Airbag Thread

[Skip Dooley]

If you could start from scratch and price wasn't really an object, what airbag would you buy now?

I used the Ortovox Litric last year. I didn’t use it for too many tours. But, I did appreciate the Litric system itself. Easy to monitor battery. Clear handle demarcation in ready mode, and pretty light. I’m not the biggest fan of the ortovox pack itself (personal preference).

I bought the Arcteryx 42L Litric this fall. It is incredibly light, spacious enough for all my gear for a day of guiding. And, has enough pockets to stay organized.

To me, this is the best pack on the market. It doesn’t feel as stripped down as the mammut UL packs, yet weighs less.

I’m hoping I like this pack enough to take it out most days - not what I’ve done in the past with my airbag packs.


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[wilcox510]

It seems like the Ortovox and Arcteryx packs are way ahead of everyone else right now (although I actually haven't seen one of the Arcteryx packs...). The weight on the Arcteryx pack is crazy light. Ortovox is still quite a bit lighter than any other reasonably full featured electric pack. I wish both would be hydration reservoir compatible (the Ortovox has an opening for the tube, but no spot for the reservoir). Skip Dooley, the arcteryx has neither an opening for the hose by the shoulder strap or a spot for a reservoir, right? Probably wouldn't be that hard to make an opening for the hose, but kind of nerve racking to go cutting into a $1600 pack... But then the Arcteryx has a hip belt pocket I think, but the Ortovox doesn't...

[Tjaardbreeuwer]

@Skip Dooley , that’s the pack that seems most interesting to me. I have a Scott E1 40 right now, and really wish it was a bit larger. And lighter. Hoping the (usable) volume of the Micon 42 is a couple liters bigger.

Have you confirmed the weight?
could you measure the height from the center of the waist belt to the bottom of the shoulder straps?
Any pics of what you can pack in there, and how it is to get shovel or probe in and out when it’s fully stuffed?

Thanks!

[Tjaardbreeuwer]

One annoyance I’ve heard from others and experienced myself is the airbag zipper working itself open during normal use.

Litric marketing schpeal says they specifically designed to avoid this, but who knows if it’s effective and I hesitate to jump into a first year system…

Anyone with experience with any of the e1 or e2 systems: can you confirm if they do/don’t have issues with the airbag zipper working itself open over the course of a tour (especially with a very full pack, skis attached, multiple in/out and on/off, etc)?


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I have had it happen occasionally. Mostly when stuffing or lifting a very full pack. I have never had it happen while hiking/skinning.
(E1 pack)

[Skip Dooley]

@Skip Dooley , that’s the pack that seems most interesting to me. I have a Scott E1 40 right now, and really wish it was a bit larger. And lighter. Hoping the (usable) volume of the Micon 42 is a couple liters bigger.

Have you confirmed the weight?
could you measure the height from the center of the waist belt to the bottom of the shoulder straps?
Any pics of what you can pack in there, and how it is to get shovel or probe in and out when it’s fully stuffed?

Thanks!

I’ll be out of town this week. But will check and report back when I am back home.

I will say, the useable volume seems better than any other airbag pack I’ve owned.


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[jacob_dbu]

The Litrics are the lightest, but the feature set is a bit slim. The BCA E2 pack has an amazing functional design, if a bit fugly. It's heavier too.

[cat in january]

I have a Scott patrol 30 e2 inbound. Will see how it fits and how my things fit in. Price and ability to return were big factors. My old abs pack sure felt heavy and cumbersome relative to my Gregory Targhee pack.

[Skip Dooley]

Litric 42 back in stock (for the moment) on Arcteryx site…


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[Tjaardbreeuwer]

ABS now has a line with the E2 system, the Voltage is the new line. Similar to Ortovox, it’s a “base” with zip on packs of various sizes.

[Marshal Olson]

Quick Q -- Always assumed that locking metal d rings were required for airbag waist belts. But never loved how fiddly they are with gloves on. Seeing many new packs now coming with fastex-style plastic wiast buckles. What is the go/no-go on retrofitting a buckle to my older cansiter airbag and ditching the d-ring setup?

[apocequip307]

Quick Q -- Always assumed that locking metal d rings were required for airbag waist belts. But never loved how fiddly they are with gloves on. Seeing many new packs now coming with fastex-style plastic wiast buckles. What is the go/no-go on retrofitting a buckle to my older cansiter airbag and ditching the d-ring setup?

The Arcteryx/Litric packs have a plastic side release on the hip belt, but a separate fixed aluminum carabiner on the one of the hip belt wings that the through the legs strap connects to - I wonder if the separate attachment for the thong strap is what makes the difference?

Sidenote, a cobra buckle seems like a good (but expensive) compromise

[summit]

I have a Scott 40 E1. I'd do that in an E2. But they appear to have gone slightly smaller with a 38 E2?

[Tjaardbreeuwer]

I have a Scott 40 E1. I'd do that in an E2. But they appear to have gone slightly smaller with a 38 E2?

Many airbag packs quote about 2 liters for the airbag system. I strongly suspect they kept the pack the same, and it is simply a naming thing.
I think I remember Osprey doing the reverse naming move.

[summit]

Many airbag packs quote about 2 liters for the airbag system. I strongly suspect they kept the pack the same, and it is simply a naming thing.
I think I remember Osprey doing the reverse naming move.

E2 is smaller so I expected more usable space

[EWG]

How much worse is an E1 system than an E2? Looking for a bag for my son for xmas. I can get a nearly new Jetforce Tour 26l E1 for a pretty good price. Maybe around $500.

Another option is a good condition BCA 2.0 canister 32 for like $350.

Or a new cannister BCA for $500 or an E2/Lithic system for like $1000. I'd like to stay cheaper than that.

Advice welcome for sure. This is for daytours.

[N1CK.]

Ortovox Litric and Float E2 both on black Friday sales ... hmmm.

I wish the Ortovox had hip/belt pockets. The 30L is just over $1k.

[wilcox510]

Ortovox Litric and Float E2 both on black Friday sales ... hmmm.

I wish the Ortovox had hip/belt pockets. The 30L is just over $1k.

Agreed on the Ortovox... I love having a hip belt pocket. I've been looking online for an add on pocket, but they are all huge...

[enginerd]

One annoyance I’ve heard from others and experienced myself is the airbag zipper working itself open during normal use.

Litric marketing schpeal says they specifically designed to avoid this, but who knows if it’s effective and I hesitate to jump into a first year system…

Anyone with experience with any of the e1 or e2 systems: can you confirm if they do/don’t have issues with the airbag zipper working itself open over the course of a tour (especially with a very full pack, skis attached, multiple in/out and on/off, etc)?


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FWIW, since this post, I ended up picking up a Scott patrol e2 30L (found a great deal on BobLiesure) and am super happy with it. Used it for two weeks in two huts in Canada and a bunch in the Sierra last year. The design is great as a ski pack, it carries well and I think the zipper has only popped open once since I’ve owned it. Enough space for me for what I carry for single day tours even in really cold temps.

The only annoyance has been the waist belt closure system. I don’t know why they felt compelled to reinvent this. The design they came up with clogs with snow and freezes up such that it can be very tricky to ensure it’s fully buckled (I’ve had it release on me mid run a few times). Just boggles my mind how/why they would choose to take a flyer on such a critical design point that has tried and true options.

I haven’t really checked hydration compatibility because usually if I’m wearing an avy pack it’s too cold to run a hose over my shoulder anyway.

[Robik]

It might be not as fancy as capacitor packs, but I picked up two Arc'teryx Voltair packs, 20l and 30l, with non functional batteries for really cheap.
Bought 22.2V LiPo batteries for RC, balance charger, some connectors and now have full control on my gear vs stupid BD/Pieps software updates, $650 for the new battery pack, recalls etc.
Those shitbags took new but non functional Black Diamond Halo pack for warranty and only gave 50% off coupon code while refusing to return the pack.
Arc'teryx packs are bomb proof, but pretty minimalistic when it comes to features.

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[summit]

How much worse is an E1 system than an E2? Looking for a bag for my son for xmas. I can get a nearly new Jetforce Tour 26l E1 for a pretty good price. Maybe around $500.

Another option is a good condition BCA 2.0 canister 32 for like $350.

Or a new cannister BCA for $500 or an E2/Lithic system for like $1000. I'd like to stay cheaper than that.

Advice welcome for sure. This is for daytours.

E1 vs E2 difference is minimal. E1 takes up another 1L or so of volume and is a few grams heavier. E1 can use AA batteries to keep the capacitors topped off on a hut trip or in your car (or fully recharge off a lithium set). E2 has a built in LiIon rechargeable for that, which is nice, although for air travel its tough because you cannot say "there is literally no battery in this backpack" on the occasion you run into ignorance.

[EWG]

E1 vs E2 difference is minimal. E1 takes up another 1L or so of volume and is a few grams heavier. E1 can use AA batteries to keep the capacitors topped off on a hut trip or in your car (or fully recharge off a lithium set). E2 has a built in LiIon rechargeable for that, which is nice, although for air travel its tough because you cannot say "there is literally no battery in this backpack" on the occasion you run into ignorance.

Thanks Summit.

I ended up getting a nearly new BCA 2.0 Float 32 for $350 with canister included. I figured that will work for his use - day tours locally.

[enginerd]

One potential advantage of the E[emoji638] is it does allow you to top off the capacitor with AAs. I think it’s the litrics that are LI only and you will need a charging source.


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[bennymac]

Scott 30 liter E1 bag = 2670 grams

Scott 30 liter E2 bag = 2720 grams







——

The E2 system is marketed as lighter - but the Scott E2 pack is slightly heavier than their E1 pack of the same reported volume - unsure if that’s from other pack features/changes in the newer version.

The E2 system is smaller though:

[bennymac]

There is also at least one Airbag thread in the The Slide Zone forum - I’ve posted multiple pics of the Arcteryx Litric bag in there somewhere

[Shred Baron]

Agreed on the Ortovox... I love having a hip belt pocket. I've been looking online for an add on pocket, but they are all huge...

I piled up some add on waist pockets from REI a while back. I’m pretty sure the ones I’ll link at the bottom of this post. They seem to be about the same size as the pockets on my osprey or other packs. I had to get creative with wrapping the strap around the waist belt to get it to stay still, but works really well.


https://www.rei.com/product/217463/r...E&gclsrc=aw.ds