Ortovox

With the Focus Voice and Focus Pro, Ortovox is ushering in the next generation of beacon devices. Greater range, a significantly larger display, and enhanced voice navigation are designed to make searches faster and more intuitive. While the Focus Voice is designed for ease of use, the Focus Pro offers additional tools for professionals.

With the Ravine Plus 3L jacket and the matching Ravine Plus 3L trousers, Ortovox is launching a freeride hardshell combination on the market that combines robust weather protection with a high level of comfort. What makes this product so special is the material mix. It is a 3-layer hardshell construction with merino inserts in certain body zones. These are intended to ensure greater comfort and a pleasant body climate. The idea is clear: a ski outfit for cold days outdoors that is also good in the ski resort or on tours. The test shows how the jacket and trousers perform in practice.

From January 11 to 13, the Bolzano trade fair opened its doors for the 25th edition of Prowinter, the trade fair for outdoor and winter sports. With 230 exhibitors and around 400 brands, around 30 percent of which came from abroad, the event once again demonstrated just how international the industry has become. For the first time, exhibitors presented the latest products and trends for the 2026/27 winter season in two halls of the trade fair. We were on site and looked around for exciting innovations and current trends.

PowderGuide was invited to the VDBS Media Days at the end of the 2024 season. An illustrious gathering of brand and media ambassadors for networking and to find out the latest news from the Association of German Mountain and Ski Guides. There was no shortage of turns in the powder snow either, and those who wanted to were allowed to plunge into a crevasse.

Ski touring is more than just a sport - it is an invitation to experience nature intensively and discover the magic of snow-covered mountains away from the piste. But what does it take for children to enjoy this adventure safely?

The danger of avalanches accompanies us winter sports enthusiasts, but modern equipment such as avalanche airbag backpacks can significantly improve the chances of survival in an emergency. Various scientific studies have investigated how effective avalanche airbags actually are. In a study on the effectiveness of avalanche airbags by Haegeli et al. (2014)[1], it was found that an inflated airbag can prevent around half of all fatalities in avalanche victims caught in an avalanche of size 2 or larger. The non-deployment rate found is 20% and is therefore the limiting factor of the airbag.

More and more adventurers are fascinated by the idea of exploring unspoilt nature away from the crowded pistes. However, the pursuit of freedom and adventure on the mountain requires an intensive examination of avalanche risks. Following a comprehensive revision in 2023, the Safety Academy Lab Snow from Ortovox offers a valuable and free resource to raise awareness of risk management.

The Powderfest, the freeride festival in the Silvretta Montafon, took place for the 4th time this year from 2-4 February 2024. Once again this year, a varied freeride programme awaited all participants with a focus on RIDE-LEARN-CONNECT.

The Ortovox 3L Ravine combo is a lightweight freeride combo for the backcountry that feels at home on freeride descents as well as ascents in steep gullies.

The electronic LiTRIC airbag relies on supercapacitors to inflate the airbag, which enables a very lightweight electronic airbag system. Of course, the system also offers all the familiar advantages of an electronically operated airbag, such as being very easy to carry on the aircraft, problem-free test deployments and, last but not least, no need to dispose of and procure cartridges.

In 2022, the Ortovox Avabag LiTRIC system was one of the innovations at the ISPO fare. At just 1100 grams, it is lightweight, technically sophisticated and reliable and enables at least two releases with just one charge. Ortovox even won the ISPO Award and the Red Dot Design Award for it.

Until two years ago, I always wore Gore-Tex trousers in the ski area and while ski touring. They were wide, stiff, rather heavy and waterproof. Last year, I bought a pair of ski touring trousers that are tighter, made of stretch and of course not waterproof everywhere - but they are much more comfortable and lighter.