The Best Ski Boot Bags to Stay Organized

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Have you ever arrived at the ski hill only to realize you forgot your ski boots? Last season I had to give up a coveted front-row parking spot to go retrieve my forgotten boots. While my family scored first tracks in thigh-deep powder, I spent the whole morning in the car missing out.

That’s why I love a ski boot bag–You’re much less likely to forget your boots when they’re a part of your luggage. These snow-day-friendly day bags have plenty of extra pockets for your ski jacket, winter gloves, goggles to keep everything neat and easy to find.

Plus, ski boot bags have helpful features like waterproof interiors and drainage holes for excess snowmelt, which make ski trip travel so much easier. If you need this in your life–or have one and need an upgrade–we can help you find the best ski boot bag for your gear. Now, on to ski season!

The Best Ski Boot Bags

• Best Overall: Thule 55L RoundTrip Boot Backpack

• Best Value – Rossignol Strato Ski Boot Bag

• Best Heated – Rossignol Hero 120V Heated Boot Bag

• Most Durable – Leki Ski Boot Bag WCR

• Best Style – Dakine Boot Locker Bag

What to Consider in a Ski Boot Bag

If there’s one thing that’s true about skiing, it’s that you need a lot of gear. While a bag for your boots–a crucial but secondary accessory–may not feel all that exciting, a great one can feel like your new best friend. It can help you consolidate and organize all the small items you bring to the slopes each day. As an added bonus, you won’t have to sling your ski boots around your shoulders ever again.

Backpack or Duffel?

Most ski boot bags come in one of two styles: Some are backpacks, with two shoulder straps, but the majority are duffel bags with a single shoulder/cross-body strap. (Some are convertible with both kinds of straps.) Ski boots are heavy so deciding how you want to carry your bag is more than just an aesthetic choice.

Duffel bags are usually larger, and their large open design makes it easier to sift through your stuff in the parking lot of the resort. That said, a bigger bag is also often heavier and you will feel that weight more because you’ll either carry the bag in your hand or over one shoulder.

Ski boot backpacks are much easier to carry and easier to stow as a carry-on if you’re flying. If you have a lot of stuff then a backpack may not give you enough room to hold everything you want it to carry.

Capacity

Normally, I’d tell you that the size and carrying capacity of a bag may vary depending on how much stuff you want to carry or the amount of weight you can handle… But not today. As a general rule of thumb, I recommend looking for bags with at least 50 liters (L) of storage. Anything over that magic number will give you plenty of space for your boots, as well as the rest of your ski-day essentials, including your ski goggles, helmet, extra layers and any other sundries you think you’ll need for a day at the ski resort.

Chances are, a smaller bag will still be able to hold your boots. It just won’t be able to hold all your other daily necessities, which means you might need another bag. (On the plus side, though, it may make a better carry-on if you’re flying.)

Compartments

Good organization can make or break a ski boot bag, so the number of compartments inside and their utility is very important. Yes, some ski boot bags will have a single compartment just for your boots, but in most cases we’re looking for 2-3 separate sections. A two-compartment bag will allow you to separate your snowy gear from your dry gear. Bags with three or more will have individual compartments for each ski boot, with a larger general storage area for clothes and other stuff.

In addition, the best bags usually have a separate, more secure compartment specifically for your goggles. These small pockets are often lined with a softer fabric that protects your goggle lenses from getting banged against your clunky boots.

Special Features

Beyond the basic size and shape to carry your boots, high-end ski boot bags often have some specialized design flourishes and features that optimize the bag for going to and from the slopes.

The most common ski-specific feature we look for is drainage–this is a series of holes in the bottom of the boot compartment that lets slush and excess water out so it won't pool inside of your bag. Many high-end boot bags also feature a waterproof interior lining in the boot compartment to keep your other gear (and you) dry, even at the end of the day.

The most luxurious perk is a heated ski boot bag. Plug them into an outlet and the heating pad lining the inside of the bag will pre-warm your boots, making them more pliable, comfortable, and easier to slip on. Pro tip: Heated boot bags are slow. Don’t expect them to warm up your boots in 15 minutes; it’s often a multi-hour affair.

How We Selected The Best Ski Boot Bags

We selected the best ski boot bags based on our decades of carrying ski gear for both local and long-distance ski trips. These picks lasted through at least a season with us, or our families. A few of them have been in rotation for 2-3 years after a round of testing.

To ensure we recommended a wide array of options for different kinds of skiers, we evaluated the quality of the materials used in each bag, their designs, their special features, and the reputations of their manufacturers. Whether you’re looking for a simple and budget-friendly bag or a large bag that has a separate compartment for every piece of gear you own, there’s an option here for you.

RoundTrip Boot Backpack

Thule makes sleek, functional, and extremely durable travel products. Its 55-liter boot backpack is no exception. The zippered boot pocket opens from the back and stows your heavy boots comfortably in the center of your back. This compartment has ventilation grommets and a tarp-lined changing mat allowing you to shake extra moisture onto it. The other main compartment opens from the front and is perfect for bulkier layers and a helmet.

Additionally, you can protect your goggle lenses and more sensitive gear with the extra-padded "safe zone" pocket on top. The backpack straps are extra padded, and there are multiple carrying handle options.

Strato Ski Boot Bag

The Rossignol Strato is small by our standards, but perfect for commuters or skiers who want a simple and effective duffel with a traditional look.

The main compartment is big enough to carry ski boots up to size 30.5. When you’re done for the day, the front of the bag unfurls into a waterproof mat, making it easy to step out of your boots and load them up in the parking lot.

There's also a small storage compartment for accessories such as goggles, socks, snacks, or base layers. It’s a stylish, low-profile bag ideal for transporting boots and small items to and from the resort.

Hero 120V Heated Boot Bag

Cramming your feet inside cold plastic boots is the absolute worst. It’s painful and boots can be impossibly stiff. Take the sting out of getting ready to ski with a heated boot bag like this “Hero” from Rossignol.

Plug it into your 120-volt home outlet or a 12-volt car auxiliary port before bed, and the interior heating elements gradually warms up to make your boots nice and toasty by morning.

This bag isn’t a one-trick pony, though. At 60 liters, it has plenty of room for your ski boots and extra gear. There are seven secondary pockets scattered around the bag including a few cleverly labeled for specific items like your goggles and your helmet.

The top flap holds a pull-out helmet carry compartment, too. And if the bag gets too heavy for a single strap with all that stuff in it, don’t worry: If you unzip the back panel, you’ll find a pair of backpack straps. This bag is pricey, but it literally has everything.

Ski Boot Bag WCR

Ski boot bags tend to get beat up quite a bit. We chuck them into cars and let them fall out onto asphalt, not to mention all the stretching and prodding they go through as we search for that one small thing that shifted out of place.

Leki’s 60L Ski Boot Bag is built to withstand all of that while minimizing the headache that leads to ruinous rummaging. This large bag offers enough space to fit your boots and plenty of gear, but it has no means for storing your helmet.

A large top zipper makes it easy to drop your boots inside without yanking on any seams, and the rugged 600-denier polyester is carefully placed in high-impact areas. The three external zippered pockets make it easy to organize your belongings especially since one is lined with fleece for your goggles.

This bag has both backpack straps and duffel-style handles, so you can carry it however you like. When you combine the rugged polyester fabric with the rubberized feet that protect the bottom, you’ve got a boot bag built for the long haul.

Boot Locker Boot Bag

The Dakine Boot Locker is a simple and affordable bag that easily stows all your gear. It features two large main compartments: one for your ski boots and one for everything else.

The bottom ski boot compartment has a tarp-lined bottom that folds out to a changing mat for a safe and stable spot to stomp the snow off your boots before heading back down the mountain. The other main compartment easily fits layers, helmet, goggles, snacks, and whatever else you may need for a day of shredding. There are two different carrying options: a simple handle strap or a padded shoulder strap.

Cabin Cruiser Ski Boot Roller Bag

Squeezing down an airplane aisle with a ski duffel dangling over your shoulder is an exercise in futility: You will inevitably swing your bag over a seat and hit somebody in the face.

If you’re flying cross-country for your next ski trip, consider bringing the Sportube Cabin Cruiser, a wheeled rolling ski boot bag made specifically for navigating planes and airports.

It’s smaller than many other boot bags, of course, but that’s the point. It’s compact enough to roll down the aisle as you board and it fits perfectly in an overhead bin.

With 41 liters of storage, the Cabin Cruiser has enough space for your ski boots and a few extras. You won’t be able to fit all of your ski clothes inside, and forget about travel accessories. It has a handful of pockets for smaller items like goggles, and an external sleeve that secures your helmet to the outside. (Note: the bag isn’t carry-on size with the helmet attached.)

RoundTrip 80L Snowsport Duffel

The Thule RoundTrip Snowsports Duffel is a simple, but effective behemoth of a bag. Its huge central compartment can easily carry a full ski kit, helmet, baselayers, and mid-layers—with room to spare. (In testing the 90L version, we stashed everything for an adult in there, along with a child’s snowsuit).

The individual compartments on either side balance the weight of the bag, making it easier to carry. There’s also a padded goggle compartment to protect your lenses and help to keep goggles dry. The U-shaped flap over the central compartment is also waterproof, and folds over to become mat for loading and unloading your boots.

For such a big bag, it feels like every piece of it was meticulously designed to make getting on and off the mountain as smooth a process as possible.

Ski & Snowboard Boot Bag

Ski boot bags get wet all the time. They get dragged through snow, slush and, occasionally, rain. Backcountry’s Ski & Snowboard Boot Bag has a PVC fabric exterior that can withstand harsh environmental conditions, keeping your gear dry in the cold and wet. It’s also durable enough to withstand a snag or two, and can certainly handle grime and grit from tailgating in the parking lot.

The main boot compartment loads from a gigantic clamshell zipper, but you can also access your gear from the zippered back panel. Small ventilation ports at the bottom of the bag allow airflow so your boots will gradually dry while stashed inside. Bonus: If you’re changing your boots in a parking lot, the entire backpack unzips to lay flat so you can use the inside as a place to stand.

Q+A With Outdoor Expert Heather Balogh Rochfort

How do I care for my ski boot bag?

Always empty your boot bag after using it. In particular, remove any wet items so the interior gets a chance to dry. Once both the bag and your gear are dry, you can put everything back in for long-term storage.

Your ski boot bag will get absolutely filthy by the end of the season, so it’s a good idea to clean it at least once a season. Proper care varies from bag to bag, so always start by checking your bag’s care instructions.

In general, I recommend avoiding the washer and dryer unless your bag’s manufacturer says otherwise. When in doubt, you can always spot clean dirty splotches with a washcloth and cold water. (If you have a heated bag, please remove the heating element and battery before cleaning anything.)

I’ve put my boots in the bag… What else should I pack?

Once you’ve got your boots stashed in the proper compartment (or compartments), you can put whatever you want in your bag. The sky’s the limit.

I usually pack my ski jacket, ski pants, mid-layers, and gloves in the main compartment. I may try and jam my helmet in there, too, if my bag doesn’t have an external helmet carry sleeve. I always take advantage of the secure goggle pocket when it’s available so my lenses don’t get scratched.

By that point I usually don’t have any more room. If I did, though, I would probably fill it with snacks to bring out on the slopes.

One more tip: Once you’ve stepped into your boots, put your street shoes in the boot compartment so they’re easy to find at the end of the day.

Do I need a different bag if I both ski and snowboard?

Though skiing and snowboarding gear often differs, it doesn't require a different bag. Snowboard boots are softer than ski boots, but they are around the same size. If anything, you’ll have an easier time fitting a pair of snowboard boots in one of these bags than ski boots.

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