The airbag for off-piste skiers and boarders has now been 'perfected' according to Mammut (www.mammut.ch), a company that specialises in this area of protective ski equipment.
The company's latest 'Snowpulse LifeBag' range which Mammut call an "Avalanche Airbag system" has been extended with the onus on durability and lightness.
The idea of the 150 litre, inverted U shaped avalanche airbag is that it is treated in a similar way to a life vest used in water. The LifeBag System is designed to keep you on your back with your head out of the snow in the unfortunate event that you are caught in an avalanche. The idea is that the air bag keeps you on the surface avoiding asphyxiation.
Mammut's existing selection, Prorider 15, Guide 30 and Lite 35 products are joined by the Heli 22 and the Tour 45 version for the coming winter.
The Heli 22, retailing at £660, is the big brother to the Prorider 15 and has been designed in response to the requirements of heli-ski groups looking for a versatile rucksack. It has a full backpack and weighs 2.4kg without cylinder.
The Tour 45, retailing at £735, is designed for serious touring enthusiasts with a large storage volume and technical specifications and weighs in at 2.8kg without cylinder.