AvyLung

[Chaos]

Instead of purchasing the AvyLung as a separate unit, I have seen them as part of a "backpack" option. Pro's and con's from anyone regarding buying it separate or already built into a pack?

Thanks in advance and safe riding.

Chaos

 

[SledsWest]

I wouldn't recommend Avylungs for snowmobilers. They're good for skiers because they aren't wearing a the full helmets (mx style or full face). Its pretty difficult to get the avylung to your mouth with your helmet on. Try it with your helmet on before you buy it to see what you think. IMO, its not worth the purchase if you have a helmet on. Save your money and git an avypack.

 

[Chaos]

Quads,

Never considered the helmet as an issue before but an excellent point of discussion. Thanks.

Chaos

 

[IceCap]

I wouldn't recommend Avylungs for snowmobilers. They're good for skiers because they aren't wearing a the full helmets (mx style or full face). Its pretty difficult to get the avylung to your mouth with your helmet on. Try it with your helmet on before you buy it to see what you think. IMO, its not worth the purchase if you have a helmet on. Save your money and git an avypack.

^^^^^ What he said, I had one and the only way it is going to help you is if you put the mouth piece into your mouth before you go into steep country.
I would bite down on the mouth piece and breath through it before doing a steep pull.

 

[slojoe13]

i bought mine in a backpack. the backpack is awesome. the avalung im not too sure about yet. the instructions tell you to put it in before you go into an avy prone area and get used to breathing with it. if you can do all that i think it would work awesome

 

[snowww1]

Big problem with the avalung is getting it into your mouth and keeping it in your mouth. I've read so many accident reports where skiers either didn't get it into their mouth or had it ripped out of their mouth.
Also, it is used for breathing under the snow. Why not get an avalanche airbag pack where you have a 98% chance of being on the surface or having the bags visible on the surface. Mike Duffy

 

[slojoe13]

i bought the avalung more for the price. 2yrs ago when i bought it the only airbags were like $1000. as i know life is priceless, it was avalung or nothing at the time. Avalung should make something to secure it to your helmet. then it is always there, unless your head/ helmet gets ripped off!!

 

[rmk all the way]

The onley thing i dont like about the backpack is you cant take it off the pack with all your stuff win you are climbing.

 

[80arrow]

Big problem with the avalung is getting it into your mouth and keeping it in your mouth. I've read so many accident reports where skiers either didn't get it into their mouth or had it ripped out of their mouth.
Also, it is used for breathing under the snow. Why not get an avalanche airbag pack where you have a 98% chance of being on the surface or having the bags visible on the surface. Mike Duffy

X2... I don't have either yet but when I do purchase one it will be an airbag backpack. Becuase I don't want to breath thru a tube all the time and that sounds like what you'd have to do for it to be somewhat close to as effective as an airbag backpack is. (I think that makes sense )

 

[shoppingcart111]

I have one for sale in the avy gear swap meet, this isn't the first one i've had and the pack itself is really good and has lots of storage room and the avalung feature built in is just a bonus. I've tried using the lung while riding and if you keep the mouth piece out in the areas you think you will need it and you're aware that its there you can grab it in a hurry and jam it in your mouth, its just like all avy gear you have to practice to make sure you know how to use it in a panic situation. There has been many stories where the guy was in an avy with an avy pack and didn't deploy the bag. If you stay calm you can do alot of things in a short time frame.

 

[Nubulin]

Another point on the avilung. When you are sking, there is very little noise. You can hear the avalanche break, stick the thing in your mouth, and ski away. On a sled, you will not have nearly that much warning, have you hands full trying to contol the sled, and have a helmet on. By the time you realize what is going on, you will be a second from being thrown off of your sled. Good luck getting your balaclava down and that thing in your mouth.

In my opinion the avilung is completely worthless for sledders and only of marginal use for skiers.

 

[WHEREDAFUGAWEE]

^^^^^ What he said, I had one and the only way it is going to help you is if you put the mouth piece into your mouth before you go into steep country.
I would bite down on the mouth piece and breath through it before doing a steep pull.

X2!

 

[wjl]

All great points from above, another is most people that are burried die from trama (crushing, blunt, inturnal injuries, ect) so even if you did get it into your mouth the chances are slim that you could even breath because of the pressure from the snow or other injuries.

 

[rbblrsn]

wjl wrote

...most people that are burried die from trama (crushing, blunt, inturnal injuries, ect) so even if you did get it into your mouth the chances are slim that you could even breath because of the pressure from the snow or other injuries.

This isn't quite true, stats are not conclusive but in the Rockies deaths from trauma vs asphyxiation are about even. So much depends on the terrain you ride in, open country -vs- trees. Both ways would be a lousy way to go...and worse on those left behind.

I ride (and back-country ski) with an Avalung, the tube can be pulled long and stuffed up under a full face motocross-type helmet without much interference, I just leave it there while riding, adds a small bit of securitly. The pack-mounted avalung works exactly the same, but spares you the extra piece of equipment. And the Black Diamond packs are REALLY nice but then that obviously doesn't allow you to wear an airbag pack.

Airbags have saved lives but put you on top and out in front of the slide, which could maybe increase risk of blunt trauma if you're heading for the trees?!? Avalungs have saved lives also... Both systems are imperfect.

It can be a risky sport ... Be Safe!!

 

[Chaos]

I guess if there were a perfect solution which offered the best chance of survival we would all use that product. To bad we have to wait on statistics to bear out those answers. In the meantime I guess we consider the risk, apply the knowledge we should all strive for through education and hope to never use the equipment we are discussing.

Thank you for everyones input. Ride safe...

Chaos

 

[snowww1]

Avalung is hard to keep in your mouth. I have spoken to heli guides in Alaska, who use the old style separate unit and cut a hole in their jacket collar and zip tie it in place. They have told me the pack style avalung is more likely to get ripped from your mouth from the avalanche due to the fact that the tube coming from the pack is longer and more prone to being pulled out.
Avalanche airbag packs do not put you in front of the avalanche unless you started in that position. The best location to be in an avalanche is up by the crown with the mass of the avalanche below you. Mike Duffy

 

[backcountryislife]

I have & have used an avalung quite a bit.
In snowboarding, I would put it in my mouth before each run & make sure it stayed there so I could grab on to it, regularly I would re grab it mid run for practice & it worked relatively well. (open face helmet btw)

As I started running higher risk lines on my sled I attempted to do the same thing with it, not nearly as smooth, you would have to take a hand off the bars to get it where you wanted it. I don't mean a quick jerk like pulling a bag, it was a bit of a process, move away face mask, scoot up helmet, push in the mouthpiece.

I'm pretty anal about avy safety, I'm stupid enough & willing to accept a level of risk that most aren't, so I take any & all precautions that I feel may increase the likelihood of a situation going my way (I don't take more risk because of the gear & training, it's the other way around).
In my attempts to use the avalung effectively, I came to the conclusion that it was VERY unlikely to help me. I just sold mine tonight after it sitting around the house for a year or so.