Arva, well known for their avalanche beacons, has just entered the airbag pack market. They unveiled the new Reactor System line of packs at the 2016 Outdoor Retailer Winter All Mountain Demo. I got an in-person demonstration, which I later found out was the very first North American deployment of this totally new airbag system.
The Reactor System is Arva’s very own, in-house innovation. According to the company, the big differences with the Arva packs are a proprietary cable handle system made with a thick, steel cable and a large, locking retractable handle that provides increased surface area for deployment pulls and a decreased chance of accidental discharges. The packs will also feature a double-chambered airbag, and true-to-size capacity construction.
In addition, the handle system is built with a 3-D Fit Technology. This means you get full left-to-right shoulder and height handle adjustment options based on your body height and hand-pulling preference. When not in use, the handle retracts into a locking position so it won’t get snagged on trees or anything that causes accidental deployment.
The dual-chambered airbag is another innovation. It is 150 liters and was designed to deliver upward motion in moving snow debris. Having two chambers also decreases the chance of full deflation due to punctures.
The Arva system uses nitrogen canisters that are pretty small and light weight compared to other airbag options.
The Reactor System packs will be available in the fall of 2016 with 18, 24, 32 and 40-liter capacity options.
For more about Arva, visit them at arva-equipment.com/us/