First, a bit of my boot bag history. About six years ago, Tricia bought me a heated boot bag, a Hot Gear bag. Being a good husband, I begrudgingly accepted it. Begrudgingly? Yeah, I thought a heated boot bag was one of the most ostentatious items a skier could own ... until I started using it. As Ferris Bueller says, “It is so choice. If you have the means, I highly recommend picking one up.” Fast forward to today, I am testing the all-new Kulkea heated bag, the Thermal Trekker.
Kulkea picks up where Hot Gear left off in function and design. I will try to not repeat but rather to reinforce what
@Drahtguy Kevin said in his review. One of the pluses here at Pugski is that you get different perspectives from each tester based on their needs and the ways they use a product. I am more of a minimalist when I hit the slopes, and take only what I need for the day:
- Boots
- Shell pants
- Shell jacket
- Midlayer
- Gloves (regular and spring)
- Battery packs for boot heaters
- Helmet
- Goggles (two pairs)
- Sticker pack (for giveaways)
- Season passes
- #3 screwdriver
- Kitchen sink (kidding/not kidding)
All that filled up my Hot Gear bag, but I had a significant amount of room left in the Thermal Trekker -- to the point that I didn’t need Kulkea’s ingenious external helmet hammock because my helmet fit in the center compartment (and I still had extra space). In looking back at my old bag, I was mildly frustrated that the bottom of the inside of the bag was filthy from storing my boots. This is an area where the design of the Thermal Trekker is significantly better; the boots are in their own individual (heated) compartments so my other articles are protected from dirt and grime.
In the past I have used two bags: the Hot Gear for day-to-day use, and a Transpack Sidekick Pro for long-distance travel. Simply put, the Hot Gear was a (heated) boot bag that I could wear on my back, and the Transpack was a backpack that carried my boots. The Kulkea Trekker is the best of both: a voluminous boot bag that is actually comfortable to wear as a backpack due to its well-designed shoulder straps with integrated and adjustable chest clasp and a very nice belt. The nylon straps are a bit slippery, but I imagine over time they will work in. The pads on the back are nicely padded for comfort and ventilation.
Storage in the compartments is well laid out and uses lighter-color materials, which makes it easy to find darker items (like gloves). The center compartment held my shell pants, jacket, and helmet (with goggles and case inside) with room to spare. I like that my helmet is protected from damage from boot buckles and sharp items that could dent it and compromise safety. The front pocket also has a fleece-lined pouch for storing goggles; in fact, it is close enough to the heating elements that it will dry wet goggles overnight. The pocket for the 110V cord also holds the 12V cord, which is nice because there is enough room to actually store the cord when you are traveling to and fro. I didn’t use the 12V because I wanted to see how the warm the boots would be after the 35-minute drive to the resort; everything stayed toasty.
As Kevin said in his review, the heating pads heat the boot areas like tacos, and since the center compartment is between the two elements, the center compartment also heats and dries gear. I left the bag on the lowest setting overnight, and everything was warm and dry for the next day of skiing. If you haven’t started the day in a warm boot, you do not know what you are missing. Kevin’s issue with the toes not being warmed has more to do with his 28.5 shell; my 25.5 shells were warm all around, even on the lowest setting.
There are only a few things missing. It would be nice to have a clear sleeve for identification such as a business card; yes, there is a panel for writing your name on the bag, but I would prefer the sleeve. Speaking of card slots, a pie-in-the-sky request is a pocket for storing season passes. Another little nicety would be a clip somewhere to attach a key ring for car keys or a whistle, things that you don't want to end up at the bottom of the bag. These might be nitpicky requests; all in all, this is a damn nice bag that is really well designed. I look forward to adding to this thread as I use the bag more and more.
- Who is it for? Those of you looking for a heated bag have struck oil.
- Who is it not for? Masochists who like to start the day in a cold boot.
- Insider tip: Yes, there is a lot of room, but you don't have to fill it. You could reach 50 lb before you know it.