anyone considering buying an airbag pack?

Ya, i just got a Mammut Ride RAS... theres a dive shop in Omak that will fill the tank for $8.00 bucks.
The resent events hit home (I've been their 3 times), the technologies here, I'm in the backcountry way to often and have been for way to long to believe it can't happen to me.

I to got a call from Mom and was happy to tell her i just bought a parachute.

Intrigued, but given that I tend to tour mostly in trees in fresh snow conditions I share the concern that Ron states, and given that I tend to be fairly conservative about what level of hazard I go out in period (though guarantees even then, I'm fully aware), I'm left on the fence, given cost and weight added to these other thoughts.

I'm curious to see if the current crop of data says much about trees or if it is mostly from alpine/open slope events.

Yes, up to now I was inclined to NOT deploy my airbag in the trees, and probably still am.

If I understand correctly, the Stevens survival was IN trees WITH deployed airbag - but it could still be pure luck that the skier didn't hit a tree in the slide.

For trees, I thought about using my MTB downhill body armor. I wanted to try it first for rainbow slides in the park (on my snowboard) but it felt so constricting and unnatural that I took it off right after I put it on... Maybe just another thing to get used to - who knows, in the future people may hit bc trees with a carbon exoskeleton pro and a jet pack for vertical escape

Cheers
Ivo

For folks who have airbag packs, what pack did you buy, and what do you like/dislike about the pack?  I know they are heavy and am more interested in other observations about the utility of different models.   I'm thinking I'll get one and would like to get some feedback from folks who own them.

Thanks

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

FYI,

There are releasable telemark bindings: NTN

Releasable snowboard bindings: Voile Light Rail

For folks who have airbag packs, what pack did you buy, and what do you like/dislike about the pack?  I know they are heavy and am more interested in other observations about the utility of different models.   I'm thinking I'll get one and would like to get some feedback from folks who own them.

Thanks

I bought a BCA Float 30 this season. It's a great pack, apart from the avy bag capability. It's only got the single bag, but has a proven track record in the field. The canister is also refillable by any scuba shop. Got it on sale at I-90 Motorsports in Issaquah for $599. They will also refill canisters free for anybody who purchases there (BCA recommends deploying once per year.