gear reviews

Gear reviews | Mammut Pro Short RAS 3.0

Lightweight, large and with a women's fit - a winter "must have" not only for freeriders

by Deike Puttnins • 03/03/2017

The successful avalanche backpacks with the "Removable Airbag System" (RAS) from Mammut have been widely used for several years. With the "Short" versions, Mammut has developed backpacks that are designed for the female anatomy or athletes with a short upper body. "Short" versions of the Ride or Pro RAS backpack are available. I tested the Pro RAS version.

As the name suggests, the airbag can be removed so that the backpack can also be used for other activities. The Pro also offers a pack size of 33 l and is relatively light at just 2590 g, making it suitable for multi-day ski tours and ambitious ski tourers.

Tester & test conditions

Whether freeriding, ski touring, alpine touring or in summer for biking or hiking - a backpack has been part of my almost daily routine for ten years. However, the Mammut Pro short RAS is my first airbag backpack. Until now, airbag systems have unfortunately been too heavy and too bulky for me. I also felt restricted in my freedom of movement, especially in the head area. I am 1.76 cm tall and weigh approx. 64 kg in size M. I have been using the backpack for the season so far.

First impression

The airbag looks like a "normal" backpack. The navy blue color is simple and beautiful. The material is robust and less susceptible to dirt. At first glance, you can't even tell that it's an airbag backpack.

On my first inspection, I discover countless zippers, straps and fastening options. I am immediately curious and start looking to see which one is for what and what is hidden behind what. In previous years, I was always dissatisfied with poorly thought-out and annoyingly attached helmet holders, ski mounting systems, etc.. So I'm curious to see how it will be this time!

Zips, straps, compartments, pockets and co

The only zipper in white leads me directly to the main compartment. The zipper can be opened halfway through the backpack - now I can also see the airbag system and its attachment inside. It can be easily detached in two places with simple hand movements so that the backpack can be used for another activity if necessary. The RAS system is small and well integrated into the backpack. With a few tricks, it doesn't get in the way of organizing my gear later on.

I can access the main compartment again via a zipper on the back. When lying down, the backpack can be opened completely and the entire volume can be used to its full potential. On the inside of the main compartment, there is a small compartment with elasticated straps, as is common in most backpacks. I stow bars, sandwiches or a headband there. The instructions for inserting and operating the cartridge are sewn into this compartment on a "note".

A separate mesh pocket with zipper and key attachment is located above this.
There is a separate front compartment in front of the striking white zipper to the main compartment. This is discreetly yet visibly labeled "Safety Pocket". The compartments for shovel and probe are hidden here, which I stow directly there. The adjustment for the diagonal ski holder is also located here.

On the red inside, Mammut has printed packing instructions, life-saving emergency measures and information about the Alpine emergency signal. Features that I like and that can save lives in an emergency. I also discover a small pocket on the waist belt, a helmet holder that I really like, ice axe and pole holders and a softly lined goggle compartment, as well as attachment options for skis and snowboards. Everything is always provided with a small, discreet picture - so there's no need to search and fiddle around.

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There are also zippers on both shoulder straps. The lever for deploying the airbag is hidden on the left-hand side. I can attach this at three different heights and adjust it to suit my height.

On the right-hand side, I have the option of inserting a water bottle after opening the zipper. This guarantees a sufficient supply of fluids while running without having to constantly take the entire backpack off.

For the time being, I have nothing left to be desired.

The removable Airbag System 3.0

A trigger test tool is included in the scope of delivery. So I can now practise diligently "dry" which movement I have to make to pull and of course hope that my body memorizes this process.
For me it was quite impressive how mechanically the whole thing happens and how relatively hard I have to pull. So before you screw in the cartridge, it's important not to forget to do some dry runs!

I screw in the supplied cartridge in no time at all (a picture in my backpack shows how) and the Allrounder is ready for the season. The cartridge itself is now placed on the left inside of the main compartment at the very edge to save space. It takes up about as much space as a very narrow bottle.
Left-handers take note: The mechanism is located on the left-hand side! This means it can only be pulled with the right hand.

Backpack in use

Freeriding and shorter ski tours:
When you first pick it up with the cartridge installed, the backpack doesn't feel particularly heavy, just as if there was already something inside. I quickly stowed my skins, first aid kit, warm gloves, a thermos flask and down jacket in the back (when the backpack is full, I stuff them up behind the RAS, then everything fits perfectly).

The backpack filled in this way is perfect for freeriding. When it's less full, I tighten the side straps. This makes it more compact and fits better.

The hip belt is lightly padded and the new closure system is also easy to use with gloves. From time to time, the leg loop dangles around - but without it, the airbag isn't much use in an emergency - so it's better to remember to pull it through the lap belt.
Both the shoulder straps and the hip belt can be adjusted in height and length using the side compression straps, so the backpack quickly sits quite comfortably on my back and the load is hardly noticeable. So it's good for the descent.

On my first short ascent, I first took off my helmet and, to my surprise, attached it to the backpack in two easy steps. It was just as easy to stow the mounting system back in the bag provided for it later. As it is firmly fixed on one side, it always stays on the backpack and always in the place where it belongs. The helmet holds bombastically - regardless of whether it's face up or down.
On the first descent, I notice that the handle for pulling the airbag is no longer in my field of vision. If I had to deploy the airbag, I would no longer know where to reach. This makes me a little nervous just thinking about it, but fortunately the manufacturer has thought of this and I change the handle height from S to M. Now it fits again.

Multi-day tour
The manufacturer even describes it as a backpack for the Haute Route. If it really is suitable for multi-day tours, it could become a perfect, constant companion. As you can clearly see in the pictures, I tested the backpack extremely packed with a hut sleeping bag, first aid kit, thick gloves, food as a snack for 2 days, a large thermos flask, crampons, crampons, a change of shirt, socks, a thick down jacket and skins. I attached my ice axe and helmet on the outside. My conclusion: As long as you sleep in serviced huts and don't take too much food with you, the backpack is perfectly adequate for multi-day tours. You could do without the thermos flask, as the Mammoth drinking bottle can be stowed on the outside of the shoulder strap. This leaves room for a climbing harness.

If you are gentle enough when packing and play a little Tetris, the zipper of the airbag system will also hold. It came open for me once, but it was my own fault and I wanted to stuff more into the backpack than would fit and I wasn't particularly gentle. However, it's no problem to close the zipper of the airbag system again.

With my old backpack, it always pressed into my neck when I wanted to lift my head higher. This didn't bother me when I was riding, but it was extremely annoying even on the smallest climbing sections. That's not the case here - my view and freedom of movement remain free.

Conclusion

All-round package for women or people with a shorter torso - a real "must have". There are actually no more excuses for not having an airbag system. As the systems are getting better and lighter and therefore more suitable for everyday use, every off-piste enthusiast should invest in an airbag.

Since the test, I have taken a closer look at backpacks from various manufacturers, looked at friends, asked around, gathered my own experiences and found out: It's not common for a backpack to have all the right features. The Pro Short RAS really does have everything that makes a practical backpack on the mountain. Even after the first inspection, I realize that the developers have put a lot of thought into the product and paid attention to every detail during production.

With the Mammut Pro short Removable Airbag 3.0, it's great fun to be on tour and there's no annoying material battle. Everything is simple, logical, ingeniously thought out and offers a high level of safety.

If you are looking for a well thought-out and robust ski touring backpack with an airbag system, possibly also for multi-day tours, you will be happy here. So: buy your backpack and get out into the snow!

Advantages and disadvantages

+Flexible use
+Removable airbag is easy to remove and reinstall
+Low weight for an airbag backpack
+High carrying comfort
+Very well thought-out and practical
-Quality has its price
-Can only be deployed with the right hand

Details

RRP €670.-
- Aluminum frame for optimum load transfer
- Thermoformed back for high carrying comfort
- Removable, padded hip belt
- Short back, special hip belt and shoulder straps
- Front pocket for avalanche safety equipment
- Diagonal ski attachment
- Snowboard holder
- Stowable ice axe/trekking pole holder
- Integrated helmet holder
- Rear, zippered access to the main compartment
- Side compression straps
- Soft-lined goggle compartment
- Hydration system compatible
- Hip belt pocket
- Gear loop on the hip belt
- Stowable bottle holder in the shoulder strap

Here is the link to the Mammut website with further information, here you can buy the backpack from our partner store Bergzeit.de.

This product was provided to PowderGuide by the manufacturer free of charge for testing. You can find out how we tested it in our test statement.

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Gear reviews | Mammut Ultralight RAS 3.0 airbag backpack

Daniel Schweiss • 03/20/2017

In the current 2016/17 winter season, Mammut is revamping the lightest member of its avalanche backpack line, the "Ultralight Removable Airbag 3.0". The suffix "3.0". The revised Removable Airbag System (RAS), which is housed in this lightweight backpack, has further improved the backpack's weight and space. With a total weight of just 1.5 kg including the carbon cartridge and airbag unit, the backpack turns out to be a fully-fledged minimalist among airbag backpacks. The fact that the compact and lightweight airbag unit can be interchanged between various compatible Mammut backpack models makes this specialist interesting for ski tourers who want to be light, fast and safe or just want to go downhill.
Gear reviews | Mammut Ultralight RAS

Linda Domeisen • 03/07/2016

As the name suggests, the Ultralight RAS from Mammut is an extremely lightweight backpack with the well-known "Removable Airbag System". It is clear that this is a greatly reduced specialist, but due to the possibility of being able to use the complete airbag unit in other RAS-ready backpacks and the very low weight, the backpack is still not only interesting for absolute fringe groups.
Gear reviews | Mammut Ride Short Protection Airbag

Pamela Wehinger • 02/24/2016

"The Ride Short Protection Airbag is our all-rounder [...]. The short version is specially designed for the female anatomy. A shorter back and narrower shoulder strap construction ensure a high level of comfort. [...] the perfect companion for freeriding and ski touring." According to the description of the Mammut marketers, this backpack is made for me, with my 163 cm height, 50 kg weight and my favorite snow sports activities. Now to my test results of the Mammut Ride Short Protection Airbag.