What's it going to take for everyone to wear avy packs?

[line8]

Is a question asked in many situations....
-They (air bags) are in every new car purchased.
Seatbelts are in every car and certain other type vehicles.

Maybe they are built into the price of a new snowmobile and they go with the snowmobile.
Maybe a used snowmobile at a dealership builds it into the new buyer and it doesn't leave without one.
Maybe the manufacturers make it real easy to get them in the hands of the frugal.
Maybe if the market gets flooded with them it will be just like putting on your seatbelt when you run down to the store.
Just a few maybes that come to mind. Oh and for the record, I don't have one and I've purchased a few brand new sleds. Not opening a door to get slammed, I'm sure I'm not alone in this.


Sent from my telephone

 

[1500psi]

Is a question asked in many situations....
-They (air bags) are in every new car purchased.
Seatbelts are in every car and certain other type vehicles.

Maybe they are built into the price of a new snowmobile and they go with the snowmobile.
Maybe a used snowmobile at a dealership builds it into the new buyer and it doesn't leave without one.
Maybe the manufacturers make it real easy to get them in the hands of the frugal.
Maybe if the market gets flooded with them it will be just like putting on your seatbelt when you run down to the store.
Just a few maybes that come to mind. Oh and for the record, I don't have one and I've purchased a few brand new sleds. Not opening a door to get slammed, I'm sure I'm not alone in this.


Sent from my telephone

I see people out riding in Narly areas and they don't even wear helmets, they ride alone, no beacons, no avys gear at all, no shovel. I think we are far away from everyone wearing a pack imo. I yell at every idiot I described just now when I see em in the back country. This idiot in Revy dropped down the 911 chute area behind us a couple weeks ago with nothin on including helmet on a super bad avy day. He said why u need a helmet that's just stupid. He's on a m1k 153 that would of never made it out if we didn't pack him a rode out for 2 hours. He would of been a search and rescue victim GUARANTEED.

 

[Red Mtn]

What makes you think the avy pack should be standard?
Do you think it would save lives?
What makes you think that?


I bought my avy pack about 12 years ago, long before it was the cool thing to do. I will admit it, I was new to mtn riding and doing so in some really big country. Anymore I never wear it, make you a great deal on it.


If you are planning to go out and do some himarking where you probably shouldn't then maybe it is a price you should consider. It might save you. The notion it might save you might get you killed...


If you are selective in where and when you ride, you just do not need it. Everybody already cries about the cost of new sleds and another forced $1000 probably isn't smart marketing.


If you are beginning to suggest somehow government should get involved in this to mandate more safety for us then I am DEFINATELY OUT on that plan. The sticker on my new stripper pick up was $50k. Much of that due to the costs of developing and implementing all those wonderful safety features you described. ALL of them add complexity and expense for very very slim marginal gains.


I sure wouldn't want the electronics on my truck applied to a sled. It is a slippery slope selling safety. NOTHING IS SAFE SON. That is what you need to know. Want to avoid an avalanche? Educate yourself and make good choices. The airbag is an expensive, heavy crutch that is completely unnecessary.


Keep it a personal choice. Clearly you are scared and I admitted, I know how that is but FORCING safety on ANYBODY is pretty tyrannical and elitist if you ask me. Let people decide then accept that sometimes natural selection occurs. It is sad to lose people as we do but I haven't seen one avy fatality in the last ten years where they didn't put themselves in an obviously bad spot on the wrong day.

 

[Solarguy]

What makes you think the avy pack should be standard?
Do you think it would save lives?
What makes you think that?


I bought my avy pack about 12 years ago, long before it was the cool thing to do. I will admit it, I was new to mtn riding and doing so in some really big country. Anymore I never wear it, make you a great deal on it.


If you are planning to go out and do some himarking where you probably shouldn't then maybe it is a price you should consider. It might save you. The notion it might save you might get you killed...


If you are selective in where and when you ride, you just do not need it. Everybody already cries about the cost of new sleds and another forced $1000 probably isn't smart marketing.


If you are beginning to suggest somehow government should get involved in this to mandate more safety for us then I am DEFINATELY OUT on that plan. The sticker on my new stripper pick up was $50k. Much of that due to the costs of developing and implementing all those wonderful safety features you described. ALL of them add complexity and expense for very very slim marginal gains.


I sure wouldn't want the electronics on my truck applied to a sled. It is a slippery slope selling safety. NOTHING IS SAFE SON. That is what you need to know. Want to avoid an avalanche? Educate yourself and make good choices. The airbag is an expensive, heavy crutch that is completely unnecessary.


Keep it a personal choice. Clearly you are scared and I admitted, I know how that is but FORCING safety on ANYBODY is pretty tyrannical and elitist if you ask me. Let people decide then accept that sometimes natural selection occurs. It is sad to lose people as we do but I haven't seen one avy fatality in the last ten years where they didn't put themselves in an obviously bad spot on the wrong day.

Well stated!! Avy airbags if needed are a last chance after a bad decision. In many cases airbags give a false sense of security and may cause poor decision making. Trauma not suffocation is the cause of many avy fatalities. We all need to be educated in snow pack, stability, terrain choices, local avy websites and most importantly our
Decision making each day we ride.

 

[Rmkguy]

Someday the damn government will require us to pass an avy class before we can purchase a sled. All thanks to idiots that don't pay attention. Sadly these avy deaths just make or sport look bad.

 

[gonehuntnpowder]

I am on the fence on the air bag issue. I don't have one yet, but spent part of my time at the hillclimb today looking at them. I wear a backpack now with only survival stuff in it. I really don't like wearing it. I am not as young or athletic as I used to be, and a little more weight doesn't help. If I buy an air bag and add only the basics it will make me crazy. Up to this point I have justified not having one based on the fact that 35 years in the backcountry has helped me make good decisions. I have been slid on 3 times, twice 20 years ago, once 10 years ago. Every time I knew I had no business being where I was.
All of that said, a thousand bucks isn't much money to keep my kids and grandkids dad and gramps around, and keep my sweet wife from being a widow. If I lost a little weight maybe the backpack wouldn't bug me as much. I really don't think I will ever need one, but i don't plan on wrecking my truck, I still have insurance.


See, I am on the fence.

 

[capulin overdrive]

$1000 days are way behind us, unless you just got have the latest/greatest. Saw an ad today for under $200 new.

 

[line8]

What makes you think the avy pack should be standard?
Do you think it would save lives?
What makes you think that?


I bought my avy pack about 12 years ago, long before it was the cool thing to do. I will admit it, I was new to mtn riding and doing so in some really big country. Anymore I never wear it, make you a great deal on it.


If you are planning to go out and do some himarking where you probably shouldn't then maybe it is a price you should consider. It might save you. The notion it might save you might get you killed...


If you are selective in where and when you ride, you just do not need it. Everybody already cries about the cost of new sleds and another forced $1000 probably isn't smart marketing.


If you are beginning to suggest somehow government should get involved in this to mandate more safety for us then I am DEFINATELY OUT on that plan. The sticker on my new stripper pick up was $50k. Much of that due to the costs of developing and implementing all those wonderful safety features you described. ALL of them add complexity and expense for very very slim marginal gains.


I sure wouldn't want the electronics on my truck applied to a sled. It is a slippery slope selling safety. NOTHING IS SAFE SON. That is what you need to know. Want to avoid an avalanche? Educate yourself and make good choices. The airbag is an expensive, heavy crutch that is completely unnecessary.


Keep it a personal choice. Clearly you are scared and I admitted, I know how that is but FORCING safety on ANYBODY is pretty tyrannical and elitist if you ask me. Let people decide then accept that sometimes natural selection occurs. It is sad to lose people as we do but I haven't seen one avy fatality in the last ten years where they didn't put themselves in an obviously bad spot on the wrong day.

I don't think it is or should be the standard, I didn't say that. I also mentioned I don't have one. It is intentional also. I consciously don't put myself into places I shouldn't be. If I buy one that means I'm going to consciously be putting myself into places I shouldn't be. Government regs to the industry- no thanks! See a lot of that op was a bit of sarcasm with some thoughts. Scared!!!! No son, I'm aware and capable without one. I'm probably of the same mindset of the tyrany and elite comments.

 

[Rmkguy]

yes that was sarcasm.


But im sure someone somewhere is scheming to add more regulations to protect ourselves from ourselves!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[tmanker]

If I buy one that means I'm going to consciously be putting myself into places I shouldn't be.

This may be one of the most confusing comments I've ever read on the interwebs. This makes no sense. With this mentality, I sure as hell hope you don't wear a helmet or eye protection because there's no way you plan to hit your head or jeopardize your eyesight in any way. I don't wear a seatbelt because I plan to get in to an accident. I don't carry a concealed weapon because I plan to put my life in danger. I don't wear an airbag because I think I belong in a sled necks video. I wear one because there is a chance that I may need it. Is it guaranteed to save my life in an event? Absolutely not. Is it going to increase my odds of survival? Yes.

 

[line8]

This may be one of the most confusing comments I've ever read on the interwebs. This makes no sense. With this mentality, I sure as hell hope you don't wear a helmet or eye protection because there's no way you plan to hit your head or jeopardize your eyesight in any way. I don't wear a seatbelt because I plan to get in to an accident. I don't carry a concealed weapon because I plan to put my life in danger. I don't wear an airbag because I think I belong in a sled necks video. I wear one because there is a chance that I may need it. Is it guaranteed to save my life in an event? Absolutely not. Is it going to increase my odds of survival? Yes.

Really!
False sense of security is all I meant.

 

[inspector01]

I see people out riding in Narly areas and they don't even wear helmets, they ride alone, no beacons, no avys gear at all, no shovel. I think we are far away from everyone wearing a pack imo.

That was my first thought, I'm not going to worry about people not wearing air bags when I still see guys out riding(hard) without helmets, let alone beacons/probes/shovels.

 

[line8]

That was my first thought, I'm not going to worry about people not wearing air bags when I still see guys out riding(hard) without helmets, let alone beacons/probes/shovels.

I saw exactly that this weekend. At first I thought what an idiot. Then, realized he probably didn't have a go pro yet so what's the point.

 

[Pro-8250]

My son and I wear them. My wife (his mom) bought them for us. If she found out we weren't wearing them? I would rather face the avalanche.
All kidding aside, we plan on wearing them, as do our riding buddies. And if anyone here hasn't taken an avy class, do so. You will learn more there than anyone here on SnoWest can teach you.

 

[Pro-8250]

What's wrong with this picture???????
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLRfX_WNI4E

 

[flying frenchman]

Great video. Great things to learn from here.

 

[Pro-8250]

I also wear ear plugs when I ride. No ringing in my ears at night.