The canister refill process can be very confusing because each manufacturer has a different program. Because there are so many different programs, I figured I would put some information on the forum for all to hopefully gain from. Please note that each dealer may be different, but this is how we do it at SnowBigDeal.
The canister programs may change at any time. If they change, I will try and post updates
ABS:
Self-Refill:
The ABS canisters use compressed nitrogen and cannot be refilled on your own. A full canister (yellow in color) without the cap should weigh approximately 580grams; empty they weigh approximately 510grams.
Refill/Exchange through SnowBigDeal
You can mail or bring your empty canister (with cap) and trigger to SnowBigDeal and get a refilled canister and trigger for $29.99 (+ HazMat Fee if applicable). (We will also be at HayDays, Denver, and SLC snow shows). If you need the full canister(s) shipped back to you, there is a special HazMat fee of $35 per shipment (not per canister). Alaska’s HazMat fee is $70 and we cannot ship outside of the United States.
Test Canister:
A test canister may be ordered at the time of purchase for a $125 deposit. You will have 30 days to test fire the canister and return it for a full refund of the deposit. By performing the test fire and returning the empty canister with your pack information, you will receive a 4-year warranty with your pack.
New/Spare Canister:
A new or spare canister can be purchased at SnowBigDeal.com for $149.99, which includes the HazMat charge within the lower 48 ($35 additional HazMat charge to Alaska)
BCA:
Self-Refill:
BCA uses compressed air and has a gauge on the canister to see how full the canister is. The fill fitting on the canister is a standard paintball fitting and the canister needs to be filled to 2700 PSI (the slower it is filled the better). The O-ring on the canister should be inspected and replaced each time the canister is fired; each canister comes with an O-Ring kit.
Refill/Exchange through SnowBigDeal
You can mail your empty canister to SnowBigDeal and we will replace your O-Ring for free and ship the refilled canister to you. You will be responsible for paying all shipping charges to have the canister returned to you. The minimum HazMat fee will be $35 (or $70 to Alaska).
Test Canister:
A test canister may be ordered at the time of the airbag purchase for a $125 deposit. You will have 30 days to test fire the canister and return it for a full refund of the deposit.
New/Spare Canister:
A new or spare canister can be purchased at SnowBigDeal.com for $175 (or $125 at the time of the airbag purchase), which includes the HazMat charge within the lower 48 ($35 HazMat charge to Alaska). If you are in Canada, we can ship you the canister empty and include O-Rings for you to fill the canister on your own.
SnowPulse:
Self-Refill:
SnowPulse uses compressed air and has a gauge on the canister to see how full the canister is. The fill fitting on the canister is a standard paintball fitting and the canister needs to be filled to 3000 PSI (the slower it is filled the better). The O-ring on the canister should be inspected and replaced each time the canister is fired; an O-ring kit can be purchased at SnowBigDeal.com for $29.99 for a 10-pack or $49.99 for a 20-pack.
Refill/Exchange through SnowBigDeal.com:
You can mail your empty canister to SnowBigDeal and we will replace your O-Ring for a fee of $5 and ship the refilled canister to you. You will be responsible for paying all shipping charges to have the canister returned to you; the minimum charge will be $35 to cover the HazMat shipping charges. ($70 to Alaska)
Test Canister:
A test canister may be ordered at the time of the airbag purchase for a $225 deposit. You will have 30 days to test fire the canister and return it for a full refund of the deposit.
New/Spare Canister:
A new or spare canister can be purchased at SnowBigDeal.com for $250 (or $225 at the time of the airbag purchase), which includes the HazMat charge within the lower 48 ($35 HazMat charge to Alaska). If you are in Canada, we can ship you the canister empty and include O-Rings for you to fill the canister on your own.
Avi-Vest:
Self-Refill:
Avi-Vest canisters cannot be refilled on your own, you must mail them to Avi-Vest to be refilled. They are in the process of setting up filling stations in key areas of the country, but that is not finalized yet.
Refill/Exchange through Avi-Vest:
The customer orders the refill and Avi-Vest will ship the canister to the customer with a return UPS label. The customer receives the new canister in the shipping box, replaces it with their used one, attaches the return label, and ships it back to Avi-Vest.
US only, 1 canister: $60, which includes UPS ground shipping. (expedited shipping on a quote basis, adds $50 - $100 to the cost)
Canada, 1 canister: $90, which includes UPS ground shipping. (expedited shipping on a quote basis, adds $50 - $100 to the cost)
If multiple canisters need to be refilled, the incremental cost for each additional canister is significantly less than the $60/$90 charge. Contact Avi-Vest for more information.
Test Canister:
We do not have a test canister program at this time. Avi-Vest may come out with one in the future. You can always test the pack with the canister you have and send it in to Avi-Vest to be refilled.
New/Spare Canister:
A new or spare canister can be purchased through Avi-Vest for $150.
Hopefully all this information helps instead of confuses.
The canister programs may change at any time. If they change, I will try and post updates
ABS:
Self-Refill:
The ABS canisters use compressed nitrogen and cannot be refilled on your own. A full canister (yellow in color) without the cap should weigh approximately 580grams; empty they weigh approximately 510grams.
Refill/Exchange through SnowBigDeal
You can mail or bring your empty canister (with cap) and trigger to SnowBigDeal and get a refilled canister and trigger for $29.99 (+ HazMat Fee if applicable). (We will also be at HayDays, Denver, and SLC snow shows). If you need the full canister(s) shipped back to you, there is a special HazMat fee of $35 per shipment (not per canister). Alaska’s HazMat fee is $70 and we cannot ship outside of the United States.
Test Canister:
A test canister may be ordered at the time of purchase for a $125 deposit. You will have 30 days to test fire the canister and return it for a full refund of the deposit. By performing the test fire and returning the empty canister with your pack information, you will receive a 4-year warranty with your pack.
New/Spare Canister:
A new or spare canister can be purchased at SnowBigDeal.com for $149.99, which includes the HazMat charge within the lower 48 ($35 additional HazMat charge to Alaska)
BCA:
Self-Refill:
BCA uses compressed air and has a gauge on the canister to see how full the canister is. The fill fitting on the canister is a standard paintball fitting and the canister needs to be filled to 2700 PSI (the slower it is filled the better). The O-ring on the canister should be inspected and replaced each time the canister is fired; each canister comes with an O-Ring kit.
Refill/Exchange through SnowBigDeal
You can mail your empty canister to SnowBigDeal and we will replace your O-Ring for free and ship the refilled canister to you. You will be responsible for paying all shipping charges to have the canister returned to you. The minimum HazMat fee will be $35 (or $70 to Alaska).
Test Canister:
A test canister may be ordered at the time of the airbag purchase for a $125 deposit. You will have 30 days to test fire the canister and return it for a full refund of the deposit.
New/Spare Canister:
A new or spare canister can be purchased at SnowBigDeal.com for $175 (or $125 at the time of the airbag purchase), which includes the HazMat charge within the lower 48 ($35 HazMat charge to Alaska). If you are in Canada, we can ship you the canister empty and include O-Rings for you to fill the canister on your own.
SnowPulse:
Self-Refill:
SnowPulse uses compressed air and has a gauge on the canister to see how full the canister is. The fill fitting on the canister is a standard paintball fitting and the canister needs to be filled to 3000 PSI (the slower it is filled the better). The O-ring on the canister should be inspected and replaced each time the canister is fired; an O-ring kit can be purchased at SnowBigDeal.com for $29.99 for a 10-pack or $49.99 for a 20-pack.
Refill/Exchange through SnowBigDeal.com:
You can mail your empty canister to SnowBigDeal and we will replace your O-Ring for a fee of $5 and ship the refilled canister to you. You will be responsible for paying all shipping charges to have the canister returned to you; the minimum charge will be $35 to cover the HazMat shipping charges. ($70 to Alaska)
Test Canister:
A test canister may be ordered at the time of the airbag purchase for a $225 deposit. You will have 30 days to test fire the canister and return it for a full refund of the deposit.
New/Spare Canister:
A new or spare canister can be purchased at SnowBigDeal.com for $250 (or $225 at the time of the airbag purchase), which includes the HazMat charge within the lower 48 ($35 HazMat charge to Alaska). If you are in Canada, we can ship you the canister empty and include O-Rings for you to fill the canister on your own.
Avi-Vest:
Self-Refill:
Avi-Vest canisters cannot be refilled on your own, you must mail them to Avi-Vest to be refilled. They are in the process of setting up filling stations in key areas of the country, but that is not finalized yet.
Refill/Exchange through Avi-Vest:
The customer orders the refill and Avi-Vest will ship the canister to the customer with a return UPS label. The customer receives the new canister in the shipping box, replaces it with their used one, attaches the return label, and ships it back to Avi-Vest.
US only, 1 canister: $60, which includes UPS ground shipping. (expedited shipping on a quote basis, adds $50 - $100 to the cost)
Canada, 1 canister: $90, which includes UPS ground shipping. (expedited shipping on a quote basis, adds $50 - $100 to the cost)
If multiple canisters need to be refilled, the incremental cost for each additional canister is significantly less than the $60/$90 charge. Contact Avi-Vest for more information.
Test Canister:
We do not have a test canister program at this time. Avi-Vest may come out with one in the future. You can always test the pack with the canister you have and send it in to Avi-Vest to be refilled.
New/Spare Canister:
A new or spare canister can be purchased through Avi-Vest for $150.
Hopefully all this information helps instead of confuses.
