Do you wear an Avalanche Air Bag in the Mountains

[Pink-Inc]

Re: Do yow wear an Avalanche Air Bag in the Mountains

I just ordered an ImpactVest. Can't wait to get it and try it on

 

[btcowboy]

Re: Do yow wear an Avalanche Air Bag in the Mountains

Not saying that's a bad choice, look into ABS packs aswell if you haven't already. Both snowpulse and abs are great packs.

I am kinda set on SnowPulse, can look at the ABS

 

[senorjeem]

Re: Do yow wear an Avalanche Air Bag in the Mountains

I don't. Too many rockstars out there who figure that they are bullet proof cause they have their avy packs on. The experts will tell you that these will increase your chances of survival in an avalanche, unfortunately for the sledding community as a whole, too many of our sledding associates somehow translate that into justification to sled in avy zones and the stats just keep getting worse!! A friend of mine was sifted through the trees like a pachinko ball from an avy that he had no part in setting off, and he was killed.....and he was wearing a pack,and he deployed it. We are too reliant on these as a replacement for awareness.

 

[niner]

Re: Do yow wear an Avalanche Air Bag in the Mountains

Wow. That's like saying seatbelts and airbags in vehicles make you a over confident driver. So you won't wear a avy bag cause you think "some guys" do stupid stuff when they wear a bag. I didn't buy one to become bulletproof, I have one to give me the highest possible chance of surviving an accident in the backcountry. I really don't care if you wear a bag, hope you wear a beacon or does that make you a rockstar too?

 

[OOC ZigZag]

Re: Do yow wear an Avalanche Air Bag in the Mountains

Wow. That's like saying seatbelts and airbags in vehicles make you a over confident driver. So you won't wear a avy bag cause you think "some guys" do stupid stuff when they wear a bag. I didn't buy one to become bulletproof, I have one to give me the highest possible chance of surviving an accident in the backcountry. I really don't care if you wear a bag, hope you wear a beacon or does that make you a rockstar too?

I wear one for the same reason and really considering last couple years snow pack I'm glad I got one.

 

[senorjeem]

Re: Do yow wear an Avalanche Air Bag in the Mountains

Wow. That's like saying seatbelts and airbags in vehicles make you a over confident driver. So you won't wear a avy bag cause you think "some guys" do stupid stuff when they wear a bag. I didn't buy one to become bulletproof, I have one to give me the highest possible chance of surviving an accident in the backcountry. I really don't care if you wear a bag, hope you wear a beacon or does that make you a rockstar too?

Not exactly.....It's more like saying that chances are really great that if there were no speed laws and I turned a bunch of guys loose with 600 hp cars and thay were all belted in with 5 point harnesses that most of them would be dead by nightfall, and I resent that they take innocents out with them, or instead of themselves. Wanna do 60 foot cornice drops into endless pow....giv'er. Wanna make your sign on the most awesome unapproachable near vertical slope...giv'er. Wanna poke out the top of the unclimable chute...fine whatever, just have a little shred of concern for those below you or who you are expecting to run in and save you when....Gee that super bag didn't magically drop you and your sled at the cabin! Do I have and use my avy gear? you bet, and I'm glad you have yours and that you are so confident in it. Just saying, I don't share that confidence after the results that I have seen.

 

[niner]

Re: Do yow wear an Avalanche Air Bag in the Mountains

I have no idea if my bag will save my life,but I have a wife and a 2 year old and a 6 month old, and I need to give myself the highest percantage of coming home. The avy bags have proven to increase your odds of surviving. Being a complete dumbass has proven to increase your odds of dying. I know these bags aren't magic but you can't tell me there useless. Lots of people die in car accidents wearing seatbelts so do you quit wearing your seatbelt? No you strap in to improve your odds. My avy bag is on cause there are no guarantees what you might encounter when you head out.

 

[CanadianRedneck]

Re: Do yow wear an Avalanche Air Bag in the Mountains

I use an Avalung but I'll pickup up a avibag this or next year. Some of the bags are a bit small though...I need something that has room for an extra 20-30L of room and I find some bag don't have that.

 

[AprilO]

Re: Do yow wear an Avalanche Air Bag in the Mountains

Just bought an ABS pack this year!

 

[senorjeem]

Re: Do yow wear an Avalanche Air Bag in the Mountains

I have no idea if my bag will save my life,but I have a wife and a 2 year old and a 6 month old, and I need to give myself the highest percantage of coming home. The avy bags have proven to increase your odds of surviving. Being a complete dumbass has proven to increase your odds of dying. I know these bags aren't magic but you can't tell me there useless. Lots of people die in car accidents wearing seatbelts so do you quit wearing your seatbelt? No you strap in to improve your odds. My avy bag is on cause there are no guarantees what you might encounter when you head out.

I guess my problem is that I haven't bought into the sales pitches and hype yet. Nothing will improve peoples chances for survival like following appropriate protocols when you are in avy country. Notice that I didn't jump on the safety bus and say stay away, not practical. First, I guess I would like to see a poll where people who have actually been saved chime in and explain their personal views, not a friend of a guy I know. I bet that these people would agree, being caught up in an avy, or being buried so that you can't breath without breathing snow is not an adventure, but is damned scary and they would advocate the same thing that I am. There is not even a partial replacement for using your brain! I have seen the sales video of a dummy being floated to surface.......hmm, yeah well, pretty hard to kill an inanimate dummy. I will agree that I don't think that they are useless, and I shouldn't have said that if I did, or even have implied it. My feeling is that some people who have an internal register of what conditions are acceptable tend to recalibrate that scale when they have a pack on and that is why I think we keep seeing the trend towards more and more avy related deaths increase. Just play safe so that the only thing your family has to remember you by isn't that avy pack that hangs in the porch!

 

[bobsledder]

Re: Do yow wear an Avalanche Air Bag in the Mountains

I guess my problem is that I haven't bought into the sales pitches and hype yet. Nothing will improve peoples chances for survival like following appropriate protocols when you are in avy country. Notice that I didn't jump on the safety bus and say stay away, not practical. First, I guess I would like to see a poll where people who have actually been saved chime in and explain their personal views, not a friend of a guy I know. I bet that these people would agree, being caught up in an avy, or being buried so that you can't breath without breathing snow is not an adventure, but is damned scary and they would advocate the same thing that I am. There is not even a partial replacement for using your brain! I have seen the sales video of a dummy being floated to surface.......hmm, yeah well, pretty hard to kill an inanimate dummy. I will agree that I don't think that they are useless, and I shouldn't have said that if I did, or even have implied it. My feeling is that some people who have an internal register of what conditions are acceptable tend to recalibrate that scale when they have a pack on and that is why I think we keep seeing the trend towards more and more avy related deaths increase. Just play safe so that the only thing your family has to remember you by isn't that avy pack that hangs in the porch!

Well said. That is the truth, avoid it.

 

[snochuk]

Re: Do yow wear an Avalanche Air Bag in the Mountains

Never ever leave for the hills without my bag, everyone in our regular group (about 12) has a bag.

 

[Dragin]

Just picked up a Snowpulse vest tried on a bunch of different packs at the store but the vest felt like the weight was way better distributed. Don't ever wanna use it ! (except to carry snacks)lol. It didn't seem to move around on my back as much as a pack and excessive movement is what really bugs me with back packs.


---
I am here: http://maps.google.com/maps?ll=54.073415,-115.579280

 

[0neoldfart]

Re: Do yow wear an Avalanche Air Bag in the Mountains

I do not wear an airbag, though I may consider one in the future. I feel that avalanche training and common sense is a far better asset in the backcountry. I don't ride without a tranceiver, probe and shovel, as well as sufficient emergency supplies to survive a night or two on the mountain. The avy pack will do you no good whatsoever if you die from exposure. Another point to consider is that trauma sustained from injuries usually causes a victim to go into shock, which if untreated will cause death. It would be interesting to know how many that wear airbags also carry necessary survival gear (including a decent first aid kit), have avy training, and actually use caution in the mountains (use good decision making whether or not to climb a slope that is questionable). When was the last time you saw someone digging a snow pit in your riding area?
Now before everyone goes off on me, I think that the airbag is a good idea, but ONLY when combined training, survival equipment, and good decision making. Otherwise, I feel the bag gives you a false sense of security, and you make take chances one might not if the bag wasn't on. Oh, and by the way - if the leg harness isn't on, that bag will be pulled off your body in an avalanche. I see a lot of wearers on the hill NOT wearing the leg harness. Ride safe.

 

[Dragin]

Wow I can't believe how many people can find a way to bash air bags and still claim there safe riders in the mountains!

There just one more tool to add to the package. They don't make everybody ride stupid and they don't make everybody take more risks. The people that ride like that are gonna ride that way bag or not.

I ride with lots of guys that take bigger risks than me and most of them don't own bags and they have a million reasons why they don't. I bought my bag because it makes my family feel better about the risks and for that same reason is why a lot of people buy them. For people to imply that there pointless and they make people take bigger risks is no different than saying people take bigger risks because they carry a beacon.
They're the all the same just tools to help in case you get caught in an Avi nothing more... Just saying.

 

[MATTIAC]

Re: Do yow wear an Avalanche Air Bag in the Mountains

I don't ride without a back pack so why not spend a bit more on something that may save your life. My 3 cents

 

[-lenny-]

Re: Do yow wear an Avalanche Air Bag in the Mountains

I picked up an ABS before they were popular. My pack lost cargo space and gained weight, but I'm ok with that.

 

[EMANAARON]

I do not wear an airbag, though I may consider one in the future. I feel that avalanche training and common sense is a far better asset in the backcountry. I don't ride without a tranceiver, probe and shovel, as well as sufficient emergency supplies to survive a night or two on the mountain. The avy pack will do you no good whatsoever if you die from exposure. Another point to consider is that trauma sustained from injuries usually causes a victim to go into shock, which if untreated will cause death. It would be interesting to know how many that wear airbags also carry necessary survival gear (including a decent first aid kit), have avy training, and actually use caution in the mountains (use good decision making whether or not to climb a slope that is questionable). When was the last time you saw someone digging a snow pit in your riding area?
Now before everyone goes off on me, I think that the airbag is a good idea, but ONLY when combined training, survival equipment, and good decision making. Otherwise, I feel the bag gives you a false sense of security, and you make take chances one might not if the bag wasn't on. Oh, and by the way - if the leg harness isn't on, that bag will be pulled off your body in an avalanche. I see a lot of wearers on the hill NOT wearing the leg harness. Ride safe.

It's got nothing to do with the fact of how others ride or that certification and/or Training is more beneficial.

It's an extra item that may or may not save your life and I hope to never find out, however it will not decrease your chances of survival.

You are already wearing a backpack. Why not spent the $1200 after all the other necessary items Ex. Shovel, beacon, probe, training and knowledge.

I will admit I had bought all the gear and rode all year last year, however I had no training. This year I said I would not ride without the proper training.

I also made my girlfriend take the AST1 course as well even though she plans on taking one trip with us. If she decides that she likes it I will take it upon myself to get her all the life saving equipment I can get her to see that if something does go wrong she or myself has every chance given to us to SURVIVE!

No dollar amount is worth someone's life especially a measly $1200.

Your life's in your hands!!!

 

[pfi572]

Re: Do yow wear an Avalanche Air Bag in the Mountains

ABS for quite afew years. Don't sled without it in the hills.

 

[southside21]

Re: Do yow wear an Avalanche Air Bag in the Mountains

im from sk to where are you located and what is the price .