For backcountry skiers and splitboarders searching for a higher-volume, low-weight digital airbag, Ortovox’s AVABAG Litric Tour 40 is certainly one of just a few choices. The pack makes use of the LiTRIC system, a light-weight digital airbag system co-developed by Ortovox and Arc’teryx that’s been examined and largely praised by a number of WildSnow contributors because it debuted in 2022.
Right here, Tahoe-based splitboarder Drew Zieff analyzes the professionals and cons of this Ortovox avalanche airbag–like a forecaster ogling rounded snow grains by way of a magnifying loupe—and general recommends it for frequent flyers, guides, and anybody seeking to haul a sizeable load and an airbag whereas minimizing the burden penalty.
Why Electrical? The Case For Ditching The Canister Has By no means Been Stronger
As talked about in my evaluate of BCA’s E2 Float 35, I’ve at all times gravitated towards electrical airbags. Why? Primarily as a result of compressed air cylinders are a nuisance to fly with, and touring to shred is my favourite pastime. Touring with compressed air packs means emptying canisters earlier than your flight, after which refilling them upon arrival. In lesser-traveled zones—the precise forms of off-the-beaten-path locations that decision to the backcountry skier—discovering someplace to drag this off is normally inconceivable. At greatest, you’re burning journey time on getting a refill.
The flexibility of digital airbag programs to fireside off a number of deployments on a single cost gives peace of thoughts you don’t get with a single-use canister. This lets you observe pulling your airbag to make sure performance forward of your journey. Within the occasion of a deployment on an extended mission (say, a multi-day hut journey), you possibly can rapidly deflate, reset, and be able to proceed. In case your exit passes by way of avalanche terrain, it is a main profit.
There are two fundamental causes digital airbags didn’t utterly take over the market when Black Diamond launched its Jetforce packs a decade in the past: weight and value. Early iterations have been heavy as hell and expensive. The airbag programs themselves have been cumbersome, too, taking over extra pack quantity than producers cared to confess.
Digital airbags have advanced and improved, turning into lower-profile, lighter, and extra environment friendly. Working example: the Ortovox Avabag Litric Tour 40 weighs in at a manageable (claimed) 5.42 kilos (my low cost baggage scale has it clocking in at 5 kilos, perhaps a hair below). Granted, the value tag is wild at $1,400, however it’s cheaper than Arc’Teryx’s LiTRIC Micon 42, a equally specced albeit barely lighter possibility Bergen Tjossem simply reviewed for Wild Snow.
Fairly simple to inflate, deflate, and repack the Ortovox LiTRIC pack.
Why I’m Loving The Ortovox Avabag LiTRIC Tour 40: The LiTRIC System
Two digital airbag programs dominate the market proper now: the Alpride E2, which you’ll discover on Deuter, BCA, Scott, and Osprey packs, and the LiTRIC, which is proprietary to Ortovox and Arc’teryx. I get into the weeds of the variations between the Alpride and LiTRIC programs a bit extra on this evaluate of BCA’s E2 Float 35, however there are a number of noteworthy promoting factors of the LiTRIC. Most notably, it retains the burden as little as doable.
As Mild As It Will get
The LiTRIC system (not together with the pack) is lighter than the Alpride E2 system by 90 grams. Not a lot, however in the event you’re studying a two-thousand-plus-word airbag evaluate on Wild Snow, chances are high you’ll respect these grams. In the event you’re searching for the lightest-weight digital airbag system you may get, that is the way in which to go. Be aware that this pack isn’t as mild as extra streamlined Ortovox choices, just like the Litric Zero 27 (4.34 kilos) or the pricier Arc’Teryx Micon 42 (4.85 kilos).
Airbag Configuration And Positioning
I discovered that the inner positioning of the LiTRIC airbag pocket (the place the deflated airbag is saved) and airbag fan unit is preferable for profiting from your pack quantity. The airbag pocket is in regards to the measurement and placement of a goggle pocket on a non-airbag touring pack, and the fan sits just under it on the looker’s left facet of the pack. I like that positioning, because it frees up the underside of the pack so you possibly can pack cumbersome issues like Nalgenes, RAD baggage, crampons, and so forth with out a combat.
I examined this pack on a three-week journey to northern Norway final spring, which included day journeys once I was bringing all of my sharp shit and a 10-day expedition by way of the fjords of Finnmark with Upguides. Even on the larger, colder days, once I’d pack my mild puffy and a heavier emergency layer, two water bottles and loads of meals, splitboard and boot crampons, I wasn’t taking part in tug-o-war with zippers to open or shut pockets. I credit score this to the pack design (extra on this beneath), however the airbag configuration additionally deserves kudos.
locking mechanism ensures the airbag pocket stays shut
Stable Airbag Pocket Closure Mechanism
In the event you’re planning to overstuff this unhealthy boy on greater days or in a single day journeys, there’s one other useful design function: the avalanche airbag closure is secured through a latch, not only a zipper. In the event you’ve ever had points closing your airbag pocket or, extra probably, having the airbag pocket zipper flop open whereas touring or descending (a serious annoyance, at the least for me), you’ll dig this function. Even after tremendous lengthy days with a totally loaded pack and all through the expedition, I by no means had the airbag pocket pop open.
On-Off Button
Final however not least, I additionally just like the on-off button of the Litric in comparison with the pull toggle of the Alpride E2 (it’s just a bit simpler, not a dealbreaker both approach).
Critiques of the Litric System
I’ve discovered a few fiddly features of the LiTRIC design value declaring. These aren’t full-blown negatives, simply minor critiques you could or could not share in the event you get one.
Checking Your Battery
To test the battery lifetime of the Litric system, you have a look at the facet panel of the backpack, the place you’ll see a sequence of flashing lights. The Alpride E2 system, alternatively, has each flashing lights seen by way of the facet panel and an inner LCD display screen that reveals a diagram of battery life with bars representing energy. This Alpride E2 display screen reveals each the battery lifetime of the supercapacitors (the electromechanical part that fires the airbag) and the lithium-ion battery that re-powers the supercapacitors after a deployment. It’s a preferable function, however it may be a part of the explanation why the Alpride system is a bit heavier.
Lithium-Ion Battery vs. AA Batteries
The largest distinction between the Alpride E2 system and the LiTRIC system is how the supercapacitors are topped off after a deployment. The Alpride system makes use of AA batteries, whereas the LiTRIC system has a built-in lithium-ion battery.
Ortovox claims the LiTRIC system gives 60 hours of battery and at the least two deployments per 25-minute cost. I had no drawback with the battery lifetime of the LiTRIC system on my Norway expedition. I charged the pack earlier than I left and was ready to make use of it all through a 10-day journey, which included some brutally chilly temperatures. I used to be cautious with use although, turning off the airbag in a single day and on mellow camp-to-camp excursions that didn’t cross by way of avalanche terrain to make sure I’d have juice til the top of the journey.
Some skiers and splitboarders, particularly ones on longer expeditions, would possibly want the AA battery-style rechargeability of the Alpride E2 system. In the event you at all times carry a photo voltaic panel or an influence financial institution with USB-C on longer expeditions, this isn’t as related. Topping off the LiTRIC’s lithium-ion battery is fairly fast and simple if in case you have an influence supply.
Minor LiTRIC Deal with Gripes
The LiTRIC system contains a pull deal with that’s simply adjusted to the left or proper shoulder strap. It additionally boasts a nifty twist system that locks or unlocks the airbag pull and is visually apparent—orange is able to rock, black is locked. That deal with is definitely twisted with gloves or mitts on and the twisting function is certainly one of my favourite features of the system. So—the place’s the meat?
My one grievance right here is the deal with can’t be zipped up into the backpack strap. This appears to be the case for all LiTRIC airbags, versus the BCA Float E2 35 I simply examined, which has a deal with that may be zipped into the shoulder strap. Bergen requested Arc’teryx in regards to the LiTRIC deal with for his Arc’Teryx Micon 42 evaluate and so they stated leaving it completely out is an effort to fight the frequent drawback of customers forgetting to drag the deal with out earlier than descending (which clearly defeats the aim of sporting an airbag pack).
That’s admirable, however I just like the stowability on the E2 for journey, because it makes the pack much less conspicuous and protects the airbag system in transit. Extra importantly, on snow, it’s a sensible choice to have. If I’m hitting a leap, mountaineering alongside a cliff, or dropping a pillow line that deserves a haphazard 360, I may be extra involved with an unintended deployment than an precise avalanche.
pulk towed behind the Ortovox AVABAG LiTRIC Tour 40 in Norway
What I Love Concerning the Ortovox AVABAG LiTRIC Tour 40 Backpack
The Good Steadiness of Low Weight, Excessive Quantity
Contemplating the amount of the pack and the airbag inside, the Ortovox affords gram-counters wonderful bang for buck at a claimed 5.42 kilos (once more, my baggage scale clocked a bit lighter). Due to the LiTRIC system itself, even handed pack design (some options, however not too many), and use of lightweight-yet-strong supplies, the designers saved pack weight very manageable.
I feel the largest praise I may give right here is that I used this pack on many excursions when avalanches weren’t a priority (it was the one pack I introduced on my 10-day expedition, in spite of everything, and we loved a largely secure spring snowpack). Regardless of that, I by no means discovered myself wishing that I’d introduced an ultralight, airbag-less backcountry pack.
Greatest-In-Present Compression Straps
More often than not, I don’t want a full 40 liters of quantity, so I respect with the ability to cinch a bigger pack down. The Tour contains a well-designed set of compression straps that will let you cut back quantity for higher downhill efficiency. Specifically, I dug the decrease triangular strap–it’s fast to drag, safe, and distributes compression evenly. These straps are additionally swell for stashing poles (see my latest Wolverine Break up Sticks evaluate).
Comfy, Dependable Carry System
I spent a bunch of days within the backcountry with Ortovox’s AVABAG Litric Tour 40 absolutely loaded and some extra lugging an overpacked Pulk sled behind it. The padded shoulder straps and hip belt are comfy, and I didn’t have any strain factors on lengthy days.
Touring with the Ortovox LiTRIC Tour 40 in Tahoe. Photograph credit score: Gloria Liu
Wonderful Major Compartment With Twin Entry Factors
As I discussed above, the airbag system quantity and positioning allow you to take advantage of this capacious fundamental compartment. I like that it may be rapidly accessed through the highest zip (good for stashing a puffy or grabbing a drink of water mid-tour) or fileted open through an outer 270-degree clamshell zipper (higher for donning crampons, stopping for lunch, and so forth.)
A number of Backpacks In One
That prime zip can really zip the backpack utterly off of the bottom airbag system (again panel and harness), so you possibly can swap out the pack for different-sized add-ons (like this smaller, and comparatively reasonably priced, 30-liter possibility). The expensive a part of airbag packs is the airbag system, not the backpack, so the interchangeability enables you to transfer the costly half between packs simply.
Whereas I didn’t take a look at this function past testing the zipper, the attract is there. Who doesn’t wish to have a number of airbag pack quantity choices with out shopping for a number of (very costly) airbag programs? I might see myself shopping for a smaller-volume possibility for shorter excursions if I ran this pack for a number of seasons.
Goldilocks Ranges Of Compartmentalization
The outer panel holds avalanche instruments with designated sleeves. It match my widest shovel (the BCA Dozer 2T), no drawback.
The panel additionally options three smaller pockets for organizing necessities, together with:
A deep prime pocket, accessed through exterior zip (can be utilized for goggles and shades in the event you cram them, however better-suited for instruments and treats. Extra on this beneath.)
An inner, spacious velcro and elastic stretch pocket (I used this for lunch and snacks)
An inner decrease zip pocket, only a contact smaller than the elastic stretch pocket (I favored utilizing this for crap that hardly ever leaves my pack, like a restore equipment and a small first support equipment)
All informed, the design is measured. There are not any superfluous extras—every thing serves a objective.
credit score Gloria Liu
A Quad-pack of Critiques
To be sincere, I don’t have too many complaints relating to the pack itself, however let’s nitpick:
Deal with Woes: I already talked about that I needed the deal with zipped into the backpack strap.
Stash Goggles At Your Personal Danger: The goggle pocket (or at the least, the zippered prime compartment that I assumed was meant to be a goggle pocket, as a result of it’s normally a goggle pocket) isn’t lined with microfiber. I at all times respect a lined, devoted goggle/glasses pocket, simply in case I neglect or lose my goggle sack.
However my greater qualm right here is that when your pack is absolutely loaded, stuffing goggles in that pocket turns into frustratingly troublesome. I usually resorted to stashing goggles and sun shades in a case and conserving that within the pack’s fundamental compartment. Not a dealbreaker, however it was sufficient of an annoyance that I made a be aware on my telephone whereas touring to incorporate this gripe in my evaluate.
Much less Sturdy Than The BCA Float 35: The outside material doesn’t appear fairly as sturdy as that of the BCA Float 35 E2 I’ve been testing in tandem. Granted, I haven’t had any actual sturdiness points after 25 to 30 days of touring, however it undoubtedly doesn’t come off as bomber or waterproof because the BCA, which has a thicker PU coating. After all, some would possibly think about this a professional, not a con, because the Ortovox possibility is considerably lighter whereas having a better capability.
utilizing an aftermarket gear pouch as a hip pocket on the Ortovox Tour 40 pack
No Hip Belt Pocket: My greatest grievance? No hip belt pocket. Sigh. I discovered that I missed this function tremendously. Specifically, I wish to have snacks available whereas I’m touring. I’ll additionally usually maintain a scraper in there, a Voile strap, a splitboard device, perhaps a slope meter, and so forth.
The truth is, I missed the hip pocket a lot, I really lashed a bit Patagonia Black Gap packing dice to the hip belt throughout my Norway expedition, so I had three liters of Scandinavian sweet (amongst different issues) simply accessible whereas traipsing by way of the fjords. It was overkill, certain, however higher than nothing.
Including a hip belt pocket isn’t laborious or costly, however they’re higher built-in if included within the design. In the event you get used to having one like I’ve, you’ll undoubtedly discover the omission.
Closing Ideas on the Ortovox AVABAG LiTRIC Tour 40 Pack
In the event you’re available in the market for an digital airbag since you need added security with out added grams, the Ortovox Avabag Litric Tour 40 is a superb alternative. The airbag system itself is as light-weight, dependable, and user-friendly because it will get, and Ortovox’s Tour 40 is cheaper than the Arc’Teryx choices that function the identical airbag tech.
The pack itself affords a superb volume-to-weight ratio and is comfy for lengthy missions and large days. It’s undoubtedly minimalist with no hip belt pocket and few exterior straps and pouches, however the construct is light-weight, and the group is sensible and helpful within the area.
The very best airbag packs are those you utilize day-in, day-out—you don’t go away it behind on a giant day since you’re stressing about weight. Hovering close to the five-pound mark, this Ortovox pack has turn out to be that each day driver airbag for me. Final week, I took it on the largest tour of my winter to this point (nothing loopy, thoughts you, however sufficient that once I got here residence my boot liners triggered my fiancée to gag). At no level throughout that four-lap affair did I ever suppose to myself “Rattling–I want I’d introduced a lighter pack.”
I’m Drew Zieff. A mountain-loving, powder-chasing, ink-slinging freelance journalist and copywriter. I’ve penned tales for publications reminiscent of Exterior Journal, Backcountry Journal, and Widespread Mechanics, amongst others. Longtime WildSnow reader and now a contributor.
