Outdoors & Fitness · Head-to-head
Black Diamond Dawn Patrol 32 vs Mammut Aenergy ST 32
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Ski Touring Backpacks: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Dawn Patrol 32 combines a separate snow safety pocket, a tuck-away diagonal carry, and back-panel access in a 1.17 kg pack. The Aenergy ST 32 gives you A-frame and diagonal carry plus a helmet carrier for less.
Black Diamond Dawn Patrol 32
Buy itA 32 litre touring pack built around the things you touch every lap: a tuck-away diagonal ski carry, a separate snow safety pocket, and back-panel access.
- The snow safety pocket is separate and easily accessed, so shovel and probe come out without unpacking the main compartment.
- The ski carry tucks away when you are skiing downhill, and the pack also has a vertical snowboard carry.
- At 1.17 kg it is light for a 32 litre pack with a form-fitting suspension and an insulated shoulder pocket for a hydration tube, soft flask, or radio.
- Black Diamond lists exterior attachment points for a helmet, not a dedicated helmet carry system.
- It carries a diagonal ski carry only, so skiers who prefer A-frame have to look at other packs.
- The maker page does not list an airbag option, and it showed as out of stock when we checked, so sizes can sell out mid-season.
Mammut Aenergy ST 32
Buy itA lightweight 32 litre touring pack that offers both diagonal and A-frame ski carry, an integrated helmet carrier, and full-zip access to the main compartment.
- Mammut lists both diagonal and A-frame ski carrying systems plus a snowboard attachment, which covers most ways people carry skis.
- A large full zipper opens the main compartment completely, and there is an integrated helmet carrier.
- It weighs 1150 g and has an aluminium frame, an elasticated chest strap, and a hydration system-compatible design.
- Mammut lists a compartment for avalanche equipment but does not describe it as a separate pocket, so it may be less quick than a dedicated one.
- The page lists no rain cover.
- No airbag option is listed on the page.
Side by side
The 8 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Black Diamond Dawn Patrol 32 Our pick | Mammut Aenergy ST 32 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Ski tourers who want one dependable 30 litre class pack for day tours and are happy with a diagonal carry. | Skiers who want carry-system flexibility and a helmet carrier without paying for the top-end pack. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range |
| Volume | 32 L | 32 L |
| Weight | 1.17 kg | 1150 g |
| Ski carry | Tuck-away diagonal | Diagonal and A-frame |
| Avalanche tool pocket | Separate snow safety pocket | Compartment for avalanche equipment |
| Back access | Zippered back panel | Full zipper to main compartment |
| Helmet carry | External attachment points | Integrated helmet carrier |
| Hydration | Insulated shoulder pocket for tube | Hydration system-compatible |
| Airbag option | Not listed | Not listed |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Black Diamond Dawn Patrol 32 if
ski tourers who want one dependable 30 litre class pack for day tours and are happy with a diagonal carry.
Know before buying: black Diamond lists exterior attachment points for a helmet, not a dedicated helmet carry system.
Pick the Mammut Aenergy ST 32 if
skiers who want carry-system flexibility and a helmet carrier without paying for the top-end pack.
Know before buying: mammut lists a compartment for avalanche equipment but does not describe it as a separate pocket, so it may be less quick than a dedicated one.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Black Diamond Dawn Patrol 32 - A 32 litre touring pack built around the things you touch every lap: a tuck-away diagonal ski carry, a separate snow safety pocket, and back-panel access. Choose the Mammut Aenergy ST 32 instead if skiers who want carry-system flexibility and a helmet carrier without paying for the top-end pack.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Ski Touring Backpacks: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).