If you are looking for an avalanche airbag, there are many on the market to choose from. They all work and the best one is the one that fits you properly and fits your style of riding.
I have been wearing an ABS Avalanche Airbag system for eight years and consider it a part of my essential gear—whether I am sledding or skiing!
I like the ABS system for the fact that it has many redundant safety features, which is what an avy pack is—a safety device. This system has two airbags versus one, a precise pneumatic handle that works the same every time, nitrogen—which is an inert gas that works properly at all elevations and does not freeze when deployed—and finally, it uses the largest volume airbags on the market.
ABS also has a wireless system that can be used with any ABS system to remotely set off the airbags of your buddy or buddies. I have also been testing a remote on the sled that allows you to set off your bag from a button on your handlebar. I also like the fact that I can use it for backcountry sledding by zipping in a 15-litre pack and then when I take off on a ski touring mission, I can use the same pack but zip in a 40-litre pack (yes, I do both). Having a pack that covers different situations is awesome.
Through my work as an athlete with ABS, I have set off more than 600 bags and have never had a failure. I have even set off a few ABS bags that had not been set off for 10 years! They still worked perfectly and this is what a consumer should expect from such a safety device. I encourage everyone to set off their airbag after they get it as many times as possible in order to familiarize themselves with it and learn how to reset it. I also recommend doing it at the beginning of the season to ensure everything is working properly.
For more information on ABS Avalanche Airbags, see Dave Norona's videos on YouTube.
