yeah I'm gonna get one of these if im gonna be snowboarding in he back country. hiked 5 miles and up a 2000 prominence peak at 6000 feet by myself in north cali my first time snowboarding back country,and actually started a mini avalanche. I was able to avoid it and it was slow and not very big but still scary I was alone too
Please, please, please don't go into avy territory alone. An airbag pack won't save you in every situation. More important to fill your head with knowledge than your airbag with air. There are some great avy education courses in NorCal - www.sierraavalanchecenter.org/ www.tahoemountainschool.com/courses/avalanche www.californiaskiguides.com/avalanche-courses/avalanche-level-1/
Nice breakdown of the pack. Speaking to BD, they say they didn't build it work with hydration systems. I see one on yours. Did you feed the hose thru the zipper or do something more inventive?
Thanks Tim! True, there is no dedicated hydration sleeve. I wound up sticking the hydration tube out the back panel access and looping it though the right shoulder strap. It is not pretty, but it works :) Hope that helps! Sean
I'm thinking about purchasing the saga for backcountry snowboarding. Do you think it would be too heavy for snowboarding? I'm just entering the realm of backcountry boarding and would mostly be doing traversing, hell and cat boarding. I really want a jetforce pack. I think the extra cost is worth not having to find a dive or paintball shop each trip. My options for snowboard carry from Black Diamond would be the saga or the PIEPS. I really like the aesthetics of the saga though.
+ayadal You're going to be carrying extra weight in an airbag pack no matter what system you choose. Our time with the Saga has shown that the suspension system is good enough that you don't feel the weight of the pack. One of our reviewers was a skeptic about the advantages of the battery-powered system until the pack arrived. Batteries are the wave of the future. Absolutely worth the premium for not having to find a way to refill after every pull. Choosing between the Saga and the PIEPS, depends on your carry. The pack volumes are deceptive because the airbag volume takes up pack volume. We estimate that the 40L Saga is really somewhere short of 25L in true volume. Though we don't have hands-on with the PIEPS, it's likely a 20L pack inside. That gives you enough room for avy gear, a mid-layer, some extra gloves, and some water, plus a bit to spare. If you pack heavy, the Saga may be enough space for you. Our reviewer carries a lot of extra gear and is constantly bumping up against the volume limit of the pack. You may want to check out the Arcteryx Voltair as well (Available fall 2016). We're waiting on a sample to compare to the Saga. The Voltair's airbag system takes up less space in the pack and isn't included in the volume measurement, so you get a true 30L pack and snowboard carry option.
+Engearment Thanks for the advice. Yes I was also interested in the Voltair. Perhaps I should wait to later in the year to see if any updates are made to the Saga and PIEPS, and compare them to the Voltair.
how do you feel about the halo (28L) vs the saga (40L)? i took my glacier kit to the shop to see if it would fit into the 28L and it did: I was able to fit my shovel and probe, skins, skinning crampons, boot crampons, a 30m rope, an ice axe, a puffy jacket, extra gloves and a thermos flask. not much room left for anything else though. My line of thought is that for overnight hut trips if I also have to bring a sleeping bag, extra food, and perhaps a mini-stove, i will definitely need the 40L saga. But my line of thought then also is that if you'd stuff the 40L to its limits, wouldn't it become so heavy that you wouldn't want to bring it with you and rather opt for a non-avvy bag backpack? If that's the case, wouldn't the 28L halo be enough? curious to your opinion on this. thanks either way for the info
Thank you! That is a good question. I used to use the Avalung, but dont have it anymore. So, I can not verify if it would work. I am meeting with Black Diamond at the upcoming Outdoor Retailer show at the end of January. I can ask them for you! - Sean Sewell
A guy literally did this a few weeks ago, guy triggered a slide and deployed his bag, then packed it up and triggered another while descending back, so these can def save your life.
My bag split because the trigger rubbed on the shoulder compartment and the waist pocket had huge gaping holes where the leg strap had rubbed on the fabric. I only had six weeks wear and Black Diamond did not honour the warranty... Avoid at all costs.
I just watched the guy saved by this Pack & I'm here now .
Ditto. Bad volume here though.
why would you not show the rear entry flap!
Not sure. We shot this while enjoying a nice day of backcountry touring. I am sure we missed a few things as well. It is fun!
I do not like how that ripcord is zipped away in that pocket. Does the manufacturer suggest that you have that unzipped when riding?
Hey Gary, yep - I keep the ripcord out at all times when touring and riding. Hope that helps! - Sean Sewell
@@Engearment Sounds good, thanks.
yeah I'm gonna get one of these if im gonna be snowboarding in he back country. hiked 5 miles and up a 2000 prominence peak at 6000 feet by myself in north cali my first time snowboarding back country,and actually started a mini avalanche. I was able to avoid it and it was slow and not very big but still scary I was alone too
Please, please, please don't go into avy territory alone. An airbag pack won't save you in every situation. More important to fill your head with knowledge than your airbag with air. There are some great avy education courses in NorCal - www.sierraavalanchecenter.org/ www.tahoemountainschool.com/courses/avalanche www.californiaskiguides.com/avalanche-courses/avalanche-level-1/
Thank you so much. Very appreciated
Video on liveleak of a man using it in a real avalanche
Nice breakdown of the pack. Speaking to BD, they say they didn't build it work with hydration systems. I see one on yours. Did you feed the hose thru the zipper or do something more inventive?
Thanks Tim! True, there is no dedicated hydration sleeve. I wound up sticking the hydration tube out the back panel access and looping it though the right shoulder strap. It is not pretty, but it works :) Hope that helps! Sean
Awesome review man!
+Samuel Chenelle Thanks!
I'm thinking about purchasing the saga for backcountry snowboarding. Do you think it would be too heavy for snowboarding? I'm just entering the realm of backcountry boarding and would mostly be doing traversing, hell and cat boarding. I really want a jetforce pack. I think the extra cost is worth not having to find a dive or paintball shop each trip. My options for snowboard carry from Black Diamond would be the saga or the PIEPS. I really like the aesthetics of the saga though.
+ayadal You're going to be carrying extra weight in an airbag pack no matter what system you choose. Our time with the Saga has shown that the suspension system is good enough that you don't feel the weight of the pack.
One of our reviewers was a skeptic about the advantages of the battery-powered system until the pack arrived. Batteries are the wave of the future. Absolutely worth the premium for not having to find a way to refill after every pull.
Choosing between the Saga and the PIEPS, depends on your carry. The pack volumes are deceptive because the airbag volume takes up pack volume. We estimate that the 40L Saga is really somewhere short of 25L in true volume. Though we don't have hands-on with the PIEPS, it's likely a 20L pack inside. That gives you enough room for avy gear, a mid-layer, some extra gloves, and some water, plus a bit to spare. If you pack heavy, the Saga may be enough space for you. Our reviewer carries a lot of extra gear and is constantly bumping up against the volume limit of the pack.
You may want to check out the Arcteryx Voltair as well (Available fall 2016). We're waiting on a sample to compare to the Saga. The Voltair's airbag system takes up less space in the pack and isn't included in the volume measurement, so you get a true 30L pack and snowboard carry option.
+Engearment
Thanks for the advice. Yes I was also interested in the Voltair. Perhaps I should wait to later in the year to see if any updates are made to the Saga and PIEPS, and compare them to the Voltair.
how do you feel about the halo (28L) vs the saga (40L)? i took my glacier kit to the shop to see if it would fit into the 28L and it did: I was able to fit my shovel and probe, skins, skinning crampons, boot crampons, a 30m rope, an ice axe, a puffy jacket, extra gloves and a thermos flask. not much room left for anything else though. My line of thought is that for overnight hut trips if I also have to bring a sleeping bag, extra food, and perhaps a mini-stove, i will definitely need the 40L saga. But my line of thought then also is that if you'd stuff the 40L to its limits, wouldn't it become so heavy that you wouldn't want to bring it with you and rather opt for a non-avvy bag backpack? If that's the case, wouldn't the 28L halo be enough?
curious to your opinion on this. thanks either way for the info
Very nice review! Is it avalung compatible?
No its not
Thank you! That is a good question. I used to use the Avalung, but dont have it anymore. So, I can not verify if it would work. I am meeting with Black Diamond at the upcoming Outdoor Retailer show at the end of January. I can ask them for you! - Sean Sewell
@@Engearment thank you very much!!!
Do people get caught more than once on a single trip? I'd bet most never get caught in their lifetimes.
I certainly hope they do not get caught at all, let alone more than once in a trip! Lots of variables, lots of proper decision making and some luck.
A guy literally did this a few weeks ago, guy triggered a slide and deployed his bag, then packed it up and triggered another while descending back, so these can def save your life.
My bag split because the trigger rubbed on the shoulder compartment and the waist pocket had huge gaping holes where the leg strap had rubbed on the fabric. I only had six weeks wear and Black Diamond did not honour the warranty... Avoid at all costs.