Do you wear an Avalanche Air Bag in the Mountains

[CUSO]

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

There are a few things that you should get before an airbag pack.

1: Avalanche training. Your brain is the most useful tool out there. There are soooo many "self taught" riders out there, who think they know the science behind Avalanches.

2: Beakon, probe shovel. This is an obvious one, however there are still I would guess 25% that don't have these.

3: Good winter clothing. Your chances of spending the night are much greater than getting buried in an avy. I hear of people breaking down, or getting stuck somewhere and have to spend the night all the time. Don't cheap out on poor quality clothing. It will make for a cold, uncomfortable night.

4: Survival gear. I know, I know... no one needs this right? Well I am talking about power bars, matches, first aid kit, rope, I carry a small tarp with one side foil and one side red.

I have a Snowpulse bag, and thought hard about it before getting one. I made the right choice for me, and got one. I don't regret it, and it only hurts once when you pay for it.

 

[Steve O Nytro]

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

Ive got a ABS and wouldnt go up the hill without it anymore. Wouldnt ride with someone who didnt have a beacon probe or shovel either.

 

[Manatee]

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

Sounds like you just got out of your course with Lori at Zac's Tracs. When we took our AST 1 she told us the same thing.
Fact is, that none of the items listed (beacon, probe, shovel, avi pack, good gear, survival tools, first aid kit etc.) are a bad thing to carry. None of these things will increase your chance of death. They may not decrease your chance of death by a lot, but they do decrease the chance nevetheless. And some by more than others.

Let's be honest, if with your sled purchase, you were given all of these things, you would wear your beacon, probe, bag etc. This will be my first year with an avy bag (I went with the Float 30). The ONLY reason I didn't have one before is because I had spent a lot of money on the stuff that is higher up on the list that CUSO has in his post above. I made myself a priority list and started purchasing what I could afford. This year, I already my beacon, probe, shovel, AST 1, good Gore-tex gear that should keep warm and dry even at the end of the day. I didn't have the Avy pack, so I bought one. Who knows what I might buy next... SPOT, Sat phone, avalung. You carry what you think you need, but for the guys that don't have bags... don't pretend like if you were given one that you wouldn't wear it. Or if they were the same price as a regular bag, that you wouldn't buy the one with some extra life-saving capabilities. That's just out-right lying.

I agree that the Avy bag shouldn't be at the top of one's list, but it should be on the list somewhere. I also know that if you go through the trees like a Plinko chip on The Price is Right, that you are still going to likely die. But you would have died in that situation whether you had a bag or not. Using that argument, you might as well not carry a beacon either, cause if you bounce off of all them trees, you're a dead man anyway.... But we don't say that do we? We still wear our beacons.

Be safe out there guys and Gals. Hopefully you have good knowledge and you can control yourself and stay outta Avy situations altogether. All of this stuff is stuff we buy and hope we never have to use... But it doesn't hurt to have it kicking around if you do need it. I don't drive my truck around in 4 X 4 either, but when I get stuck, I'm glad it's there. I didn't just go buy a 2 wheel drive truck and say "well I just won't get stuck. I'll be smart enough to stay away from areas where I can get stuck."

This is getting long, so I'll wrap it up. Have fun out there.

 

[hookedonboost]

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

Bought an AviVest last year - love the fit (more like a jacket as opposed to a backpack).

 

[Dragin]

Just noticed that my Snowpulse vest doesn't have a crotch strap. Is mine missing or does the vest not have one?

 

[avalanchesafety]

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

Just noticed that my Snowpulse vest doesn't have a crotch strap. Is mine missing or does the vest not have one?

The new Snowpulse vest doesn't come with a leg loop. Because of the full vest, it is impossible for the pack to ripped off your body if your arms were to be pointed straight in the air. The backpacks on the other hand need the leg loop because of the large gaps under the arms. If you were to hold your arms straight up, the backpack would be able to be pulled right off.

 

[idreamofpowder]

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

ya

I just pulled 1 from my civic Im gonna use that.

 

[idreamofpowder]

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

Just Kidding I know this is a serious topic

I have been looking at a few models.

 

[slednek]

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

Will be picking up a ABS Vario this week. Found it was the best fit and most comfortable for my size out of all the packs. I like the fact you can add the differnt size storage packs to the air bag pack as well.

 

[0neoldfart]

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

Just bought a Snowpulse Highmark 22, in light of all the rain and warm temps recently. The bag appears to be well thought out, although it needs about 4L more storage space in my humble opinion - and it should come with a hydration bladder. I rigged in a small Camelback bladder, but I usually like to carry more water then what the space will accomodate. No room in bag for spare gloves once the survival gear is in there - but perhaps I carry more then most. Pack weighs 22 lbs without water when loaded.

 

[Pwdrh0r]

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

Ive had an ABS for a while, they work great but make sure you put your handle away HAHA. I blew mine up just pulling it out of the truck...
That started the day of real fun

 

[Dragin]

The new Snowpulse vest doesn't come with a leg loop. Because of the full vest, it is impossible for the pack to ripped off your body if your arms were to be pointed straight in the air. The backpacks on the other hand need the leg loop because of the large gaps under the arms. If you were to hold your arms straight up, the backpack would be able to be pulled right off.

Thanks the salesman at the dealer said it did and I was getting worried I couldn't find it. I didn't wanna waste 3 hrs of my day to drive all the way back there.

 

[YFZ 450]

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

I have a Snowpulse and the wife has ABS . I still like the Snowpulse more, better fit for a bigger guy. ABS are a little smaller. Just my 2 cents.

 

[Klingon Warrior]

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

Had an ABS for the last 2 years, wouldn't go out without it, just another tool in the box, along with the Spot, Probe, Shovel and Beacon, and many other survival pieces along,
but most importantly, the knowledge to use it all,, and won't ride with anyone un-equipped,,

 

[LBZ]

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

I bought Dan Treadways Snowpulse Demo last spring from when he was riding in Golden for a really good price. Definetly happy with it!! I gave it a test pull just to see what it was all about and I think it will do the job. A little concerned I didn't repack it right and still need to get the canister refilled somewhere but I definetly won't go up the hill without it!!

 

[whiskeythrottle]

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

I have an ABS Backpack and it's going on it's 4th season this year. I wear it religiously and the big question on here is whether or not one would be able to pull the cord in the event of an avalanche. I was told when I bought it that if you are in an avalanche, you are supposed pull the cord and jump free and clear from your sled and ride the avi down... I vision this as probably very hard to do, so, to increase my chances incase I don't get it deployed, I purchased an AVI-lung last year which in case of burial, it draws air from the snow up front and expels your Co2 behind you. Tests and real life testimonials have had people survive up to an hour that were buried!! Anytime we are in avi territory or going for a climb or just passing by a ridge or slope, I bite down on it and breathe through it while riding in those areas. I also wear a under jersey MX chest protector to limit debris damage to my upper body incase of an Avi. Again, nothing is foolproof, but the more insurance one has, the more your chances of survival. I've ridden in the trees lots too, and it does seem pretty safe, but, usually there are still lots of areas surrounding that can produce big enough slides to reach the trees I'm riding in. IMO, air bags, avi-lungs, chest protectors or tek vests should be on everyone's list to have, as well as a shovel, probe, (packed in your backpack, not on your sled) and a good beacon. Online avi courses are great for people just starting out or even those who think they have seen and know it all. It gives you the basic knowledge incase of an avi. Simply saying I don't ride in avi territory so it won't happen to me is not the way to think. Riding smart is half of it, being prepared for the worst is the other half. Crap always seems to happen when least expected.

 

[kill_shot]

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

Id be curious to know know how many have pulled there packs

 

[sledhead5000]

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

I've got a Float 30 pack, the old Gen 1 style. Kinda heavy but it works. Haven't pulled it connected yet. Pulled the trigger while the back was disconnected to check that mechanism once... holy hell was that loud. Got the canister refilled at Aqua Sport in Marda Loop in Calgary for $5. Hopefully I never have to pull it with an avy coming my way!

 

[snopro]

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

I have a Snowpulse Highmark 22. I wouldn't be without an avi bag even though I have toned down my riding choices as I get older. I want to try the Snowpulse vest as I really like the way it is designed . If anyone knows someone that needs a bag mine is for sale. Info and pics in the avalanche gear classifieds.

 

[Circled-Mistake]

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

I wear a Marmot Mountain bag, but ALWAYS wear a beacon... I at least make sure i got a shovel and a probe with me at ALL TIMES..... As well as mandatory safety gear...