SIA 2014 Top Gear Pick
The SnowSports Industries of America Tradeshow has been revealing the latest and greatest advancements in winter mountain adventuring for the last 60 years. The Denver Convention Center was filled this past January 30 thru February 2 with exciting new gear. Among the standouts was Black Diamond’s Jetforce Airbag Backpack. As backcountry skiing has become more popular or rather more crowded, Airbag Backpack systems have seen improvements and refinements. The Jetforce is the sleekest and most refined system to date. Black Diamond worked with Pieps and the military to develop a cold weather lithium battery to power the fan used for inflation. Taking a mere 3 seconds to inflate one of the largest (200 liters) and burliest bags on the market, the hard wired battery offers something firing pin systems lack: the ability to deploy the bag with no additional cost. The battery allows up to 4 deployments on a single charge. The adventurer can practice life saving skills as one does with an avalanche beacon or re-inflate the bag in the event of a secondary slide or release of hangfire. At the SIA demo, the rep stated the bag can also stay inflated with up to a 6 inch gash and demonstrated the ease of packing the deflated bag. The backpack is also travel ready; without compressed air or a firing pin there is no need to stow the bag in the ski carrier outside the Helicopter or check it on a commercial airplane. The Black Diamond Jetforce Airbag Backpack was the best new innovation at the Snow Show and is the best system on the market.
Click here for GearJunkie’s review.
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