Exactely what I was thinking. I've never had very good luck with hydration systems. I also need the space that is available for other stuff. Like Capri Suns!
BCA avy air bag packs for $499!
- Thread starter bushy
- Start date
Exactely what I was thinking. I've never had very good luck with hydration systems. I also need the space that is available for other stuff. Like Capri Suns!
Yeah, but I think your liquid has some stuff that doesn't freeze mixed in it.
Right, that's the only way to explain you going thirsty
How many of those = two quarts? like 50
Suck on the hose to drink. Blow into the hose to clear most of the water. Turn valve off. Stick hose down your neck hole into your warm coat. Portion of hose going over shoulder is free of water = does not create blockage. Some water in valve end but does not freeze when in your coat.
Looks like these systems all "carry" you at a different attitude in the snow. ABS for instance appears that it would carry you a little more parallel with the flow since the bags open closer to your center of gravity. The BCA looks like it would dangle you perpendicular to the flow since the bag is overhead and the Snowpulse higher and more at an angle on your back.
Some consideration as to how the bag floats you through the snow and which provides the best trauma protection is in order! Any thoughts on this or know of any test data? Do they fit these "test dummies" with "G" shock instrumentation to show what kind of damage is done below the snow. Looks like they all keep you near the top and the snowpulse looks like it could keep your head above as well. ABS looks like it could keep you in line with the flow and minimize the surface area you present to boulders, stumps and the like. BCA looks like it would be least obtrusive to body movement but allow you to ride deeper in the flow. Idears? Speculation?
Some consideration as to how the bag floats you through the snow and which provides the best trauma protection is in order! Any thoughts on this or know of any test data? Do they fit these "test dummies" with "G" shock instrumentation to show what kind of damage is done below the snow. Looks like they all keep you near the top and the snowpulse looks like it could keep your head above as well. ABS looks like it could keep you in line with the flow and minimize the surface area you present to boulders, stumps and the like. BCA looks like it would be least obtrusive to body movement but allow you to ride deeper in the flow. Idears? Speculation?
I was in an avy where I needed the protection pillow on my azz. I was being carried down the mountain like I was sitting in a tube and hit a rock tailbone first. I was sore for MONTHS afterwards. Point is that my guess is that it will end up being a matter of luck on where the bags do the most good. The one that wraps around your head, has anyone deployed it with a helmet on? Can you still turn your head, still maneuver? The ABS is obviously good for that.
On the others is it possible to carry an extra air canister, like the ABS?
On the others is it possible to carry an extra air canister, like the ABS?
I got to blow the snowpulse bag at the avy class. Didn't seem to restrictive as far as head movement, but it does cut off your peripheral vision and gets in the way of your arm movement a little. You could ride with it, but then only see what's in front of you. Their site says you can get extra canisters for spares. Apparently you can get your canisters re-charged anywhere they can pump high pressure oxygen. Scuba shop, fire dept. station etc. BCA is the same in this aspect.
Specifics would be nice VS "they malfunctioned
B
bigbird
Well-known member
Didn't open when they were supposed to.
X
XC700116
ACCOUNT CLOSED
One other thing to note while talking to the SnowBigDeal guys at the show, I found out that the BCA pack HAS NOT YET been tested in an AVY, even on a dummy. So there has yet to be any real world testing on this pack.
The ABS and the Snowpulse have both been tested on the mtn with Excellent Results. ABS has been around the longest and therefore has the best track record.
The Snowpulse seems to be fairly dependent on a specific refilling process to make sure it's right (apparently it's easy to screw up). This was also noted by the guys from SnowBigDeal. They said it needs to be done carefully and that they would like for their customers to have them do it (free if you bought the pack from them) also noteworthy is that one of them lives in the Denver area so they are available for service.
The ABS and the Snowpulse have both been tested on the mtn with Excellent Results. ABS has been around the longest and therefore has the best track record.
The Snowpulse seems to be fairly dependent on a specific refilling process to make sure it's right (apparently it's easy to screw up). This was also noted by the guys from SnowBigDeal. They said it needs to be done carefully and that they would like for their customers to have them do it (free if you bought the pack from them) also noteworthy is that one of them lives in the Denver area so they are available for service.
How many of those = two quarts? like 50
Suck on the hose to drink. Blow into the hose to clear most of the water. Turn valve off. Stick hose down your neck hole into your warm coat. Portion of hose going over shoulder is free of water = does not create blockage. Some water in valve end but does not freeze when in your coat.
I was kidding about the Capri Sun I take a large Nalgene and keep it in my sled storage for easy access. My valves are always what screws up with my hydration packs. I just got tired of "tucking" the mouthpiece and then trying to dig it out with my gloves on. Maybe it works for you, but never did for me.
You would obviously have to prove first that it failed to deploy, which means you have to prove no lever was pulled. You also have to prove that the person folded and tucked the airbag correctly, as well as filling up the canister properly.
With that said liability would probably vary by state. Almost like sueing a car manufacture because the airbag and seat belt didn't save their life.
If it truly did fail, I would be you have a case, but you still have to prove it all.
Just razzin ya Bug Ito. Great juice, but what a hassle in those tiny containers. lol
Maybe bigbird will string together a few sentances and fill us in on why the pack failed to open (if he knows). Was it improrperly charged cylinders or what?? Sounds like the good of these cylinders is that they can be re-charged without sending them off and the bad is, if done improperly they don't work.
Mike Duffy indicates the BCA has undergone testing in one of the threads linked below. My search turned up no info on field testing. Not sure those vids of dummys floating along are all the telling anyway. A bag full of air is going to float in flowing snow, that's physics. Lacking any actual data from real deployments it would be nice to see lab data on how often the bag fails to deploy for every 1000 deployments or something to that affect. Data on the impact resistance of the bladder would be useful as well.
Great data here of actual avalanche deployments of ABS pack. Skip to the bottom for stats only. A few failures early on back in the 90's, but a great record in later years.
http://www.abssystem.com/
Couple of pertinent threads in the Avalanche and survival forum.
http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1749917
http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=161281
Maybe bigbird will string together a few sentances and fill us in on why the pack failed to open (if he knows). Was it improrperly charged cylinders or what?? Sounds like the good of these cylinders is that they can be re-charged without sending them off and the bad is, if done improperly they don't work.
Mike Duffy indicates the BCA has undergone testing in one of the threads linked below. My search turned up no info on field testing. Not sure those vids of dummys floating along are all the telling anyway. A bag full of air is going to float in flowing snow, that's physics. Lacking any actual data from real deployments it would be nice to see lab data on how often the bag fails to deploy for every 1000 deployments or something to that affect. Data on the impact resistance of the bladder would be useful as well.
Great data here of actual avalanche deployments of ABS pack. Skip to the bottom for stats only. A few failures early on back in the 90's, but a great record in later years.
http://www.abssystem.com/
Couple of pertinent threads in the Avalanche and survival forum.
http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?p=1749917
http://www.snowest.com/forum/showthread.php?t=161281
