I used to ski with a back protector. Not because I'm some gnarly skier who frequents the "Danger Zone," but because when I do crash it usually involves tomahawking. Nature just made me with extra momentum. The back protector went away when my skiing started requiring a backpack, but the tomahawking didn't. Thanks to the Descentor, I now have an incredibly functional mid-sized pack and Deuter's Shield system separating me from rocks. It's a tad heavier than a normal pack, but when I'm dumb I don't have to be so tough.
