Arc’teryx & ORTOVOX Partner On New Avalanche Airbag System Setting Benchmark For Mountain Safety

Arc’teryx Equipment, the global design company specialising in technical high-performance apparel and equipment, has teamed up with ORTOVOX, a global leader in mountain safety equipment, to develop LiTRIC – light and electric, a new industry leading avalanche airbag technology launching in Fall/Winter 2022. 

Inspired by the original Voltair packs, Ortovox approached Arc’teryx to evolve and adapt the award-winning airbag technology initially launched by Arc’teryx in 2016. The resulting LiTRIC technology is lightweight, intuitive, and reliable, enabling both brands to produce airbag systems that weigh just 1,100 grams (pack weight not included) with an electronic system run by supercapacitors and a long-lasting Lithium-Ion battery that allows at least 60 hours of continuous operation and a minimum of two inflations.

“The key to making significant progress in avalanche safety lies in collaboration,” said Gord Rose, Senior Industrial Designer, Arc’teryx. “From our first meeting with the ORTOVOX team in the Austrian Alps, the enthusiasm about the potential of working together was palpable. Our shared passion for backcountry skiing, the mountains, safety, and the obsession to build the best equipment possible transcended any other considerations.”

“It’s been such a unique process to partner with a great brand and competitor like Arc’teryx to rethink avalanche airbag safety for a greater cause. The LiTRIC airbag system is the product of two companies that are maniacally obsessed with building the highest quality equipment and ORTOVOX’s new collection establishes another milestone in mountain safety,” says Stefan Krause, Head of Product, at ORTOVOX.

Designed in partnership and made in Germany, the LiTRIC airbag system improves safety by providing at least two inflations for at least 60 hours of use when it is fully charged, making multi-day tours possible with no need for recharging. A high-performance centrifugal compressor with a compact axial diffuser fills the airbag in four seconds. The system can be tested at no additional cost and fully charged in 25 minutes via USB-C. With no cartridge there is more space for gear and no travel restrictions. The revolutionary and patent-pending 150L airbag is made from two separate layers of material that can easily be pushed back into the airbag pocket. The advanced airbag backpack technology is designed to keep skiers and riders at the snow's surface during an avalanche event, reducing burial depth and may increase survival rate.

The system itself is only 1,100 grams (pack weight not included), saving weight with the cold-tolerant supercapacitors and ultra-lightweight airbag, making it one of the lightest airbag constructions on the market. From the height-adjustable, secure deployment handle to the reimagined safety leg strap, the intuitive design makes LiTRIC™ easy to operate and simple to pack away. The patented locking system prevents accidental opening of the airbag, for the fullest of packs. On the side of the pack, the LED display shows the charge status of the battery and its readiness for operation.

LiTRIC Facts:

• Full charge when switched on: 2 activations within approximately 60h
• Full charge when switched off: Ready to use for approximately 30 days
• Allowable battery charging temperature: -20° to 45° C (-4°F to 113°F)
• Allowable operating temperature: -30° to +45° C (-22°F to 113°F)
• Battery specification: Lithium-ion-battery nominal capacity: 3.7V, 2000mAh, 7.4Wh
• Product life: 50 activations
• LiTRIC System weight: 2.4 lbs /1,100g
• LiTRIC Airbag volume: 150L
• Two airbag top ups at one-minute intervals when deployed
• Warranty on LiTRIC™ system: two years; five years upon registering
• Production: 100% in Bavaria, South Germany

Arc’teryx will house the LiTRIC system in a pack that is available in three sizes, a 16L, 32L and 42L, optimised for touring. The pack contains an avalanche tool pocket, an external helmet carry system, a sternum strap with safety whistle, waist belt with stash pocket and ice-clipper slots and a dog-bone tool attachment. Skis are to be carried diagonally, and snowboards vertically. The pack is glove friendly, allowing for quick, easy transitions and carry reconfigurations. Zippers are all WaterTight.

Comfortable and durable, the pack with the LiTRIC system is available in three sizes. The minimal size of the LiTRIC system saves on weight and provides more room for your gear. The pack from Arc’teryx will be available in Arc’teryx stores and online in Fall/Winter 2022.

This January, the LiTRIC airbag system became an ISPO Award winner in recognition of the system’s innovative design. The ISPO award is a leading international sports platform that honors the sport industry's most outstanding products and services four times a year.