BCA Float 22 Airbag

BCA’s slogan is, “BCA: The most trusted name in the backcountry.” After years of relying on their gear, we tend to agree. We brought two BCA airbag packs down to Chile this time around: the Float 32L and the Float 22L. The 22L is certainly more agile for freestyle oriented skiers, though testers found the 32L to be a better size when hauling crampons, extra layers and a DSLR camera. In both cases, pocket space was well thought out: the design of the outer pocket easily held shovel and probe while the internal space was not overwhelmed by the airbag cylinder. In addition to more space, the 32L has more handy features (including a useful top-accessible goggle pocket). Otherwise, the Float 22 is preferable on road-accessible backcountry jaunts, sidecountry freestyle days or quick backcountry missions—anytime when the extra space isn’t necessary.