 Poster: A snowHead
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I previously borrowed my buddy's wife's ABS Vario as we had flown and she was not there which I found very comfortable. I had a good few days this season off piste, still a lot to learn but very much enjoying the variety it opens up. I usually drive to the Alps, but do at least one trip with my buddy where I fly. I picked up an ABS a.light on Sportpursuit as it was a good price (almost an impulse buy yesterday), but am vaguely questioning whether I would be better off with an Alpride E2; I saw one in a Scott backpack at Ski Bartlett which was comfortable. I've been reading through the threads here including the travelling with airbags and wondering if I should look for a good price on an E2 or just stick with the ABS a.light for a couple of years as I build up the mileage? Anyone who has used or has both with a view?
I get the difference between being able to do practice deployments with the capacitor (and think it's a good thing), but apart from that, I am not going touring over several days so if I get caught in an avalanche, deploy the bag (and survive), I doubt that I will be pressing on (assuming I don't get caught in another avalanche heading back which would not be a great day).
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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@Tradstyle, I think you have answered your own question 
Over the years I’ve had 2 ABS, 2 Pieps (Black Diamond battery), and currently a Scott E1 40. In the early days ABS were really the only effective product, but they didn’t really develop the product and just sat back and took the money. Their system was licensed to other companies, but there was nothing new. Then came the lighter weight systems, with nothing really new until Alpride introduced their twin cylinder system.
Finally Arcteryx and then Black Diamond released their lithium battery fan packs, which removed the biggest gas powered pack drawbacks of flying and refilling, but the weight still remained. The move to super capacitor systems in the Alpride and Scott systems, refined the packs further, and removed the minor risk of a battery pack being rejected by airport security due the battery size.
About the only feature I wish the Scott E1 had that the Black Diamond has, is the auto deflation, to give an air pocket. Yes, I understand that the whole point of an airbag pack is to prevent you being buried, but if you are, having a large air pocket must help. Since the pack already has everything for auto deflation, I assume it must be a patent issue that stops them implementing it.
As an example of how the market has changed Snow Safe used to have the biggest range of gas packs in the UK, and now they don’t stock any, only carrying battery and capacitor packs.
https://www.snowsafe.co.uk/
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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That’s good news
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Anyone seen the Millet E2 bags in the flesh? They look pretty good on paper but always hard to judge quality of build etc without handling them
(I asked this on another thread - one more try before I give up…)
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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You have a perfectly good airbag, why not use what you have?
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| WASHOUT wrote: |
| You have a perfectly good airbag, why not use what you have? |
I ordered the ABS from Sportpursuit but don’t think that it has even shipped. If I had it already and it could not be returned, then I would just work with it. There is a cost premium for the electronic of course and I won’t be able to use it for a while anyways so would rather choose the right item for me and then either see if it comes up on sale or second hand / set aside some money every month to pay for it.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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@PowderAdict, Millet’s stuff (incl packs) is generally pretty decent.
I think I saw that the litric packs are subject to a recall?
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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@Arno, According to the Ortovox website they are listed as a 23/24 product, so you are probably correct.
It looks like the 1Kg weight is for the airbag unit, not the complete bag, so really in line with the Scott/Alpride packs. I have to say, the leg/crotch strap system is the best I've seen yet, as they have side stepped the requirement to replace the usually badly thoughtout solution with a caribiner.
https://www.ortovox.com/int-en/shop/backpacks/p496660-litric-avabag-litric-tour-40
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Sorry thought you already had it. Yes I would cancel it/send it back for a refund. I currently have a old bca float 8, it's stone age technology but I can fire it off then have a 10 minute work out (foot pump) to re charge the cylinder when this dies (hopefully soon) I will upgrade to e1/2.
Unfortunately you are not going to find a alpride e1/2 type airbag in a bargain corner as they are in big demand (there's a reason people are trying to shift old stock/technology of cheap such as sports pursuit) .
I would phone the piste office to see if he can maybe do a small deal.
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You know it makes sense.
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@washout thanks for that and I will definitely keep the piste office in mind.
I tried to get the family to agree that a quick jump over to the Alps for a long weekend was just such an obviously good idea but was re educated on the error of my ways. So… may still see about the airbag so that I am ready to go when the reeducation wears off.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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| WASHOUT wrote: |
| Unfortunately you are not going to find a alpride e1/2 type airbag in a bargain corner as they are in big demand (there's a reason people are trying to shift old stock/technology of cheap such as sports pursuit). |
In general I agree, but worth noting that last year snowsafe had 40% off in its spring sale.
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FAQ
