Over the last five years, the use of avalanche airbags has increased dramatically, both among professional guides and amateur recreationists. While there were only a couple different airbag types on the market ten years ago, backcountry enthusiasts can now choose from a wide range of models produced by at least four different manufacturers.
In additional, a few new manufacturers are pushing into the growing market with their own innovative designs. Avalanche airbags have a tremendous potential to save lives, since they are the only avalanche safety device that can directly prevent or reduce the severity of avalanche burial-the root cause of the majority of avalanche deaths.