Ski & Snowboard · Head-to-head
Ortovox Avabag Litric Tour 40 vs BCA Float 32 Avalanche Airbag 2.0
Which should you buy? Our verdict on both, pulled from our full The Best Avalanche Airbag Packs: 4 Compared (and One to Skip) comparison.
The Litric Tour 40 removes the two biggest hassles of airbag ownership, paying for practice deployments and flying with a gas cartridge, while staying among the lighter packs here. The Float 32 2.0 costs less and uses a simple refillable cylinder, at the price of more weight and a refill trip after every pull.
Ortovox Avabag Litric Tour 40
Buy itA 40 litre touring airbag pack with Ortovox's electric LiTRIC system, USB-C charging, and unlimited test activations at no extra cost.
- Ortovox says the LiTRIC system charges fully in about 25 minutes over USB-C and that one charge allows at least two activations.
- You can test the activation as many times as you like at no additional cost, which makes regular practice realistic.
- Ortovox's LiTRIC technical data sheet lists EN 16716:2017 and an EU type-examination certificate from TUV Sud, and Ortovox says there are no travel limitations for the cartridge-free system.
- It sits at the top of the price range in this group.
- At 2460 g listed weight it is not light, though it is lighter than the ABS Vario 30L before that pack's cartridge goes in.
- Ortovox's US site listed the Tour 40 as not available to order online when checked, so you may need a dealer.
BCA Float 32 Avalanche Airbag 2.0
Buy itBCA's best-selling Float pack: 32 litres, a 150 litre airbag, and a compressed-air cylinder you can refill at authorized locations.
- BCA lists a 150 litre airbag and a dedicated rescue tools compartment for shovel and probe.
- The Float 2.0 cylinder is refillable, and BCA points to about 200 authorized refill locations around the world.
- BCA's EU declaration of conformity for the Float 2.0 range, including the Float 32, lists DIN EN 16716:2017.
- It is the heaviest buy here at 2942 g with a full cylinder, and the cylinder is sold separately.
- Every pull, practice included, empties the cylinder and needs a refill or exchange.
- Flying means emptying the cylinder and removing its head before the airport, then refilling at your destination.
Side by side
The 8 criteria below are the ones our full comparison judged every product on, narrowed to these two.
| Ortovox Avabag Litric Tour 40 Our pick | BCA Float 32 Avalanche Airbag 2.0 | |
|---|---|---|
| Our verdict | Buy | Buy |
| Best for | Ski tourers who want to practise deployments freely and who fly to ski, and who can afford the premium price. | Riders in North America who want a proven, lower-cost airbag pack and live near a Float refill location. |
| Price tier | $$$ · premium | $$ · mid-range |
| Inflation system | Electric (LiTRIC, supercapacitors) | Compressed air (Float 2.0 cylinder) |
| Pack volume | 40 L | 32 L |
| Listed weight | 2460 g complete | 2942 g with full cylinder |
| Airbag volume (maker) | Not stated | 150 L |
| Standard in maker documents | EN 16716:2017 (data sheet) | DIN EN 16716:2017 (EU DoC) |
| Energy source included | Yes, built in | No, cylinder sold separately |
| Practice deployments | Unlimited at no cost | Each pull needs a refill |
| Back sizes | Regular (36S short version sold separately) | Torso 44.4 to 52.1 cm |
Which one is right for you?
Pick the Ortovox Avabag Litric Tour 40 if
ski tourers who want to practise deployments freely and who fly to ski, and who can afford the premium price.
Know before buying: it sits at the top of the price range in this group.
Pick the BCA Float 32 Avalanche Airbag 2.0 if
riders in North America who want a proven, lower-cost airbag pack and live near a Float refill location.
Know before buying: it is the heaviest buy here at 2942 g with a full cylinder, and the cylinder is sold separately.
The bottom line
Our overall pick is the Ortovox Avabag Litric Tour 40 - A 40 litre touring airbag pack with Ortovox's electric LiTRIC system, USB-C charging, and unlimited test activations at no extra cost. Choose the BCA Float 32 Avalanche Airbag 2.0 instead if riders in North America who want a proven, lower-cost airbag pack and live near a Float refill location.
Want the full picture, including the other options we compared and the popular one we'd skip? Read the complete The Best Avalanche Airbag Packs: 4 Compared (and One to Skip).