The Best Avalanche Airbag Packs: 4 Compared (and One to Skip)

RBE top pick

Ortovox Avabag Litric Tour 40

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The Litric Tour 40 removes the two biggest hassles of airbag ownership, paying for practice deployments and flying with a gas cartridge, while staying among the lighter packs here. The Float 32 2.0 costs less and uses a simple refillable cylinder, at the price of more weight and a refill trip after every pull.

An avalanche airbag pack is a ski pack with an inflation system built in: pull the handle and a large airbag fills in seconds to help keep you nearer the surface of a moving slide. The big split in 2026 is between electric systems that run on supercapacitors and cartridge systems that run on compressed gas, and that choice drives cost of practice, refills and flying. We looked at four packs from Ortovox, BCA, Mammut and ABS, using each maker's own product page, data sheet or declaration of conformity for every spec. An airbag does not replace a beacon, probe and shovel, or avalanche training; it is an extra layer on top of them.

RBE top pick

Ortovox

Ortovox Avabag Litric Tour 40

Buy it

A 40 litre touring airbag pack with Ortovox's electric LiTRIC system, USB-C charging, and unlimited test activations at no extra cost.

Best for: Ski tourers who want to practise deployments freely and who fly to ski, and who can afford the premium price.

$$$ · premium

Why we like it

• Ortovox says the LiTRIC system charges fully in about 25 minutes over USB-C and that one charge allows at least two activations.
• You can test the activation as many times as you like at no additional cost, which makes regular practice realistic.
• Ortovox's LiTRIC technical data sheet lists EN 16716:2017 and an EU type-examination certificate from TUV Sud, and Ortovox says there are no travel limitations for the cartridge-free system.

Know before buying

• It sits at the top of the price range in this group.
• At 2460 g listed weight it is not light, though it is lighter than the ABS Vario 30L before that pack's cartridge goes in.
• Ortovox's US site listed the Tour 40 as not available to order online when checked, so you may need a dealer.
• The product page does not state the airbag volume.

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BCA

BCA Float 32 Avalanche Airbag 2.0

Buy it

BCA's best-selling Float pack: 32 litres, a 150 litre airbag, and a compressed-air cylinder you can refill at authorized locations.

Best for: Riders in North America who want a proven, lower-cost airbag pack and live near a Float refill location.

$$ · mid-range

Why we like it

• BCA lists a 150 litre airbag and a dedicated rescue tools compartment for shovel and probe.
• The Float 2.0 cylinder is refillable, and BCA points to about 200 authorized refill locations around the world.
• BCA's EU declaration of conformity for the Float 2.0 range, including the Float 32, lists DIN EN 16716:2017.

Know before buying

• It is the heaviest buy here at 2942 g with a full cylinder, and the cylinder is sold separately.
• Every pull, practice included, empties the cylinder and needs a refill or exchange.
• Flying means emptying the cylinder and removing its head before the airport, then refilling at your destination.
• BCA does not sell it on its own website; you buy it through a store.

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Mammut

Mammut Tour 30 Removable Airbag 3.0

It depends

A lightweight 30 litre touring pack whose Removable Airbag System 3.0 can move to other compatible packs, sold without a cartridge.

Best for: Taller ski tourers who want a light cartridge pack and plan to swap one airbag system between compatible Mammut packs.

$$$ · premium

Why we like it

• Mammut lists 1410 g for the pack alone and 2110 g with the airbag, before a cartridge.
• The Removable Airbag System 3.0 can be moved to other compatible backpacks, and Mammut lists a 3 second filling time.
• Mammut's declaration of conformity for this pack lists DIN EN 16716:2017, and the manual lists a 150 litre inflated airbag volume.

Know before buying

• The only back length listed is L (48.5 cm), which rules it out for many shorter riders.
• The compressed air cartridge is not included, and one cartridge gives one deployment before it must be refilled.
• Mammut's manual says its carbon and steel cartridges are not available in the USA and Canada, where the aluminium cartridge is used.
• Mammut's manual says the cartridges are classed as hazardous goods for air travel, so special rules apply.

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We'd skip it

ABS

ABS Vario Set Easy.Tech 30L

Skip it

A twin-airbag touring set with a mechanical EASY.TECH trigger that is heavy, sold without a cartridge, and thinly documented on its product page.

Best for: Few buyers; only riders already invested in ABS ZipOns who specifically want twin independent airbags.

$$$ · premium

Why we like it

• ABS TwinBags are two independent airbags, each filled through its own valve, according to ABS.
• The EASY.TECH trigger is a mechanical Bowden cable system with tool-free re-tensioning.
• It comes in two back lengths, S/M (455 mm) and L/XL (515 mm).

Know before buying

• ABS lists 2680 g for both sizes, before the cartridge, which is sold separately.
• ABS says the VARIO base only works in combination with an ABS ZipOn.
• ABS says its cartridges may only be filled in ABS filling systems, so every practice pull means a refill through ABS.
• The product page does not list the airbag volume or the standard the set is certified to.

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How we judged the field

Five things matter in an avalanche airbag pack. First, the inflation system: electric packs cost more up front but let you practise for free, while cartridge packs cost a refill every time you pull. Second, certification: we looked for EN 16716:2017 in each maker’s own data sheet or declaration of conformity, not in retailer copy. Third, carried weight, because you haul it uphill all day. Fourth, refills and travel, which decide whether the pack is ready for the next lap or the next flight. Fifth, fit and layout: back length, a separate shovel and probe pocket, and ski carry.

The field splits into electric packs (Ortovox LiTRIC, and Alpride E2 based packs from several brands) and compressed gas packs (BCA Float, Mammut, ABS). We picked one strong electric pack, one value cartridge pack that is widely sold in North America, a light removable system with a narrow fit, and a twin-bag pack that is harder to recommend. None of them replaces a beacon, probe, shovel, or avalanche training.

The Ortovox Avabag Litric Tour 40 is the pack we would buy first. Its LiTRIC system runs on supercapacitors instead of a gas cartridge, and Ortovox says it charges fully in about 25 minutes over USB-C, allows at least two activations per charge, runs for about 60 hours when switched on, and works from minus 30 to plus 45 degrees C. The practical win is that you can test the activation as many times as you like at no extra cost, so practising the pull becomes a habit rather than an expense. Ortovox’s technical data sheet lists EN 16716:2017 and a TUV Sud type-examination certificate, and Ortovox says the system has no travel limitations, recommending that you carry the data sheet when flying. The pack itself has a D-Skifix diagonal ski carry, front access to the main compartment, a separate safety compartment, and a helmet net, at a listed 2460 g. The trade-off is price, and online stock that comes and goes. It is for tourers who want to practise freely and fly with their airbag.

The BCA Float 32 Avalanche Airbag 2.0 is the value pick and the pack BCA calls its best-selling Float. It pairs 32 litres of storage with a 150 litre airbag and a dedicated rescue tools compartment, plus diagonal ski and vertical snowboard carry, a removable helmet carry, and compatibility with BCA’s BC Link radio. BCA’s EU declaration of conformity for the Float 2.0 range lists DIN EN 16716:2017. The catch is weight and logistics. BCA lists 2942 g with a full cylinder and 2366 g without, and the cylinder is sold separately. Every pull, including practice, empties the cylinder, which then needs a refill or exchange at one of roughly 200 authorized locations. Flying means discharging the cylinder before the airport and refilling at your destination. BCA also does not sell this pack on its own website, so you buy it from a store. It is for riders in North America who want a proven, lower-cost airbag and live near a refill point.

The Mammut Tour 30 Removable Airbag 3.0 is a good pack for a narrower group. Mammut lists 1410 g for the pack alone and 2110 g with the airbag, which keeps it among the lighter cartridge setups, and the Removable Airbag System 3.0 can move to other compatible Mammut packs. Mammut lists a 3 second filling time, and its manual gives a 150 litre inflated airbag volume and EN 16716:2017. The pack has a diagonal ski carrier, an integrated helmet carrier, and a CONTACT U Frame. The limits are real. The only back length listed is L, at 48.5 cm. The cartridge is not included, one cartridge gives one deployment, and Mammut’s manual says its carbon and steel cartridges are not available in the USA and Canada, where aluminium cartridges are used and can be refilled at listed stations. Mammut also says cartridges are hazardous goods for flights. It is for taller tourers who want a light pack and one airbag shared across packs.

The ABS Vario Set Easy.Tech 30L is the one we would skip. ABS has a long history in avalanche airbags, and its TwinBag system uses two independent airbags, each filled through its own valve, triggered by a mechanical Bowden cable EASY.TECH system. The problem is the package around that idea. ABS lists 2680 g for both sizes, and that is before you add the cartridge, which is not included. That is heavier than the Ortovox Litric Tour 40, which includes its electric system at 2460 g. ABS says the VARIO base only works in combination with an ABS ZipOn, and that its cartridges may only be filled in ABS filling systems, so every practice pull means a refill through ABS. The English product page also does not state the airbag volume or the standard the set is certified to, which matters for life-safety gear. Riders already invested in ABS ZipOns may still want it; most buyers will do better with the Ortovox or the BCA.

Ortovox Avabag Litric Tour 40 vs BCA Float 32 Avalanche Airbag 2.0: which should you buy?

The Ortovox Avabag Litric Tour 40 and the BCA Float 32 2.0 solve the same problem in opposite ways. The Ortovox puts the cost up front: you pay a premium price for an electric system that charges over USB-C, can be test-fired as often as you like, and that Ortovox says has no travel limitations. The BCA keeps the purchase price lower and uses a compressed-air cylinder that you refill or exchange after each pull, with a 150 litre airbag and a pack BCA calls its best seller.

Choose the Ortovox if you will practise deployments every season, fly to ski, or tour in places without a nearby refill station; the savings on refills and the simpler travel add up. Choose the BCA if you ski close to home in North America, have a Float refill location nearby, and want a proven airbag for less money. Either way, pair it with a beacon, probe, shovel, and avalanche training.

What to look for

• Certification in maker documents: Look for EN 16716:2017 in the maker’s data sheet or declaration of conformity, not only in a retailer description.
• Inflation system: Electric packs allow free practice and simpler travel; cartridge packs cost less up front but need a refill after every pull.
• Refill access: For a cartridge pack, check where you can refill or exchange the cylinder near where you ski, and whether the maker’s cartridges are sold in your country.
• Air travel rules: Read the maker’s flying instructions before you book, because cylinder, cartridge and electric systems are each handled differently.
• Back length: Match the listed back length or torso range to your own measurement; some airbag packs come in a single size.
• What is in the box: Check whether the cartridge or cylinder is included, and count its weight when you compare packs.

Our final take

For most ski tourers, the Ortovox Avabag Litric Tour 40 is the airbag pack to buy: an electric system you can practise with freely, EN 16716:2017 in Ortovox’s own documents, and no gas cartridge to manage when you fly. If the price is too much, the BCA Float 32 2.0 is a proven compressed-air pack with a 150 litre airbag and a wide refill network, as long as you accept the weight and refill trips. The Mammut Tour 30 suits taller riders who want a removable system. Skip the ABS Vario Set Easy.Tech 30L. And remember that an airbag does not replace a beacon, probe, shovel, or avalanche training; see our guides to avalanche beacons, probes, shovels and ski touring backpacks.

Deciding between the top two? See our head-to-head: Ortovox Avabag Litric Tour 40 vs BCA Float 32 Avalanche Airbag 2.0.

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