Avalanche Flotation Device tested in Invermere, British Columbia

[EricW]

I too appreciate this post, all the R&D, and the shared info. Lets remember we are all on the same page titled "Ride Safe & Stay Alive". Learn the most safety info your brain can handle and buy the most safety gear your wallet can handle. I think it is a well known fact that if you are going to ride the steep and deep you should have all the proper gear and training. If you can't afford it or don't understand the risks, you probably shouldn't be riding in the back country. That doesn't mean you shouldn't snowmobile, just don't snowmobile where your not prepared to go.

I hope everyone does the most that they can do in their particular situation to keep themselves and their group safe. I think the decision/risk is always going to rest with the individual, and at the end of a tragic day I think each of us will be faced with the question "Did I do everything I could do ?" What ever your $$$ or knowledge level is, you want that answer to be YES! Thats it for my unsolicited advice. lol. Thanks again WARI keep us up to date on your work. EricW

 

[deaner]

Actually I am sick of post like yours. Obviously your NOT willing to shell out the dough for one so why criticize others who do.
The people who whine about the prices would cry like babies if they were only $500 as well.
They would then say why cant they be $250.
Life is not cheap. pay the price and move on.

I DONT WANT A CHEAP PACK!

First of all, I dont think this debate is throwing this thread off topic at all. I think we are giving WARI valuable feedback on what current owners, and potential owners think about this product. I know I am not alone in thinking that $500 would be a more appropriate price point for these things. And yeah, I do drive a new sled (it was $13,000 actually.......Im from Canada EH!) I know guys driving $35,000 sleds that feel the same way.

I know there are liability issues selling something like this, I know there are R and D costs, and I know they must be constructed very well, so producing these things isnt going to be cheap. You can call people whiners and idiots all day long and keep asking them "what is your life worth?", BUT.......no matter how you look at it, the lower they can get the prices on these things THE MORE PEOPLE WILL WEAR THEM.

I think the feedback that WARI is providing is great. I am definitely interested in getting one of these things, so hearing their test results has been great. I dont know about the rest of you but I work hard for my money so I like to check things out before I buy. I cant say Im completely convinced that these things are the answer yet, but the more we hear about them the better position we are in to decide to buy one or not. I recently took an avalanche course, and the instructor didnt seem overly excited about the ABS bags. She didnt say dont buy one, but they should be one of the last things on your list below a beacon, shovel, probe, good clothes, survival gear, etc.

 

[reloader]

I appreciate your response, I do not call people idiots, I just think that complaining about the prices is the wrong approach.
I also believe that the abs pack is an important life saving device just like the beacon and should be considered when mountain snowmobiling. These are not cheap packs the material is Tear Resistant Polyamide Fiber.

Also I think the research is that is going on is great and I am all for a lower priced product, I just dont want to compromise the quality trying to get the price down.

 

[deadcat]

I too appreciate this post, all the R&D, and the shared info. Lets remember we are all on the same page titled "Ride Safe & Stay Alive". Learn the most safety info your brain can handle and buy the most safety gear your wallet can handle. I think it is a well known fact that if you are going to ride the steep and deep you should have all the proper gear and training. If you can't afford it or don't understand the risks, you probably shouldn't be riding in the back country. That doesn't mean you shouldn't snowmobile, just don't snowmobile where your not prepared to go.

I hope everyone does the most that they can do in their particular situation to keep themselves and their group safe. I think the decision/risk is always going to rest with the individual, and at the end of a tragic day I think each of us will be faced with the question "Did I do everything I could do ?" What ever your $$$ or knowledge level is, you want that answer to be YES! Thats it for my unsolicited advice. lol. Thanks again WARI keep us up to date on your work. EricW

EW you give great advice. My only point is that before someone spends $1500 on mods, they should check their priorities. Safety equipment and knowledge are the best mods you can get for yourself and your riding partners.

WARI thank you for providing this valuable information.

 

[Speeedracer]

Thanks everybody for your comments.................

Our goal is to offer the WARI avalanche flotation device for the same cost as a good beacon, around $500 US.

Nobody likes it when people try to sell stuff on forums, so we are a little bit uneasy about talking about selling something.

Pics and video still to come.

Rock on! great to hear of your intentions of a desirable market price! Keep up with the great R&D and valuable posts! I too remembering the individual who stated he was uncertain to post the fact he didn't get his cord pulled, another type of device activation would be great!

 

[Duke]

When available ?? Anywhere to see them in Canada ??

 

[Snowstar]

Great thread. Competition and technology will eventualy drive costs down on these units just like beacons.

 

[jpar247]

If it deployed on "oh sh*t", I'd have to pack a case of extra canisters for each ride. LOL

bahahahaha

 

[WARY]

Here is the crash test dummy after a pretty big class 2 avalanche. As you can see he is sitting on the top of the avalanche looking uphill like he's watching a football game on the sofa.......

 

[WARY]

Looking uphill.............

 

[WARY]

Alive and well about half way down the mountain and doing over 100 miles an hour.......

 

[Cyle]

I have to agree with people who say if they were more affordable they would buy one. I have a $5000 machine and $400 worth of avalanche gear, heck I don't even have the fancy sled clothing. I have a beacon, probe, shovel and took an avalanche course, if these bags were $500 I would buy one, but $1000 I won't. If I was really "extreme" and would highmark everything I would, but I don't even highmark like ever and just watch my buddies on a lot of hills. The person hosting the avalanche course I took said you really don't NEED a ABS pack, and your money would be better spent on a good beacon, probe, and clothing because your more likely to spend a night on the mountain then get caught in an avalanche. I'd be more worried that my riding buddies know how to use their beacon and probe well, because a ABS pack alone won't always save you.

 

[skibreeze]

I have to agree with people who say if they were more affordable they would buy one. I have a $5000 machine and $400 worth of avalanche gear, heck I don't even have the fancy sled clothing. I have a beacon, probe, shovel and took an avalanche course, if these bags were $500 I would buy one, but $1000 I won't. If I was really "extreme" and would highmark everything I would, but I don't even highmark like ever and just watch my buddies on a lot of hills. The person hosting the avalanche course I took said you really don't NEED a ABS pack, and your money would be better spent on a good beacon, probe, and clothing because your more likely to spend a night on the mountain then get caught in an avalanche. I'd be more worried that my riding buddies know how to use their beacon and probe well, because a ABS pack alone won't always save you.

I disagree with what the instructor said, look at how many people have already been killed in avys. Not too many sledders end up out overnight. I also would prefer to have a pack and have a better chance at being on top vs. buried and having to be found in the first place. Also being closer to the surface gives you a little better odds at not getting dragged over the rocks on the bottom.

 

[THEPOWDERHOUND]

dont be fooled by the price.we were in bc last weekend and 1 of our group was in a level 3 avy and when he pulled the handle,he went from his neck deep in snow to his waist instantly and continued another 80 yards on top of the snow.these are the best investments of your lives.your sledding will be over unless your very lucky.we spent 2 hours of the next day practicing with our beacons to see if we needed to use them how we would do.well to say the least 9 1/2 min was not good.we practiced until we were all less than 2 min.and that was not even in a panic state that an avy would produce.---we learned a leason at a minimul price---jim

 

[giddyup]

abs

i two have an new sled, but i also bought a pack this fall. i looked at everything and i think if it will help the crew looking for you if they can visualy see you or the pillow. your chance of surviving is greatly improved. i dont right the wild climbs but i do play around. i have taken avalanche classed before, and the information should help you pick your are safer, but **** happens and i would like to come home to my wife and kids. When i explained what i just spent my(our) money on she was supportive. i think there will be a price drop as they become more popular and the demand goes up. I think in time It will be
airbag pack
beacon
shovel
probe
it will be a part of you gear
just my thought, good luck and play safe
giddyup

 

[Luke The Drifter]

Alive and well about half way down the mountain and doing over 100 miles an hour.......

While I think its great that you are developing and testing another piece of avalanche safety equipment that will help save lives and make rescues easier, I'm not so sure doing 100mph down the side of a mountain with rocks and trees around is too good. Are you guys doing tests that deal with trauma and other injuries?

 

[Flange]

Our goal is to offer the WARI avalanche flotation device for the same cost as a good beacon, around $500 US.

I think that's a fair price!

 

[Beels]

While I think its great that you are developing and testing another piece of avalanche safety equipment that will help save lives and make rescues easier, I'm not so sure doing 100mph down the side of a mountain with rocks and trees around is too good. Are you guys doing tests that deal with trauma and other injuries?

Here's a big misconception that's somewhat baffling... All an avy pack is, is a device to help prevent burial. Nothing more. There's no way to take any more danger element out of an avalanche than using the information given to you by reports, and your own personal knowledge. You know the best way to prevent injury and death in an avalanche? Stay the hell away from slopes with any possibility of sliding. Whether we like it or not, we're always putting ourselves in a risky situation when riding.

 

[Beels]

I think that's a fair price!

I do too, and they'll sell a pile of them.

 

[WARY]

Here's one of the avalanches where you can clearly see the lift bag throughout the slide. The AFD lifts the victim to the surface of the slide, so the chances of skimming over the top of trees and rocks is improved with avalanche flotation.....

BOMBS AWAY