First impression and features
The workmanship of the Ortovox backpack is high-quality and appears robust. As the name suggests, the backpack is designed for freeriders. Compared to its sister product, the Ascent, the focus is not on weight reduction. Nevertheless, the Free Rider 22 is not a heavy backpack, at least compared to other airbag backpacks.
Ortovox advertises the Free Rider 22 with the keywords protection and comfort. The backpack has an integrated back protector made of SPS-Flex foam, which hardens immediately on impact, but is otherwise flexible so that the backpack does not feel stiff. Together with the wide hip belt and comfortable shoulder straps, the system makes a very solid impression.
The backpack is not short on other features either. In addition to the main compartment, it has an outer compartment for a shovel and probe. There is also a small separate outer compartment for small items such as energy bars etc. It also has straps to tie the skis together diagonally on the back (or a snowboard vertically), a separate helmet holder, ice axe holder, an outlet for hydration systems and an adjustable release handle.
AVABAG system
When developing the AVABAG system, the Ortovox engineers tried to develop a system that is as small and light as possible. It consists of a single airbag with welded seams, a carbon gas cartridge and a deployment and venturi unit. The entire system is removable and can be installed in another suitable backpack. The release and venturi unit is a closed, mechanical system. As with other systems (e.g. Mammut/Snowpulse), the release can be trained if the gas cartridge is not installed. The system can then be re-cocked. With a system weight of 690g plus 310g carbon cartridge, the AVABAG system is about the same weight as the Mammut Ultralight system. The system is built into the backpack in such a way that it can also be released when the skis are tied on.
