ABS vs. BCA Avy bags
- Thread starter Summit74
- Start date
I bought mine right when the other brands first came on the market...but I wasnt going to take a chance..the deciding factor for me..was the sealed cylinder that uses a charge in the handle to fire..to this day I still feel it is the best set up out there..which is why I went with the ABS pack...
The ABS refills aren't that bad cost wise, but inconvienent for sure. I did choose the ABS simply because they have been in the business for years. Our whole group uses ABS and I bought a spare trigger and cannister to keep as a backup if we have an avy or accidental trigger which happened to me last year.
ABS uses a No2 canister.. The other cheaper bags from the little I've read about/heard use CO2 canister. Only downside of co2 is that the pressure will fluctuate with temperature change( cold temps) and elevation. So yes it's easier to go full up your co2 canister and cheaper but the no2 is a lot safer as the pressure doesn't change with elevation or cold temps.
X2. I just sent mine in for the recall on the tank. Awesome customer service. Love the Idea of having head protection from the bag.
I
Insaneboltrounder/sjohns
Well-known member
this !! ABS is far above the others
yep..more conveint with the others..but..I want that 100% knowledge/trust that if I have to pull that handle..its going to fire the bag...to me..that by far is the most important thing of owning a bag...........
IMO, having any avy pack is far better than not having one.
I'm looking at the BCA Full Throttle pack. Waiting to see if First Place Parts will have better pricing at the Boise Snow Show before I order one from them.
I'm looking at the BCA Full Throttle pack. Waiting to see if First Place Parts will have better pricing at the Boise Snow Show before I order one from them.
Yes, come to any of our shows and we will offer 10% off on all product. We will be at Toronto, Salt Lake, Denver, and Boise. The coupon codes at each show will be good for 7 to 10 days depending upon the show.
Thanks
mark
S
sledsrock
Well-known member
Exactly the reason my BCA bag will only be filled with nitrogen (n2).
Good point by M8 Chris. In the end it's just money right. 2 bags, NO2, and pneumatic vs cable.
C
Covelli44
Well-known member
The cans you can get filled at a scuba shop or firehouse uses nothing more than compressed air. Nothing more than a plain old air compressor except much higher psi. You are correct, air temp will affect the pressure. For every 10 degrees F change in temp there will roughly be a change of 82psi. Colder air, less pressure. Warmer air, more pressure.
I am not very versed in the Avy bag world. Mike Duffy (snowww1) would be the go to man for this topic as he works a lot with manufacturers testing products. Maybe he will chime in here.
I had an ABS about 6 years ago and for me it just didn't fit right. It felt very stiff with hard edges. I now sell and wear a BCA Float 30. I fire it 5-6 times a year and have never had a problem and it fits great. I have confidence in the compressed air and the little bit of pressure you lose when it is cold is overall negliable when you are starting at 3000 PSI. The cable system has always worked. I also wear an AVI-VEST on occassion. Like the concept and idea of the vest vs. having a bag hang off the back but a properly fitted and secured bag is hard to beat. No matter what, get one, both BCA and ABS are great you won't go wrong with either one.
BCA BAGS
I have had 3 different bca bags now. 1st year float 30, new gen float 30, and i now have a float 36. All of them have operated as advertised (so far) and have been decent quality. I monitor the cyl pressure very frequently and have only seen a variance of about 300 psi on the gauge from room temp to 0 degrees. this is well within the operating psi. BCA says 2200-3000 operating psi. We are a refill station, so it is extremely nice to be able to use the bag for demonstrations at avy classes, safety clinics etc. and not have the headaches of hazmat shipping and such. To each their own.
I have had 3 different bca bags now. 1st year float 30, new gen float 30, and i now have a float 36. All of them have operated as advertised (so far) and have been decent quality. I monitor the cyl pressure very frequently and have only seen a variance of about 300 psi on the gauge from room temp to 0 degrees. this is well within the operating psi. BCA says 2200-3000 operating psi. We are a refill station, so it is extremely nice to be able to use the bag for demonstrations at avy classes, safety clinics etc. and not have the headaches of hazmat shipping and such. To each their own.
