anyone considering buying an airbag pack?

For those who feel air bag packs are prohibitively heavy, there's a smaller concept called the Rotauf MRK5, due out next winter here.

Slightly different concept than ABS packs but has the advantage of minimal weight and easily transferable from one pack to another.

Plinko, I really like you’re idea of the HLT5 .

For a long time an air bag pack was at the top of my shopping list.
I was just waiting for some improvements to come along in terms of variety and possibly some weight savings.

But then after I heard about Dan Otter getting wrapped around a tree I got to thinking that there might also be some down side to be skipping on the upper surface of an avy travelling at terminal velocity with an air bag. I’m not sure Dan would have survived if he’d have hit that tree any harder than he did.

As others have pointed out, a very high percentage of avy deaths are a result of trama rather than asphyxiation. Of course the padding of the bag around your head and shoulders could big plus, but the likelihood of a terminal velocity ride all the way to the bottom still bothers be some. Seems that the chance of hooking on to something like Marcus did in the Phantom is like little to none once you got up to speed with an air bag.

Obviously in the alpine the long fast ride to the bottom on the surface of deposition area is a much better option than burial. But I’m not sure I’m quick witted enough to remember when to pull it in the alpine and not in the trees. And I ski trees a lot.

I think it was in the 90’s BD or some similar company was trying to sell some spring open ball that was supposed to be deployed in an avy. I never did buy one but it seemed kinda cool. It kind of reminded me of how I heard how folks tried dragging empty plastic bleach jugs on a line in avy terrain before avy beacons caught on. Or maybe the jugs on the twine lost out to the beacons, eh?

Obliviously I believe, as I’m sure that most of us here do, that avoidance is a far better strategy than reliving on avalanche survivability. But for back up, when we make the wrong calls, that most of us have all made, some with worse consequences that others, there are lots of options to ponder, to be sure.

The HLT5 and the airbag system are totally different systems with very different applications.

The HLT5 is, essentially, a modern avalanche cord.  Its balloon floats above the debris so rescuers on the surface can see it and dig along the rope to get you out.  Essentially, the HLT5 speeds up the search process.

The airbag systems work to increase your surface area, thus allowing you to remain higher (a.k.a float) in the debris.  The thought with airbags is that they keep you on the surface, thus eliminating asphyxiation deaths (trauma is another story, especially here in the PNW).

I Intend on buying an airbag pack soon. Am trying to weigh the variables, ie pack space available, weight of system, ease of filling. Probably either BCA's or ABS.
A bigger question is: why haven't good, releasable tele- or snowboard bindings evolved and on the market? Being AT, I'm good. If I was tele or snowboard, I'd be jumping up & down demanding a Dynafit-like solution. Whatever kind of breathing/bag protection one employes, I think your chances of trauma are hugely heightened if your feet are essentially anchors pulling you down. Gerry

I'd like to see how the increase in buoyant force compares for snowboarders whose bindings don't release. Of course anything helps, but does it help enough to justify the cost? Anyone got some crash test dummies to spare for this one?

From Scotsman's post upthread (quoting an avalanche survivor who had airbag, avalung, and helmet):

"If you are going to wear emergency preventative equipment, methinks a helmet should top the list."

I once read through all of the avalanches in the Canadian Avalanche Incident book available on line.  I didn't keep count but it appeared more deaths were trauma than were due to burial.  Not that helmet would solve all trauma issues, but it would solve some of them.

For the weight, helmet is #1 for me.

avalancheinfo.net/Newsletters%20and%20Ar...ancheAccidentsV4.pdf

The number of times my helmet has saved my life inbounds is worth it enough. However, I did notice that the newest ABS systems deploy like a horsecollar lifevest - that is they protectr your spinal column at its most vulnerable point. I wonder if this is purposeful design or just good thinking - if I'm going to be bouncing off of rocks, stumps and God-knows-what I'd like some protection from the impact(s).