In an article about the 2024 Mammut and Black Diamond/Pieps beacon recalls, I said that ARVA was the only major transceiver company that hadn’t had a product recall. Unfortunately, that statement only remained true for a few months as the…

For backcountry skiers and splitboarders looking for a higher-volume, low-weight electronic airbag, Ortovox’s AVABAG Litric Tour 40 is one of only a few options. The pack utilizes the LiTRIC system, a lightweight electronic airbag system co-developed by Ortovox and Arc’teryx…

When I first picked up the new Arc’teryx Micon Litric 42 airbag pack at a trade show over the summer, I thought to myself, that’s kind of heavy for a ski touring backpack. Then I saw the “LiTRIC” label and…

BCA Float E2 35 Review: A Durable, Reliable, And Fully Featured Sender Electronic airbag packs are expensive, but they’re much easier to travel with than compressed air systems, plus they allow for test firing and multiple deployments off a single…

I mailed two beacons back to their makers in the past week thanks to early-season product recalls on these critical safety devices. Both Mammut and Pieps (distributed by Black Diamond in North America) issued recalls on avalanche transceivers over the…

A good start for your tour begins with some basics: ensure your avalanche beacon has sufficient power, know your beacon and those of your partners, and follow through with a beacon check at the trailhead (and think about repeating the beacon check later in the day).