The airbag backpack: indispensable for snow safety

When it comes to a ski tour or off-piste adventure, one of the important factors to consider, if not the key one, is safety. Avalanche risk in high mountains is certainly nothing new, and in recent years the continuing effects of climate change have made this possibility even higher. As the snowpack evolves, this makes avalanche forecasting increasingly difficult. In addition, more and more winter sports enthusiasts are moving away from the resort slopes and toward pristine lines, seeking an even more nature-based experience.

It is precisely on these occasions that we must never let our guard down. Fortunately, we have allies at our disposal that can make our mountain adventures unforgettable, as well as even safer. When we talk about mountain safety and what to do in case of an avalanche, shovel, probe and ARTVA are the indispensable companions. But there are additional tricks and valuable tools that can make each of our outings less risky.

We talked about this with Jacqueline Miler, Avalanche Safety Expert at Mammut, who explained why we should always also carry a backpack with avalanche airbags in addition to the popular traditional trio.

Jacqueline, why are avalanche backpacks still so uncommon among enthusiasts?

I think it’s a matter of how you perceive the object. Even now, avalanche backpacks are seen by many as personal safety equipment that primarily protects the wearer. Unlike shovels, probes, and ARTVA devices, they are not used to search for buried victims, but perceived as a tool concerned only with the personal safety of the user.

Instead, do you consider the avalanche backpack to be a means of protecting others as well?

Absolutely, the avalanche backpack not only protects the wearer but also plays a crucial role in helping first responders during rescue missions. We all know that time is the most critical factor when being swept away by an avalanche. Whether you are buried under a few feet of snow or deeper this type of backpack, thanks to its inflatable airbag, can make a difference during rescue operations on par with shovels, probes and ARTVAs.

Often the choice or not to equip oneself with a backpack is based on their weight and cost. What do you think?

As for Mammut, I can assure you that the avalanche backpacks they offer are exceptionally light. Including airbag system and cylinder, they come to weigh less than two and a half kilograms. A typical ski mountaineering backpack often weighs less than a pound, which roughly equivalent to the weight of a bottle of water. In the context of life-saving equipment, this minimal additional weight is a small sacrifice. What many people may not be aware of is that our mechanical airbag systems are equipped with testing tools. These tools allow you to practice airbag deployment without the need for cylinders. In addition, these can be recharged at no additional cost. This, in turn, helps put the overall cost of the backpack into perspective. In addition, our backpacks can be used year-round without the rescue system.

What are your four never again without for a mountain adventure?

The Tour 30 Women Removal Airbag 3.0 backpack is the ideal companion for long trips where safety is paramount. It is lightweight and minimalist in design, the contents can be easily accessed, and the fit is optimized for women to provide maximum comfort and the highest performance. Another must-have companion is Alugator Ultra, the lightest UIAA-certified aluminum shovel on the market. With a welded design and a 1mm thin blade, it is made of aerospace-grade 7075 aluminum, making it extremely light. Then you cannot miss the Probe 240 Speed Lock probe that is quick to assemble and easy to use. It is made of strong, lightweight certified aluminum and features a high-strength, glove-friendly telescoping Speed Lock system with an audible click signal. Last but not least is the Barryvox S, the digital/analog transceiver with an effective search strip width of 70 meters. The Smart Search function allows the rescuer to be guided to the target during the search and corrects the direction through interactive graphics. This feature helps find buried victims faster and makes the Barryvox S one of the most intuitive transceivers on the market.