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ABS pack vs Avalung

Thats my problem with the avylung too, great idea but unless you ride the hill with the mouthpiece in, I don't see you having time to after the fact.

I also like the idea of preventing a burial with the airbag, instead of accepting a burial and trying to breathe under the snow. No garuntees on either saving your butt, I just prefer the ABS.
 
ABS is to help prevent you from getting buried.
Avalung is to help you breath under the snow in case you get buried.

The avalung integrated into the backpack is a great way to go, but if it were me I would rather have the ABS instead.
 
the ABS is by far the better choice, as it helps to keep you on top, thus no need to breathe under the snow. having said that, i have a couple of riding buddies that have the avalung, and they used them quite a bit, at first. the prblem is like others have said, you will never get into your mouth when the avy happens while wearing a helmet. so, your only choice is to wear it while making your runs. like i said, my buddies did this for a while, then it got to the point that they were wearing them, but not putting them in, and now, they don't even bother with them at all. i think they are better for skiers,snowshoers, hikers, etc, guys with no helmets or at least no bqr covering their face. just my$.03
 
What activates the ABS? Pretty slim chance you would be able to pull a ripcord and hooking it up like a tether would not work either. I have not seen one and can't figure how it would actually work.
 
Theres a T-handle that you locate where its easy for you to reach. When pulled, it sets off a charge which punctures the co2 cannister and inflates the airbags.
 
ABS would be my choice.

I do not have one because they are so expensive but the concept makes perfect sense and I would much rather be on top of the snow using my own lung than buried counting on an avalung.
 
What activates the ABS? Pretty slim chance you would be able to pull a ripcord and hooking it up like a tether would not work either. I have not seen one and can't figure how it would actually work.

I dunno, I spend a LOT of time in the back country, in serious avalanche terrain. We have set off numerous smaller slides and I have complete confidence that I could "pull the handle" in plenty of time.

It is a little like riding up the slope with the avylung mounthpiece in, I undo the saftey strap that keeps the bag from accidentally deploying, and I know exactly where the little handle is. You let the sled go and save yourself!
 
I just got myself into a freeride pack and when I blew it up a friend made a really good point that I didn't think of. If by chance you deploy and still get buried you have the air bags that slowly release the air with in 3 minutes. so you would have more space around your body for air and movement. Just something that I thought was a good thought.

KJP
 
I just got myself into a freeride pack and when I blew it up a friend made a really good point that I didn't think of. If by chance you deploy and still get buried you have the air bags that slowly release the air with in 3 minutes. so you would have more space around your body for air and movement. Just something that I thought was a good thought.

KJP

The ABS bags have to be manually deflated by pushing the release button.
 
on the instruction video they say that the bag should stay inflated for 3 minutes. They did say right in there that they are not air tight that a small amount of air will leak out.

here is a link to the video:

http://www.klimusa.com/video/ABS.html

KJP
 
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Four of our avalanche students in the last few weeks have the Avalung.

One brought his backpack to the class. Just breathing through it standing still you could hear it...this must mean that there is a certain amount of restriction. For those that ride with the snorkle in your mouth during the climb...do you feel that you are getting enough air? I am guessing that a person that was working a climb would want to spit out the mouth piece to really breath properly. Whaddya think?

They all felt that there were better things to spend their money on.

The avy lung is better suited to backcountry travelers without helmets.

All avy tools add a layer of safety. No one tool is the ticket. The best tool is the one sitting on your shoulders. Invest a little into this tool and it may reduce the need to have to pull the T handle...is it a $100 avalanche?! Should I pull the bag?! Funny, but true. Add up the cylinder cost, shipping and your time and you're around $100 to reload the bag. A couple of accidental releases and you have paid for your avy class.
 
...is it a $100 avalanche?! Should I pull the bag?! Funny, but true. Add up the cylinder cost, shipping and your time and you're around $100 to reload the bag.

That is the reason that we offer a free canister to those who use the airbag in an avalanche (if you bought your airbag from us). We don't want you to have to wonder if it is worth the money to pull the handle. If you're in an avy and have an airbag, pull the handle! and we'll get your airbag back up and running for free. (PM me for more details)

However, I still agree with zacs 100%........take an Avy class!
 
If by chance you deploy and still get buried you have the air bags that slowly release the air with in 3 minutes.

hmm, interesting thought jsut crossed my mind. That's not air in the bags, it's nitrogen. While n2 isn't toxic, it's not oxygen either.... I don't see that having it would help you in a burial situation other than making a rescue/recovery easier.
 
hmm, interesting thought jsut crossed my mind. That's not air in the bags, it's nitrogen. While n2 isn't toxic, it's not oxygen either.... I don't see that having it would help you in a burial situation other than making a rescue/recovery easier.
Bingo!
 
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