Rückenprotektor

For a long time, I thought a back protector that you neither feel nor sweat under was a myth. However, POC has made exactly that possible with the VPD Air protector vest: a flexible, lightweight protective layer that adapts to the body and is barely noticeable in everyday life on the slopes, in the park and in the sidecountry - until you really need it.

According to EVOC, the LINE PRO 30 is THE "touring backpack with freeride qualities" and combines touring with the needs of freeriding without compromising on comfort and safety. In the test, the backpack lived up to the promises made by its creators, with the high level of carrying comfort standing out in particular.

The backpack specialists from Bavaria have extended their tried-and-tested freeride backpacks with integrated back protector from the Line series with the Removeable Airbag System from Mammut, creating a complete freeride backpack. I tested how this multifunctional backpack performs on the mountain for you.

Back protectors that slide upwards are not only annoying, they also no longer provide ideal protection. A protector body - a protector vest with integrated shorts - turned out to be the perfect solution to this problem for me. That's why the Protektor Body has been my faithful protector in the snow for many years and is our Gear of the Week.

First of all, I have to admit that I hardly ever wear a back protector anymore. In the past (a really long time ago), it was part of my standard equipment and I was practically never out and about without my protector - back then it was a very heavy hard-shell version.

Since the ABS patent on airbag backpacks expired, new models of avalanche airbag systems have been springing up like mushrooms. Ortovox has also turned its back on ABS and developed its own system. This system has been installed in various new backpacks. PowderGuide had the opportunity to test this new system in the Free Rider 22 Avabag.

For some years now, more and more manufacturers have been focusing on additional protective equipment alongside helmets. There is now a very large selection of protectors for all possible body parts. For many freeriders, back protectors in particular are now standard equipment. The choice is huge, from backpacks with integrated protectors to all kinds of protector variants for wearing under a jacket and airbag systems for alpine racing. In today's Gear of the Week, we briefly present the Hybrid 2.15 OTIS Body Vest from Marker.

Airbag backpacks are now a dime a dozen, from all-round backpacks to touring backpacks, the market is well served. Scott has also been offering backpacks with integrated airbag systems for several years. After switching from the Snowpulse to the Alpride system, the range of different backpacks has been greatly expanded. We tested the AirFree AP12 Pro: A very lightweight, compact model with an integrated back protector and a focus on carrying comfort.

The Freeride Guide has been available from EVOC for some time now. With the Blackline Edition, Evoc is launching a further developed model of this series onto the market. We took a closer look at this classic protector backpack and tested it for you.

Since this season, the Swiss alpine specialist Mammut has also been offering a vest in its range of airbag backpacks and is thus consistently working on expanding its freeride range. At first glance, an airbag vest appears to be a purely niche product. In an extensive test, various testers tested the vest for function and practicality and realized that the vest is more suitable for everyday use than they had initially assumed.

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.