need feedback on ABS Escape 30 Avalanche Airbag System
- Thread starter Juggs
- Start date
abs
i have had the 30lt and the 15lt now i have a vario 18lt, if you are a good size guy the 30lt is a great bag, i found it a little big for my 5'8 frame, i ended up carring to much stuff, as for the abs i think they are the best right now, they have the proven track record, if the bag is in good shape, i would pick it up, you can test fire it and they swap out the cyl. and the trigger, i think its 25 or 30 bucks to exchange. the big differance is abs is 170lt which is the largest displacement, and we know that displacement is what keeps you on the surface, but the big one for me was the years behind it, the abs have been in europe for years. i just hope i never pull the trigger,
good luck
giddyup
i have had the 30lt and the 15lt now i have a vario 18lt, if you are a good size guy the 30lt is a great bag, i found it a little big for my 5'8 frame, i ended up carring to much stuff, as for the abs i think they are the best right now, they have the proven track record, if the bag is in good shape, i would pick it up, you can test fire it and they swap out the cyl. and the trigger, i think its 25 or 30 bucks to exchange. the big differance is abs is 170lt which is the largest displacement, and we know that displacement is what keeps you on the surface, but the big one for me was the years behind it, the abs have been in europe for years. i just hope i never pull the trigger,
good luck
giddyup
I just bought the Escape 15 a month or so ago. I had tried on the BCA Float 30 at the snow show in Spokane and although I haven't ever fired off the BCA, I've read online that it can be harder to pull since it has a mechanical release, while the ABS pack has an explosive charge. When I did the test-fire on my ABS bag, I was expecting to hear a "pop" or something, but it was basically silent. Easy pull, and the bags just pop out behind you. The BCA bag felt bigger and clunkier on my back as well, while with the ABS bag I can put it on and it just seems to fit, and with all the straps adjusted right I forget its even there.
W
whittaker727
Well-known member
There's a 30 in the swapmeet section that you could see and check out if you're close to Spokane. It's in Sandpoint. I too love the ABS set up and now ride with a 15L
E
EricW
Well-known member
I've got one that I keep as a loaner if you want to try it and are anywhere near NE Washington. I ran it for 2 years and packed all kinds of survival and repair gear in it with good comfort. Now that I know more of the areas I ride in and always ride in groups I went with the Freeride. It holds just enough to get by but is less on your back.
Let me know if you want to give it a try, I could ship it too. Good on ya for taking steps and educating yourself to save your own life. EW
Let me know if you want to give it a try, I could ship it too. Good on ya for taking steps and educating yourself to save your own life. EW
personally i think you are better off with the 15 or 18. the 30 is big and heavy.
I had an escape 30 and sold it for the 15. 15 is way smaller and lighter. mI carry 4"x10"x2" bag of survival gear couple of hand warmers and an XDm .40 
THis is irony, this is my first time to this Avalanche blog as I was going to post a new thread asking what is the lightest Avy bag out there...
I currently own and use (well not USE - fingers crossed and all) the ABS Escape 30ltr, and by the time I pack my shovel and probe, my emergency gloves, spare goggles, epirb (yeah, I bring an epirb...Sat phone too)...basically, I'm packing 30lbs of stuff around all day...
I was going to thread to find a lighter weight avy bag, and shovel and start streamlining my equipment on my back (Epirb abd Sat phone will always come)...
If you want a 30...I'll sell you mine
I currently own and use (well not USE - fingers crossed and all) the ABS Escape 30ltr, and by the time I pack my shovel and probe, my emergency gloves, spare goggles, epirb (yeah, I bring an epirb...Sat phone too)...basically, I'm packing 30lbs of stuff around all day...
I was going to thread to find a lighter weight avy bag, and shovel and start streamlining my equipment on my back (Epirb abd Sat phone will always come)...
If you want a 30...I'll sell you mine
The airbags are the same size on the Escape 30L and the Escape 15L. The 30 vs 15 designates how much storage you can fit in the pack. The 30L is a big pack giving you about double the amount of storage as the 15L.
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The lightest avalanche airbag out there right now is the ABS Powder 5L. But it only has 5 liters of storage space, which isn't much.
As a comparison, the Escape 30L airbag weighs 6.8lbs (without the canister), whereas the ABS Powder 5L weighs 4.6lbs (without the canister).
Hey Longgold, I'm in the market for a 30L. I'm in North Van but in Whistler every weekend. How much do you want?
How old is it?
Is the cannister refillable?
Yes, we sell Tracker 2 beacons, but we are currently out of stock. (Actually, I think we have 1 left, so it can only be ordered over the phone).
We currently have the BCA Float 30 Airbag on sale for $624.99: http://www.snowbigdeal.com/servlet/the-470/BCA-Float-30-Avalanche/Detail
The Vario Ultralight weighs 5.5lbs and the Vario 15 weighs 5.9lbs.
Some packs have short/tall sizes but the BCA only has one size. Would the BCA be ok for me at 6'3"?
Also, other than the higher weight for the BCA, what else explains the big price difference between the Snowpulse, ABS and the BCA packs? (if this has been answered somewhere else feel free to slap me and provide a link)
For some reason Snowbigdeal.com isn't working for me right now. Do you ship to Canada?
The BCA pack generally fits better on taller people than it does for shorter people. I think it would fit fine for someone 6'3"
There is a pretty good review of airbags at:
http://www.wildsnow.com/3736/airbag-overview/
Yes we ship to Canada. Sorry about the technical difficulties; our website was having a few issues yesterday but we believe we have everything corrected now.
