bd jetforce tour 26

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​ Gear Review: Black Diamond JetForce Tour vs JetForce Pro Avalanche Airbag Backpack

Posted by Dan Goodman on 28th Oct 2020

Avalanche airbag backpacks are an investment worth taking seriously. Not only are they a potentially life-saving tool for backcountry skiing, but they’re also undeniably expensive.

Although there are some commonalities across all airbag packs, there are also critical differences you’ll want to consider when looking at avalanche backpacks, even from a given brand.

Black Diamond’s fan-powered JetForce Airbag Backpacks are undisputed class leaders in this space. In addition to being reusable and easy to transport on a plane, they’ve also proven to be extremely reliable, which has made them a popular choice among the backcountry touring set.

That said, there’s a reason that Black Diamond chose to make more than one model of their famous JetForce Airbag Backpacks.

The main difference between these two Black Diamond backpacks boils down to the JetForce Tour using the Alpride E1 airbag system, which is lighter than the JetForce Pro Airbag system, but isn’t as robust and takes up more room in the pack. The Pro also adds on some other useful features, which translates to increased weight and price.

But, leaving it at that overlooks the main reasons you’d want to trust your life to either of these ski packs.

Let’s take a deeper dive into the important aspects of an avy pack to see how these two Black Diamond ski backpacks stack up. We'll explore differences in pack weight, price, airbag systems, and unique features of each before reaching a conclusion about each one.

Weight isn’t everything... unless you’re skiing out of bounds.

Backcountry skiers are notoriously hard-headed and stubborn when it comes to weight. If a backcountry enthusiast isn’t telling you about how lightweight their boots are, they’re almost certainly bragging about their pack weight.

Both of these Black Diamond ski backpacks come in at relatively low weights for avalanche backpacks, especially since neither of them use a canister system. But, the Tour weighs up to 12 ounces less than the Pro model. That’s the better part of a pound, which you will likely start to notice at the end of the day, or a week into your next hut trip.

Advantage: JetForce Tour 26 Avalanche Airbag Backpack

We realize that the price-conscious backcountry traveler may overlook all of the JetForce models in the first place. After all, spending $1,200 or more on a ski backpack might seem extravagant when you consider that it’s a piece of gear you hope you never need to use in it’s full capacity.

But, the fact that the Tour is $200 less than the Pro is worth mentioning if the price is a big hang-up for you. That is, after all, conveniently just less than a brand new Carbon Whippet Ski Pole .

Airbag System

Here’s where we find the first striking difference between these two avalanche backpacks.

The JetForce Tour features the Alpride E1 airbag system, a fan-based design charged by supercapacitors that power a radial compressor fan to quickly inflate the 170-liter airbag. These supercapacitors live inside of the airbag system and can be charged via micro USB or by two AA batteries, for a full charge within an hour, making it user friendly for hut trips.

The JetForce Pro also sports a proprietary JetForce Pro system. This system utilizes a rechargeable lithium battery that powers the inflation of the 200-liter airbag.

On the surface, both appear to offer similar benefits. Both are lightweight, easy to travel with, and because they are fan-based, they let users practice operating the system without having to pay every time they do so.

While that completes the list of benefits for the Alpride E1 system, the JetForce is just getting started. Not only does the JetForce Pro airbag offer options for greater inflated volume, vital to staying on top in an avalanche, it also offers more in terms of usability and safety features.

Unlike the Alpride E1, the JetForce Pro system doesn’t stop running once the bag is fully inflated. It features a puncture recovery mode that continues to inflate the airbag in case it is punctured or torn during an avalanche. And after three minutes, the fan reverses and fully deflates the airbag to create a 200-liter air pocket, which could buy you precious time under the snow.

The JetForce system also offers multiple deployments, up to four, on a single charge, meaning that you don’t have to worry if your battery isn’t completely charged when you head out the door.

It also connects via Bluetooth to the Pieps app so you can easily update the firmware at any time.

Yes, the JetForce Pro system is heavier and more expensive, but truthfully, we think those drawbacks are worth it for the advantages it offers over the Alpride E1 system.

Advantage: JetForce Pro 25 Avalanche Airbag Backack

Unique Features

When compared with other packs on the market, both offer some unique options like the ability to switch the airbag handle to either shoulder strap, tuck-away diagonal ski carry that lets you inflate the airbag with your skis on your back, and status indicator lights that tell you if your system is working properly.

But, when put head to head, the differences become obvious.

For starters, and this is a big one, the airbag system in the Tour takes up an obnoxious amount of usable interior space, where the Pro is tucked neatly out of the way.

In addition to reducing your storage area considerably, the Tour’s airbag system is activated by turning a small knob that lives inside the pack’s main compartment. This is next to impossible to achieve without spilling the contents of your pack everywhere, especially while wearing gloves.

In comparison, theJetForce Pro can be readily activated or deactivated with the push of a button on the airbag handle. This handle also conveniently houses the status indicator lights, so you can check your battery and turn the system on without needing to remove your pack. To say this adds convenience would be a massive understatement.

Black Diamond also gave the Pro a modular system, meaning that for only $69.95, you can swap out the 25L pack size for a 10-liter, 35-liter, or 25-liter splitboard booster pack, giving you options for everything from heli-skiing to dawn patrols before work to multi-day hut trips.

Add on the retractable leg-loop strap with attached carabiner, roomy avy tools pocket, and a more ergonomic ski carry, and you have a ski backpack that’s more versatile and overall better suited to serious backcountry use.

Advantage: JetForce Pro 25 Avalanche Airbag Pack

Despite similar names and designs, these two Black Diamond backpacks have substantially different components.

If you want to get something that lets you go as light as possible and gets you a reusable airbag at a lower price, the JetForce Tour has what you need.

However, if you’ve already made peace with spending four figures on an airbag pack, the extra features offered by the JetForce Pro easily justify the increased cost and weight. Overall, we think it’s the better choice for anyone who wants a more convenient design and doesn’t mind carrying around a few extra ounces on their back.

About Campman

Campman is an outdoor retail store located in Salt Lake City, Utah, that specializes in gear and equipment for camping, skiing, backpacking, climbing, and everything in between. We understand that the difference between a bad memory and the adventure of a lifetime can come down to the gear you take with you when you head outdoors, and we want our customers to have the best experiences possible. When it comes to getting outside, we get it, and we’ll get you the gear you need to get there.

About the Author

Most of the year, Dan can be found chasing the best climbing conditions he can get his hands on, and in the dead of winter, he’ll settle for chasing powder on his snowboard. He’s constantly seeking out better gear, testing new climbing shoes, backpacks, sleeping bags, and more to make his life in the outdoors a bit more comfortable. When he’s not outside putting his gear to good use, he’s writing about the products that he knows best.

• Avalanche Safety Gear
• Black Diamond
• Black Diamond JetForce Tour 26L Avalanche Airbag Pack
• Black Diamond JetForce Pro 25 Avalanche Airbag Pack
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Out of stock, jetforce tour 26l backpack.

Black Diamond's Jetforce Tour 26L features the new Alpride E1 airbag system, which is one of the lightest electrical airbag systems that's offered on the market. The system runs using supercapacitator technology, which replaces the traditional lithium ion battery to save weight and be less susceptible to changes in performance in very cold temperatures—a huge bonus when you're out in extremely cold conditions. No cartridges are necessary, making this system extremely travel-friendly, and you can also practice with it without having to worry about refilling cartridges, meaning you'll be better prepared in the event of an emergency. The Alpride E1 system easily charges in an hour with a micro USB, and can also be charged in about 40 minutes with two AA batteries while you're out in the backcountry. To make it more second-nature if you do ever need to deploy the system, Alpride designed the trigger so it can sit on whatever side you prefer.

With a generous 26-liter capacity, the pack itself has all the bells and whistles for a day in the backcountry. The main compartment accommodates your food, water, layers, and first aid kit, and the separate compartment for your shovel and probe keeps them quickly accessible. An adjustable hip belt with a stash pocket keeps your inclinometer or sunscreen close at hand, and the included leg loop prevents the pack from being pulled over your head if you deploy it during a slide.

• Airbag pack for backcountry skiing and snowboarding
• Fan-based airbag is fully electronic for easy travel
• Supercapacitor technology functions reliably in the cold
• System charges easily with a micro USB or two AA batteries
• Deploy trigger sits on either shoulder for efficient deployment
• Avalanche safety compartment for quick access in an emergency
• Spacious main compartment accommodates all your essentials
• Item #BLD00ZV

Overall Rating

4 based on 22 ratings

Review Summary

Fits true to size.

What do you think about this product?

January 1, 2021

great day pack

lightweight avy bag for a day trip. works great i didn't have any problems with leaking ink as mentioned by other reviewers. Perhaps they fixed that problem, or perhaps it doesn't happen in cold weather. the pack is spacious. plenty of room to overpack on a day trip. the waist belt is small. i need to take off my gloves to operate it. it is a bit inconvenient that the on/off switch is buried so far in the pack. but not that big of a deal. easy to repack the bag after it is deployed. i traveled with it and didn't have any issues going thru security as a carry on

February 14, 2020

Comortable, has all the right things

I work as an avalanche instructor, I got this bag so that I could demonstrate an airbag deployment to students as many are curious about airbags. Great to be able to do this and not need cartrages. I have a few cretiques in order of priority: Hard to get into the bag to turn it on when the pack is full or you are wearing gloves. 30L would be a better size and allow me to pack a puffy jacket. outer pocket is slightly small for some of the larger shovle blades out there.

Originally reviewed on blackdiamondequipment.com

February 7, 2020

Dyed my jacket

As everyone said, dyed a jacket with jetforce tour.

February 5, 2020

Best airbag pack on the market!

Use daily as Heli Ski Guide pack. Fits well and skis well!

January 30, 2020

Alpride E1 System is Great. Pack is ok at best

I have had this pack one week and it has already ruined a goretex jacket. The black dye leached into the jacket and even after hand washing the jacket is permenantly dyed. Really unhappy about that. Summary: Good pack, not really tailored to touring. I toured with this for 7 days 8-9 hours a day. The pack has good storage space, and the dedicated shovel/probe pocket is great. I would say this pack better suited to patrolling inbounds. That said it is a heavy pack with extra strap material, and superfluous padding that should have been cut for weight. (not padding between back and pack, but outside of pack facing the air) Pros: -Sturdy, well put together and should last a long time -Alpride E1 is amazing -Integrated helmet holder is clutch Cons: -Poor quality dye leached into jacket (really really big con) -Extra weight for a touring pack, should have cut some of the foam -Does not shift weight to the hips well, for touring your shoulders will get sore after a couple days with any real weight in the pack

January 17, 2020

Very light and comfortable

This aval bag is very different than my Mammut bag, so it took a little getting use to packing. Super comfortable touring with, but bucket is a little small, so difficult to use with gloves. There much more room it the main area than appears because of space above the fan. Wish it included a water bladder pouch.

January 14, 2020

Visual aids?

Seems like a nice pack. Where on earth can I find a video or photos explaining the pack with all the straps, and how everything sits on it? Especially the diagonal ski strap set up. Nothing in instructions.

January 3, 2020

Great for Day of Touring

Pretty pumped with this pack. Bought one last year for ski touring/patrolling and got another one dedicated setup for snowmobiling. Pack is light and easy to get in/out of. Took a bit of figuring and googling to understand the diagonal ski carry setup but once you get it it works great. Make sure to lock in your helmet strap in the helmet carry. Really like being able to test/practice the pulling motion - makes me feel more comfortable and prepared to use in a real situation. Also I like that it is easy to check the battery and you can recharge with new batteries on the fly or via usb in the truck/house or battery pack.. Unless you deploy, it stays charged for a dang long time - I have never had it lose charge on its own in a season (I do pull it every once and a while then have to recharge). Overall, love it, lighter and more simple to use than the canister packs in my opinion.

November 30, 2019

Very awesome! Great combination of features.

I bought one last year. The capacitor does its job well. I changed the AA batteries at the beginning of every month, light stayed green, ot was used approximately 45 days last year. I like smaller packs, makes it hard to take too much stuff. The pack has just enough room for the essentials. I tested it a couple times during the season, took the batteries out during the summer. I charged the capacitor at the beginning of this season and it is good to go. I wish the cord was USB-C. I am 6'8" the strap that goes between the legs isn't long enough for me so I added a carribeaner.

October 17, 2019

Light and rechargeable, but needs refinement

I've got a half season on this pack mostly for snowmobile use in Alaska. Pros: I love the size, weight, and the idea behind the supercapacitor. After an initial charge and installation of lithium Energizers I never did have to charge it again for the remaining 3 month season even after a few test discharges. Overall a decent pack that is definitely geared for the backcountry skier. Cons: I'd like to see pockets on each side of the hip belt. I'd like to see the on/off switch on the handle rather than in the main pocket. BD is not accommodating to snowboarders. I am not able to strap my board to my pack in ride mode. Would be tough in tour mode. SIDE NOTE: This model does not have an auto-deflate option and pressure maintenance like their jet-fan lithium battery system did. This is likely because a capacitor discharges extremely quickly. So the initial discharge is sufficient to fill the bag, whereas a battery system can discharge slower allowing for the pressure maintenance and deflate option. Thought y'all should be aware of this. So the trade off is weight savings for safety features.

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October 15, 2020

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JETFORCE TOUR PACK 26L

Featuring the latest advancement in avalanche airbag technology, the Black Diamond JetForce Tour uses the new Alpride E1 airbag system, which is electrically powered by cutting-edge supercapacitors. This powerful, fan-based system charges via both a micro USB and AA batteries, and is housed in a 26-liter pack that stores essential avalanche safety equipment as well as the gear you need for a day in the backcountry. The Black Diamond JetForce Tour utilizes the rapid-discharging, capacitor-based Alpride E1 system, which is a new innovation in airbag pack technology. Featuring a fully-electronic, turbine-based fan system powered by supercapacitors, the JetForce Tour is cartridge free, making travel easy, and it charges via a micro USB and two AA batteries. The system is compact and simple to use, with a single on/off switch and blinking status indicator lights that can be visibly checked from the outside of the pack while being worn. The pack's mechanical deploy trigger can be switched from shoulder to shoulder for customized preference, and once the pack is deployed, two AA batteries will recharge the capacitors in less than one hour while in the field. The pack features a dedicated avalanche safety pocket, which stows a shovel handle, probe and shovel blade perfectly. The spacious main compartment stores the sleek Alpride E1 system and is easily accessible with a length zipper that gives the pack a convenient, front-loading design. At 26-liters, there's plenty of room to stash extra layers, food, water and emergency gear. The comfortable hip-belt features a stash pocket and also comes with a standard leg-loop to keep the pack from being pulled overhead in the case of an avalanche.

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Black Diamond JetForce Tour 26L

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Review: Black Diamond JetForce Tour 26L Avalanche Airbag

The JetForce Tour was built with the same impeccable quality and reliability you can expect from a Black Diamond product. I’ve gone on 10 tours in the Wasatch with this pack and have put it through the ringer (except for an avalanche). Enough days and hours to be able to review the pack in the following categories: Technology, Functionality, Size, Weight/Comfort, and Price.  Note, this is my first avi pack, but I did plenty of research before getting this pack and feel like I can make an accurate comparison.

Reviewing an avalanche airbag pack can be, in my opinion, difficult and sometimes pointless. We look to buy an avalanche pack in hopes that I will save our lives in the event you’re caught in a slide. Yet, how many reviews claim the pack is awesome, or 5-stars, without truly testing it for its primary function? Saving your life. So if we assume this pack, like all other avi-packs, will function properly when needed, I will go ahead with my review of the bag.

The Tour 26L comes with the Swiss built Alpride E1 airbag system, a fully electronic avalanche airbag. Unlike the traditional gas canister inflating airbags, this pack relies on a supercapacitor (very fast discharging battery) to power a fan that inflates the bag. But unlike a battery, super capacitors are unaffected by temperatures. This system performs the same at temperatures from -22F to 104F. Another way this pack differs from the traditional one, this pack is capable of inflating more than once during a tour. 2x AA batteries can recharge the supercapacitor in 40minutes after the bag is deployed once. This can be a life-savor on a long tour or multi-day trip where gas refills are near impossible. 

Not only could this save your life in the rare event you get caught in multiple slides, or prevent you from having to decide whether or not to deploy your pack in a small slide which still could be fatal. 

The bag is recharged in 20min via micro-usb, so you can pull your ripcord and test your bag as much as you would like, free of charge and without needing refills. Now you can practice, with or without, your gear on.

Functionality

The Tour 26 is a minimalist’s version of an Avalanche Airbag Pack. There is just enough to keep you safe in the mountains, while being able to bringing the essentials along. 

From the fan perspective, it is very simple to arm, deploy, and disarm. To turn on the fan, simply enter the main compartment, unzip the case that covers the fan, pull the dial outward and turn it 90degrees clockwise. The fan will beep twice, signaling it is armed. To deploy the airbag, ensure the rip cord is unzipped from the shoulder strap, and pull with a moderate amount of force. This will inflate the bag fully within a couple seconds. To deflate the airbag, you must enter the main compartment again, unzip the fan cover again to find a valve. Press on the air bag while you have the valve turned to the open position until all the air is removed from the airbag, allowing it to be folded back up and packed into the airbag compartment. To disarm, turn off, the fan, repeat the step to turn it on and this time it will only beep once. To double check if the bag is on or off, a green/orange/red light can be visible from the outside of the pack by the fan’s intake screen. The colored lights indicate the fan’s battery level.

The airbag is contained by a perforated zipper at the top of the bag. At first, tricky to figure out, but after a few re-packs, you get the hang of it. The zipper that closes the compartment has a small opening at the top that does not completely close. A small bit of velcro covers the open zipper. This allows the bag to open as the airbag inflates, ensuring nothing prevents it from expanding. 

Another critical feature is the waist strap clasp. Rather than a buckle that could break, this comes with an interlocking clasps. Additionally, this pack has an integrated leg loop that attaches, between your legs, to your hip strap to prevent the back from being pulled over your head in the event of an avalanche. 

On the hip belt, there is also a small pocket for snacks or tools on the right side, as well as an ice tool/gear loop on your left hip.

Packing things in, and out, of this bag is relatively straight forward. I have had issues with an overloaded pack and attempting to use the ski carrying loops result in the airbag compartment zipper opening up.  Which is definitely annoying, but not the end of the world. Does not compromise the airbag’s effectiveness if needed.

26L is a relatively small pack. Perfect for a day tour? Well I guess that all depends on what you like to carry on your tour. In the main compartment of my pack; I usually have my shell, skins, mirrorless camera, and a 1L water bottle. In the avalanche equipment dedicated pocket; I have my shovel, probe, snow saw, snow study kit, and a multi-tool. And lastly, in the zipper pocket inside the dedicated avi pocket I usually include spare batteries, snacks, and keys. Some days, if I’m not meticulous about how I fold up my gear or pack it away, the pack seems overly stuffed and cumbersome. If I had the option to go up a size, I would probably go up to a 32L. But like someone once said, “A bigger pack just means it’ll get filled with more crap.” And I guess that’s true. The 26L requires me to be precise with my gear. Bringing only what will keep me safe and what I need. I have yet to be underprepared on a day tour. Safe to say, unless I wanted to be the smelliest, hungriest, and coldest guy on a hut trip, there’s no way this could be my only bag on a multi-day trip.

The space that the fan system and airbag take up is relatively minimal, and expected among all avalanche airbag packs. But just note, this is not a regular backpack, so don’t expect to have 100% freedom inside the backpack to put things anywhere you want.

Weight/Comfort

This pack weighs 5lbs 11oz. For comparison, the popular, BCA Float 32 weighs 6lbs 7oz including the full system with cylinder

This is the lightest electrical system on the market, and the exact same pack weight as the most popular, entry avi-pack on the market. Wearing it, does not feel heavy at all compared to any normal backpack. The fan system is located at the bottom of the bag, which keeps the center of gravity lower so that you don’t feel top-heavy while skiing with it on your back.

At $1,999.95 the price of this bag is pretty steep. Among the fan-powered airbags, it has pretty common price +/- $50. Most compressed air-deployed bags run between $400-$800, with the BCA Float 32 coming in at $549.95.

But wait! The air canister is not included in those prices! So after you go and drop $600 on your new avalanche airbag pack, you have to go out a $179 Float 2.0 Cylinder. So the price is now nearly $200 more. And even factoring in the $20 it costs to refill you cylinder after a deployment, it’d take 23 refills for the price of the BCA Float 32 to equal the Tour 26. Still, drastically cheaper than the BD Jetforce Tour 26 out of the box though.

The way I see it, an Avalanche Airbag is the most expensive thing you hope you’ll never need. But when you need it, you want to make sure it’s guaranteed to work, right? And with that, you’ll need to practice. Most people who have air canister airbags will practice maybe once, or at most, twice before heading out into the backcountry. And rarely are they fully geared up when they practice. So who’s to say they’ll be comfortable, and confident enough to safely deploy their airbag when needed. 

The peace of mind that an electronic airbag provides because it’s free to practice over and over again, is priceless. Since getting my bag, I regularly deploy it before and after tours. Practice, practice, practice. 

Pros:  Technology is unparalleled Reliability as long as it’s charged Ease of use and re-use  Multiple deployments on a tour Weight is not heavy at all

Cons: Size is smaller than you’d like You have to open the pack every time to power on/off the fan Price is expensive

I’m enjoying this pack more and more, every time I get out into the backcountry. If you’re in the market for a new avi-pack, or just your first one and you can afford it, go for the Jetforce. 

**Note** 

I purchased this bag at a drastically reduced price. Unfortunately, if I hadn’t, I probably would have went with a BCA bag due to the price. And that would have been a mistake. This bag is worth every penny. Especially if it saves my life.

Hi there, my name is Zachary Kenney and I’m an adventure filmmaker & photographer.  My passion is to tell stories that will hopefully motivate you to go live a more adventurous life. Whether that is to experience the view from the summit of a mountain, or wandering through a new town on a road trip. Currently based out of Park City, UT.

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Hey, nice review. Just wanted to point out I’m pretty sure your listed weight for the BCA Float 32 is wrong. BCA themselves lists it (with the canister) at 3043 grams, 6.7 pounds, significantly heavier than you listed

Thank you very much for catching that error Justin. I’ve since updated the weight spec for the BCA Float bag. Thank you again!

Hi, Thanks for the review… Just wondering if you had any feedback about the size S/M vrs M/L as I (probably like a lot of people) will order online and don’t always trust the manufacturers size charts. If you had any thoughts/feedback on the breakpoint in body height between the sizes it would be great to hear. Cheers

Hey Hamish, thanks for reaching out. I’ll start by saying I wish I had gone with a S/M. I’m 5’11”, weighing around 170lbs with waist size of 32. I personally thing the backpack sits too large on my back and doesn’t sit properly on my hips when out touring. I have to tighten the waist and shoulder straps down almost to their ends in order to feel secure when touring. Hope this helps, let me know if you want any other info!

Can you post the dimensions of the pack? Can’t find it in any official documentation.

Also, is there any way to MacGyver a hydration hose pass through to the sleeve on the shoulder strap? No hydration compatibility is a major drawback for me…

Jan, for documentation of dimension, I haven’t been able to find anything official. REI has decent amount: shorturl.at/ayK02

As for the Hydration, yes, you can MacGyver a hose from the main compartment, behind the airbag, into the shoulder strap. It’s the same process to get a radio Mic cord to your shoulder (I’ve done this and it’s easy). A guy in my AVI 1 course put a hydration pack hose through his shoulder and it worked fine.

Let me know if you have any other questions.

Thanks for the review! Can the airbag and pump be removed so I can use the bag in non-avy terrain?

Hey Christian! Sorry, neither the airbag nor fan can be removed. They are fastened together and integral to the bag itself. Yeah, that would be a much better design, but less reliable if you have the ability to reassemble it in the winter and maybe miss some connections. Hoped that helped.

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Black Diamond JetForce Pro 25L Review

With a unique modular design and full suite of features, black diamond’s battery-powered airbag pack is impressively well-designed and user-friendly.

Brian McCurdy Photography

We use affiliate links and may receive a small commission on purchases. Read more about us . 

Black Diamond JetForce Pro 25L

Price: $1,400 Weight: 6 lbs. 7 oz. (size M/L) Capacities: 10, 25, 35L What we like: User-friendly, fully featured, and booster system makes it affordable to swap between capacities. What we don’t: Airbag compartment zipper comes undone easily when the pack is fully loaded. See the Black Diamond JetForce Pro

With a rise in backcountry adventuring of late, avalanche airbag packs have become increasingly popular for the added safety they can provide in the event of a slide. Black Diamond’s battery-powered fan system in their JetForce Pro series is a standout in the market for its user-friendly yet lightweight design and ability to deploy multiple times on a single charge. We tested the 25-liter version of their JetForce Pro pack and found it to be an impressive all-around performer. The airbag compartment does have a tendency to gape open if the pack is fully loaded, but it’s one of the most well-rounded and feature-rich options available. Below we break down our experiences with the JetForce Pro 25L. To see how it stacks up to the competition, check out our article on the best avalanche airbag packs .

*Disclaimer: There are inherent risks to traveling in avalanche terrain. We do not condone the use of an airbag pack—or any avalanche safety tools—without proper education. Visit AIARE’s website to learn more and sign up for a Level 1 avalanche class.  

Table of Contents

Practice deployments, carrying comfort, features and organization, build quality and durability, fit and sizing.

• What We Like/What We Don't

Comparison Table

The competition.

When it comes time to recharge the JetForce’s battery, the process is fairly simple: remove the cap from the charging plug (it’s located in the deployment handle sleeve), insert it into the included wall unit (there are also adaptors for traveling abroad), and start charging. It takes around six hours total if the battery is fully drained, and a four-bar LED indicator signals the level of juice along the way. For reference, I’ve been using the pack for weeks on a single charge with five deployments, and the battery is still showing three bars (it took about an hour of charging to get from three to four bars).

Modular Booster System

Storage: Main Compartment and Pockets

Helmet and Ski Carry

Other Features: Ice Axe Attachment, Leg Loop, and More

A final feature worth mentioning is the JetForce’s Bluetooth connectivity. The pack’s firmware can be updated via the PIEPS app, which allows users to keep the battery/fan up to date. The app can also be used to personalize your settings and troubleshoot issues in real time. Since I received a sample of the pack for testing, I didn’t register it or download the app, but I did check the site regularly to ensure I didn’t miss any updates. If you plan to use this feature, BD has a few online videos that showcase downloading the PIEPS app, how to connect the pack to your phone, and more.

Other Versions of the Black Diamond JetForce 

What We Like

• The battery-powered JetForce system is reliable, easy to operate and travel with, and allows you to deploy multiple times on a single charge.
• Unique modular “booster” system means you can easily (and cheaply) alternate between different capacities depending on your storage needs.
• Well-executed storage and accessory-carry options, including a helmet holder, diagonal ski system, dedicated avalanche tool pocket, ice axe attachment, and more.
• Great carrying comfort with easily adjustable straps and balanced weight distribution, even with skis and a helmet attached to the outside of the pack.

What We Don’t

• When fully packed, the airbag compartment comes unzipped, which can have serious safety implications (BD doesn’t recommend deploying the bag with this compartment open).
• Very pricey at $1,400, and we wish the bag came in a higher-capacity 45-50L version for multi-day outings.
• Manual deflation requires applying constant pressure to the interior valve, which leaves only one hand free to fold and repack the airbag as it deflates.
• Unlike most supercapacitor- and cartridge-based systems, you can't remove the JetForce's airbag to use the pack on its own.
• We appreciate that the bag comes in two sizes, but it’s not adjustable enough to share with someone with a very different build.

Osprey is best known for their backpacking packs, but their new Soelden Pro 32 (and women’s Sopris Pro 30 ) airbag pack is an intriguing alternative to the JetForce Pro. In this case, the fan is powered by a supercapacitor (the Alpride E1 system) rather than a battery, which is more compact, easy to travel with, can be swapped between compatible packs, and is much quicker to charge. The Osprey pack is also impressively comfortable with supportive suspension and a nicely padded hipbelt and backpanel, and we love the U-shaped front zipper for easily accessing the main compartment. That said, the JetForce allows you to deploy the airbag multiple times on a single charge, while the Osprey system will need to be charged after each deployment via USB or AA batteries. This versatility makes the BD our top-rated design this season, but the Osprey isn’t far behind and gets the edge in comfort.

A final option comes within BD’s own lineup: their JetForce UL . As we touched on above, the UL version is canister-based rather than fan-based, which costs significantly less (the UL comes in at $850) and shaves considerable weight (4 lbs. 6 oz. for the M/L size). The mechanical design is also very easy to maintain, and the pack can be used on its own without the airbag, which adds a good deal of versatility. However, with a canister system like the UL, you can only deploy the airbag once before needing to purchase a refill, which costs about $50 per cartridge. In addition, the pack shaves weight by using very thin materials, including a mix of 100-denier Dynex and 200-denier polyethylene (in other words, be careful around sharp equipment and rocks). All in all, if you’re familiar with airbag packs and want to travel fast and light, the UL has its appeal. But we prefer the Pro model for its more foolproof, travel-friendly, and intuitive design. 

Black Diamond JetForce Pro 25L Price Comparison

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• Black Diamond

JetForce UL 26L Avalanche Airbag Pack

Regular price: $899.95 sale price: $539.97.

One of the lightest avalanche airbag packs on the market featuring the Alpride 2.0 canister system, which is ultralight and extremely powerful, making it perfect for fast and light backcountry travel. By combining compressed argon gas and C02 gas, the Alpride 2.0 system provides a strong initial blast that can inflate the 150-liter airbag in less than five seconds. The two-canister system is lighter than a traditional single-canister set-up, and because they’re sealed, they are travel friendly. View Details

Color: Black

Free economy shipping for orders over $99+ exclusions apply

Product Features

• Alpride 2.0 cannister system is ultralight, extremely powerful, and travel friendly
• Total weight with cartridges is 1130-grams
• Dynex Ripstop body material (Nylon 100d + PE 200d)
• Dedicated avy equipment pocket
• Tuck-away diagonal ski carry allows airbag to deploy while skis are attached
• Helmet holder and internal accessory pocket
• Single piolet carry with removable strap
• Redesigned legstrap is retractable for quick attachment
• Sold without cartridges. These must be ordered separately.

Practical Lifetime Warranty

We trust what we make because we use what we make. All Black Diamond softgoods are warranted against defects in materials and construction for the practical lifetime of the product. Learn More

Black Diamond Jetforce Pro Avalanche Airbag Backpack, Review

Shop for Jetforce at Cripple Creek , or Backcountry.com

Jetforce Pro 10L pack with helmet net. Similar style helmet net to that used on other Black Diamond packs, which works very well. Note: This model of the new BD airbag backpacks will begin retail in fall of 2019.

10L pack opened. Much of the internal volume is taken up with the airbag (on the top and sides), and the electronics (on the bottom). The large 200 liter airbag takes up a significantly higher amount of volume inside the pack than most other airbags. The middle area of the pack, between the airbag, is the only significant storage area available in the 10L pack. It’s just big enough to fit a water bottle, gloves, and goggles.

Black Diamond has been in the airbag game since 2013 , with their in-house designed line of Jetforce packs. They are now updating and expanding their offerings for the avalanche prone snowsports: skiing; snowboarding, snowmobiling. In addition to the Jetforce Tour, and the Jetforce UL, they are releasing an updated version of their Jetforce electric fan airbags, now dubbed Jetforce Pro. For an overview of their entire line, check out this post . Today, we’ll look in detail at the Jetforce Pro.

Pack with 10L booster removed.

For this review I’ll refer to the original Jetforce as Jetforce V1, and the new system as the Jetforce Pro.

The Jetforce Pro will be sold as a base unit combined with the 10 liter volume booster, for MSRP $1399.95. The based unit can then zipped to various “boosters.” The base unit comprises the airbag system, shoulder straps, and the “back” of the backpack. The booster packs are the front of the backpack (facing behind you). This isn’t a new idea for airbag packs, but Black Diamond has implemented it in a nice, clean way. Although this adds a bit of weight, it’s a great way to add value to the system, especially with it being as expensive as it is.

The booster packs come in four models: — 10 liter pack (which we tested), which doesn’t add much volume to the base system. When you buy the base unit it comes with the 10 liter booster. — Two 25 liter options, one for skiers and one for snowboarders. — 35 liter option.

Nicely designed trigger handle appears to be mostly unchanged from Jetforce V1. However, it can now be installed in either shoulder strap.

This is the portion of the airbag that inflates first, located on the bottom left side of the pack. It doesn’t have a burst zipper. Instead, it is covered by a simple flap with an elastic cord holding it closed. It opens easily, and I could possibly see it getting filled with snow, perhaps in a fall in deep snow. However, I sacrificed in the name of science and took it upon myself to ski deep pow with the pack, and didn’t find any snow getting into the airbag pocket.

Jetforce V1 packs were never the lightest airbags out there, focusing instead on reliability, ease of use, and safety. The new Pro system stays in line with these original goals. Following is a brief overview of the changes with the new pack, compared to the original Jetforce.

First, the Pro system is lighter. BD didn’t really remove any features or functionality from their airbag guts, but managed to cut out some mass. The electronics have been lightened, and the (overly complex) threaded-rod system for opening the airbag compartment has been replaced with an industry-standard “burst zipper,” thus removing a bit of weight. Since the pack is offered with the various zip-on booster packs, the weights are a bit confusing. Here’s an overview:

Base pack weight: 2636 grams (5.8 lbs) Base pack with 10 liter booster weight: 2870 grams (6.3 lbs) (this is the lightest functional Jetforce Pro pack) Base pack with 25L booster weight: 3118 grams (6.9 lbs)

That’s a fairly significant weight reduction compared to Jetforce V1 packs. For example, the Halo 28 pack weighs 3401 grams (7.5 lbs).

Next, BD added Bluetooth functionality to the electronics, which enables you to update the firmware without taking things apart. Other elements of the system are unchanged. The airbag itself is still 200 liters, bigger than many other packs on the market, which are generally 150 liters, the lower limit for CE “certification.” It’s debatable how much the size of the airbag matters (especially for average size people) but in terms of the “brazil nut effect” that airbags rely on to work themselves to the top of an avalanche, bigger could be better. Not because the bag “floats” you like a boat, but because it needs to increase your overall size-volume enough for the nut effect to occur. Whether this difference in volume has any real-world effect is something we’ve not seen any significant proof of. It’s like helmet MIPS, they say it is better in real life, so it is? In the end, the issue of the larger bag might become moot, as we’ve heard a lot of rumor about thinner-lighter fabrics that will appear in airbag backpacks within the next few years.

Another safety feature that is retained in the new Jetforce system is that the fan keeps blowing after the airbag is triggered, so the airbag could stay inflated even if it had a small tear or rip. In our view that’s a more significant and quantifiable feature than the increased balloon volume (as we know of accidents that involved shredded airbag balloons).

We got our hands on the Jetforce pro with the 10 liter booster pack. It was tested on some short tours, as well as skiing sidecountry at the ski resort. The 10 liter size is small for most people’s touring. It is more suited to heli skiing or sidecountry. Unfortunately we didn’t get the chance to test out the bigger booster packs. However, since the airbag components, shoulder straps, back panel, etc. are the same throughout the different packs, testing the pack with 10 liter booster was valid.

The Jetforce Pro ski touring airbag rucksack is clearly a refined version of the original Jetforce. I’m mainly excited by the weight reduction, but other changes are nice as well. The airbag is well integrated into the pack, and although it’s bulky, it is not awkwardly placed, so it takes up as little volume as possible. A standout feature of the airbag is the fact that it can be turned on and off from the trigger handle; useful if you forget to turn the airbag on before starting up the skintrack, and useful for situations that require a quick, mandatory disable.

The ski carry works well, although the bottom loop is barely large enough for my 115 underfoot skis. The upper strap cinches through the pack bag to the shoulder straps, thus eliminating tension on the cargo and balloon zippers. Note that A-frame carry is not an option, due to configuration of airbag deployment opening.

The top straps for the diagonal ski carry are routed inside the airbag compartment, under the airbag, and connect directly to the shoulder strap of the pack. This is awesome; the skis carry well even if the pack isn’t full.

For the last few years, Black Diamond has been coming out with beautifully designed packs, and this one is no different. The 10L pack is simple, but the ski carry and helmet carry features are nicely implemented.

The simple clip on the crotch strap snaps easily on to the loop on the waist belt. Nice.

I especially like what they’ve done with the crotch strap. Crotch straps are a mandatory component of airbag packs, but they are undeniably a pain in the…crotch. They are often fiddly, and if you aren’t wearing the strap (on a skintrack through safe terrain, for example), it’s a hassle to stuff away so it doesn’t dangle like a forgotten mooring line. Black Diamond has included a nice little snap-hook clip to the end of the strap, which makes it super easy to attach to the waist belt. They’ve also made it quick and easy to stow or deploy the strap, a welcome feature. One downside; I’ve noticed that if you do forget to wear the strap, and don’t stow it, the clip is prone to getting caught on things, much more than a simple webbing strap.

Pulling on the crotch strap like this quickly pulls the clip up into the waist belt, neatly storing it away (see next photo).

The clip on the end of the strap slots nicely like this when it is stowed, well out of the way.

After pulling the strap, you can leave it dangling (half the length of the entire strap), or stuff it into into the waist pocket. Most of the time I just gave the strap a quick tug and left it dangling as shown. It was well out of the way. This is an ingeniously simple way of solving the dangly waist strap issue that’s common with airbag packs, and is possibly my favorite feature of the Jetforce pack.

Pocket where crotch strap can be stuffed, also useful for snacks,Gauloises, etcetera

The base pack is offered in one size, and the torso length seems a bit long compared to some other packs. It fit fine on my 5’10” frame, but If you are on the smaller side, you might want to try on the pack before buying.

I’m a big fan of refinement, and I love what Black Diamond has done to refine their Jetforce fan packs. That being said, they are not for everyone. The main turn-off is the weight and price, which are still significant. If you’re willing to make that tradeoff, however, I don’t think there’s any other airbag on the market that has the same combination of safety and usability that the Jetforce Pro offers.

Shovel and probe are stored in a simple sleeve in the main pocket on the 10L pack.

Airbag electronic components are stored at the base of the pack, so they take up as little internal volume as possible.

The battery appears to be unchanged from Jetforce V1. That’s probably due to the strict CE requirements. We would still like to see a smaller battery that would work for nearly all ski touring, just not Antarctica in winter. Perhaps new Li battery tech on the horizon will shut us up.

Set up for diagonal carry, Jetforce Pro.

Louie Dawson earned his Bachelor Degree in Industrial Design from Western Washington University in 2014. When he’s not skiing Mount Baker or somewhere equally as snowy, he’s thinking about new products to make ski mountaineering more fun and safe.

Black Diamond 2019-2020 Airbag Backpack Comparo

Wildsnow valentines — lisa gets her ski-mojo on.

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BLACK DIAMOND Equipment Jetforce Tour Pack 26L - Black - Small Medium

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Product details

• Is Discontinued By Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ No
• Product Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 24 x 17 x 8 inches; 4 ounces
• Item model number ‏ : ‎ BD6813240002M_L1
• Department ‏ : ‎ men
• Batteries ‏ : ‎ 2 AAA batteries required.
• Manufacturer ‏ : ‎ Black Diamond Equipment
• ASIN ‏ : ‎ B07JWD2FXK

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