so I've been riding my sled for a few years now and I'm getting better and better. I live in Alaska and riding my sled in the winter is what I dream about all summer. Last year we started really going back into some big places that were truly the "Back country" and a couple times I really thought "wow, this is big country where anything could happen, and I'm not to sure I know what to look for or what to do to avoid an avalanche or even what to do in-case I'm ever caught in the situation". So in addition to taking an avalanche class this fall I've also decided to invest the money into some gear. I have seen the AVA-LUNGs but don't exactly know how they work, I also really like the results of the back pack that has the inflatable air bladder that keeps you on top of the slide mostly. So my question is this.....what should I get?. I'd like to have both the ava-lung AND the inflatable pack, does anyone do both?. Is there 1 pack that offers both the lung AND the air bladder? Thanks for any info. If you could only pick one then which would it be, the lung or the inflatable pack?
Newbie needs info please
- Thread starter akViper907
- Start date
IMO the avalung is not going to be a very practical lifesaver. Imagine being in an avy and trying to hang on to your sled and get the mouthpiece in while wearing a helmet. IMO, an avy pack is a much better potential lifesaver. You also need to make sure that you have the basic avy gear also, shovel, probe, and beacon.
hey
You guys wear a helmet when your riding?...............kidding
. I never thought about trying to control your machine in a slide to maybe ride out of it AND trying to stuff a mouth tube in your mouth with a helmet on, doesn't sound easy to do. Alright, I guess my moneys going to go to a Avy pack then. Now the question is Which brand?. I saw one brand(forgot the name) that had a "Highmark" pack that was supposedly for sledders, but it was like 1,000 bucks. I think BCS is coming out with one for around 500.00 bucks. I'd like to spend 1,000 total on the pack and a beacon and probe, I already carry a saw, a shovel, and survival stuff in case I break down out there and gotta spend the night.
You guys wear a helmet when your riding?...............kidding
. I never thought about trying to control your machine in a slide to maybe ride out of it AND trying to stuff a mouth tube in your mouth with a helmet on, doesn't sound easy to do. Alright, I guess my moneys going to go to a Avy pack then. Now the question is Which brand?. I saw one brand(forgot the name) that had a "Highmark" pack that was supposedly for sledders, but it was like 1,000 bucks. I think BCS is coming out with one for around 500.00 bucks. I'd like to spend 1,000 total on the pack and a beacon and probe, I already carry a saw, a shovel, and survival stuff in case I break down out there and gotta spend the night.hey
I also wear a protective "TEK" vest while riding, will the avy pack be wearable over the vest? I'm not giving up the TEK vest.
I also wear a protective "TEK" vest while riding, will the avy pack be wearable over the vest? I'm not giving up the TEK vest.
I wear an ABS pack over my tekvest..real comfortable...get ahold of snowbigdeal on here...he should be able to make you a package deal..fed-ex is the only way you can ship the abs canister up here....you can also try first place parts..both are great dealers....
I have a tec vest and the 30L ABS pack. Works great, the pack takes a bit to get used to but, I'm only 155lbs and have a bad back.
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XC700116
ACCOUNT CLOSED
ABS is a good one and the Snowpulse Highmark is very nice as well, both are in the area of $1000. Check the swapmeet too, I have my ABS Escape 30 for sale for $950 plus shipping and it comes with a spare cylinder and trigger. check out Snowbigdeals website for more info on all of them.
I wear the Fox pressure suit under my gear. It has a great spine protector and kidney belt built in that has saved me a few times now.
Make sure your buddies also get beacons, or get new riding buddies!
Then practice, practice, practice.
Make sure your buddies also get beacons, or get new riding buddies!
Then practice, practice, practice.
E
enis750
Well-known member
packs are gonna be personal preference
try to check a few out if you can, but living in AK it might be hard for you
I am in the market for a pack as well and have it narrowed down to the ABS Vario 15L or the Snopulse Highmark 30L
both seem great, but ABS has a proven track record w their packs - which does mean alot to me (you know a 98.6% survial ratio is pretty good IMO)
i like a few of the asthetics of the Snowpulse over the abs, but when it comes down to saving my a$$ in an avy, i wont be to concerned about asthetics, will I!!?? haha!
here a few websites to check out and compare the three: (ABS line, Snowpulse and BCA)
http://www.snowbigdeal.com/servlet/the-Avalanche-Airbags/Categories
http://www.rockymountainxtreme.com/abs.htm
http://backcountryaccess.com/english/products/ComingSoon.php
try to check a few out if you can, but living in AK it might be hard for you
I am in the market for a pack as well and have it narrowed down to the ABS Vario 15L or the Snopulse Highmark 30L
both seem great, but ABS has a proven track record w their packs - which does mean alot to me (you know a 98.6% survial ratio is pretty good IMO)
i like a few of the asthetics of the Snowpulse over the abs, but when it comes down to saving my a$$ in an avy, i wont be to concerned about asthetics, will I!!?? haha!
here a few websites to check out and compare the three: (ABS line, Snowpulse and BCA)
http://www.snowbigdeal.com/servlet/the-Avalanche-Airbags/Categories
http://www.rockymountainxtreme.com/abs.htm
http://backcountryaccess.com/english/products/ComingSoon.php
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We Ship Airbags To Alaska!
We currently have the ABS and SnowPulse airbags, and we will have the BCA Float airbag as soon as it's released. All of the airbags are worn just like a regular backpack, so you can wear a TekVest with any of them. We can ship the packs and canisters to Alaska now, we are HazMat authorized with UPS and FedEx, so it only takes about a week or so to get the packs to Alaska. Check out our website, or call and we can answer any questions you have about any of the airbag packs. And yes, we can put together a package deal of any sort that you're looking for.
We currently have the ABS and SnowPulse airbags, and we will have the BCA Float airbag as soon as it's released. All of the airbags are worn just like a regular backpack, so you can wear a TekVest with any of them. We can ship the packs and canisters to Alaska now, we are HazMat authorized with UPS and FedEx, so it only takes about a week or so to get the packs to Alaska. Check out our website, or call and we can answer any questions you have about any of the airbag packs. And yes, we can put together a package deal of any sort that you're looking for.
hey
Nice, thanks for the info!! I know what to do and where to look now. Yeah living in Alaska can suck for getting things shipped. Its also amazing that no one up here sells any products like this either. Not even at our "sportsmans show" are there any Avy packs or anything like it.
Nice, thanks for the info!! I know what to do and where to look now. Yeah living in Alaska can suck for getting things shipped. Its also amazing that no one up here sells any products like this either. Not even at our "sportsmans show" are there any Avy packs or anything like it.
