The avalung is a great tool to help increase your chances of survival if caught in a avalanche. however, it should not be involved in a decisions making situation,ie; "well, this snow pack looks sketchy but Ive got my avalung so.. lets go". building it into the pack is a great way to decrease this impulse.
Unfortunately BD will not license the lung to other pack manufactures, or sell a version that could be attached to a existing backpack in an effort to direct consumers to buy their pack. Good marketing, but It would be a better gift to the backcountry community to offer it in multiple ways.
It is another great tool to have in the mountains and is a great innovation.

You hardly know it is there. I retro fitted mine to my backpack shoulder strap. There is no reason not to have one.

I just got one and feel dumb for not having done so long ago. almost weightless, and so easy to wear. I really can't think of a reason not to have one.

I was in my first slide this winter on a mellow, what seemed stable, slope in the Alta, Utah backcountry. I didn't have an Avalung. I luckily didn't get buried - but if I had, I would have been in trouble. Immediately after, I thought "why in the hell don't I have an Avalung?" Exactly. I can't say much more than that because I haven't had to use it, but I've heard amazing things from people like Sage/Jeremy - and my buddy Chris Cardello was buried in an avalanche in Alaska wearing a helmet camera: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6C2eWRvZgKU Amazing video. Get an Avalung.

You carry a beacon, probe and shovel right? carry this too. very light. It could save your life. duct tape or zip tie it to your pack's shoulder strap

I never plan to see whether it really works, but fairly light and affordable. The BD website documents one life that was definitely saved, and two other burials where it worked (although victims probably would have lived anyway). Any powder-oriented tour should require these.*****August 2009 update from my original July 2003 review: BD no longer seems to be providing a list of documented deployments, but since my review, I've read about a couple more, and the victim was always able to get the mouthpiece in, which is very reassuring. (All the victims lived, although burials were of such short duration that they probably would have lived anyway even without an Avalung.)An Avalung is also a great idea for treewell safety. The Avalung packs are definitely more convenient though. This past season, I was touring with a friend in Boise who had the pack version, while I still had a sling version. Whenever we need to add or remove a layer, I had to take off then put back on my Avalung. Okay, only several seconds at each transition, but it's still somewhat of a bother. The flip side is that when we've met up for early summer skiing, he still has to bring his integrated Avalung along with him. November 2009 update: I somehow completely missed a reference in a TAR article last year to a failed deployment, with the survivor noting how the Avalung mouthpiece was torn out of his mouth.

Stopping my husband from dropping cliffs or shooting a line is impossible. While there are large risks at stake, this piece of equipment gives me a little peace of mind. I bought him an avalung for Christmas and I thought it was very reasonably priced. He tells me it doesn't bother him or gets in his way while he rides. I have seen too much footage of avalanches and close calls for my husband and his friends. The way I look at it is, why WOULDN'T you want an extra piece of equipment to increase your chance of survival? He'll never stop riding until his body won't let him anymore, so in the mean time...he needs to have ALL of the stuff to bring him home.

This is for "last chance" and "just incase". Please get this product if you go into the BC, but do not go into the BC just because you have this and you think you are invincible.

I'm very greatful I haven't had to actually use it other than wear it. This thing is the real deal and has gone through tons of testing to make sure it actually works. And it does. This is no substitute for proper training and avalanche safety, but in the event of being caught in an avy, this can save your life. The average burial victim has about 15 minutes, before their chances of survival drops dramatically. With this thing on, worn properly and used properly you time frame is increased to about 45 minutes. It makes it possible to breathe while buried, and prevents CO2 poisoning, a big factor for those who are caught and able to breathe. This thing is the real deal and a worthy investment. Even if you never have to actually use it, isn't your life worth more than $130.

I hardly know it is there and I have never had to use it. Have been in a slide I thought I was going to be buried in and it was easy to get the mouth piece in during the slide.

Sad to say that by beloved stand alone avalung stays at home now due to the amazing BD packs with the integrated avalung. I highly recommend the integrated version as I am more likely to have it on me when it counts.

And low-profile and well designed.

Buy one, but then stick to the #1 rule: don't ever need it!

Dig a pit; it's really not that much effort.

I live in the East but CAT ski in British Columbia. I just returned from a my first trip with the Black Diamond Avalung. I found that it was easy to wear after you got used to it and added to your sense of security should there be a slide. Whether you will get your mouth around the mouthpiece in time is an issue but hopefully you will never have to. If you do, I believe you will have an advantage. You do forget you have it on since it is so light.

The next time your friends are doing a beacon practice, try holding your hold your breath until they uncover your beacon. That should be enough to convince you to always use an Avalung in steep terrain. The Avalung is well- designed, weighs the equivalent of two feathers and is not noticeable when you are wearing it. It slips on or off in a second.

I just wear it in AK, no second thoughts. Seen to much stuff happen even when you are "sure". It has never been uncomfortable or in my way with sall the other gear. I also bought one for my brother. Good price for what it can do ie:buy more time for searchers

I just bought the Avalung II. It arrived in a box with a precise manual on how to use it. What’s cool is its size (pretty slim) and that you can wear it with your backpack without any problem. I use it as an additional safety device next to the avalanche beeper and the AVS-Airbag system. Mouth peace could be bigger and more anatomically fitting, but one will only find out in an avalanche if the thing keeps in place.

Fortunately I have not been caught in an avalanche to test the avalung however, the sense of security one has (all of my friends have an avalung) when wearing an avalung makes skiing the backcountry that much more enjoyable. Just remember, you MUST remain as safe back there as you ever have been.

The avalung is one more tool in the quiver that begins with solid backcountry education. This product is great as a stand alone, but I like have also purchased the integrated pack b/c this gets to be a pain when you are taking gear on and off in the backcountry. One more thing to deal with, bit of course worth the hassle if this is what you have. However,this is perfect for heli skiing where you have to have a smaller pack or take turns carrying the pack.

just wore it on three days on backcountry-tours in the swiss alps. you don't even remark it to be there. luckily i didn't have to use it yet so i can't tell if it really helps in case of an avalache. so if it wouldn't help, at least it doesn't annoy you. just add that little security and dont take any chances.

Like others here have written, I hope never to find out if it actually works, but as a piece of extra insurance, it is certainly easy to haul along with you. It is light, fits easily over my jacket without getting in the way, and I was still able to ski hard and jump around lots with the mouthpiece situated inches from my lips. At the end of each run, there it was still ready for an immediate snatch with the teeth. And it didn't look goofy in the pictures. More importantly, if it saves my life someday, it'll be worth every cent, of course.

This is a Backcountry basic! You need every advantage you can get when a slide starts. I hope that I’ll never need to put it to use.

Allowed me to survive the biggest slide of my career.
Thanks BD

Although I have not had to use this (in a real burial situation)I hope i never do. It is comfy to wear and gives you peace of mind that you can last 60 min. buried during a avalanche a great item to bring on your next excursion.

Compared to the old vests the Avalung 2 is far less intrusive. You can wear it under clothing and packs and it fits confidently and comfortably. I bought 2 for xmas presents for two buddies I tour with. Hopefully, none of us get to actually test whether it works, but Black Diamond staff did and one dude was under the snow for 40+ minutes. That's hard data - fact - truth. I was sold.

Luckily, I haven't had to use this for what it's intended to be used for, but I have brought it out several times. It's very comfortable, lightweight, and seemingly easy to use. The mouthpiece stays stable when it's out, and it feels like it would be fairly easy to locate quickly in the event of a slide. I don't even notice when I'm skinning/ hiking when the mouthpiece is put away. Hopefully I'll never have to "use" my avalung, but a 100 bucks is well worth it for the extra moments it gives my crew to dig me out if I do get buried.

light and comfortable. isn't in the way or uncomfortable with my pack. doubles as a snorkel on those deep pow days :) hopefully that will be the only reason to really use it. get the stand alone since packs can be easily to be ripped off in an avalanche.

I was given an Avalung for Christmas and whilst I haven't been in the unfortunate position of having to use it for real, I have one slight concern as to what would happen if I ever did. No-one in their reviews has mentioned this (but I have seen it on other boards so I know it's not just my solitary avalung); it makes a sound as if you are blowing a trumpet. I can handle making some noise given it's life-saving capabilities so I'm not complaining about that, but I do query whether the reverberations in the exchange chamber affect your ability to breathe successfully with it. I have tried practising breathing with it and it reverberates both breathing in and out, and I feel as though I am struggling to get a full breath through it. You're advised to breathe slowly and calmly but the only way I get a breathful of air is to practically hyperventilate into it. I would be interested to hear whether anyone else has come across this issue and if there's a "fix" for it. I certainly won't stop taking it out with me, but I'd like to feel more reassured it's a working and useful piece of kit so I can enthuse as much as everyone else.

I have not had to use the Avalung and I intend to keep it that way but in Utah it easy to get in harms way. I like how small and easy the Avalung is to take on and off. Despite my best judgment powder has a tendency to lure me into places I probably should not be. So it seem like $100 is not to much to pay for added security.

Good gear and good piece of mind. Hope never to have to use this except in practice.

I'm happy to have an avalung. But not as happy as I am to have never really used it. I've attached it to my back with about a dozen zip ties. This means that I always have it so it's no biggie to pull out the mouth piece. Before I did that, I kept it in my pack as though having it out would make it more dangerous. BS. Get it. Use it. Live longer.