BCA Float 30

Some of you heard me ranting about how everyone should buy an airbag pack last spring.

More info on the new pack from BCA, looks pretty good.

I am considering buying this or the Snowpulse, but leaning towards the BCA.

freeskier.com/buyersGuide/product.php?product_id=478

The BCA design has some interesting potential advantages (in addition to cost and easy U.S. availability).
This is from a BCA email this past March:

• "The Float 30 is lighter than ABS and Snowpulse because we have a cylinder that’s 40 percent smaller. We have accomplished this with a more efficient venturi (the basis of our patent application)."

• "Another important point is that the Float 30 maintains your ability to escape the slide by maintaining your peripheral vision and freedom of movement. Priority one is to escape the avalanche. Also, preserving this option will make you less reluctant to pull the trigger (you won’t be “giving up” if you pull it)."

• "The Float 30 and Snowpulse both use compressed air (3000 psi, same as SCUBA and paintball). ABS uses nitrogen at 4500 psi, which makes it much more difficult to manufacture, refill, transport, etc."

MSRP $500 Ouch.

True, still pricey, but about 1/2 the price of the competition.

And only 2x or so as much as an Avalung pack-  Given that airbags provide a much larger improvement in survival percentages than an Avalung it doesn't seem like a bad cost/benifit ratio.

As a side note I'm always surprised that folks will spend several thousand dollars on a ski kit of  skis/boots/bindings/skins/beacon/shovel/pack/jackets/gps/etc. and balk at spending $500 on a piece of gear that will actually significantly increase you survival chances.

I'm likely to get one for me and another for my son this season.

so what about the cost, how much more does it WEIGH?
are you willing to lug that thing up there? at some point the weight of your pack becomes a liability...