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Gear Review
Black Diamond AvaLung II
Don't leave Home without it!
By Ian Provo
Ranked #122 - Avalanche Safety
January 2, 2010
Anything you can do to increase your chances of survival in an avalanche seems like a good idea to me. I've been a long time user and supporter of the Avalung, and I advise anyone skiing in avalanche terrain to use it as well. With a few modifications, I've seamlessly integrated the Avalung into a few different DaKine backpacks and Im sure you could do the same with others. As stated below, the Avalung is no substitute for good, thoughtful decision making while skiing in avalanche terrain. Use your Head, so you don't have to use your Avalung!!!
View Details: Black Diamond AvaLung II
Helpful Votes: 3 Yes
Change me.
6 Comments Last Reply: November 14, 2011 By: Hayden Beck
Well, if you do retro fit it or buy a BD built in pack it can get ripped off you in a slide. this keeps it more secure on your body.
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
So obviously, BD can’t condone retrofitting an AvaLung Sling to any pack. While the AvaLung is a simple device, the parts that go into it are definitely not and they cannot be easily modified or adapted using existing packs or hardware store parts. In reality, there’s a lot of design and testing that go into each part. For instance, the tubing is cold-temp resistant, extends to lengths that will still perform if the pack is pulled-on during a burial, and is double-walled for burial crush-resistant (with shovels, etc. in your pack). Also, the shoulder sleeve in BD’s AvaLung packs acts as the first level of snow filtration and also maximizes the surface area for air intake and the exhaust is shaped to prevent sealing off by A-framed skis and located as far away from the intake as possible. For sure there are other good winter packs out there… but retro-fitting an AvaLung sling is a seriously false sense of security. Just from the photo,(http://www.backcountry.com/store/
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
"A backpack may be worn over the AvaLung II harness. NOTE : Make sure the exhalation tube is not pinched by your specific pack – otherwise you should use a different one." - Black Diamond Avalung II users guide.
Helpful Votes: 2 Yes
couldn't you just put the avalung under the pack?
Helpful Votes: 0 Yes
George, The process for installing a BD avalung into a dakine pack goes like this: Remove the avalung from the sleeve so that all you are left with is the bare avalung. Make a clean incision on the top left shoulder strap near where it attaches to the pack. Insert the exhaust portion of the avalung tube into the whole you cut, which should go right into the main portion of the pack. I used zip ties to secure the avalung to the shoulder strap (its now in the same position as the BD packs). I also extended the exhaust tube with some tubing I got at Home depot and duct tape. I did this so I could make sure the Co2 was being deposited at the bottom of my pack, far away from the air intake. This process will vary depending on what kind of pack you are trying to modify. I've seen people add the avalung to all kinds of different packs. It just takes a bit of modification know how.
Helpful Votes: 3 Yes
Can you show me how you did it?
Helpful Votes: 5 Yes