The North Face Patrol 24 ABS is designed to inflate with nitrogren when the user pulls a ripcord. The airbags make the user more bouyant and hopefully will prevent him/her from getting buried. Do you think it would work?
I haven't done any internet search or research on this but...
I think the system is designed to use already existing, easily (and cheaply) available cylinders manufactured for other uses. This makes the vest more marketable and other efficiencies.
They absolutely work and there are a number of studies that show airbags increase survivability significantly. One study claims the use of an avalanche flotation device has been found to reduce the relative risk of being killed by over 90%. Another study claims 97% survivability with airbag vs 14% with no avalanche equipment. Check out http://www.backcountryaccess.com/http://abs-airbag.de/en/ or http://www.snowpulse.com/en for other airbag manufacturers.
I think the system is designed to use already existing, easily (and cheaply) available cylinders manufactured for other uses. This makes the vest more marketable and other efficiencies.
Check out http://www.backcountryaccess.com/ http://abs-airbag.de/en/ or http://www.snowpulse.com/en for other airbag manufacturers.