Lawinenairbag

The Bavarian avalanche airbag manufacturer ABS is recalling all its European steel cartridges and TWINBAG systems that have been on the market since 1996. Tests have shown that some of the steel cartridges supplied were contaminated with machining residues during filling. These particles can block the release.

The topic of safety in freeride sports is becoming increasingly important. In addition to standard equipment, additional protection with airbag backpacks is increasingly in demand, which is why Bergans decided to launch an avalanche airbag backpack on the market this season. The Hodlekve ABS backpack is intended as a freeride backpack and is designed to be minimalist and lightweight with a volume of 15 liters, but with just enough space to carry everything you need.

The large airbag backpack from Mammut with the "Protective Airbag System" is designed for all those freeriders who need a slightly larger and particularly stable backpack with a good carrying system. We have tested it for you to see how it performs in tough everyday use.

One focus of ISPO reporting this year is, of course, the development of the market for safety and emergency equipment. The most important part of our multi-part ISPO special comes at the end: Here you'll find what's new in safety equipment.

As we do every year, we present the entire "splendor" of ISPO 2014 in pictures. After all, what is more meaningful than the impression of your own eyes.

The avalanche airbag market is booming like no other sector in winter sports. Almost every renowned manufacturer of winter sports equipment now offers an avalanche backpack. The established systems from last winter from Mammut/Snowpulse, ABS and BCA will be joined by two new systems from Black Diamond and Scott from fall 2014. Both seek to offer innovative solutions to the well-known problem of transporting cartridges during air travel. Black Diamond's system in particular is arousing great interest with its innovative turbine technology. Scott is setting the bar pretty high, especially in terms of weight and price.

Removable airbag systems allow expensive avalanche airbag systems to be inexpensively swapped between different backpack models, so that you are optimally equipped for more situations on the mountain for an acceptable additional cost. One such backpack that is ready to accommodate an R.A.S. - Removable Airbag System is the Mammut Pro R.A.S. ready.

Preventing a burial must be the top priority for every freerider and ski tourer. Prophylaxis naturally starts with tour planning and appropriate behavior. In recent years, technical developments have brought additional progress in protecting against complete burial or reducing the depth of burial in the event of an avalanche. The leading provider of avalanche airbag systems, which has been operating since 1985, is ABS. SALEWA has been an "ABS Inside Partner" since 2012 and offers selected backpacks with an integrated ABS system.

Airbags for ski touring: opinions differ. Thanks to lightweight construction and touring optimization, the compromises are perhaps no longer quite so great: the Snowpulse Lite 35 in the test.

Relatively unknown in Europe, the American company BCA has been producing avalanche airbag backpacks for several years. We tested the Float 32 freeride backpack for you.

Avalanche airbags are now regarded as useful additional safety equipment. The 2012/13 market overview will help you decide.

A lot has happened on the avalanche airbag market. And that's a good thing! In addition to ABS, airbag backpacks are now also available from BCA, Mammut and Snowpulse. The latter have aroused the interest of our tester German Wehinger. He puts his Snowpulse Lifebag under the freeride test magnifying glass.