Men's Journal

The Float 30 150-liter airbag backpack utilizes an odd avalanche phenomenon: Snow actually pushes you up as gravity pulls you down. Pull the trigger cable and the air pack inflates to its 150-liter size in just a few seconds, adding volume and increasing your body’s buoyancy. Think of it as a flotation device for skiers. As an added safety measure, the pack also holds 30 liters of gear and has tool pockets to stash a shovel and probe. ($499; backcountryaccess.com).

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This article originally appeared in the December 2009/January 2010 issue of Men’s Journal.