Reviews & Ratings for Ortovox Ascent 40 Avabag Kit — 2 reviews — Page 1

This airbag is an absolute game changer. I picked up this pack at the beginning of the 2018-2019 ski season and it was the best piece of gear I've gotten in several years. There were 3 things that really make this pack stand out from the competition:

1. Weight: This pack is the lightest canister airbag on the market right now. When the pack arrived this was the first thing I noticed as I pulled it out of the box. The Ascent 40 Avabag with canister came in a little over 400 grams lighter than my old 32 liter airbag! The weight savings is fabulous, but I was also able to get an extra 8 liters of storage. The weight savings is a result of innovative, intentional, and practical design and use of materials. It's clear they didn't skimp on R&D. The design of this pack is well thought-out and it shows inside and out through every feature. The meticulous attention to detail down to every zipper pull, strap, buckle, loop, attachment, etc. shows the company spent a significant amount of time on research and development of the product. Every feature on this pack was developed with safety, weight savings, and practicality in mind.

2. Comfort: Comfort and weight have always been the top two disadvantages for airbags. Over the years I've owned and tested several different airbags and they all felt like I had a suitcase strapped to my back with little to no suspension or hip support. As mentioned above, this pack is a game changer when it comes to comfort and weight savings. ...
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This has been my go to pack for all of last season and the upcoming one. The size is perfect for me to get everything I need in there for a day of guiding or teaching Avalanche courses. When I am out for a quick tour and not carrying as much the compression straps work really well to cinch it all down so the pack does not feel baggy when it isn't fully loaded. I love the internal pockets, they help with organization and I found that a couple of stuff sacks in the main compartment really help to keep things in order. Not to mention that the pack is super light for an airbag pack and carries really well. I have had my skis on here for boot packing and I've carried ice tools, crampons and a rope with the pack as well and it holds everything no problem. The airbag components come out really easily as well if you don't feel like you need to have them with you.
Bottom line: this is a highly functional ski pack that also has an airbag. If you look at other options out there it seems like the airbag part is the main focus of the pack and carrying all your stuff is an afterthought.