The pocket in the back panel works very well as a wet compartment for storing your skins. This makes it possible to stow your skins without opening your pack to the weather. Shovel blades will fit nicely inside the large wet pocket compartment between the probe and shovel handle sleeves.

Hi phattsnow. Totally agree with your comments and that is how I use the arc'teryx silo 30. Click through to the rest of the review and you'll see that we are on the same page. From the documentation that came with the pack, it was a little unclear what the suggested usage for all the features is. I do like the pocket on the outside for wetish stuff though..Thanks for your input and enjoy the snow.