We were at ISPO in Munich again this year and have already reported on the latest innovations in the areas of skis, safety equipment, ski boots & ski bindings, snowboard equipment and clothing. As we do every year, we'll be presenting selected interesting products from PowderGuide partners that we took a closer look at at ISPO. The first part of the partner news is about the new airbag backpacks from Arc'teryx and Mammut, skis from G3, Black Diamond and Völkl, ski touring boots from Dynafit, the new FreerideMaps and the new ski touring backpacks from Bergans.
Voltair airbag backpacks | Arc'teryx
With the Voltair, Arc'teryx presents an airbag backpack with an electronic system that uses a blower to blow air into the balloon. The 150 liter balloon is inflated by a small turbine, which gets its power from a rechargeable 22.2 volt lithium polymer battery. One battery charge is sufficient to inflate the airbag 20 times at a temperature of -10°C. In addition to the possibility of being able to test inflate the backpack often without hesitation, battery operation also makes it easier to take it with you on an airplane. The very robust-looking backpack itself, which is made of waterproof material, leaves a good impression. It has a decent hip belt with a buckle with a normal clip (the backpack is held to the body by an innovatively designed leg loop with an easy-to-use metal buckle), which avoids the problems of the constantly loosening hip belt buckle of many other airbag backpacks. The Arc'teryx Voltair will be available in two sizes, holding 20 and 30l.
Helios 105 Carbon Skis | Black Diamond
The Helios series from Black Diamond uses a pre-impregnated laminate of carbon fiber, which, along with the balsa wood flax construction of the core, allows for extremely lightweight skis while maintaining a stiff and progressive flex. The series consists of four models (115, 105, 95, 88 cm under the binding), the Helios 105 is medium-width (as the name suggests with 105mm under the binding) has tip and tail rocker and will be available in lengths of 185, 175 and 165cm. The versatile all-rounder with a focus on soft snow and ski touring comes with a sandwich construction, ABS sidewalls and ABS protection at the end of the ski with an indentation for the tail clip of the skins.
TLT 7 ski touring boots | Dynafit
In addition to the popular TLT6 series, Dynafit is launching a new top model series in the ascent-oriented ski touring boot segment next season with the TLT7. The ultra-light boot has a further shortened sole length compared to the TLT6, which enables better walking without skis and a more favorable pivot point when walking with skis (crampons with stirrups at the front can only be used with a special adapter). A major innovation is the "Ultra-Lock Closure 3.0 System". This means that both buckles of the boot have been combined in the upper buckle using an ingenious cable pull system so that both can be operated with one hand, while still allowing separate opening and closing. The boot also features the new Dynafit "Master"inserts, which make it even easier to get into the binding.
Helium-Pro backpacks | Bergans
With the Helium-Pro backpacks, which will be available in 2 sizes (40 and 55l capacity) from next season, Bergans is launching large, technical and very lightweight backpacks designed for long ski tours (or other ventures). The backpacks are based on the proven Helium trekking backpacks, but have been optimized for use with skis with features such as a compartment for emergency equipment and side ski holders with a solid strap and two clips each. Thanks to a large, 3D-molded and padded hip belt and a very neat carrying system, the backpacks are also suitable for heavy loads. The Helium-Pro models also have side access to the main compartment, a height-adjustable lid to expand the volume, ice tool holders and are suitable for hydration systems.
FINDr Free-Touring Skis | G3
The Canadians from G3 are launching the Zenoxide successors to the FINDr ski series next season. These are very light skis with relatively classic shapes, which will be available with 102, 94 and 86mm in the middle. All models have a moderate tip and tail rocker and an elaborate construction with poplar-paulownia solid wood cores, which can save even more weight thanks to a 3D surface with thinner areas of the ski outside the binding area. Carbon is used in the upper and lower chords, which ensures a hard flex and speed stability. Polyurethane sidewalls are used to dampen the very light skis and ensure a smoother ride, and the area under the binding is reinforced with a Titanal plate. The FINDr 94 and 86 models will also be available in a slightly cheaper XCD version, in which fiberglass is used in the construction instead of carbon, which also means that the skis weigh around 250g (per pair) more.
New maps & app | FreerideMaps
Freeride Maps is constantly expanding its range, with more and more areas being covered by the popular maps. Four maps are new: Livigno, Alpe d'Huez, Les Deux Alpes and Hohe Tauern Select (includes Ankogel, Heiligenblut, Gastein and the Mölltal Glacier).
The maps are also becoming more interactive. Using the Scout app, which is available for Android and iPhone, in combination with the Tour Explorer LIVE software from MagicMaps, routes can be planned at home and transferred to the smartphone (or GPS), and routes recorded in the field can be imported, edited and archived.
R.A.S Superlight 30l | Mammut
Mammut is revamping all its airbag backpacks for the coming season. Both the P.A.S and the R.A.S series will be equipped with a new airbag, which will be manufactured by an airbag manufacturer from the automotive industry. This not only enables more robust airbags but also leads to weight savings. The Venturi system has also been redesigned to reduce weight, and extra tools are no longer required to fit the cartridge. In the new R.A.S. Superlight 30l, in addition to the low weight, it is particularly noticeable how tidy the inside of the rucksack appears. The complete airbag system also takes up significantly less space than its predecessors, which leaves more room in the well-divided backpack for the actual stuff you carry with you when skiing and ski touring. As the name suggests, the backpack is really remarkably light and, despite the airbag, weighs barely more than a normal backpack (1.5 kg including airbag). Nevertheless, it has all the important details, such as a diagonal ski holder, removable back padding and ice axe holders.
Confession Freeride Ski | Völkl
As a further development and successor to the successful "Katana", Völkl presents the new "Confession", which was developed in collaboration with the Völkl Freeride Team. With a waist of 144|117|133, the ski will be available in 179, 186 and 193cm. In addition to decent rocker at the tip and tail (the Confession is normally pre-biased under the binding), the construction is particularly interesting. Titanal straps are used in the upper and lower chords, which not only absorb shocks but also give the ski a high level of stability. Despite this, the ski only weighs 2250g (in 186cm), which is also made possible by the fact that these are only Titanal strips and not entire Titanal layers. This means that the Confession is not as light as the well-known BMT series from Völkl, but is still suitable for the odd ascent.
