Jetforce UL 26L Backpack
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Jetforce UL 26L Backpack
Just over four pounds, the Jetforce UL 26L Backpack is Black Diamond's lightest backcountry pack with an included avalanche airbag system. New to the season, Black Diamond's Alpride 2.0 system utilizes two small cartridges combining compressed argon and CO2 gasses that weigh less than the original Jetforce fan and still inflates in a mere five seconds. The deploy trigger can switch to either shoulder strap, and it's personally adjustable to your preferences. The front compartment stores required gear for backcountry travel, leaving room in the 26L main compartment for a full day's worth of essentials.
Black Diamond designed the pack itself to complement the Alpride avalanche system's lightness with minimalism and just the necessary amount of features for touring, bootpacking, and easier mountaineering. The ice axe carry is removable if you want to shed a gram or two, and the diagonal ski carry and helmet holder stow away for a solid look skiing downhill.
Details
- Black Diamond's lightest avalanche backpack for backcountry skiing
- 26L capacity ideal for dawn patrols or half-day tours
- Alpride 2.0 airbag system inflates via two small gas cartridges
- Front compartment dedicated to avy equipment like shovels and probes
- Ski carry and helmet holder tuck away for the ride down
- Cartridges are sold separately
- Item #BLD012R
- Material
- Dynex Ripstop (100D nylon, 200D PE)
- Volume
- [small/medium] 24L (1465cu in), [medium/large] 26L (1587cu in)
- Airbag
- Alpride E1
- Deployment System
- compressed CO2, argon
- Canister Included
- Alpride 2.0
- Shoulder Straps
- padded, adjustable, sternum strap
- Waist Belt
- webbing, adjustable
- Access
- front panel
- Pockets
- avy-tool
- Ski Carry
- diagonal
- Snowboard Carry
- no
- Helmet Carry
- yes
- Ice Axe Carry
- removable
- Dimensions
- 19.5 x 9.5 x 8.5in
- Claimed Weight
- [small/medium] 4lb 3oz, [medium/large] 4lb 6oz, [deployment system] 1lb 8oz
- Manufacturer Warranty
- [pack] 3 years, [li-Ion battery] 1 year
Reviews
Q&A
Overall Rating
5 based on 2 ratings
Review Summary
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Selecting an option will reload the available reviews on the pageApril 18, 2020
Light, Roomy and a Reliable Inflation System
What good is an avy air bag if it sits in your tack room most of the time? BD has (at last count) three different deployment systems. This is likely the most expensive "per pull", but is the lightest and most comfortable of all the options that they offer. The dual cartridge system is easy to arm, i.e. connect the dual cartridges and secure the pull cable anchor in the shoulder strap harness. Plenty roomy for day trips in the heart of Colorado winter, this pack can also be stripped down for side country laps. The diagonal carry system is BD proven for all width of skis but may be awkward with split boards. There are three operable zippers on the exterior/top (not including the deployment zipper), one of which is used for the "goggle" pocket, another to stow the upper ski carry strap and the third for the main compartment. One minor niggle is that two of the zippers have identical black webbing pulls and the third has gray webbing; one would think that the designers would have specified a third color/shade so that each pull had it's only color scheme, but this is easy to rectify. The main pocket has a zippered mesh pocket for small items, and a sleeved compartment for shovel, probe and saw. I use a K2 Recon "hoe" style shovel which fits perfectly and a BCA probe set. My BCA snow saw will also fit if its a study day. Everything is easy to grab and go. In addition to simple operation, this pack is the best fitting pack out of six BD packs that I have owned. It's weird, like it was designed for me, incredible freedom of movement and close fit with no slop even when I endo (it happens). I am short-torso and orangutan limbs that drag in the skin track (sic). Now, many might suggest that this deployment system is passe, a dead end in avy air bag evolution. Given the five to ten year operational life of an airbag pack and wide adoption of the twin cartridge system, I doubt that will be a problem. I bought this for the Home Crag and road tripping, not for air travel: for the latter, I will likely rent an airbag from a reliable outfitter. Again, that's my bias. All in all, I would buy this again and would recommend it for its reliability and great fit.
Originally reviewed on blackdiamondequipment.com
February 9, 2020
Great light weight airbag!
I have been impressed with this pack! I've owned it for three months and it goes with me everyday. I used to dread touring with an airbag but now don't think twice about taking this pack because of how light it is. It's the perfect size for me to carry everything I need for a day in the backcountry touring. This would be a perfect side country, cat, or heliski pack as well.
Originally reviewed on blackdiamondequipment.com