New BD avi pack on its way to you.

[schindlerpiste]

Word is out on Black Diamond’s battery operated avalanche airbag backpack. Look for more details in this space, but for now PopSci has the scoop. In a one-page teaser they detail the Black Diamond “Jetforce” as having a two inch fan that spins at 60,000 RPM and fills the bag “instantly.” After three minutes the fan reverses to empty the airbag, and the rechargeable battery gives you 4 inflations so you can practice pulling the trigger, or if you’re not too lucky, repeat your latest avalanche ride.
In all seriousness, here at WildSnow we’re thinking this might be one of the most disruptive products to come along since the tech binding. Opinions, Wildsnowers?

Popular Science one-page teaser for the 'Jetforce' avalanche airbag backpack.
(Note: Image enlargement is disabled with deference to PoSci.)
Click the read-more link to make comments.

http://www.wildsnow.com/10794/jetfor...rbag-backpack/

[Shorty_J]

I wonder about battery life in cold temps?

Like the same symptom as your beacon reading 80% when you leave for the day, only to read 40% at the end of the day... and be back at 80% when you turn it on the next day.

I had my beacon fail during a "not a drill" avalanche scenario and independent testing was never able to re-create or explain the problem, but part of me thinks having the beacon out in the cold air during searching/digging did the battery in.

[snapt]

Wonder what the price point will be.

[jamesp]

last winter I heard the battery was the last thing to be sorted on the pack (ie the fan etc, everything else was good to go). I think they wanted it to hold charge for 3 days @ -30* or something.

[pfluffenmeister]

...
In all seriousness, here at WildSnow we’re thinking this might be one of the most disruptive products to come along since the tech binding. Opinions, Wildsnowers?
...]

disruptive?

[bean]

disruptive?

It's a term referring to something that majorly shakes up the market.

[Scottish_Skier]

The question is when ?
Autumn 2014 ? Or later.... ?

Seems strange to leak your product in science magazine...
Could be huge *if* it works.

Wonder how close BD are to making it work and selling them ?

[KitAkira]

Wonder what the weight is like. Assume that's the main issue they're addressing with this system?

[werdswerf]

Wonder what the weight is like. Assume that's the main issue they're addressing with this system?

The main issue they're addressing is the difficulty of re-arming the airbag after deploying it.

[~mikey b]

game changer?

[nicolaib211v]

I'm sure they've got it sorted out pretty damn well, but I have to be a little skeptical relying on battery powered anything in the BC. Maybe I'm naive, but I like the fact that in the compressed air models it's more mechanical.

[Scottish_Skier]

game changer?

If it works as well as they claim then expect patent wars ?

[PNWbrit]

game changer?

Difficult to really say until the size weight of the battery and fan can be compared to existing canister systems?

The four inflations per re-charge is really pretty meaningless, obviously easier travel is a big a plus.

Interested to see how they'll do the trigger mechanism.

I thought Arc'teryx had the patent on a fan based system?

[pfluffenmeister]

It's a term referring to something that majorly shakes up the market.

ahh, i gotcha.

i thought they were referring to disrupting the back-country which made no sense.

[JRainey]

I thought Arc'teryx had the patent on a fan based system?

Probably a few different ways to skin that cat.

[PNWbrit]

Probably a few different ways to skin that cat.

Cat skin airbag?

Where do I sign up?

Probably have to use two cats. One wouldn't be big enough?

[bean]

The four inflations per re-charge is really pretty meaningless, obviously easier travel is a big a plus.

I disagree. If I'm on a hut trip or out in the AK wilderness for a couple weeks, being able to pop an airbag without worrying that I'm now without one for the duration of the trip is pretty comforting.

[PNWbrit]

I disagree. If I'm on a hut trip or out in the AK wilderness for a couple weeks, being able to pop an airbag without worrying that I'm now without one for the duration of the trip is pretty comforting.

I don't think you're meant to use them prophylactically?

Or to exceed the recommended dosage.

[cat in january]

Cat skin airbag?

Where do I sign up?

Probably have to use two cats. One wouldn't be big enough?

I am your man with the swag. I can pick a couple out of the anatomy trash once they are done with them. Coat lays a little funny and they smell, but you get used to it.

[I've seen black diamonds!]

- Trigger is a button.
- Fan is two inches wide and turns at 6,000 rpm.
- Airbag balloon is 200 liters.
- Bag constructed with some version of silnyl.
- Fan can keep bag inflated with some degree of tear damage.
- Fan reverses after three minutes to deflate bag.
- Battery is lithium, does 4 inflation cycles.
- Euro style complex naming: “Halo 28 Jetforce.”
- In harsh cold down to negative 22 F, battery can still deploy bag one time.
- Weighs 7.4 lbs.
- MSRP $960.00

7.4 lbs? Oh well.

[werdswerf]

Interesting to me that the airbag volume is 200L. Seems like the standard in current bags is 150L (BCA Float, Wary/Blackjack, Mammut RAS) with the exception being the ABS system which uses two 85L bags. Does more volume = more float in a slide? If so, that's a big advantage.

[neck beard]

Does more volume = more inverse segregation in a slide? If so, that's a big advantage.

Not floatation.

[PNWbrit]

7.4 lbs? Oh well.

Thought the battery would have to be something like a cordless power tool size to provide enough ooomph.

Someone better at science could probably work out how much energy is stored in a regular compressed air cannister.

[Norseman]

Nah. I'll bet the thing is lighter than that. I wonder how much of the 7.4 lbs is the airbag system. First thing that comes to mind is RC airplane hardware... very lightweight lithium ion battery pack that powers a high-speed ducted fan spinning at tens of thousands of rpm.

This is very interesting engineering!

[bean]

I don't think you're meant to use them prophylactically?

Or to exceed the recommended dosage.

I think you misunderstood my post.