Ski & Snowboard · Head-to-head
Ortovox Avabag Litric Tour 40 vs BCA Float 32 Avalanche Airbag 2.0
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Avalanche Airbag Packs: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
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.
Ortovox Avabag Litric Tour 40
Buy itA 40 litre touring airbag pack with Ortovox's electric LiTRIC system, USB-C charging, and unlimited test activations at no extra cost.
- 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.
- 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.
BCA Float 32 Avalanche Airbag 2.0
Buy itBCA's best-selling Float pack: 32 litres, a 150 litre airbag, and a compressed-air cylinder you can refill at authorized locations.
- 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.
- 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.
Side by side
| Ortovox Avabag Litric Tour 40 | BCA Float 32 Avalanche Airbag 2.0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Ski tourers who want to practise deployments freely and who fly to ski, and who can afford the premium price. | Riders in North America who want a proven, lower-cost airbag pack and live near a Float refill location. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range |
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Ortovox Avabag Litric Tour 40 - A 40 litre touring airbag pack with Ortovox's electric LiTRIC system, USB-C charging, and unlimited test activations at no extra cost. Choose the BCA Float 32 Avalanche Airbag 2.0 instead if riders in North America who want a proven, lower-cost airbag pack and live near a Float refill location.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Avalanche Airbag Packs: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).