A VERSATILE BACKPACK THAT CAN SAVE YOUR LIFE

Avalanche airbags can be a lifesaver when you’re out snowmobiling, snowshoeing, or backcountry skiing — they help you stay on top of the snow during an avalanche. They can also be a headache for travelers, since airbag systems that require compressed-air canisters aren’t allowed on commercial flights. Ortovox’s new LiTRIC system (co-designed with Arcteryx) helps solve that problem. The system uses supercapacitors and a rechargeable battery — all TSA-approved — to deploy the airbag, and it’s also lightweight and easy to use. As an added bonus: Since there are no cartridges to replace, you can deploy the airbag for practice or testing at no cost. The battery lasts up to 60 hours and can deploy the attached airbag twice on one charge (an LED display with lights indicates battery status). Ortovox’s new Avabag LiTRIC Tour backpacks have the built-in LiTRIC system and come in 28- to 40-liter versions, while the smaller Freeride series comes in 16- to 28-liter options. Each bag includes a separate front compartment for stowing shovel, probe, other emergency equipment, and outside loops and attachments for skis, snowshoes, ropes, and ice ax. Access the bag’s main compartment through a zipper that completely opens the front of the pack, making it easy to find gear. What even more ingenious: You can fully unzip and detach the front half of your Avabag LiTRIC pack and replace it with another Ortovox zip-on front from the Tour or Freeride series. $1,200$1,400. The unisex bag comes in regular and short versions. www.ortovox.com