Best phone harness for backcountry skiing Keep your phone where you need it in the mountains.
Your phone is your navigation, your avalanche companion app, and your emergency line. Keep it on your body — not buried in a pack pocket you can't reach while skinning.
Why It Matters
What backcountry skiers actually need from a phone solution
The Honest Comparison
KOALA 2.0 vs. every other option backcountry skiers use
| Option | Security | Accessibility | Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| KOALA 2.0 Harness | Bungee tether keeps phone locked to your chest — secure through powder, skinning, and descents | Chest-mounted, one-handed access with gloves on — no zipper to fight | Best overall for backcountry skiing |
| Jacket chest pocket | Phone can work loose on a hard fall or deep powder descent | Requires removing a glove and unzipping — cold hands, slow access | Inconvenient when conditions are serious |
| Pack hip belt pocket | Secure but completely inaccessible while skinning with a heavy pack | Requires stopping, removing the pack, and digging through it | Safe storage, zero usability on the skin track |
| Pants pocket | Phone can fall out on a fall or when removing skins | Impossible to reach while wearing a pack and ski boots | High loss risk in the backcountry |
| Leave it in the car | Safe from cold and impact, useless in the mountains | No navigation, no avalanche beacon companion app, no emergency calls | Not an option in serious terrain |
How It Works
Built for the mountains. Not the lodge.
The KOALA 2.0 uses a Super-Grip silicone pad and bungee tether system to keep your phone locked against your chest. It works with virtually any smartphone — no case required — and fits over a base layer, a softshell, or a hardshell jacket.
One-handed access with gloves on means you can pull up a topo map, check the avalanche forecast, or call for help without removing a glove or fighting a zipper. In serious terrain, that's not a convenience — it's a safety feature.
Where It Works
Skin tracks. Couloirs. Splitboard approaches. All of it.
Backcountry skiers use it to navigate remote terrain, track routes, and stay connected in the mountains. When you're 3,000 feet above the trailhead in avalanche terrain, your phone needs to be on your body — not buried in a pack pocket you can't reach while skinning.
It's also the go-to for splitboarders, ski tourers, and telemark skiers who want their phone accessible without stopping. 2,040+ reviews from skiers, climbers, and paddlers who've put it through real conditions.
Common Questions
Everything backcountry skiers ask before buying
Ready to Ski Smarter
Stop burying your phone. Start skiing.
The KOALA 2.0 ships free on orders over $50. 100% no-worries warranty. 2,040+ five-star reviews from skiers, climbers, and paddlers who've put it through real conditions.
Shop KOALA 2.0