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Powder Mountain is True to its Name
McLovin It

Snow Pulse Avalanche Airbag | Salt Lake City, UT United States | 02/09/08, by powderjunky

A fully inflated airbag

Intro:
The Snow Pulse Life Bag at first glance looks like something that you might use in an emergency water landing on an airplane. However this system is proven to reduce the chances of a complete burial, increase survival time and protect against shock and trauma. We ran into these folks at the Outdoor Retailer Trade Show and here is what we found...


Demonstration Video of Snow Pulse Avalanche Airbag


The 411:
The Life Bag helps to keep an avalanche victim on their back while keeping their head out of the snow. It also acts as a floatation device to keep a victim on the surface of an avalanche. The big red bag facilitates locating victims that are near the surface. It is the only air bag on the market that can be refilled after use by a regular Joe, like you or me. The pack it comes in is a standard pack with the bare minimum features of a typical ski pack (It has a main compartment and a tool compartment). Once you inflate the bag it will slowly deflate after 5 minutes to create an air pocket in the avalanche debris.

Stats:
  • Airbag volume : 150L
  • Weight of 30 Liters Backpack without cylinder: 2.4 Kg
  • Weight of 30 Liters Backpack with cylinder: 3 kg
  • Backpack fabric: Cordura 500 deniers
  • Temperature of use range: -30C° - 50 C°
  • Cartridge gas: Breathable dry air
  • Gas cylinder pressure: 207 bars (3000 PSI)
Gas canister that is now legal in the United States
Gas canister that is now legal in the United States

Pros:
  • Refillable Tank (unlike other versions)
  • 30 liter pack
  • Loop strap around leg so no strangulation from chest strap occurs
  • Offers incredible safety from trauma
  • Creates an air pocket if buried
  • Legal in the United States
  • Back Pack is simple with a tool compartment and a main compartment.
  • 100% survival rate among avalanche victims so far
  • Bag is reusable
  • Durable metal waist buckle

Cons:
  • Over $1000 retail
  • Can only be used in the snow-pulse pack
  • Not widely available in the United States

Bottom Line:
No other system protects against trauma and suffocation like the snow pulse air bag. Although it is quite pricey, most people pay that much for a pair of skis, yet this air bag appears to be the better investment for your safety.

Hopefully as the air bag gets more popular with backcountry skiers the price will go down and more options will become available.

Obviously no product can replace good old fashion knowledge and prudence, but some times things go bad in the mountains, and when they do, I would feel a lot better if I had a Snow Pulse Air Bag on my back.

Check out their website at www.snowpulse.com.

Powder Mountain is True to its Name
McLovin It


That's Our Opinion. What's Yours?

Dana wrote on 02/09/08 at 10:55:10 am pst:

Are these legal to take on an airplane? Is anyone trying to make a cheaper one? And what's the status on releasable telemark bindings - any news?


hotChocolate wrote on 02/10/08 at 1:25:35 pm pst:

Yes these are! Not sure about other brands though.


mike bromberg wrote on 01/02/09 at 12:54:34 am pst:

Seems like an interesting design. When I tried it on all the bulk on the neck/shoulder strap area (when not deployed) was uncomfortable compared to the ABS packs.

Releasable tele bindings have been around for a while now. Karhu's 7tm has been a favorite.


scott babiuk wrote on 01/09/09 at 6:24:57 pm pst:

i am interested in purchasing a snowpulse air bag, but I heard they are sold out. Is that true?


ski patrol attn heidi wrote on 01/29/09 at 10:23:31 am pst:

we are looking at purchasing some for our ski area, any idea how to go about that?


editors wrote on 01/29/09 at 10:54:40 am pst:

Shoot us an email with your phone number and we will get you in touch with the right people. contact@skiingthebackcountry.com


eugen wrote on 08/04/09 at 4:25:07 pm pst:

hello!
please, give me that right peoples too?
i need one for myself, and may be 2 for my friends..

b.r.


powderjunky wrote on 08/06/09 at 09:44:00 am pst:

Eugen,
http://www.snowpulse.com/

ask for Chuck


Tim Dominick wrote on 01/25/10 at 06:08:12 am pst:

How many people have used these in an actual avalanche situation and survived?


powderjunky wrote on 01/25/10 at 08:18:08 am pst:

For actual numbers contact chuck at www.mountainsportsdistribution.com, but i know on the snowpulse website, http://www.snowpulse.ch/v5/en/

They have some testimonials that are pretty impressive.


skibum1963 wrote on 04/26/10 at 8:17:14 pm pst:

I have a snowpulse pack for sale if anyone is interested. I cannot use-Knee injury prevented me from going on my heli ski trip. It is in new condition because I never got to use it.


Zoom wrote on 08/13/10 at 11:18:54 am pst:

The Snow Pulse bag saved my life in an avalanche this spring. It kept me on top and protected me from a huge impact to my head and back on a 1500 ft slide down a chute. I highly recommend these air bags they are the best. Chuck Gordon at Avalanche Safety Solutions has the bags and he provides really good service
Check out his site www.avalanchesafety.ca Chuck also has some cool I love ASS T shirts



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