Forums The Gear Room Life Saving Backpacks Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)Author Posts February 2, 2007 at 2:57 am #568519 Yoda 264 PostsOut of all the ski/snowboard specific backpacks available today, only two mfg’s are building backpacks that could save your life. Black Diamond and Deuter are the only mfg’s making it safer for you to travel in the backcountry.Black Diamond has integrated their AvaLung into two models of backpacks made for ski/snowboard touring. The integration of the AvaLung provides you a convient way to breathe while buried from an avalanche. By having an all-in-one design, you’re always equiped. http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/gear/covert_with_avalung.php http://www.blackdiamondequipment.com/gear/anarchist_with_avalung.phpDeuter has integrated their Shield Back System into a model of backpack for ski/snowboard touring. It provides you protection against back injury caused from either a crash or being pumbled during an avalanche. Once again, the all-in-one design insures you’re covered while deep in the backcountry. http://www.deuterusa.com/products/productDetail.php?packID=razor18&sub=alpine&tert=snow http://www.deuterusa.com/products/productDetail.php?packID=razor23&sub=alpine&tert=snow February 2, 2007 at 3:42 am #594000 Splitfire 327 PostsWhat about that one company with the Airbag system? I’ve heard nothin but good thing about it February 2, 2007 at 4:14 am #594001 Yoda 264 Posts @Splitfire wrote:What about that one company with the Airbag system? I’ve heard nothin but good thing about itI forgot about them! http://www.avalanchebackpack.com/Correction – three backpacks exist that can save you life. February 2, 2007 at 3:30 pm #594002 WClumberjack 21 Posts @Yoda wrote: @Splitfire wrote:What about that one company with the Airbag system? I’ve heard nothin but good thing about itI forgot about them! http://www.avalanchebackpack.com/Correction – three backpacks exist that can save you life. i heard that pack is really heavy and has reduced capacity because of the airbag system. small price to pay i guess for possible saving you life. does anyone use one?as far as the armour one goes is it really any different then other packs? maybe i need to see it to appreciate itthe avalung pack looks like kickass goodness. February 2, 2007 at 6:52 pm #594003 Yoda 264 PostsHere’s some details on the Shield Back System – http://www.deuter.com/cms/front_content.php?idcat=131No other packs on the market can offer this level of back protection. The Razor has been tested (and passed) for this application. Deuter also makes a pack for down-hill mtn. biking that offers the same protection – http://www.deuterusa.com/products/productDetail.php?packID=attack&sub=hydration&tert=raceThe avalanche packs are limited on volume and are heavy, but they do offer an interesting approach to avalanche safety. 😀 February 3, 2007 at 12:46 am #594004 shasta 143 PostsSo I’ve always wondered how the hell are you supposed to get the mouthpiece thing in your mouth and keep it in when the shit hits the fan. Seems like a great idea but for that one little problem.Andy February 3, 2007 at 1:51 am #594005 WClumberjack 21 Posts @shasta wrote:So I’ve always wondered how the hell are you supposed to get the mouthpiece thing in your mouth and keep it in when the shit hits the fan. Seems like a great idea but for that one little problem.Andyi could be wrong but i believe you put the mouthpiece in after you’re burried, if you can. it takes air from around your body to help prevent suffication. February 3, 2007 at 2:04 am #594006 clint 24 PostsNo you gotta get it in before your burried. After burial you can’t move anything, even wiggle your fingers.You can position the mouthpiece close to your mouth, so that all you need to do is move your head over and bite down (no hands necesarry). Or if your really sketched out you can do your line with the mouthpiece in. Although it may limit you breathing a bit.I may invest in one next season… February 3, 2007 at 2:08 am #594007 Shep 525 PostsNope, the official BD line is “As soon as you think you’re in a risky situation, BITE THE S*** OUT OF THE LITTLE F*****!”*Granted I’ve never been in an avalanche, but it’s not a very long tube going from your shoulder to your mouth, and the jaw is one of the stronger muscles in the body, so I think you can probably keep it in there.*-not actually what it says in the users manual, but they do recommend practicing skiing/riding with it in your mouth.Shep February 3, 2007 at 7:24 am #594008 SanFrantastico 1514 PostsIf you question the effectiveness, you should read this accounton ttips of a dude that was buried 7.5 feet deep and survived 20 minutes with an avalung.“I took the mouthpiece in my mouth as soon as I noticed that I had lost all my speed relative to the avalanche, and at this point I was still standing up.”Martin recalls that it was was a huge help to breathe through the Avalung while being dragged down the slope, “The Avalung was easy to breathe through, and I could focus on what to do when I was buried, instead of struggling with snow in my mouth and lungs.”I really hope BD licenses this technology to a bunch of manufactures so that we can have a wide variety of pack designs with this awesome feature.Putting the poo in swimming pool since 1968. February 4, 2007 at 5:53 am #594009 paulster 130 PostsI have taken one bad ride in a slide and was able to grab the sunglasses off my face and jam them into the open front of my jacket ( they got crammed with snow and I couldn’t see with them on, like seeing was going to help anthing). That left me pretty convinced that I could jam my avalung mouthpiece in my mouth and keep it there while being tumbled. I think you need to do it really fast, though. I normally ride with my mouthpiece extended but not in my mouth. No way can you count on putting it in once you stop moving if you are buried. February 4, 2007 at 4:06 pm #594010 Splitfire 327 PostsI have the Avalung,not the pack version but the uhh sling version, and its not hard riding with the thing in your mouth. It extends pretty far(like an accordian,sp?) and you just shove it in your mouth when your gettin ready to drop in. Its a lil diff at first,the only real drawback is that you cant holla and make noises like an idiot when your ridin downI’d never ride with it out of my mouth and then try putting it when the shit hits the fan. It specifys not to do this anyways. And if you start cartwheelin or somethin the thing could easily get packed in with snow…just not worth the risk. February 4, 2007 at 9:31 pm #594011 rms56 121 PostsPerhaps the BD people have a little more than their teeth clenched. Viewing 13 posts - 1 through 13 (of 13 total)You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
