The perfection is amazing! Avalanche airbags have finally evolved to this level. OSPREY Soleden Pro 32 Review

The Black Diamond Jet Force Pro , one of the "avalanche airbag-equipped backpacks" (commonly known as avalanche airbags) that we first featured on our website last year, is a very well-made and excellent backpack. However, of course, the search for the best outdoor gear doesn't end there. Humankind's desire to stay safe and comfortable in the endlessly dangerous field of snowy mountains knows no bounds. This season, there are once again many great items that have mountain enthusiasts buzzing about.

The backpack we'll be reviewing today is the Osprey Soelden Pro 32 (the women's version is the Solis Pro 30) including the Kestrel series Atmos , Aether , Valiant , and now the Soelden is a long-awaited backpack equipped with an avalanche airbag.

I tried it out this winter with high expectations, so I'd like to share my review right away

the Osprey Soleden Pro 32 : Unbeatable comfort and cutting-edge avalanche safety.

The Solden Pro 32 (women's version: Solis Pro 30) is the flagship model in Osprey's snowpack series, a new snow backpack equipped with an avalanche airbag system. It boasts the lightweight, durable construction and comfortable, form-fitting fit cultivated over many years of experience developing many superior mountaineering backpacks. It also features the Alpride E1 airbag system, which delivers top-class performance in terms of stability, lightness, and ease of maintenance in low temperatures. It also features convenient storage designed specifically for winter backcountry climbing, achieving a high level of balance between superior comfort, safety, and functionality. It offers unparalleled safety and comfort for all outdoor activities in the snowy mountains, including skiing, snowboarding, snowshoeing, and winter trekking

Recommended points

• Lightweight yet durable and abrasion resistant
• Excellent fit and comfortable to wear both uphill and downhill
• Lightweight, safe and easy to use Alpride E1 avalanche airbag system
• Well thought out storage for efficient storage of a large amount of BC equipment
• A lineup of men's and women's shoes that fit a wide range of styles
• It is neither gas nor lithium-ion battery-powered, making it convenient to carry on flights

Points of concern

• Basically, it can only be deployed once on a full charge
• It must be folded when re-storing after being unfolded
• Another pocket on top for small items would be even better
• It would be even better if there was a size larger than 40L
• The zipper on the airbag often opens on its own (when the bag is full)
• High price

Main specifications and evaluation

Detailed Review: Backcountry Skiing

The ultimate comfort you'll feel the moment you put it on

Up until now, most backpacks equipped with avalanche airbags like this one have been made by manufacturers specializing in snow safety equipment. What clearly sets the Solden Pro apart from these models is it is made by a manufacturer specializing in outdoor backpacks . One of the most noticeable aspects of this is the comfort of wearing it.

The back, shoulder straps and waist harness are made of lightweight yet sufficiently cushioned EVA foam, which feels good against the skin and is also designed to prevent snow from sticking and water retention

The moderately voluminous waist harness firmly supports the load on your lower back, and the shoulder straps, which naturally curve along the lines of your body, distribute the load evenly across your back. Stabilizer straps are placed around the shoulders, providing an excellent fit and eliminating any feeling of the pack swinging or being pulled backwards. The blissfully comfortable fit is just as natural as a spring/summer backpack, and you'll be excited to try it

One factor that contributes to this pack's resistance to shaking (its center of gravity not shifting) is the presence of side straps that can compress the pack. With packs equipped with avalanche airbags, it is often impossible to attach side straps in order to avoid interfering with the airbag's deployment, but this model has buckles located on the top and bottom sides of the backpack, which allows you to compress the entire pack and prevent it from becoming loose even when there is only a small amount of luggage inside. Of course, this means that you will need to undo the buckles when opening the main zipper, but in return, it means that you can maintain a comfortable fit no matter what the conditions

What's more, the combination of lightweight, highly durable Nanofly fabric and UHMWPE (also known as Dyneema) fabric makes it relatively light for an electronic airbag of over 30 liters, while still providing a reliable, robust backpack that doesn't compromise on durability or abrasion resistance. Of course, it is heavier than a typical backpack without an airbag, but it's a weight that you can easily get used to

If we get into the details, it's true that the pack is one-size-fits-all and the back length cannot be adjusted, but there are no other avalanche airbags that are this good yet. There's also a women's model for smaller people, so it's safe to say that the current version is already suitable for a wide range of body types

Excellent stability for hiking up and downhill

As mentioned above, the weight is firmly distributed from the waist near the center of gravity to the back, making it extremely comfortable when hiking uphill with a heavy load. The avalanche system itself is located low, so the center of gravity does not move too high, and it fits securely even when descending with a heavy load, without feeling like your body is being shaken around (see video below)

Lightweight, safe and easy to use Alpride E1 avalanche airbag system

The Alpride E1 Avalanche Airbag System installed in this pack is a cutting-edge airbag system that uses a power source called a "supercapacitor" rather than gas or a battery. It is said to be an excellent system that overcomes many of the drawbacks of previous airbags, and has the following main features:

• Stable operation even in extremely low temperatures of -30°C (up to 50°C)
• Fast inflation (150L balloon inflates to max capacity in about 3 seconds)
• Can be used repeatedly with 20-40 minutes of charging (40-80 minutes for batteries) via USB or AA batteries
• Long life (can be recharged over 500,000 times)
• Lightweight and compact (airbag system alone weighs 1280g)

In short, the Alpride E1 system is incredibly easy to use, with a lightweight, compact design that doesn't take up much storage space (Photo 1 below), simple operation, and easy USB charging (Photos 2 and 3 below). It's perfect for users purchasing an airbag backpack for the first time, or for those who want to practice properly in case of an emergency. However, it's true that it only deploys once per charge, which is the Black Diamond Jet Force . It'd be a lie to say it doesn't bother me, but if you set up AA batteries (Photo 3 below), it can be fully charged in the field in 40 to 80 minutes, so it shouldn't be a problem unless something extraordinary happens.

To power it on, simply lift and turn the orange button as shown in the picture below. An automatic operation test will then run, and if there are no problems, the light will come on and the setup is complete

In normal operation, a light visible from the outside, located on the side of the pack, will slowly flash green

In this state, if you are caught in an avalanche, all you need to do is pull the trigger on your shoulder (the trigger can be changed to your right or left shoulder, depending on your preference)

The balloon then instantly expands to a volume of 150L. See the video below for how it expands

By the way, when you are out and about, be sure to fasten the sternum strap around your chest and the leg straps around your waist, along with your waist harness. This will prevent accidents such as the backpack slipping off your body or strangling you if the airbag deploys in the unlikely event that you are caught in an avalanche

The leg straps can be tucked away inconspicuously at the base of the waist harness and are easy to access. The loop at the end is threaded through the strap, but I attached a carabiner to it to make it easier to secure at any time (see photo below)

The leg strap has a loop at the end that you can thread through to your waist harness (left), but if you attach a carabiner yourself, it will make the process of taking it out and setting it up smoother

After the airbag has fully deployed, it must be stored again in a safe place (Photo 1 below). This is a bit of a hassle, but you must press the release button to release the air yourself (Photo 2 below), and then fold it up. There is a specific way to fold it, and you should follow the instructions inside the pack (Photo 3 below) (Photo 4 below; however, once you get used to it, it is so easy that you can fold it quickly without looking)

Well thought out storage for efficient storage of a large amount of BC equipment

It's not just the comfort of carrying that impresses you as a backpack specialist. The pockets and attachments, which have been carefully designed to store and carry your cumbersome BC equipment, are also impressive

U-shaped front zipper for easy access to main compartment

The main compartment has a wide U-shaped zipper that opens wide, making packing and taking things in and out stress-free (see photo below). You can even squeeze your luggage into the gaps occupied by the airbag system

My personal favorite is the zipper for the main compartment (pictured below). It's incredibly durable and smooth, with a hook that's easy to grip even when wearing gloves. It's incredibly easy to use, and I even grow to love it

Ski and snowboard attachment compatible with diagonal and A-frame skis

The skis can be attached not only diagonally (right in the photo below) but also with an A-frame (left in the photo below). This is great news as I was more grateful for the stability and ease of walking with the A-frame

The buckles that secure the skis are equipped with secure stoppers, so you don't have to worry about the straps loosening while you're walking (see photo below). This attention to detail is the result of the know-how the company has cultivated through its excellent snow packs to date

Of course, you can also attach a snowboard to the front by pulling out the drawcord stored in the front

A variety of BC equipment can be stored smartly

In addition to the main compartment and ski attachments, there are also pockets for organizing and storing the gear you'll use on the snowy mountains. This may seem like a given, but given the nature of the avalanche airbag, it's rare to find a pack that's this well-designed, so I was especially impressed

First, on the front, like many snow packs, there is a J-shaped zippered pocket that can hold avalanche tools (Photo 1 below). On the side, there is a long stash pocket (Photo 2 below) that can hold goggles and other items. The inner lining is not brushed fleece, but it has a finer surface than other linings and seems to provide some degree of scratch protection. And on the left side of the waist harness is a zippered pocket for small items (Photo 3 below). This is where I keep lens wipes, an emergency calling device (inReach mini), and other items that need to be accessed quickly

There is a helmet holder stored at the top front, which can be pulled out to secure a helmet (see photo below)

The side and front straps allow you to securely fasten ice axes and poles (see photo below)

You can also secure your walkie-talkie inside the pack and stash the speaker microphone inside the shoulder strap (see photo below). There are plenty of other convenient storage options

Summary: Modern avalanche airbags are not only safe but also have excellent potential as backpacks

The greatest appeal of the Solden Pro is not only its safety as an avalanche airbag, but also its outstanding performance as a backpack for carrying and transporting luggage. The Black Diamond Jet Force avalanche airbag, which I reviewed last year, was outstanding not only in terms of overall ease of use, but also in the performance of the airbag itself. However, in terms of backpack usability, such as comfort and storage, the Solden Solis Pro clearly wins out

Of course, the Alpride E1 system, powered by supercapacitors, is not necessarily superior to the Jet Force system, but it is still a top-class, high-performance airbag system that is used by many brands. It is also extremely reliable and easy to use, so even first-time users can easily enjoy safety

Although the price is still not exactly affordable, this backpack offers almost the same comfort and ease of use as your favorite backpack that you carry from spring to autumn, and it is sure to make avalanche airbags even more accessible

Note

The content written here is merely the author's personal observations based on his understanding and experience, and does not guarantee the safety or legitimacy of the product. Please be aware that this is equipment to be used in the extremely dangerous field of snowy mountains, and when purchasing and using the product, be sure to fully understand the official information from each manufacturer, give sufficient consideration to the risks in the natural environment, and make each decision based on your own responsible judgment

   

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