The quality is very similar to the ABS Vario, they're both made from durable materials and will hold up to quite a bit. Also, the Long Highmark pack is quite similar to the Vario in fit. We stock only the Long SnowPulse packs, so they'll fit better for anyone over 5'8" than the Escape ABS packs do. The SnowPulse Highmark pack is sort of like a combination between a few ABS packs; you can detach and reattach different packs like the Vario, and it's longer like the Vario. It is like the Freeride ABS because it has the external shovel pocket, but also has another internal storage place for a probe, saw, etc. that it keeps out of the snow so they don't get all snowy and freeze up on you. And it has more storage than the freeride ABS, so you can pack all the essentials without busting a zipper trying to fit it all in. And if you don't need that much storage, sinch it down and get rid of the bulk. And as for the refilling, not too bad. There is an o-ring that needs to be replaced after each use, just to ensure the canister doesn't leak. The bottle has a gauge on it so you can see if it does leak, but you'll still want to replace the o-ring (it's worth the 2 minutes to make sure a life-saving device works properly). You just need to find a place that can refill a bottle with a paintball connection to 3,000psi. The o-ring kit is $30 for a 10 use kit, and $45 for 20 uses. And for a test fire, there is a paper that you need to sign saying you understand that you're not guaranteed to survive and that you shouldn't take more risks just because you have an airbag, but there is no test canister deposit or anything like that. Just fire it, replace the o-ring, refill the bottle, and you're good to go. We refill all of our customers bottles for free (including o-ring replacement), just pay shipping. I hope this answers some questions you have.
