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Backcountry Access
Float 42L Airbag Backpack

5 out of 5 stars
1 Review

Out of Stock

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Float 42L Airbag Backpack

The Float 42 Airbag Backpack is the largest of Backcountry Access' avalanche airbag line, designed to give for longer missions in the backcountry. Despite the bigger overall size, the included Float 2.0 airbag system is 15% lighter than the previous model and about 30% smaller, meaning you can fit more gear in the pack, and features an ergonomic trigger mount so you can feel confident deploying the airbag in an emergency, no matter if you're left or right-handed.


Details

  • High-capacity backpack with light avalanche airbag
  • 42L capacity suitable for longer missions in the backcountry
  • Float 2.0 system is lighter and smaller than previous airbag
  • Ergonomic trigger mounts on left or right for convenience
  • Separate avalanche compartment eases access to shovel and probe
  • Ski and snowboard carry for traveling up couloirs or steep ridges
  • Support frame and molded back panel evenly distributes weight for all-day comfort
  • Item #BCA001W
Material
[main] 20D ripstop nylon, PU coating, [high-wear areas] 420D nylon, [lining] 200D polyester
Volume
42L (2536cu in)
Airbag
Float 2.0
Deployment System
compressed air
Canister Included
sold separately
Support/Suspension
internal support frame, molded back panel
Shoulder Straps
padded
Waist Belt
adjustable, padded
Hydration Compatible
yes
Access
front panel, back panel
Pockets
1 avy safety, 1 zippered hip, 1 fleece-lined goggle
Ski Carry
diagonal
Snowboard Carry
vertical
Helmet Carry
removable
Ice Axe Carry
internal, external
Dimensions
22 x 12 x 8in
Claimed Weight
[with cylinder] 7lb 1.6oz, [without cylinder] 5lb 14.4oz, [pack only] 4lb 6.4oz
Activity
backcountry skiing, backcountry snowboarding
Manufacturer Warranty
1 year

Overall Rating

5 based on 1 ratings

Review Summary

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5 out of 5 stars

March 30, 2020

BCA Float 42 this pack ROCKS!

Familiarity:
I returned this product before using it
Size Bought:
13m
Height:
6' 1"
Weight:
190

The BCA Float 42 was my go-to pack this season for the bulk of my backcountry skiing (both personal and ski guiding), including three weeks of ski guiding in Hokkaido, Japan. For years I have been skiing with a BCA Float 32. Typically that is all the pack that I need. I had never been to Japan before though and liked the idea of a few extra liters of space. The Float 42 worked great for all 16 days of ski guiding. There were a few specific points that made this my favorite and go-to pack. 1)VOLUME: Each day I carried a full "guide kit" (first aid kit, puffy coat, ski jacket, extra gloves, 1 liter of water, 18 oz coffee, Alpine Threadworks ski guide rescue tarp, repair kit, Smith 4D Mag goggles with extra lens, BCA link 2.0 radio, BCA snow saw, BCA RS+ shovel, BCA Stealth probe, buff, Smith Quantum helmet, skins on the way down, etc) which the Float carried effortlessly. The Float 42 has a helmet strap system on the outside. However, I loved that the pack was large enough I cold just put my helmet inside keeping the outside clean and svelt. 2) BACK ACCESS: Carrying all this gear takes some strategy to pack it. The ease of packing the Float 42 as well as the back access made; packing in the morning, accessing gear on breaks/ transitions, and pulling it apart at night to dry gear all easy. I love being able to take the pack off and lay it on the ground with the backpack straps up. Then open up the back access to get my coffee. 3) WEIGHT: While the Float 42 is certainly heavier than its BCA Stash 40 counterpart, the extra weight is worth it IMO. We had a strong group so our tours were more aggressive, averaging 10 miles a day and about 5,000' of touring. This pack worked great day after day. When compared with a Black Diamond Jet Force Pro 35, the BCA Float 42 is only 5 ounces heavier, gives you an extra 7 liters, and skis like an actual ski pack as opposed to a shoe box. The Arcteryx Voltair 30 weighs 3.5 KG which translates to 7.7 pounds, is only a 30 liter pack, and is close to twice the price of the Backcountry Access Float 42. 4) TRAVEL FRIENDLY: Traveling with an airbag pack does take a little more forethought. That being said, the simplicity of the BCA Float 2.0 system made it very easy to fly with. Both myself and my co-guide used BCA Float packs. We followed the BCA guidelines for traveling with a float pack and had zero issues. I have flown extensively with airbag packs in the past, but never on this many flight legs. Our flights on the way to Japan were DRO-DEN-SEA-NRT-CTS. At no time did we ever have any issues. All you have to do is unscrew the regulator off the top of your empty air can. Then put the empty can and the regulator in a zip lock and toss it in your carry on. We used the Float pack as our carry on luggage. It was simple. Once in Hokkaido there were multiple options to rent BCA air cans. We had enough skiers in our group that used BCA Float packs that we just brought a high pressure pump to fill our cans in our hotel. This worked great for all six cans we were filling. We did need to bring the consumer O ring kit though. There was one client that had a G3 Carbio 30 packs. They utilize a different type of air cartridge system. Unfortunately, the client had their air cartridge taken by TSA before ever leaving the country. Then they were not able to get more cartridges in Japan because it's such a specialized cartridge. This meant they skied for the entire week with a non-functioning airbag pack. Overall I was psyched with my BCA Float 42. It easily carries everything you could possibly need for a day of touring, and even a single night hut trip. If you ski in the backcountry a lot, let lone work in the backcountry, this pack rocks.

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Josh K