Live my BCA float 18. I fill it up at your local paintball shop or scuba shop!
What avy backpack would you recommend?
- Thread starter ZMH118
- Start date
ABS Escape 15.
Easily room for a small survival kit, plus extra layers. Expensive, yes - but I've never heard anything bad about them (or others).
A lot a comments about how easy it is to refill...... when the time comes to refill mine, it will be after I was caught in a slide and I am alive to tell about it. Which, hopefully, won't happen ever again - if I learned from the first time (5 yrs ago & made me realize the value of an Avy pack & education in the first place). At that point, I don't really care how much it costs, or how easy. That will be the least of my issues to deal with.
Back to what really matters - "hat's off" to all that take avalanche safety seriously, you can't take too many classes, or study the terrain and turn away from anything that looks suspicious - too many times. Carry the right equipment (shovel, beacon, avy pack - any brand, probe & winter survival basics).
Ride smart, ride safe, ride again another day.
W
Easily room for a small survival kit, plus extra layers. Expensive, yes - but I've never heard anything bad about them (or others).
A lot a comments about how easy it is to refill...... when the time comes to refill mine, it will be after I was caught in a slide and I am alive to tell about it. Which, hopefully, won't happen ever again - if I learned from the first time (5 yrs ago & made me realize the value of an Avy pack & education in the first place). At that point, I don't really care how much it costs, or how easy. That will be the least of my issues to deal with.
Back to what really matters - "hat's off" to all that take avalanche safety seriously, you can't take too many classes, or study the terrain and turn away from anything that looks suspicious - too many times. Carry the right equipment (shovel, beacon, avy pack - any brand, probe & winter survival basics).
Ride smart, ride safe, ride again another day.
W
When I was caught in a slide on a sunday, I charged $30 on my card to Snowbigdeal and had a new canister at my house on tuesday. Didn't have to go anywhere.
It costs you about $20 more to fill an ABS than a BCA or Snowpulse... if that cost for filling is a big factor for you... you should think about where & how you're riding.
I bought an adapter so that I could get my friends' BCA packs filled at the local FD last year, and stopped in at every fire house within 15 miles & nobody would do it. For me to get a BCA filled (got a buddy who wants to pop his for the first time this week) we've got to drive 1/2 hr to get it done, and the closest place wants you to drop it off so that I've got to go there twice?... WTF?
It costs you about $20 more to fill an ABS than a BCA or Snowpulse... if that cost for filling is a big factor for you... you should think about where & how you're riding.
I bought an adapter so that I could get my friends' BCA packs filled at the local FD last year, and stopped in at every fire house within 15 miles & nobody would do it. For me to get a BCA filled (got a buddy who wants to pop his for the first time this week) we've got to drive 1/2 hr to get it done, and the closest place wants you to drop it off so that I've got to go there twice?... WTF?
Can a guy buy big used canisters at Norco so that he can do his own refill at home?
That would be nice... not sure what all else you'd need though. I'd ask Snowbigdeal, as I know they refill them in house.
I've got nothing against BCA, but the whole "bca is way easier to fill" thing is just BS for me anyhow. It's a pain in the butt getting one filled, and to get a new ABS one all I have to do is make a call or place an order online.
Most of us don't have the ability to refill them with Nitrogen either, so we're filling them with air.
S
sledsrock
Well-known member
Little known or acknowledged fact.
How much for the Float Throttle and how do I get one from you?
I just pick one up at my Polaris dealer, the pack dose zip on just like other Vario units, what I fond interesting was how much room their is in SB5, I had the free ride in the past and the SB5 has double the space.
Well, is there is a difference between putting that 78% 'air' in your tires, and putting nitrogen in your tires? Of course there is - the reason nitrogen is available for your tires is precisely because it works - tire pressure is more consistent across temp changes. Same principle here...
David, I'd assume you're talking to snowbigdeal?
give them a yell!
1.877.766.9244
Or you can order online, but I like harassing people over the phone myself! A little conversation can often clarify some questions we forget to ask.
Well... who doesn't have some scuba tanks sitting around??? I know most of us in the mountains are real big into scuba here
btw, if 22% doesn't make much difference... try breathing air without that 22%
I run the bags from THEWARY they are super comfy fit good . come in a few different sizes and they have a new vest wich has chest protection and its removable if you dont want it. They are a great company easy to work with and stand by there product
http://thewary.com/vest/Product_Comparison.php
http://thewary.com/vest/Product_Comparison.php
Was looking at a avy backpack for sledding however I also backcountry ski. So I was on websites today looking at both sledding and backcountry skiing avy packs and I'm having trouble telling the difference is there is any, from web pics. Anyone looked at both and can tell me the major differences, if there are any?
I purchased a BCA Float 30 last year. I'd like to say i'm a bigger guy but in reality I'm short and fat. I didn't like how BCA fit I had to have the strapes all the way out and then the leg strape didnt fit. BCA sent me longer strapes but they were made for some one the size of a pro wrestler.
When I went to sell it a month and a half later when I took the bottle out the guage was in the red. Not sure if the guage was bad or the bottle realy did leak.BCA sent me a new charged bottle. All in all BCA has good customer servive but I'm not impressed with there packs.
I've always liked the WARY avi vest and am looking foward to getting one now that they make one that will fit me.
When I went to sell it a month and a half later when I took the bottle out the guage was in the red. Not sure if the guage was bad or the bottle realy did leak.BCA sent me a new charged bottle. All in all BCA has good customer servive but I'm not impressed with there packs.
I've always liked the WARY avi vest and am looking foward to getting one now that they make one that will fit me.
I'd say the way they strap things would be the biggest difference. If I'm skiing/ boarding, I'd want straps to attach them. I don't know which packs do have that, my old escape 15 carried a board well, but these days if I'm riding, I'm accessing with a sled, so ski or board I carry them between my back & the pack. This seems to work better on the sled for me anyhow.
ABs bags have a strap you can get if you want the trigger on the other side btw, I've got them but don't really subscribe to the theory. My take is I'm going to be FULL throttle trying to get away from a slide, so the idea of taking my other hand off to pull the bag is a no go.
Try this, go into a field and hammer your sled, no in doing this, take your hand off the other side, and reach up to your pack. Get back to us & let us know how easy it is.
If I'm still on the sled, which hand comes off is a non issue imo, as I can't go full throttle (especially in avy debris) and pull the throttle at the same time.
M
modsledr
Well-known member
If I'm reading this right, what you're saying is that in an avy (which I've never been in thankfully, and I know you have first hand experience so I defer to your experience)...the chance of keeping the throttle pinned AND pulling the handle on your avy pack would be slim.
I agree with this thought process. Any time you're WOT, there is LITTLE chance of being able to let go with the left hand and actually do something that requires coordination.
Personally, I want my trigger hand to be my primary (right) hand. Once my avy pack is deployed, I'll hopefully be able to have an opportunity to get back on the throttle and have a chance to getting to the edge. Having seen MANY videos of riders caught in an avy, the odds of this happening are slim (not impossible, but slim)...avalanches are VERY powerful...those who ride with the mindset that you will be able to "outride" them are living in fantasy land, IMO.