ABS Air bags.

^^^^^ not a great lover of the BCA avy bags myself. I like the potential trauma protection( and air space upon deflation) of the Snowpulse. BCA are cheaper .... but cheap ain't my personal criteria when buying life safety equipment.
See snowpulse inflation here;

I bought two BCA airbag packs this year one for me and one for who ever is with me (usually my wife). I agree you shouldn't skimp on price when it comes to something that could save your life.

My logic for why the BCA pack is best is...
1) It allows you to continue skiing once deployed (so does the ABS)
2) Refilling the ABS is expensive and a long process, not to mention I imagine its hard to manage on an airplane. I plan to practice deploying the airbag to make sure I hook it up right and so I know what it feels like in the event I ever have to use it.

Don't underestimate practicing! For everyone who uses an Avalung (like I used to) you should ski around with the snorkel in your mouth until you have a massive yard sale. If you can keep it in during the crash your ready for an avy.

Refilling the Snowpulse takes 5 mins at a dive shop and the last two times it cost me $6.50 and $7.00 respectively. There is a dive shop a few blocks up from Pro-ski on Aurora.

The Snowpulse cylinder can be taken on a plane just like the BCA although both need paperwork with the TSA in advance.

The ABS I think you are referring to is another make, prevalent in Europe.

I think air bags are fine if your are touring in alpine terrain where the greatest threat in a slide is burial. On the other hand, on forested slopes typical of most of the cascade winter tours, trauma on impact with trees is a big threat. While the bag keeps you on top it also tends to deposit you at the end of the deposition zone at a high rate of speed...

I think air bags are fine if your are touring in alpine terrain where the greatest threat in a slide is burial.  On the other hand, on forested slopes typical of most of the cascade winter tours, trauma on impact with trees is a big threat.  While the bag keeps you on top it also tends to deposit you at the end of the deposition zone at a high rate of speed...

I see your argument but I'm not sure I agree. If a slide goes even without a bag you're going to hit tress even when fully submerged and at quite a speed. I think I still prefer to stay on top and I think balloon around head provides some trauma protection , at least to head.

However I do agree that if slide big enough in trees, risk of death by trauma very large no matte if you are wearing bag or not wearing bag.

I'll do some research and see if avy bags increase velocity .
Do you have any?