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 a so-called "ABS Inside Partner" since 2012 and offers selected backpacks with an integrated ABS system.
Test procedure
Of course, the tester did not provoke a potentially dangerous situation in order to test the ABS system as realistically as possible. Rather, it was about the practicality of the SALEWA backpack. That's why it was strapped to the back primarily for freeriding, but also had to prove itself on demanding ski tours lasting several hours.
First impression and features
To start with, the "VERBIER 26 PRO ABS" is primarily tailored to freeriders. This quickly becomes clear as, with a volume of 26 liters, it is less suitable for long tours. An integrated back protector called the "S.A.S" Shock Absorbing System further underlines its claim to be a freeride backpack. It is compact and visually appealing and a number of useful details immediately catch the eye: snowboard holder, fully opening main compartment, an equally quick-access compartment for shovel and probe, a fleece-lined extra compartment for goggles and a wide, Velcro-reinforced hip belt with robust metal buckle to prevent it from being ripped out in an emergency. There is also a helmet holder made from a tensionable mesh. This can be stowed away when not in use.
The empty weight is naturally higher than that of a conventional backpack due to the neatly integrated ABS system. There is plenty of space for the most important items. If you have more demanding plans and need to carry a climbing harness, crampons, thermos, lunch box, down jacket and skins, for example, then the Verbier 26 Pro ABS reaches its limits. In the context of its purpose as a freeride backpack, this packing list does not necessarily have to be swallowed in its entirety by the "VERBIER 26 PRO ABS".
The ice axe attachment is unfortunately a little puny. You have to struggle to get the shaft through the loop provided for this purpose. What really gave the tester a headache was the ski attachment, which of course has to be located at the back because of the two side airbags. Two adjustable loops with buckles are provided for this purpose. One is located at the bottom of the rucksack, the other in the shoulder strap area. Despite studying the instructions several times and presumably doing it correctly, it takes quite a while until the skis are attached to the backpack. If you then heave the loaded backpack onto your shoulders, the carrying comfort is limited. However, if you only use the lower strap and also attach the skis with one of the snowboard attachments, the system works perfectly.
All buckles are not conventional plastic buckles, but made of metal and are attached to a counterpart, which is sometimes a bit tedious, but certainly more robust.
Carrying comfort
The perfect fit on the body is the be-all and end-all of a freeride backpack. As skiing is a sport with great dynamics, the backpack should not add to this. It must fit snugly on the back and not interfere with movement. The "VERBIER 26 PRO ABS" meets this requirement perfectly thanks to its taut, individually adjustable shoulder straps and wide hip belt with additional Velcro. However, when fully loaded, the backpack reaches a projection that moves the center of gravity a little far away from the back. A longer back section combined with less projection and the same packing volume could remedy this. In general, the backpack is comfortable to wear and anything but annoying when riding. Although the relatively hard, flat back section is not ideal in terms of ventilation, it provides stable support and increases the contact area with the body, which in turn has a positive effect on the fit of the backpack on the body.
Conclusion
The "VERBIER 26 PRO ABS" turned out to be a small space miracle. Despite its modest size and fully integrated ABS system, it can hold a surprising amount of utensils. However, it quickly becomes heavy and the center of gravity shifts away from the back. For "normal" freeride use, this point is less of an issue, as there is usually not quite as much to carry as on ski tours. The only downer is the somewhat awkward ski attachment and the puny ice axe holder. Here we would like to see either a revision or clearer instructions for use... In terms of carrying comfort and stability, there are hardly any compromises, which, taking all other aspects into account, results in the following rating: Recommended!
Advantages and disadvantages
+ Good workmanship
+ Useful and user-friendly compartments
+ Fully opening main compartment
+ Fully integrated ABS system
+ Snowboard attachment
+ Integrated back protector
+ Wide, tight-fitting hip belt
+ robust
+ good fit on the body
+ comfortable to carry
- awkward ski attachment
- ice axe loops
- somewhat wide load capacity when fully loaded
Product details
RRP: 699,95 €
Weight: 2800 g (without cartridge)
Volume: 26 l
Color: black
Material: 420D Nylon Ripstop /200D x 400D Nylon Twill
integrated ABS airbag system
anatomical shoulder straps
wide neoprene hip belt with Velcro
back padding with integrated back protector
main compartment with inner valuables pocket
front pocket for shovel & probe
goggle compartment
helmet net
ice axe holder
attachment for skis & snowboard/snowshoes
gear loop
