obtained: ABS Airbag a short review on test
I am putting this in the Slide zone because I think it belongs here.
I just got this last Thursday. They are now approved for sale in the USA. The homeland security office/ DOT factions of the government prevented this potentially life saving device from those who desired to purchase them here in the states because of the refillable Nitrogen Gas canister used to inflate the dual airbags. The ones sold in the US use canisters that cannot be refilled. (costs more for extras because of this) This is not a test from being in an avalanche. It is simply a review of the test you are to perform when you get the thing new. Also, this post is to let people know you can get this thing here in the USA legally.
Anyway, all said, now peeps here in the states can get ahold of these things. There are resources out there on the net that list accidents or incidents involving the use of these bags as far back as the mid 80's. Google that. I am not going to go in depth on how they are supposed to help float you to the top during a slide because that info has been covered before and you can get that by googling.
I just want people to know you can now get these things and add it to your quiver for bc use along with your avi learning and skills and other equipment. This device by no means will prevent you from getting caught in a slide. It is only a device that may help prevent you from being buried. You still have to deal with potential trauma situations and partial or even full burials. Just the physics of what the device does if you deploy it in a slide should start tilting the scale in our favor in terms of trying to avoid a full burial.
When you get the pack. You are given a demo gas canister and instructed to go and release it and let the airbags fill up for practice. I did this outside in the mining district above town. I thought it was going to be a big explosion and knock me off my feet. but, i could barely feel it inflate. and it happens quick. two bags, 170 litres of air and gas in about 2.5 seconds. the first bag is full in 1 sec. When you return the empty cansister and the firing handle you get an $80 deposit back in addition to extending your warranty to 4 years over the basic 2. You also fill out a 2 page report on triggering the device and the results.
I wore the thing around all day in no to low incline terrain. I did climb one tailings pile about 200 ft tall with it on so I could see if there was a chance for triggering the device by accident. I put my skis on the pack and climbed the windward side where snow had been blown off in the previous week. i used an ice axe so that i was actually making motions that could potentially bump the unit and its firing mechanism to see if it would trigger accidently.
I did not set it off by accident. The new line for these packs allows you to interchange the size of the backpack from the base unit. so you can alter that based on what type of tour or trip you are going on without having to buy two or three different complete units. These are called the Vario units. you can choose from a 15L, 30L, 50L pack. Also, somewhere out ther you can get a cover for the base unit that is like 6L and only has room for a shovel , probe, extra goggles or gloves.
The inflated bags are made out of some sort of really tough durable material , like a car airbag I guess. And as you can see it is in super bright orange. It is suggested that you leave the thing filled until you exit dangerous territory after deploying it. I skinned with it and it wasnt a big deal. Maybe with high winds you might feel some lift or something. It wasnt very windy Friday where I was.
The unit shown is a 15L. I carried the extra gas canister along with some small random stuff in the pack all day. I attached my skis with skins on the pack and hiked around with that some as well.
Like I said, I just want people to know this thing is LEGAL here in the USA now and can be had for those who want it. my net cost on this thing was $970. They are not cheap. I do not sell them and do not work for the company or retailers that do.
btw: the long thin cord in pics #2 and #3 is the leg strap. This thing kind of reminds me of a parachute harness in that the hip belt uses metal fasteners instead of plastic. That fourth picture is where I am in the process of deflating it.
