Outlast phase change material', stores heat when it's produced and releases it when needed ensuring your water flows freely in any condition. The hydration hose has a Nalgene compatible lid attached so no need for those pesky bladders and it is nicely stowed in its own pocket away from your gear.

Back panel Access:
This zippered access lets you get into the bag quickly and find just the right piece of gear easily. It would be nice if the zipper was on other side of the shoulder strap though to avoid unbuckling the shoulder strap in order to unzip the zipper [I know I am going to forget to buckle this one back up].

Diagonal ski carry:
The diagonal ski carry uses two hidden adjustable straps to attach the skis left to right with one stowed neatly behind the right shoulder strap and the other in a small pocket on the bottom of the backside of the pack - this solves the problem of dangling straps getting tangled on trees and possibly chairlifts.

A-frame ski carry:
The traditional A-frame carry works well on the Alp 40 and has reinforced ski loops to ensure the skis do not wear away the straps which affix the skis to the pack. With all the great hidden features on the pack, I am surprised there is not an integrated strap for the ski tips some where hidden in the pack.

Hip belt pockets:
Two are always better than one for carrying anything you need on the up track that you don't what to have to stop to retrieve - GPS, camera, Cliff Bar, sun screen and so on. Good idea but I prefer to carry my camera higher up on the shoulder strap and the BCA Alp 40 does not have any straps to attach it to here. I ski with a compact Canon Digital Elf camera which is pretty small and it will not fit into the hip belt pockets without removing it from the protective padded case. Also I like a safety clip on the camera so it cannot accidentally slip out and fall in the snow - lost forever. Having a camera attachment on the shoulder strap allows you to secure your camera and use it without ever having to unclip it from the pack so there is no danger o ever losing it.

The pack is available in black with grey accents and orange [which I consider to be more of a gold]  and grey highlights. The traditional black will stay cleaner longer but if you get lost or caught out I would prefer to have the orange version on my back any day. The Alp 40 weighs in at 1.5 kilos and has many other niceties such as: storm proof zippers, 150 honey comb & 210 high tenacity nylon, ice axe attachment, plastic frame sheet and aluminum stay, internal mesh pocket, Avalanche rescue basics printed on the interior of the pack and more.

The construction of the Alp 40 is solid and fits well - when combined with the full feature list above they create a well rounded product that will keep you happy on that long up track.

SPECS:
Price: $149.99 US
Volume: 2440 cubic inches/40 liters
Weight: 55 ounces/1559 grams 
Torso lengths: 17-22 inches
Color: available in black and orange only

PROS:
Well thought out - functional features, no 'flailing straps syndrome' [they are limited and hide nicely when not in use], fits well and good value for your money. Can't ask for anything more really.

CONS:
Would like the back panel access to open under the shoulder strap to avoid having to unclip the shoulder strap to gain access. Shoulder strap loops to attach a camera case and a more functional crampon carrying setup. Larger shovel handle pocket as the current design is too small to accommdate the average avi shovel handle.

Rating: 8/10

Comfort / Fit       2/2
Features              1.5/2
Durability            1.5/2
Function              1.5/2
Quality / Price     1.5/2

This is only our opinion. Do you disagree? Did we miss something? Are we totally out to lunch?  Join the discussion in the forums here, and let us know what you think. People like/dislike gear for different reasons so chime in and we'll get a well-rounded evaluation. Check back mid-season to see how our review stands up to our in-the-field testing - Brad.

Back to the rest of the reviews.

UPDATE APRIL 2013:
This was the first ski touring specific pack that I owned and it was a great pack, I used it for over two years until another pack came to me for review. I think the features on the BCA Stash Alp 40 are usefull however it is time for a re-design on this product as there are a few features that simply do not work after you use the pack for an extended period. Have a look at the cons above to get a better idea of these. BCA is currently selling off all of their current inventory of the Stash Alp 40 packs so this signals to me that an updated version is in the works. Hopefully they will address some of the issues we found in our review, don't get me wrong it's a good pack, it just needs a 2.0 version to make it a great pack.