If the item is currently sold out, you can use the retailer search to find a retailer near you and buy the product there. Otherwise, we will endeavor to ensure that the relevant product is available again in the shop as soon as possible. You can contact customer service directly at any time and they may be able to tell you the next delivery date.
Your products will be shipped via DPD and only within the EU and Switzerland, as our trigger units etc. cannot be shipped by air freight. For this reason we cannot send products via express.
The order is usually shipped within 2 working days, and the estimated delivery time is displayed on the product detail page, in the shopping cart and on the order confirmation page.
Shipping takes a little longer for our retro items - your order will usually be shipped within 3-5 business days.
Shipping is free for orders over 100 EUR.
For orders under 100 EUR, shipping costs are 4.95 EUR to Germany and Austria. To the remaining EU countries EUR 9.95.
With the shipping confirmation you will receive a tracking number for your delivery by email. This way you can track the status of your delivery.
So that you don't have to wait long for your order, we process and ship it as quickly as possible. For this reason, it is unfortunately not possible to cancel or change your order. However, you are welcome to return the ordered goods to us.
We cannot offer you a direct exchange. Please place another order in the ABS online shop.
Items that you purchased from an ABS specialist retailer cannot be accepted as returns in the ABS online shop. Please contact the respective specialist retailer.
You can return your product within 14 days of delivery.
Costs for the return are borne by the buyer.
Please send the goods back to:
ABS Sports + Protection GmbH & Co. KG
Römerstrasse 18
D-84130 Dingolfing
After receiving your return, it will be processed immediately. As soon as we have received the return, you will receive an email from us. The purchase amount will be refunded in the same way you paid.
The following payment options are available to you in the ABS online shop:
Credit Card : You can pay for your order using Visa or MasterCard. The credit card details are encrypted using SSL to ensure the greatest possible security.
PayPal, Sofortüberweisung, iDeal, eps transfer, Bancontact : If you select these online payment options, you will automatically be asked to log in during the ordering process and confirm the payment in order to complete your purchase safely.
An avalanche is not a liquid mass, not a waterfall. The avalanche snow consists of snow crystals of various shapes. If these granules start to flow, the granulate parts rotate. The small parts crawl under the larger volume parts and push them up. There, this “segregation dynamic” subsides and the larger-volume, heavy parts sink back down. However, if a slab of snow has formed, these parts remain on the surface due to the large contact surface despite their greater weight. If a skier/snowboarder gets into an avalanche, the same thing happens. It is pushed upwards by the segregation effect. There the buoyancy dynamic breaks down and it immediately sinks back into the snow masses. It lacks the necessary support surface that balances its volume density with the density of the avalanche snow. An airbag provides the avalanche victim with the necessary support surface that prevents them from sinking back. Here you can read in detail how the ABS® technology is specifically designed for this.
The so-called head airbags, which enclose the upper body and head, are based on two considerations:
Both considerations have a fundamentally wrong approach:
The avalanche is not a liquid mass, it consists of snow crystals and is granules. In order to remain on the surface during the segregation process, all that counts is the additional contact surface created to compensate for the significantly higher mass density of humans compared to the significantly lower mass density of the avalanche snow.
The contact area generated by all head airbags is significantly smaller than that of the double airbags. The attachment around the upper body forces the avalanche victim into a vertical position, which means that the avalanche victim's torso is hardly available as a support surface. Above all, a vertical position in the snow masses promotes the extremely negative anchoring effect. If you get stuck and can no longer flow along with the avalanche in the run-out area, the risk of being buried is high, despite the inflated airbag.
The side-mounted double airbags, on the other hand, create a more effective contact surface and promote a horizontal position, which significantly reduces the anchoring effect.
Fall injuries to the upper body or neck area are rare. In addition, it has not been proven in practice that head airbags offer a protective effect - a helmet and back protectors offer significantly more effective protection. With airbags that enclose the head, there is also the risk of a wedge of snow forming between the head and the airbag, which can be dangerous for the avalanche victim's neck area. Therefore, the head area between the two ABS airbags is free so that avalanche snow can flow away. Under ABS technology you can take another look at the different effects with illustrations.
The aim of the ABS® Twinbag is to reduce turbulence in order to prevent serious injuries from falling. In practice, there were no serious fall injuries in around 300 registered cases - neither in the head, neck or back area (source: SLF, documented avalanche accidents with ABS airbag, August 2010).
Yes, because the heavier the snow, the greater its compaction and the smaller the contact surface that prevents it from sinking back. A typical wet spring snow has a density of around 600 grams per liter by volume. A loose snow avalanche, on the other hand, only has a density of 300-400 grams per liter by volume.
If the skier is already at the bottom of the valley and the avalanche falls on him in a roof avalanche effect, the chances of survival are very low, even with an avalanche airbag. You are then literally overwhelmed and covered in by the masses of snow. Even if you still have 30 or 40 meters to the bottom of the valley and the avalanche comes rushing in from a height of 200 to 300 meters, your chances of survival without an airbag are slim. With an airbag they are larger if the avalanche can spill over the valley floor and take the avalanche victim with it. However, such situations are the exception. Most avalanche victims release the snow slab themselves and end up in the avalanche flow right at the beginning.
Real subsequent avalanches are rather the exception. But what happens in most avalanches involving skiers or snowboarders is the subsequent flow of avalanche snow. The avalanche victims almost always fall into the valley with an airbag in the front area of the avalanche. On the one hand, this is due to the fact that they usually trigger the avalanche themselves, and on the other hand, the flow speed in the upper layers of the avalanche is greater than above the ground. When the avalanche ends, the avalanche victim with an airbag floating in front comes to a stop with the first deposits of snow. The avalanche victim with an ABS® TwinBag tends to lie flat on the snow surface due to the side attachment of the airbags. As the avalanche snow flows, it can push it further forward with each deposit and, in most cases, free itself from the snow masses very quickly.
If you want to move off-piste - with skis, snowboard or snowshoes - it is important to consider and internalize both. Prevention is the only way to avoid losing your life in an avalanche. Detecting and assessing avalanche danger is very complex. In our Protection Hub we have summarized the most important points about avalanche safety for you in 10 chapters so that you are as well prepared as possible. Nevertheless, weak spots in the snowpack can never be completely ruled out. Therefore, there is a residual risk of a snow slab or avalanche for anyone who leaves the secured area. That's why you should always carry an avalanche airbag and standard avalanche protection equipment such as an avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe.
The job of the ABS system is to prevent spillage. The purpose of the LVS devices is to quickly locate buried people. You cannot locate buried people with the ABS backpack and the avalanche transceivers cannot prevent burial. That's why both products are equally important. Aside from the fatal consequences of falling, burial is the cause of many fatal avalanche accidents. However, since even the ABS avalanche airbag cannot prevent burial in all conceivable situations, it is absolutely necessary to carry an avalanche transceiver with you. ABS avalanche airbag and LVS device, shovel and probe are therefore the optimal avalanche emergency equipment.
It's like in many other areas - the standard equipment is the minimum that should be available. With a functioning avalanche transceiver, a buried person is always found, although in many cases they are no longer alive. The options for live rescue are largely determined by factors that cannot be influenced by an avalanche transceiver, shovel and probe:
If you are only slightly buried and have a clear airway and a breathing cavity, you have a good chance of being rescued alive when experienced helpers come looking for you. The average burial depth is around one meter and three quarters of all buried people have blocked airways. In such a case, finding yourself within 15 - 20 minutes and digging yourself out so that your airways are clear and you can breathe again is often not possible. You only have by far the best chance of survival if your burial can be prevented. That's why we strongly recommend not leaving it with the standard equipment, but also taking the ABS avalanche airbag with you, which can prevent burial in an emergency.
Recco is an avalanche search system that works with passive reflectors and active search devices. The reflectors do not require their own energy supply and can therefore be installed cost-effectively in winter sports clothing and equipment. In contrast to the LVS devices, only mountain rescue services that are equipped with Recco search devices can specifically search for a buried person, usually from a helicopter. This search device sends out radio signals, which are reflected back by the reflectors in the clothing. Although the deployment times of rescue teams are becoming increasingly shorter, the search system must first be brought to the avalanche, which results in a significant loss of time. Therefore, Recco reflectors can only be classified as an additional aid.
The crotch strap (safety leash) of the backpack must always be tightened so that the avalanche backpack is not pulled over your head in an avalanche. The fact that a crotch strap is attached to the backpack is also required by the TÜV and in the instructions for use. A really tight hip belt and a closed chest strap are also essential.
P.RIDE Original & Compact: Here you can find the serial number on the white label on the 2 black pressure hoses.
Vario Base Unit & Powder Base Unit: Here you can find the serial number in the airbag bag on the white label on the black pressure hose.
On older ABS® backpacks, the serial number was written directly on the airbag with a marker.
Vario Base Units with the serial number 612 or 712 - Velcro weakness retrofitting recommendation
All European ABS trigger units steel (steel cartridge + handle) with a filling date until December 2nd, 2014
ABS backpacks with integrated twin bag system (double airbag), which have been on the market since 1996, also ABS Inside Partner models (Bergans, Dakine, Deuter, Haglöfs, Ortovox, Salewa, The North Face, Vaude)
Contact our customer service directly and stop using the product.
In our size table you can see which torso length fits which backpack size. The back length is measured between two points:
The top point is the top edge of the shoulder blade. Since this is not so easy to feel, there is a simple trick: the 7th cervical vertebra is at the same level. You can easily feel this by pressing your chin firmly down on your chest - then the 7th cervical vertebra will protrude slightly in the neck. The lower measuring point for back length is the top edge of the pelvic bone. The pelvic bone can be easily felt with your thumb by poking the hip at an angle from behind. Check it out in the video below.
If the ABS® backpack is very dirty, you can wash it by hand. Make sure that you only use soapy water and never aggressive cleaning agents such as lye and OxyCleaner. In addition, no water or liquid should get into the inflation and deflation unit on the airbag. After cleaning, the system must be completely dry before it is used, otherwise there is a risk of icing.
Due to the removable release handle, release is not possible if the handle is not properly docked. This prevents unauthorized or unintentional triggering.
Left-handed people find it very difficult to reach a release handle on the left and their reflexes are lost. With all ABS backpacks you can move the trigger device from left to right. All you have to do is replace the handle plate. Ask your dealer about a left-handed grip plate or order it directly in the shop.
No - unless icing is caused intentionally. You should therefore make sure that the Velcro fasteners protect the adapter connection on the pressure hose well, regardless of whether the release handle is docked or not. It is also important to treat the release handle carefully and to avoid any contamination of the pen or the opening of the pen. If it becomes dirty, do not clean the handle yourself, but replace it. This could trigger a trigger, where injuries cannot be ruled out. When exchanging, only the refill price will be charged. It is also important to note that the trigger handle must not be docked without a loaded cartridge being screwed in. If accidentally fired without a cartridge, the piercing system could be damaged, which could result in failure of the entire system. If this happens anyway, be sure to send the ABS backpack in for inspection.
Please do not try to pull out the pen yourself - risk of injury!
Send it to our customer service for exchange at the following address:
ABS Sports + Protection GmbH & Co. KG
Römerstrasse 18
D-84130 Dingolfing
The red cap only indicates the expiration date of the trigger handle. If you have lost the cap, this has no effect on the function, but it is important to pay attention to the expiry date of 3 years. To be on the safe side, write this down immediately after purchase.
Place a drop of ABS oil on the side surface above the notch on the trigger handle. Then push the plug-in coupling up and press the handle into the coupling - the sliding sleeve jumps forward. Repeat this process until the handle pops out of the clutch when you push the sleeve up. You may need to push the sleeve up the first time and push the coupling down manually to make sure it is actually in place. Now turn the clutch and the operating handle several times and then remove and install the operating handle several times. The release handle should ideally pop out of the clutch when you manually pull it up so that you can place your hand right next to it. Repeat these steps until the clutch works properly. If the handle does not “pop out” of the coupling, send the device to our customer service for repair.
With the cartridge, this can initially be determined visually. To do this, unscrew the protective cap and check the sealing plate. If the cartridge is punctured you can clearly see this. In principle, however, the possibility of a leak in the cartridge cannot be completely ruled out. The cartridge is under very high pressure. A hairline crack, a defect in the closure plate, the thread, etc. could lead to a leak and thus a loss of pressure - this would mean that the system would no longer be functional. It is therefore absolutely necessary to check the cartridge regularly before use. You can also check the weight of the cartridge, as the total weight without cap is stated on each cartridge. This check can be carried out very easily by reweighing; simply weigh the cartridge without the cap. If the deviation is more than 5 grams, a cartridge may not be used. In such a case, you will receive a free replacement from ABS.
On the release handle, a filling can be found on the pin of the release handle - no red band should be visible there. Because this is always visible when the handle has been released. In this case, the handle must be replaced by an ABS dealer or our customer service. The shelf life of the handle is three years and is shown on the side on a red cap. In May of the year shown there, the handle expires and must be replaced.
Yes, it can be handled that way. You should only weigh the cartridge at regular intervals to make sure it is completely filled. It's best to do this before every use. You can screw the cartridge out and in at any time without activating any preload mechanism, as is required with manual Bowden cable releases.
Yes. In an emergency, you should not wait until you are swept away by the avalanche to release it, but rather pull the release handle when you suspect that you may have stepped on a slab of snow. If it doesn't turn into an avalanche, all the better. But then you took the best possible precautions and in this case you only used one cartridge filling for free. In order to get the device ready for use again, you will need a second cartridge with a release handle. The cartridge and trigger handle are one unit, without a charged trigger handle you cannot ignite the cartridge and a charged trigger handle without a filled cartridge cannot inflate the airbags.
By only docking the release handle to the system when you go off-road. We strongly recommend always removing the release handle and storing it in the pocket on the hip belt when you are not off-road. In addition, the docked handle can be additionally secured with the Velcro strap.
The cartridges and trigger handles can only be refilled by the manufacturer. Dealers who sell camping gas, for example, cannot refill the cartridges. At ABS we attach great importance to correctly filling the cartridges, which is why they are only refilled by ABS directly in a controlled environment.
Replacement cartridges and handles are available from an ABS specialist dealer or from ABS Service . To do this, select the appropriate service product and send the backpack to the following address:
ABS Sports + Protection GmbH & Co. KG
Römerstrasse 18
D-84130 Dingolfing
With the carbon cartridge, ABS has significantly increased the quality level for avalanche airbags. At just 336g, the carbon cartridge weighs another 250g less than the steel cartridge and at the same time has significantly higher bursting values.
Yes, for both the cartridge and the trigger handles. The expiry date of the cartridges results from the maximum service life of the bottles and is stated on the cartridge. Steel cartridges usually expire after 10 years and carbon cartridges after 15 years. The number of refills is not limited and is not controlled.
The trigger handle should be triggered at least every three years, otherwise it must be replaced. The expiry date is located on a red plate on the side of the handle. The handle will last until at least May of the year shown.
No. The closure of all ABS cartridges is exclusively tailored to the ABS filling system. ABS cartridges can only be opened without problems in ABS filling systems. As the certifying body, TÜV explicitly states that ABS cartridges may only be used for ABS filling systems.
Since January 1, 2003, every ABS® backpack can be checked in as passenger luggage. With the decision IATA - DGR. Tab. 2.3.A regulates the transport. When booking, at the latest in good time before departure, you should register the ABS backpack separately so that you do not have any problems scanning the luggage. You can find the relevant section of the IATA regulations and a recommendation on how to register your ABS backpack and how you should check in under ABS on the plane . With the ABS TwinBag, the cartridge should be screwed in, but the release handle should be stored separately in the belt bag. Heliski operators in Europe, Asia, North and South America still handle the carrying and use of avalanche airbags differently. However, more and more companies are recognizing the importance and necessity of using or allowing avalanche airbags in their area. All national professional associations recommend the use of avalanche airbags when heli-skiing.
Special case North America: When traveling to and from the USA, there may be difficulties with the import of the cartridge and handle. Here we recommend flying with the ABS backpack without a trigger unit and renting the cartridge including handle from a local dealer . We will send relevant reference lists upon request.
The ABS airbag is a rescue device that can make the difference between life and death in an emergency. The manufacturer recommends sending the device in for a general check every three years, and a training session with a filled cartridge should be carried out before each season. Here you will find the right service products for you and your ABS product.
Before each season you should perform a training release with a filled cartridge. This allows you to check the function of the system and train the handle to trigger it. This move should function reflexively so that in an emergency you can react extremely quickly. To do this, screw in a filled cartridge and pull the release handle. You can then book a refill and have your empty cartridge exchanged for a full one. You can see how to screw the full cartridge into the system in the following video
If the recommended maintenance intervals of 3 seasons are adhered to, the service life depends largely on the level of use and usually only affects the pack bag. If used as directed and an average of 50 days of use per season, the ABS® system (not the backpack) can be expected to last 10 years. What is important is the recommended self-monitoring through annual training and regular maintenance by our customer service . After 10 years we can no longer offer a service or guarantee safe use.
Left-handed people find it very difficult to reach a release handle on the left and their reflexes are lost. With the ABS EASYTECH system you can move the trigger device from left to right.
With the cartridge, this can initially be determined visually. To do this, unscrew the protective cap and check the sealing plate. If the cartridge is punctured you can clearly see this. In principle, however, the possibility of a leak in the cartridge cannot be completely ruled out. The cartridge is under very high pressure. A hairline crack, a defect in the closure plate, the thread, etc. could lead to a leak and thus a loss of pressure - this would mean that the system would no longer be functional. It is therefore absolutely necessary to check the cartridge regularly before use. You can also check the weight of the cartridge, as the total weight without cap is stated on each cartridge. This check can be carried out very easily by reweighing; simply weigh the cartridge without the cap. If the deviation is more than 5 grams, a cartridge may not be used. In such a case, you will receive a free replacement from ABS.
When the system is activated, the indicator shows green in the system unit's viewing window.
Now make sure you screw in a full cartridge. The airbag now deploys when you pull on the handle.
If the circle on the system unit is red, the system must first be activated and a cartridge must be screwed in.
1. Activate the system by pushing the lever once to the left until it makes a “click” sound. The lever can now be moved back to its original position to the right without pressure. The display now shows green in the viewing window of the system unit.
2. Now make sure that you screw in a full cartridge, this will trigger the airbag,
when the handle is pulled.
Yes, it can be handled that way. You should only weigh the cartridge at regular intervals to make sure it is completely filled.
Yes. In an emergency, you should not wait until you are swept away by the avalanche to release the trigger, but rather pull the release handle when you suspect that you may have stepped on a slab of snow. If it doesn't turn into an avalanche, all the better. But then you took the best possible precautions and in this case you only used one cartridge filling for free. In order to get the device ready for use again, you will need a second cartridge.
There is a rubber tab on the handle
attached, with which the handle can be fixed in order to avoid accidental release. In addition, the triggering can occur without a cartridge inserted
can be tested off indefinitely.
The cartridges can only be refilled by the manufacturer. Dealers who sell camping gas, for example, cannot refill the cartridges. At ABS we attach great importance to correctly filling the cartridges, which is why they are only refilled by ABS directly in a controlled environment.
Replacement cartridges are available from an ABS specialist dealer or from ABS Service . To do this, select the appropriate service product and send the backpack to the following address:
ABS PRODUCTION
Römerstrasse 18
84130 Dingolfing
Germany
With the carbon cartridge, ABS has significantly increased the quality level for avalanche airbags. At just 336g, the carbon cartridge weighs another 250g less than the steel cartridge and at the same time has significantly higher bursting values.
Yes. The expiry date of the cartridges results from the maximum service life of the bottles and is stated on the cartridge. Steel cartridges usually expire after 10 years and carbon cartridges after 15 years. The number of refills is not limited and is not controlled.
No. The closure of all ABS cartridges is exclusively tailored to the ABS filling system. ABS cartridges can only be opened without problems in ABS filling systems. As the certifying body, TÜV explicitly states that ABS cartridges may only be used for ABS filling systems.
Since January 1, 2003, every ABS® backpack can be checked in as passenger luggage. With the decision IATA - DGR. Tab. 2.3.A regulates the transport. When booking, at the latest in good time before departure, you should register the ABS backpack separately so that you don't have any problems scanning the luggage. You can find the relevant section of the IATA regulations and a recommendation on how to register your ABS backpack and how you should check in under ABS on the plane .
Heliski operators in Europe, Asia, North and South America still handle the carrying and use of avalanche airbags differently. However, more and more companies are recognizing the importance and necessity of using or allowing avalanche airbags in their area. All national professional associations recommend the use of avalanche airbags when heli-skiing. On our partner page you will find an overview of the heliski companies that cooperate with ABS.
Special case North America: When traveling to and from the USA, there may be difficulties with the import of cartridges. Here we recommend flying with the ABS backpack without a trigger unit and renting the cartridge from a local dealer . We will send relevant reference lists upon request.
The ABS airbag is a rescue device that can make the difference between life and death in an emergency. The manufacturer recommends sending the device in for a general check every three years, and a training session with a filled cartridge should be carried out before each season. Here you will find the right service products for you and your ABS product.
Before each season you should perform a training release with a filled cartridge. This allows you to check the function of the system and train the handle to trigger it. This move should function reflexively so that in an emergency you can react extremely quickly.
With the EASYTECH system you have two options:
1. Triggering with a screwed-in cartridge to test the function of the system. To do this, screw in a filled cartridge and pull the release handle. You can then book a refill and have your empty cartridge exchanged for a full one.
2 Triggering without the cartridge screwed in to train the handle. Make sure that you have activated the system before the trigger and that the indicator in the system unit's viewing window is green. Triggering can now be practiced without a cartridge. When you pull on the release handle, you will hear a loud “click” sound as well as haptic feedback when the release is successful. On the system unit, the display in the viewing window is now red. Before the next trigger, the lever must be pushed back to the other side to activate the system. This means you can practice pulling on the release handle without triggering the airbag and having to replace a cartridge.
If the recommended maintenance intervals of 3 seasons are adhered to, the service life depends largely on the level of use and usually only affects the pack bag. If used as directed and an average of 50 days of use per season, the ABS® system (not the backpack) can be expected to last 10 years. What is important is the recommended self-monitoring through annual training and regular maintenance by our customer service . After 10 years we can no longer offer a service or guarantee safe use.
Supercapacitors provide energy without a chemical reaction (unlike batteries) and are therefore almost insensitive to temperature, so they perform much better than batteries at very low temperatures, making them the ideal energy source for an avalanche airbag. In addition, their lifespan is much longer than that of a battery because supercapacitors do not wear out through charge and discharge cycles.
No, the 2 AA batteries give the E2 an autonomy of several months and it is therefore not necessary to regularly recharge the supercapacitor. Two new alkaline batteries inserted after charging the supercapacitors provide an autonomy of about 2-3 months, with lithium batteries (not rechargeable) the autonomy is 3-4 months.
The SuperCapacitors can be charged with batteries or with USB. The USB plug takes priority over the batteries, meaning if you plug in the USB plug while batteries are in the E2/E1, USB charging will occur without discharging the batteries. When you unplug the USB plug, charging occurs automatically using the batteries.
Technically you can use the E2/E1 without batteries if the SuperCapacitors are charged. However, the autonomy is limited to 15-30 hours, charging after inflation is not possible, and the time to turn on the pressure relief valve after inflation is also limited. We recommend not using the E2/E1 without AA batteries and always carrying sufficiently charged batteries. Please note that using the E2/E1 without batteries will not alter or damage the system in any way.
No, supercapacitors are not batteries, and they have the advantage of being able to be stored for long periods of time (months, years) without needing to be recharged, without changing how they work. When the supercapacitors are completely discharged after a few months, they can be recharged using USB or batteries. Note that the charging time is longer than after inflation because the supercapacitors are completely discharged.
Remove only the AA batteries and store in a suitable place (dry and protected from the sun)
Yes, the E2 airbag system can be removed from the backpack. It only takes a few minutes to assemble/disassemble an airbag system.
It's best to take the backpack with you into the cabin so you can explain that it is a system without cartridges and without batteries, but that it works with two AA batteries. If you have further questions, you can print out the technical documentation at https://www.alpride.com/user-manual.
