Which avy air bag vest WITH protection is the best?

[tb123]

After hitting my sternum pretty hard I’m considering ditching my BCA Float Pack for a vest with protection (chest, back, and side would be ideal). Which is the best? It looks like the options are:

• BCA (2.0 or E2)
• Klim
• Highmark
• Others??

 

[christopher]

After hitting my sternum pretty hard I’m considering ditching my BCA Float Pack for a vest with protection (chest, back, and side would be ideal). Which is the best? It looks like the options are:

• BCA (2.0 or E2)
• Klim
• Highmark
• Others??

Not cheap, but offers GREAT protection.

BCA Float™ E2 Mtnpro Airbag Vest 2024 | Backcountry Access

Designed for high-performance mountain riding, the Float E2 MtnPro Vest offers full protection to the chest, ribs, and back – and now includes our Float E2 airbag system.Our new Float E2 MTNPRO airbagundefined

backcountryaccess.com

 

[KhaosRipcord]

Can't speak to vest based Avy Packs but I really like my 509 R More vest under my jacket or monosuit. Not bulky and provides protection in all the right places. Also doubles as a base layer up top.

 

[tb123]

Can't speak to vest based Avy Packs but I really like my 509 R More vest under my jacket or monosuit. Not bulky and provides protection in all the right places. Also doubles as a base layer up top.

Would it be uncomfortable to wear an avy pack over this?

 

[KhaosRipcord]

Would it be uncomfortable to wear an avy pack over this?

Not in my experience. I forget it's there usually.

 

[KhaosRipcord]

Not in my experience. I forget it's there usually.

And I use a Float 32 Avy bag myself.

 

[jh7]

Can't speak to vest based Avy Packs but I really like my 509 R More vest under my jacket or monosuit. Not bulky and provides protection in all the right places. Also doubles as a base layer up top.

+1 for the R-Mor vest. Two seasons with mine and won't ride without it now. It's not bulky, and provides some extra warmth up top so one less layer is needed. Plus I feel it helps further distribute the weight of a vest style avy pack. I wear a Klim Aspect 16 and have been very happy with the chest plate/harness on top of the vest and monosuit.

 

[Clark42]

I like my BCA, however there is not much storage in it

 

[Pickin’ Boogers]

Troy Lee Designs sells a really lightweight but still protective shirt, both long sleeve and short. I'd put that under my jacket and get the airbag vest without padding.

 

[titus_4]

I ran the BCA E2 vest this year after running a Klim Aspect 16. I only switched because I had a buddy going west with us this year that needed an avy bag and I was intrigued by the new Klim vest and the BCA vest. After getting some feedback on here from @Christoper & some others and talking with one of the guys at Snow Big Deal (where I ordered from), I was steered towards the BCA.

I really enjoyed the vest over the bag the way it distributes the weight. It's crazy how heavy it feels when picking it up in the morning but then put it on and I barely noticed it. It has plenty of protection too. Hit the bars a few times (not major, just quick stop bumps) and it was nice to have the protection. I absolutely love the stash pocket on the bottom. It's perfect for my water bottle and I actually drank more throughout the day because it is easy to get to. Don't have to open my tunnel bag every time I was thirsty.

A few cons:
It is WARM. This was a con for me this year for our trip because the temps were mid 30's and up to mid 40's so all of us were sweating like crazy even with minimal on underneath a non-ins. mono. After a couple of days, I ended up removing the side panels to make it a little cooler. On a different year where it is below zero, this could very well get moved to the pro category.
I really wish it had a second compartment on the back. Coming from the Aspect, which has the pocket for your avy gear, and then another to store your stuff in, I wasn't a fan of this. I also don't really like the external shovel storage but that's personal opinion.
The radio storage option is awful. Running a BCA 2.0 and this just seems overlooked. Klim vest has the radio pocket at the top but the BCA I had to just shove it all inside the strap zipper that goes from side to side. Just seems incomplete to me. I originally saw the compartment inside the storage area and thought it was for the radio but there is no opening to run the cord through. I guess it is for a GPS tracking device. Just seems weird that BCA wouldn't make a spot specifically for their own radio. I have since sold the BCA radio and will be switching to an Oxbow next year and won't have to worry about the cord any more.

Overall, I am happy with my purchase. I wish someone in my group would buy the Klim vest so we can compare them up close, but so far hasn't happened yet. Everyone else is running the Klim Aspect.