Beacon or Avy bag? What's more important?

[catmanm7]

MatteMurder- what avy bags did you buy? If you bought the snowpulse or abs etc, I think you would have been better off with the BCA that is more affordable. And for the price of the BCA and a beacon together, you still wouldnt have come out to the price of the more expensive brands. Then you wouldnt have to make this decision...
I carry both, started out with a beacon. Then upgraded beacon and bought bag last year. Beacon first in my opinion. I definately do not want to be standing at the foot of an avalanche with people buried and not be able to help them.

 

[suitcase]

IMO they are both equaly important, I have seen some avys on groomed trails that would be enough to barry you. So Dont forget that Avys just dont happen in the backcountry.

 

[509snowman]

98%

I was under the impression that it is a 98% chance that some part of your body is out of the snow, not necessarily your head. So the bag speeds up the recovery process, but there is a great chance that it is only a hand or foot above the snow so there is still the possibility that you can not move or that you will still suffocate.

 

[Yamadoo04]

I was under the impression that it is a 98% chance that some part of your body is out of the snow, not necessarily your head. So the bag speeds up the recovery process, but there is a great chance that it is only a hand or foot above the snow so there is still the possibility that you can not move or that you will still suffocate.

I pulled this from another post in the Avalanche section.

STATISTICS
Since 1990, the Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) has documented Avalanche Accidents when an ABS airbag was used.

Of 106 documented cases, 105 people survived.
Of the 105 people - 90% were not even buried or only partially
10% were completely but they were buried so close to the surface that they were easy to locate.
Statistical Analysis by the International Committee for Alpine Rescue (ICAR) have shown that survival in an avalanche will increase by 98% with the use of an Airbag.

 

[Steelman]

X2

Sent from my DROID X2 using Tapatalk

X2 here

 

[christopher]

I pulled this from another post in the Avalanche section.

STATISTICS
Since 1990, the Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) has documented Avalanche Accidents when an ABS airbag was used.

Of 106 documented cases, 105 people survived.

Of the 105 people - 90% were not even buried or only partially buried.

10% were completely but they were buried so close to the surface that they were easy to locate.

Statistical Analysis by the International Committee for Alpine Rescue (ICAR) have shown that
survival in an avalanche will increase by 98% with the use of an Airbag.

Is there any doubt left in anyone's mind??

 

[Matte Murder]

Sorry Catman I haven't looked at this thread in a while. I bought the Snowpulse Avy Vest. I like the way it fits/feels over the packs. I also like that it has some impact protection. It's feels lighter than a pack. The BCA didn't fit me at all. Really short pack(I am 6' 4") that's rides up and away from my body. I also like that I can get it filled locally. The ABS packs are much more of a pain having to ship your bottles back. My only worry now is I am going to cook in it. Rarely get cold.

 

[IM IN...]

beacon: $500.00
shovel $ 100.00
prob $ 40.00

Watching a buddy caught in an avy without an abs bag... PRICELESS....

WHAT is your life worth.

 

[AKboondocker]

While both are extremely important, if I had to choose one, it would be the bag by FAR.

 

[2XM3]

Beacon, then bag...I try to have extra beacons in trailer

 

[aksnopro]

My buddys avy bag saved his life this weekend... He bounced off rocks and was in an avy he was in a spot where we couldnt get to him for 20 minutes (had to go all the way around) and if he just had a beacon on he probably wouldnt have lived but his avy bag protected him from the rocks and then allowed him to self rescue...

Scary as hell and i cant tell you how impressed i am with the avy backpacks. He walked away after tumbling across rocks for 100 feet then falling another 100 then the avy started and he tumbled with it but stayed on top!!!




-Aksnopro

 

[The Fourth Wolf]

Where were you guys riding? Generally speaking

 

[Matte Murder]

Wow. AK what brand was he wearing? Says a lot about how durable those bags are. Do you think the bag protected his neck and head from injury? Video?

 

[DalensM8]

Get both. Lots of good points here. You cannot deny the statistics on Airbag deployments, and this is obviously your best investment to save yourself. The beacon is also a must, but how long can you hold your breath right now, sitting on your computer, 2-4 minutes max? How long is it going to take your riding buddy to get to you, then probe and shovel you? If you are close to the top of the debre field your chances are better obviously. I would get a Air Bag first, that way I know I have one more chance of surviving a avalanche. BUT, it's a moot point for me, as we ALL ride with beacons in my area, and I would say that most of us can use the beacon pretty good. Outside of these two items, continue to educate yourself in backcountry travel and the use of the beacon and Airbags. P.S. Also, always tell someone where your going and when your due back!!!

 

[treecutter]

I would start with a beacon for the simple fact everyone shouldn't ride without one. Also you might witness some other group or person not of you own group get caught in an avalanche, if you don't have a beacon you are not going to be any help in the search.

 

[aksnopro]

Alaska, turnagain. And the bag held up great the stitching on the straps were ripped a little. Bag test after accident was a successfull deployment. It was a bca float 18 pack.

It definatly protected his head neck arms shoulders his legs got beatup but his whole upper body was fine.

-Aksnopro

 

[more snow]

I own both beacon and avy bag. I have had the bag for 8 years now. If I couldn't afford both, then I would HANDS DOWN pick the avy bag first!! Of the two, this is the one most likely to bring me back home to my wife and kids. The avy bag puts the more of the outcome of an avalanche into my control. The beacon puts my life more into the hands of my riding partners.

 

[Matte Murder]

Haven't looked at this in a while. There have been several post's about if you don't have a beacon you are useless in case you need to help find someone buried. The part of the rescue that takes the longest is the digging. That is where you need help in a search, if you have 2-3 beacons you can find someone pretty fast. In training I am amazed how good they work. Again, this was more of a post to get people to think that the bag was so important that they wouldn't ride without one like most people think of a beacon. BTW, youtube is THE training manual for everything these days. If you are shaky about how your beacon or bag works search it on Youtube and get a "live demo" of your gear in action.

 

[Wazzu]

I would get a beacon first. A couple of years ago we were riding after a big strorm and wanted to play in the new stuff. We knew the danger was high that day and wanted to make it to an open area to play. I was leading and it was snowing pretty hard and the fog was thick. I stopped along a little trail to look back for the rest of the group. The next thing I knew was that I was buried. I never saw or heard it coming. I did not have time to pull my handle. With out my beacon and friends that knew how to use it I would not be here today. The slide came down from an area that I did not even know there was a chute. It was not a huge slide but it was big enough to bury me 5 feet under. I think we all know the dangers and we love the sport enough to take the risk but a little prevention goes along ways.

 

[moto.racerx]

I pulled this from another post in the Avalanche section.

STATISTICS
Since 1990, the Swiss Federal Institute for Snow and Avalanche Research (SLF) has documented Avalanche Accidents when an ABS airbag was used.

Of 106 documented cases, 105 people survived.
Of the 105 people - 90% were not even buried or only partially
10% were completely but they were buried so close to the surface that they were easy to locate.
Statistical Analysis by the International Committee for Alpine Rescue (ICAR) have shown that survival in an avalanche will increase by 98% with the use of an Airbag.

98%