Richmond, Calif. (November 11, 2021) – In the fall of 2021 Outside Magazine awarded its prestigious Buyer's Guide Gear of the Year Award to the Mountain Hardwear Powabunga 32 in the Winter 2022 Snow Sports category. Mountain Hardwear, leaders in performance equipment and apparel for climbers, mountaineers, and outdoor athletes, released the Powabunga 32 ski pack in September alongside the Snoskiwoski 40.

Made with 500D CORDURA® nylon that is both lightweight and durable, the Powabunga was designed for long days in the backcountry. Featuring Mountain Hardwear’s innovative hoverbelt technology, it has unique side-to-side and up-down mobility for full swing maneuvering. These mechanics enhance skiers’ natural movement without sacrificing balance or comfort and provide easy access without dismantling the gear from the skier.

Outside said “The Powabunga changed how we pack for ski touring. At first glance, it doesn’t look revolutionary... The surprises are the two side pockets. Without eating up any interior space, they fit all the gear we need on the go and used to store inside our pack, including skins, snacks, a 32-ounce water bottle, a multitool, and sunglasses. They open vertically, so things don’t fall out if the pack is lying in the snow. As a result, we wound up choosing the Powabunga for days when we’d normally use a 40-liter. It carries nicely, even when it’s overloaded, thanks to a steel frame that transfers weight onto the pivoting padded hipbelt. Of the 15 bags we tested last winter, this was the only one that had us hollering its name. Powabunga indeed!”

“We are thrilled to accept this award on behalf of the design team at Mountain Hardwear,” said Charlie Ranahan, global product manager for Mountain Hardwear. “Years of experimenting and perfecting the construction of the Powabunga 32 have finally come to a culmination. Outside Buyer’s Guide testers are some of the most reputable and respected in our industry, so their recognition is truly something to celebrate and the apex of the journey with this pack.”

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Mountain Hardwear, Inc., founded in 1993 and based in Richmond, CA, is a wholly-owned subsidiary of Columbia Sportswear Company that distributes its products through specialty outdoor retailers in the United States and 34 countries worldwide. We build essential equipment for climbers, mountaineers, and outdoor athletes and have supported expeditions on the world’s highest peaks. This level of technical precision continues to inspire everything we do. Our designers challenge every stitch and detail to continuously improve both function and comfort. www.mountainhardwear.com.