There's nothing quite like an early-morning mission up into the mountains to ski fresh powder or that couloir you've been eying. It's a wonderful experience, but not one that's without risk—avalanches are an ever-present danger, difficult to predict and even harder to escape. The Ortovox Free Rider 24 ABS Backpack and Airbag Kit isn't a substitute for education, experience, and careful decision making, but it does offer proven life-saving technology that can make the difference between being buried and staying on top.
The Free Rider 24 is designed for users with a 15-17in torso, and features a Modular Airbag Safety System (M.A.S.S.) that comes with removable twin airbags, one on either side of the pack, with a combined volume of 170L to help you rise to the top of the debris when caught in an avalanche. An adjustable trigger can be set up on the left or right shoulder strap for easy access, and an aluminum safety bracket zips into a compartment on either strap to prevent accidental releases. (The trigger can also be released from the zippered position, but requires a strong, deliberate action.) When deployed, the airbags fill within seconds, working to keep the wearer on the surface on the slide and acting as brightly-colored locators during rescue. If you're wearing the pack in-bounds or otherwise out of danger, the airbags, trigger, and refillable canister are removable, reducing the weight by nearly 2 pounds. Once you've deployed the airbags, you must replace the Activation Unit,
which consists of the trigger, the small internal trigger canister, and
the larger airbag-inflating canister (replacement must be done through
ABS). The other parts of the system are reusable.
Ortovox made the Free Rider more than a one-trick avalanche-riding pony, however. It comes equipped with an SPS Pro removable back protector that you can wear on its own if you feel the need for some body armor, or remove entirely on mellow days to further reduce weight by ten ounces. It's got diagonal, vertical, or X-frame ski carry capability (with a vertical option for snowboards and snowshoes), an ice-axe and ski-pole carry system, an hydration-compatible insulated sleeve and pocket, and a stowable helmet-carry net. There are even pockets for your goggles and phone, and a padded waist-belt with a locking clasp and zippered stash to keep a knife, compass, or inclinometer close at hand. If that's still not enough for you, Ortovox made the interior of the Free Ride brightly colored to help you find small things, and treated the whole shebang with Polygiene to make sure your pack and gear smell fresh as daisies.
