Advice for a 2-3 day pack?

I'll toss in a second vote for Cilo.  I have a 45L worksack that I haven't had a chance to take out overnight yet but I have done a lot of split touring with it.   I like it but I would be interested in a the 40L worksack with the extra zipper.  I like the simplicity of the sack but access without going through two drawstrings and two buckles would be nice. 

Put the shovel pocket on the outside and it carries a shovel and probe for easy access, it carries a split board better than I could have imagined, and I have a place to tuck my skins on the way down.  I haven't tried carrying A-frame style but I don't see why it wouldn't work and with a short piece of 4mm chord you could set up a diagonal ski carry very easily.

The 30:30 probably would have been sized better but I wanted the extra cushy suspension in case I had to carry my touring gear in on a dry trail.

I use a Cilo 30:30 "GS" as an everyday to 2-3 day wintertime pack. For overnights in the winter, attention to minimalism is requisite, perhaps with a willingness to shiver. I used a 60L for everything from daypack to multiday pack 2008-2011, and it worked well (~200 days to worn out). To do it again, I'd go with the 45L instead of the 60. Good packs. I love the reconfigurable straps; not everyone does.

Chat with Graham about fit if you're uncertain between sizes. Email response from Cilogear isn't fast, but it's thorough.

I haven't used one, but they offer an avy-tools thing that attaches to the D-clips. For ski carry, check out their set of youtube videos.

www.deuter.com/en_US/backpack-details.ph...2045%20%2B%2010%20SL

Deuter ACT Lite 45 + 10, or the 40 + 10

Those packs looks awesome. I have a pack that works but if I could replace it, I'd look at these.

I have Osprey, the one mentioned in this post. It is comfortable, versatile, compressable and heavy. It is made for ice climbing. The plastic clips on the back are for two curved ice tools, not an ice axe. My ice axe falls off unintentionally. Others with the pack don't have the same ice axe problem, but I bet someone other than me has experienced that.  I've done ski camping, three nights, with ice axe, crampons, helmet, and overnight gear. It is comfortable with a load.

The Cilo doesn't have compression straps.

The deuter pack has several features I admire. A stretch back for a helmet (or skins, shovel) traditional ice axe loops, separate compartment, double bottom, compression straps, pocket in the belt, and it is light.

Deuter has not been mentioned. Wonder if anyone tours with one?

Jenny

The Cilo doesn't have compression straps.

I'm a little bit confused by this.  My Cilo pack came with a variety of straps, some simple, some with a buckle in the middle, in a few different lengths, all color coded.  Sometimes I use them and sometimes I don't but I've never been left wanting more straps.

Yeah, my wife has a Cilo -- the one thing it doesn't lack is straps. They're great packs too.

Step up and get a McHale