As every year, PowderGuide once again reports on the new products from the PG partners at ISPO 2014. The first two parts dealt with detailed ski mountaineering pants, light and heavy down clothing, various PinTech bindings, backpacks and ski clothing for ski touring, all-round touring skis, sustainable insulation jackets, adapted ski clothing, functional ice screws and intelligent ski goggles. The third part features the new highlights from Scott, Suunto, skiFi, Freeride Maps and Black Diamond. Enjoy reading and look forward to your next winter shopping trip!
Alpride avalanche airbag system | Scott
Three passionate ski tourers (all successful entrepreneurs) go ski touring together for several days and realize that their backpacks are far too heavy. Of course, they are safety-conscious and use avalanche backpacks and don't want to do without them in the future - so why not remedy the situation themselves? This was supposedly the starting signal for a new company: Alpride. Within four years, they developed a lightweight airbag system that can also be used to travel by plane without any problems, as it uses the same cartridges that are used in conventional life jackets. The second starting point for the developers of Alpride was the price: it had to be an affordable system that could be placed competitively on the market. Scott was the first to react and secured exclusivity for the Alpride system for the time being. We had already reported on the innovation before ISPO (here you can find more information), so here are just the most important details again: extremely light system (1.2 kg, in the 30 liter backpack also only 2.6 kg), sensibly installed (at the bottom of the backpack), inexpensive overall package (backpack plus system for less than 600 euros), inexpensive refilling (35 euros). The 30 L version should be arriving soon and we are looking forward to the first practical test! You can find even more information directly at Alpride or from fall 2014 at Scott...
Ambit 2R | Suunto
Suunto is launching a new member of the Ambit series with the Ambit 2R. The current Ambit 2 and Ambit 2S are designed for various outdoor sports - the newly introduced Ambit 2R, on the other hand, focuses entirely on running. With a combination of acceleration sensors on the wrist and the GPS signal, it provides a reliable real-time display of speed and distance data. In addition, the 2R also measures the cadence for the first time and thus creates the basis for creating individual training plans or installing ready-made training programs. The Ambit 2R reminds you of your daily goals, checks whether you have achieved them and provides speed and distance data while you are running. The previous tracking and "track-back" functions are of course still available so that you don't get lost while running in the forest. The latest member of the Ambit family is available in black or white. The white model has a soft silicone strap and therefore offers the ideal fit for women. Both versions are available with or without a SUUNTO heart rate strap. For more information, please contact Suunto directly from fall 2014...
Eazy Rider | skiFi
It's not a completely new idea, but the implementation is more professional than before. The people at SkiFi have revisited the concept of deep snow bands and this winter you can already buy various products from SkiFi in the PowderGuide partner store Bergzeit.de. After a crash in deep powder, some people spend hours searching for their skis... The SkiFi Eazy Rider deep snow straps are just the thing to help you find your lost ski in no time at all. Simply attach them to your skis or bindings and attach the storage bag with retention and release cord to your lower leg. Some may smile at this, but in the end it extends the effective downhill time because you no longer have to search for the ski (for so long). The prerequisite for this calculation is of course to lose a ski first. You can find more information here...
Freeride Map App | FRM
Freeride Map moves with the times and since the start of the season, 25 of the maps have been available digitally as a freeride app. At the same time, six new regions were presented as printed maps: With Montafon (AT), Glacier3000/Alpes Vaudoises (CH), Les Arcs (FR), La Clusaz (FR), Serre Chevalier (FR) and Pic du Midi/Grand Tourmalet (FR, Pyrenees), there are now a total of 36 map sheets with the most important freeride information. All of them will soon also be available as app baselayers. With the Scout app (available for Android and IOS) and with the help of the tour planning software Tour Explorer Live from MagicMaps, you can now plan your tours from the comfort of your own home and navigate with the help of the Scout app. The app can also be used to integrate the current weather and avalanche situation into your route planning and transfer it to your smartphone via Wi-Fi. You can also use it to record your tours and edit and archive them later. In order not to rely completely on the functionality of the smartphone, PowderGuide recommends carrying a printed topo map in your backpack as a backup. Because even if the battery runs out or GPS reception is too poor, you should still be able to find your way in the mountains! You can find more information at Freeride Maps or directly at MagicMaps...
Jetforce avalanche airbag system | Black Diamond
The new airbag system from Black Diamond attracted a lot of attention at ISPO 2014. Innovation and a spirit of development have meant that avalanche backpacks with a battery-powered blower will be available for the first time from fall 2014. The system is fully developed and works reliably. It was developed with the Black Diamond subsidiary Pieps, which took care of the technical components and programming of the electrical control unit. Black Diamond contributed its know-how to the development of the backpack details. We had already presented the system in detail before ISPO (you can find more information here). Together with the two partners, backpacks will be available in various sizes: 11 liters (Black Diamond, POC), 24 L (Pieps), 28 L (Black Diamond), 34 L (Pieps) and 40 L (Black Diamond). The manufacturers have not yet provided any information about the weight, but so far we can't necessarily speak of lightweights - but there may be some changes by the fall. In terms of price, the backpacks will probably be in the upper price segment for avalanche airbags. According to the manufacturer, the backpacks will be available from around 850 euros. In any case, traveling and repeated practice/deployment will no longer cause any problems. More information will be available here from fall 2014...
