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Black Diamond Avalung II

Brand : Black Diamond
Item : BLD0233
The Black Diamond AvaLung II is one of the most important developments in avalanche safety since the avalanche beacon. It should be a part of every backcountry traveler's tools. Use it in conjunction with a shovel, probe, transceiver, and experienced and capable companions to increase your chances of survival should you be caught in an avalanche. The Black Diamond AvaLung is designed for backcountry powder skiing & snowboarding, alpinism, and snowmobiling. The AvaLung is a simple filtration device which draws air directly from the snow pack. Even dense avalanche debris consists of approximately 50% air. The AvaLung membrane increases the surface area from which you breathe, making it possible to pull this air from the snow. You breathe in and out through the tube. The patented system within the AvaLung separates the O2 from the exhaled CO2, which is directed away from the air intake and out the back of the vest to diffuse through the snow pack. At the on snow demo last season, we watched them bury a guy in the snow for over an hour. When they dug him up, he was a little cold but otherwise fine (they even tested the CO2 levels in his blood). While we think that the AvaLung is a great innovation, we recognize that it does have its shortcomings. While tumbling in a slide, you might well lose your bite on the mouthpiece--or you may not even have had a chance to bite it. However, we feel that this device can increase your chances of survival. It's another great tool in your quiver. Get the Avalung II size that corresponds with your T-shirt size. They are highly adjustable.
Price: $124.90
On Sale - $112.41
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Product Reviews
Black Diamond Avalung II

Essential Backcountry Ski Gear
The next time your friends are doing a beacon practice, try holding your hold your breath until they uncover your beacon. That should be enough to convince you to always use an Avalung in steep terrain. The Avalung is well- designed, weighs the equivalent of two feathers and is not noticeable when you are wearing it. It slips on or off in a second.


Documented Lives Saved
I never plan to see whether it really works, but fairly light and affordable. The BD website documents one life that was definitely saved, and two other burials where it worked (although victims probably would have lived anyway). Any powder-oriented tour should require these.


Just in case
I have not had to use the Avalung and I intend to keep it that way but in Utah it easy to get in harms way. I like how small and easy the Avalung is to take on and off. Despite my best judgment powder has a tendency to lure me into places I probably should not be. So it seem like $100 is not to much to pay for added security.


Avalung II
I just bought the Avalung II. It arrived in a box with a precise manual on how to use it. What’s cool is its size (pretty slim) and that you can wear it with your backpack without any problem. I use it as an additional safety device next to the avalanche beeper and the AVS-Airbag system. Mouth peace could be bigger and more anatomically fitting, but one will only find out in an avalanche if the thing keeps in place.


wife of a rider
Stopping my husband from dropping cliffs or shooting a line is impossible. While there are large risks at stake, this piece of equipment gives me a little peace of mind. I bought him an avalung for Christmas and I thought it was very reasonably priced. He tells me it doesn't bother him or gets in his way while he rides. I have seen too much footage of avalanches and close calls for my husband and his friends. The way I look at it is, why WOULDN'T you want an extra piece of equipment to increase your chance of survival? He'll never stop riding until his body won't let him anymore, so in the mean time...he needs to have ALL of the stuff to bring him home.

Avalanche Beacons Avalanche Survival Probes Shovels Snow Study