Comments on: Outdoor Retailer — Saturday — BCA’s Float 30 Avy Airbag http://www.wildsnow.com/2487/float-30-avalanche-airbag-bca/ Backcountry Skiing Weblog Blog, FAQs, more, links and info about randonnee, telemark and backcountry ski mountaineering. Fri, 24 May 2013 17:29:26 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.3.2 By: Dhabi http://www.wildsnow.com/2487/float-30-avalanche-airbag-bca/#comment-45718 Dhabi Thu, 12 Jul 2012 09:23:50 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=2487#comment-45718 Your way of explaining everything in this paragraph is truly pleasant, every one can effortlessly be aware of it, Thanks a lot. Your way of explaining everything in this paragraph is truly pleasant, every one can effortlessly be aware of it, Thanks a lot.

]]> By: Lou http://www.wildsnow.com/2487/float-30-avalanche-airbag-bca/#comment-40181 Lou Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:13:01 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=2487#comment-40181 I like the idea of the airbag providing some trauma protection, but I don't think having that or not is a deal breaker. As for rumors of non-inflation, I count that as part of the "airbag wars," as each system seems to have fans which spend a lot of energy disparaging the other rival systems. I'd take those kinds of statements with a grain of salt. On the other hand, if airbag cylinders are filled by the user, there is of course chance of error. If in doubt with BCA, you can send in to them and avoid doing it yourself. I like the idea of the airbag providing some trauma protection, but I don’t think having that or not is a deal breaker.

As for rumors of non-inflation, I count that as part of the “airbag wars,” as each system seems to have fans which spend a lot of energy disparaging the other rival systems. I’d take those kinds of statements with a grain of salt. On the other hand, if airbag cylinders are filled by the user, there is of course chance of error. If in doubt with BCA, you can send in to them and avoid doing it yourself.

]]> By: murray http://www.wildsnow.com/2487/float-30-avalanche-airbag-bca/#comment-40180 murray Fri, 18 Nov 2011 18:05:21 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=2487#comment-40180 Thank you for the informative article. I live in Western Canada and ski in Alberta and BC. I was talking to a very experience bc ski touring lodge owner and guide at the Banff film festival a few weeks ago and his lodge provides ABS packs for all his quests. His comment was that many of the other avi pack systems have had documented cases of the packs failing to inflate when the cord was pulled, but this was not the case with the ABS packs. Does anyone have any experience or even better stats on failure to inflate occurring. ABS is the only one that has canisters you must buy and can’t refill yourself so maybe not properly refilling the canisters etc account for some of the failure to inflate situations he was referring to. I am definitely going to purchase an airbag system just trying to decide which one. I was leaning towards ABS or the snowpulse system. BCA is attractive with the lower price point, but the guide I talked to mentioned BCA specifically having documented cases of the airbag failing to inflate. He was not a fan of the quality of BCA’s gear in general, so there may be a bias there as well. Also when I BC ski I always were a helmet as I do at resorts as well to help reduce the risk of head trauma. Is there any evidence the snowpulse system that wraps around the users head helps decrease the risk of head and neck trauma? Thanks in advance for any input. Cheers, Murray Thank you for the informative article. I live in Western Canada and ski in Alberta and BC. I was talking to a very experience bc ski touring lodge owner and guide at the Banff film festival a few weeks ago and his lodge provides ABS packs for all his quests. His comment was that many of the other avi pack systems have had documented cases of the packs failing to inflate when the cord was pulled, but this was not the case with the ABS packs. Does anyone have any experience or even better stats on failure to inflate occurring. ABS is the only one that has canisters you must buy and can’t refill yourself so maybe not properly refilling the canisters etc account for some of the failure to inflate situations he was referring to. I am definitely going to purchase an airbag system just trying to decide which one. I was leaning towards ABS or the snowpulse system. BCA is attractive with the lower price point, but the guide I talked to mentioned BCA specifically having documented cases of the airbag failing to inflate. He was not a fan of the quality of BCA’s gear in general, so there may be a bias there as well.

Also when I BC ski I always were a helmet as I do at resorts as well to help reduce the risk of head trauma. Is there any evidence the snowpulse system that wraps around the users head helps decrease the risk of head and neck trauma?

Thanks in advance for any input.

Cheers,

Murray

]]> By: Dave J http://www.wildsnow.com/2487/float-30-avalanche-airbag-bca/#comment-32765 Dave J Mon, 07 Feb 2011 17:01:30 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=2487#comment-32765 My wife and I recently decided to get airbags (after a few close calls in the past few years), and after very careful examination, research and consideration of all 3 brands, the choice was clearly Snowpulse. From a quality, weight and engineering perspective, the BCA doesn't even seem on the same level as the snowpulse. It's almost like a Chevy/Mercedes comparision. For us, the ABS was a non-starter due to the hassle of refilling. I think it's excellent however that BCA is bringing airbags to a wider consumer group. Now in terms of Lou's passivity comment, I don't think a deployed snowpulse is so cumbersome that you couldn't attempt skiing out of harm's way. There's a helmet cam video on the snowpulse website that indicates that vision might not be that impaired (but who knows how high the camera was mounted...). The snowpulse might however severly limit your swimming/fighting ability. For the additional C-spine and vital organ protection, and potential air pocket provided in case of a burial, offered by the snowpulse, we're willing to take the risk tradeoff. Obviously I hope we never find out for sure. Overall though, IMO (and as many bloggers have mentioned) airbags should NEVER replace core knowledge and bad judgement. One's priorities are pretty screwed up if they get an airbag before all of the following items are in place: 1. Get head screwed on straight 2. Take a good AST course 3. Assemble a crew of knowledgable and solid ski mates 4. Master the use of your beacon, probing and shovelling technique 5. Take a first aid course 6. Figure out backcountry rescue protocols. My wife and I recently decided to get airbags (after a few close calls in the past few years), and after very careful examination, research and consideration of all 3 brands, the choice was clearly Snowpulse. From a quality, weight and engineering perspective, the BCA doesn’t even seem on the same level as the snowpulse. It’s almost like a Chevy/Mercedes comparision. For us, the ABS was a non-starter due to the hassle of refilling.

I think it’s excellent however that BCA is bringing airbags to a wider consumer group.

Now in terms of Lou’s passivity comment, I don’t think a deployed snowpulse is so cumbersome that you couldn’t attempt skiing out of harm’s way. There’s a helmet cam video on the snowpulse website that indicates that vision might not be that impaired (but who knows how high the camera was mounted…). The snowpulse might however severly limit your swimming/fighting ability. For the additional C-spine and vital organ protection, and potential air pocket provided in case of a burial, offered by the snowpulse, we’re willing to take the risk tradeoff. Obviously I hope we never find out for sure.

Overall though, IMO (and as many bloggers have mentioned) airbags should NEVER replace core knowledge and bad judgement. One’s priorities are pretty screwed up if they get an airbag before all of the following items are in place:
1. Get head screwed on straight
2. Take a good AST course
3. Assemble a crew of knowledgable and solid ski mates
4. Master the use of your beacon, probing and shovelling technique
5. Take a first aid course
6. Figure out backcountry rescue protocols.

]]> By: Lou http://www.wildsnow.com/2487/float-30-avalanche-airbag-bca/#comment-32748 Lou Sun, 06 Feb 2011 23:59:13 +0000 http://www.wildsnow.com/?p=2487#comment-32748 Um, no, I don't want to take off my harness every time I take of my pack. Instead, how about a harness that the pack attaches to, so one has the option of leaving the harness on and removing the backpack, or, removing everything. If you guys can design a beacon, I'll bet you can envision that backcpack compatible harness. Um, no, I don’t want to take off my harness every time I take of my pack. Instead, how about a harness that the pack attaches to, so one has the option of leaving the harness on and removing the backpack, or, removing everything. If you guys can design a beacon, I’ll bet you can envision that backcpack compatible harness.

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