Black Diamond Avalung Ski and Snowboard Packs
When Black Diamond first unveiled the AvaLung, they sent the backcountry skiing community into a frenzy. The new invention, which works by moving the CO2 you breath out away from your mouth and nose to extend the amount of time you can breathe while buried. While it’s a device you certainly never hope to use, it could very well save your life if you are ever stuck in a slide.
While the Avalung certainly does not replace backcountry knowledge or common sense and can not prevent you from getting buried in a slide, it could possibly give you enough extra time for your friends or rescuers to be able to dig you out. Black Diamond promises you can be buried for over an hour with the Avalung and still survive. Without it, you can only last about 15 minutes. This precious time is often the crucial and deciding factor between life and death for avalanche victims.
While there are debates on the effectiveness of the Avalung (you have to get the mouthpiece in your mouth and have it stay there for it to work), this new technology has saved some lives, including Dan Morisey of my home state of Colorado who was buried by an avalanche and whose Avalung probably saved his life (read this interview with Morsiey about the Avalung).
While you can buy the Avalung separately and wear it strapped to you back (under your pack), there are also several models of Black Diamond ski packs with the Avalung already built in. This is ideal for people who could see themselves forgetting to put it one or tend to leave it in their pack when hitting dangerous terrain.
Not sure you need an Avalung in your ski or snowboard pack?
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