BCA Float 36 Review

[goldenboy]

So there's another thread on this, but it's pretty well thrunted up so I'm starting a new one.

Pretty stoked on this pack so far. Everything seems well thought-out and the construction quality seems high. It is heavy, there's no question about it, but once it's on your back, it isn't very noticeable. This seems to be a common refrain amongst people who have used this pack. My review is here: http://14erskiers.com/blog/2011/11/2...oat-36-review/

Sorry, I'm too lazy to copy and paste and change all the IMG tags. It's one little click.

[Dumb Swede]

Thanks for that, looking at buying one this year.

[Crystal_Mt_Dreamin]

Good stuff, thanks for posting

[snapt]

Trying to decide between the 30 and 36. Mostly for day trips, slackcountry, and the very occasional (once a year) heli day. Leaning toward the 30 but it seems like people aren;t thrilled with it compared to the 36. Any insight?

[adrenalated]

Trying to decide between the 30 and 36. Mostly for day trips, slackcountry, and the very occasional (once a year) heli day. Leaning toward the 30 but it seems like people aren;t thrilled with it compared to the 36. Any insight?

The 36 is actually lighter than the 30. Keep that in mind.

IMO the 36 is better thought out as a ski pack, whereas the 30 was designed as a sledneck pack and then modified with some ski features.

36 Pros:
-better ski carry
-lighter
-cleaner design
-breakaway zipper to contain airbag rather than Velcro

30 Pros:
-cheaper
-separate avy tools compartment

Better than either in my opinion, although more expensive, is Mammut's Ride RAS 30L. It has a separate avy tools compartment, is nearly a pound lighter than the Float 36, a much more compact airbag system (and it's removable!) and has a well thought out feature set for skiers. It does lack a helmet carry and any sort of backpanel access however. It is also $90 more than the Float 36.

Given the choice between the Float 30 and 36, I'd definitely choose the 36. It's a great value. But I do like the Mammut system better, and will probably buy a airbag pack from them this year.

[goldenboy]

What adrenelated said regarding the 30 vs 36.

the mammut pack was near the top of my list as well (plus mystery ranch). Price ended up being my deciding factor.

[Skidog]

nice review...

[snapt]

Thanks for the info, pulled the trigger on the 36 as it will mostly be used for all day touring. Hoping it's not to big for the occasional heli day. Will report back on what I think.

[iamchappy]

I bought a Float 30 last year, and have been waiting to see what this year would bring. The 36 and the 18 both look to be an improvement over the bulky float 30.
The new 33L AVIPACK looks to be the most promising, with the Wary deployment system which i think may be the best, a 33L pack that weighs in around 6lbs for a retail of about 700.00. I hope to get my hands on one next week to look it over.

[wilcox510]

I havent seen anything about that avipack 33, is that actually out? Looks interesting

[iamchappy]

There expected to hit the market in a few weeks.

[tbcentral]

Just got a BCA float 36 and I am very happy with it. One of my friends has a float 30 and I like the shape of the float 36 much more. It is taller and skinnier and just less bulky overall. The storage compartment is a lot bigger and is completely separate from the engine compartment. It has a vertical ski carry but you can rig it so it is diagonal (you can rig it so it can go diagonal in both directions). The rear access is also really sick cause you can get to all your gear even when your carrying your skis. I was considering getting the mammut bag but its 850 compared to 785 and has less storage room. The float 36 is actually lighter than the float 30 weighing 7.7 pounds. The waist buckle is also really sick it is basically two metal pieces that fit together and are really easy to take off but seem to be really strong. Let me know if anyone has any questions about the float 36.

[neck beard]

Let me know if anyone has any questions about the float 36.

Does it have a floating lid, or fixed? I guess this is heavily influenced by how the airbag is stowed. Photos strongly suggest it is fixed. I think this is the case for all airbag packs.

Do the two metal pieces on the waist buckle freeze together on a stormy day in coastal climate? I've heard indirectly of some heli operation(s) have had trouble with metal buckles on airbag packs freezing together, making it hard to remove the pack for flight. Apparently this is more common on un-anodized metal buckles. BCA buckles appear to be anodized.

[tbcentral]

What do you mean by floating or fixed lid? I havn't had any trouble with the metal waist buckles sticking together.

[neck beard]

Floating lid is attached to the pack with straps at the hinge. Fixed lid is stitched in place at the hinge. Some packs don't have a lid.

Floating lids allow more flexibility in attaching loads. They are common on mountaineering packs.

No big deal. AB packs are a different tool and my q is kind of pointless in context.

[goldenboy]

Yeah, it's a fixed lid, but you can definitely attach some items using the horizontal straps on the outside of the pack.

On my last trip out, the metal buckle definitely froze up a bit (warm day/ cold snow). I could imagine the buckle freezing up in certain climates. Shouldn't be that hard to bang them together and clean them off, though. Buckle is getting a little scratched up, affecting the anodizing. Still seems like a slick system compared to some others.

[neck beard]

Hey goldenboy, thanks for the core-user info. Valuable.

[Feldybikes]

I checked out the Float 36 in a store and I just couldn't get psyched enough on it to spend $700+. I think an airbag pack is a good idea, so please convince me otherwise:

1. The thing looks like a big bulky cube. But maybe that's not really how it feels when using?
2. The ski carry system looks super ghetto and not well thought out. I had to ask 2 employees how it worked, neither of which gave me a very satisfactory answer. OTOH, I rarely boot up anything during dangerous avy season (as mentioned in the review).
3. I'm stoked on the helmet carry system, but no separate shove compartment seems less than ideal. With my current pack (Avalung 32L), I tried carrying the shovel in the main compartment for a while so I could stick wet skins in a separate compartment not next to extra layers. It was a huge PITA to get to anything. Maybe this isn't as much of an issue with the back panel access?

I also had a chance to check out the 22L Mammut pack. The 30L wasn't in stock. I was thinking I'd probably go with that, even though it's more expensive, has no helmet carry pocket, and has a (to me) completely extraneous snowboard carry system. It's a lot of $buxx and I'd like to be happy with my decision, so maybe I'm overthinking the whole situation.

[goldenboy]

^^

1- I thought it felt a little funny in the shop, when it was basically empty except for some paper packing. It doesn't feel like that in real life. Pack it with some real gear in the shop and see if it still feels bulky.

2- Did a short little class 3 hike last week, and the pack actually carries skis better than I thought. I added a couple of photos to the review to help explain it, but the center loop is what differentiates the carry system from vertical to diagonal:




3- I think that at some point, adding an avie tool compartment plus the main compartment, plus the "engine" compartment, would be overkill, at least for me. The tools have their place in the pack, and they're easy enough to get to with the clamshell zipper.

Like I said earlier, the Mammut looks like a great pack as well, so try to check out that 30l and see if you like it better.

[Feldybikes]

Very helpful reply. Especially the pics. Thanks!

[snapt]

Just got my float 36, bomber pack. For anyone else curious about the fit. It seems to be pretty adjustable without sacrificing much comfort. I'm 5'9", 150 (and aggressive!) and the pack fits nicely. I put more pics and words in a blog post .

[goldenboy]

I got to check out next year's Float 40 (updated 36) and it's pretty sweet. They dropped quite a bit of weight and the airbag system is removable-- and it's going to be cheaper. Here's my blog post (along with first-impression reviews of the Dakine, TNF, and Mammut airbags): http://14erskiers.com/blog/2012/02/s...akine-and-tnf/

[iamchappy]

I picked up a Wary Avipack the other day, and have to say the thing is uber nice.
I gave my Float 30 to my buddy as i wont be using it anymore. The AviPack has tons of room and compartments for anything you would want to stash in it, access to all compartments are easily assessable through front and back zippers , little details like the pullout helmet carry net is awesome, the air delivery system and bottle takes up so little room you have to look hard to find it. I am really happy with this pack, it is lightweight, packs a true 33l or more and rides and contours really really nice on my back. It is made to a very high quality, and uses of durable hypalon reinforcement on the ski carry area and under the buckles and straps. The guys at Wary did a great job with there first Pack designed with the airbag and lightweight delivery system. Ive not seen the Float 36 but i owned a Float 30 up until yesterday and everyone considering an ABS pack should consider the AviPack. I am stoked and will be giving it a good test drive next week in the Teton backcountry, more on this later.

[daver]

when you seal up the float 36 airbag zipper is there supposed to be a gap in the zipper underneath where the velcro is? (it looks like a VAGINA)

[1000-oaks]

^^^ Yep, that's where the burst zipper starts coming apart when you pull the trigger.