Any trip to the backcountry or otherwise unmanned mountain areas should be accompanied by avalanche safety gear. It’s just a no-brainer when it comes to exploring mountains in the winter, and fortunately, the gear is not that hard to attain. Of course, proper safety training goes hand-in-hand with equipment, so be sure to take a class or conduct your own research not only on how to use your equipment, but steps to take should you ever be faced with an avalanche. Here are a couple essential pieces of avalanche safety gear from SunnySports that will get you on the right track.
Black Diamond Bandit AvaLung Package – $199.95 FREE SHIPPING!
You’re going to take a pack of essentials along with you anyway, so why not take one that’s designed for avalanche safety? The Bandit AvaLung Package from Black Diamond is an ideal choice, equipped with a compact and durable snow shovel and variable length probe to supply you with the crucial tools needed for avalanche rescue. The pack itself is part of Black Diamond’s AvaLung system, which employs a breathing tube that extracts air from snow the wearer is buried in, expelling CO2 in another area to prevent carbon dioxide poisoning and asphyxiation.
It is designed to be worn on the outside of the body, with the mouthpiece in place as the wearer descends the area at risk of avalanche activity. Multiple zippered pockets provide space for snacks and other essentials, while an insulated hydration bladder sleeve protects your water from freezing. The pack also features a fleece-lined goggle pocket and a diagonal ski-carrying cable for quick, simple attachment. At this price, you can’t afford to be on the mountain without the AvaLung Package!
Mammut PULSE Barryvox Avalanche Transceiver – $490 $410.95 FREE SHIPPING!
As avalanche safety gear goes, a transceiver is not going to come cheap, but compared to the value of your life, it’s a worthy investment. Mammut’s PULSE Barryvox Avalanche Transceiver is an excellent choice, with a wider range than most digital beacons, a variety of customizable features so it can be used by experience levels ranging from beginner to advanced. Three antennas lend to this transceiver’s optimum performance, and a 360 degree directional display allows for more accurate location of victims. Three AAA batteries (do not use rechargeable!) will get 250 hours of operation from this crucial piece of avalanche safety gear, which translates to a lot of time in the backcountry, so protect yourself and pick one up before you go!
