avilung?
- Thread starter rmking600
- Start date
An avalung works great in concept, but in operation I would guess it is a different story. I don't don't that it would increase your chance of survival if you could get the avalung mouth piece into your mouth. However, that is the tricky part. I think it would be very difficult to get the avalung into your mouth if you triggered an avalanche and had a helmet on. There would be too many things going on and a helmet with a face piece/jaw protector would limit your ability to get it into your mouth.
The way it works is it filters your exhaled air (exhaust) behind you and draws in air from around you. This prevents an ice barrier from being formed in front of you and suffocating you.
My personal advice would be to save the money from the avalung (about $125) and purchase an airbag. The BCA Float airbags are still only $499 (but will be going up to $699 later this fall).
The way it works is it filters your exhaled air (exhaust) behind you and draws in air from around you. This prevents an ice barrier from being formed in front of you and suffocating you.
My personal advice would be to save the money from the avalung (about $125) and purchase an airbag. The BCA Float airbags are still only $499 (but will be going up to $699 later this fall).
100% agree with snowbigdeal. I used to be an access rider, and with a open helmet, the avalung worked ok (still a VERY good chance of it getting knocked out of your mouth in a slide imo), but with the types of behaviors we have & gear that we ride with the avalung is much less suited to our sport.
If I was about to cut a chute on a board, I would put the avalung in my mouth just in case, if it didn't slide then I spit it out toward the bottom. If I were to do this same thing on a sled, I'd be sticking it in & out of my mouth about 40-50+ times a day (I mean, just listen to that, do you really want your friends talking about that hose you stick in & out of your mouth...???
) and Like SBD said, it's much harder with a full face, and with it in your mouth, it's extremely limiting.
I kept mine for a couple years after buying a pack, but finally sold it this spring to a skier. Even though it's cheap, I just couldn't recommend one to a friend as I don't feel that when the time comes that you'll need it, that it'll make the difference.
I sold a BCA pack for $450 this year, cheap packs are out there if you look carefully. It's worth the extra money.
If I was about to cut a chute on a board, I would put the avalung in my mouth just in case, if it didn't slide then I spit it out toward the bottom. If I were to do this same thing on a sled, I'd be sticking it in & out of my mouth about 40-50+ times a day (I mean, just listen to that, do you really want your friends talking about that hose you stick in & out of your mouth...???
) and Like SBD said, it's much harder with a full face, and with it in your mouth, it's extremely limiting. I kept mine for a couple years after buying a pack, but finally sold it this spring to a skier. Even though it's cheap, I just couldn't recommend one to a friend as I don't feel that when the time comes that you'll need it, that it'll make the difference.
I sold a BCA pack for $450 this year, cheap packs are out there if you look carefully. It's worth the extra money.
use that money on another avy training course..might even send one of your untrained riding buddies instead so they wont be putting you in a risky situation to begin with...and so that if you do get in one..they have the proper training to save you....
S
snowww1
Well-known member
I agree with Snowbigdeal. Avalung is not practical for snowmobiling. Hard to get it in your mouth and keep it there, especially with a helmet on. Save up for an avalanche airbag pack. Mike Duffy avalanche instructor
www.avalanche1.com
www.avalanche1.com
IMO, no. It's something that works like a placebo. You think you're taken care of, but when the time comes to use it, it won't save you like you think it will. The vast majority of people I've talked to agree that it's not realistic for this sport.
Take that money & spend it on something that works would be my advice, for the price of 3 avalungs you may be able to find a used bag!
Better then nothing? maybe...
But as noted by other very hard to use on a sled with any helmet other then open face.
It will help you breath if you're completely buried.. and the last thing you want is to be completely buried.
With a AVY BAG you have a greater chance of being on the surface and being able to free yourself that you don't have with a avylung.
That said I have both a avylung and a avypack. At one time I thought the ideal unit would have both built right in with a modified mouthpiece that allowed use with a MX style helmet. Breath through the mouth piece all the time and keep the fog off your goggles. No one seems interested in building a unit like that, Black Diamond here in Salt Lake didn't respond to the idea.
Now I believe that you should have a avypack, beacon, probe, shovel and friends that know how to find you.
And above all else avoid an avalanche in the first place and practice with your beacon several times each season!!!
But as noted by other very hard to use on a sled with any helmet other then open face.
It will help you breath if you're completely buried.. and the last thing you want is to be completely buried.
With a AVY BAG you have a greater chance of being on the surface and being able to free yourself that you don't have with a avylung.
That said I have both a avylung and a avypack. At one time I thought the ideal unit would have both built right in with a modified mouthpiece that allowed use with a MX style helmet. Breath through the mouth piece all the time and keep the fog off your goggles. No one seems interested in building a unit like that, Black Diamond here in Salt Lake didn't respond to the idea.
Now I believe that you should have a avypack, beacon, probe, shovel and friends that know how to find you.
And above all else avoid an avalanche in the first place and practice with your beacon several times each season!!!
D
double a ron
New member
I bought one. I was buying a backpack, really like the black diamonds, and for another 80 bucks I got the avalung, why not? I agree that there is no way you would get it in your mouth, it is designed to keep it in your mouth. What I do is when we get into the steep, or we are climbing I put it in and leave it in, it's not a big deal. Just another precaution.......
T
Tec
Well-known member
Avy lung or not, If your buried under 3' of snow your in big trouble! You may not even be able to breath with 6,000 lbs of snow on top of you. Why would you even consider buying a survival tool that would not keep you a float? I'd take broken bones any day, to have my head sticking out of the snow.
S
snowww1
Well-known member
Problem with the Avalung is you have to put it in your mouth and keep it in your mouth. The force of the avalanche can easily pull the tube out of your mouth. The best chance of surviving an avalanche is to be on the surface. Avalanche airbag packs do this, Avalungs do not. Avalung is not practical for snowmobiling and not nearly as effective as an avalanche airbag pack. I wouldn't waste my money on one. Mike Duffy
If you cant afford the $450 to save your life (but have the money to buy the sled, accesories etc) so you can go home to your wife and kids, then you dont deserve a wife and kids!
